Even though I do my best to stay away from current news items in these weekly articles, who can escape the reality of the corona virus pandemic? My thoughts, as I sit and type these words, hark back to my decades of legalistic training. Although I had a solid theological understanding of the grace of God there sometimes was a stronger sense of duty that often edged out the enjoyment that I鈥檇 found in Him. Here鈥檚 how it played out this past week.
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I often found myself reciting the apostle Paul鈥檚 words to Timothy: 鈥淔or God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.鈥� (2 Timothy 1:7)
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鈥淪ee,鈥� I鈥檇 tell myself, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be frightened because God can protect you and your family and even if you do get sick, He鈥檚 still there for you.鈥� Sounds good, but those words didn鈥檛 quell the unrest that rattled my emotions. His gifts of power, love and a sound mind weren鈥檛 resonating with me.
Finding it hard to sleep sometimes, I added condemnation to my emotions. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e supposed to be trusting the Lord,鈥� I鈥檇 reprimand myself, then doze off for a mere hour or so of restless sleep.
But why dump all these thoughts into what I try hard to make an upbeat and positive offering? It was the realization that Paul鈥檚 words were not 鈥渙rders鈥� but a beautiful 鈥渙ffer鈥� to enjoy God鈥檚 peace and a sense of power over unwelcome circumstances. A sound mind? His wise exhortation to wash our hands thoroughly, use sanitizer and follow directions given by those in leadership, all part of wisdom.
Distinguishing between an order and an offer isn鈥檛 always as simple as it seems but I鈥檓 so grateful I鈥檓 learning the difference.
Thank God for His blessed offers!
