Hello everyone!
WE CAN DO THIS!
My sister-in-law once worked as a supermarket demonstrator – not the placard waving kind, but the product promotion kind. She demonstrated all kinds of foods to all who passed by in the supermarket by handing them a free sample, or two. Have you ever seen those kinds of demonstrators? Costco almost always have them demonstrating some kind of tasty food. Now, I don’t know exactly why I suddenly thought about that as I wrote “WE CAN DO THIS!”, but from experience I have learned to keep writing and let the Lord work it out in me as I go. (I know, that doesn’t make sense! Well, let’s see, shall we?)
WE CAN DO THIS!
We can do this, we can get through this, and we’ll do it in the strength that God supplies us – and the sum total of that will be way more than just scraping through or collapsing on the finish line. We can DO this! The apostle Paul made that brilliant statement 20 centuries ago when he said in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things in the one who gives me strength”. And we know who that One is! He is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. It won’t be an easy three weeks of postcode lockdown – with the distinct possibility of more coming – but we can do this. ALL THINGS! Nothing excluded.
And, we can become demonstrators in the whole process. (I think I’m beginning to understand where this is going. I know, you’re probably relieved, as well!). Demonstrators? Yes, demonstrators! We have this wonderful opportunity during the hardest part of the COVID-19 season, so far, to demonstrate what faith is, and what it can do, what it produces in us – hope, poise, measure, steadfastness etc. In every contact with anyone, be it a phone call, a text message, a Zoom or Skype catch up, we will have so many opportunities to demonstrate faith to others in not too dissimilar ways as my sister-in-law did when she cheerily invited shoppers to taste of her delicious creations as they were going about their business. Just think about that! The way you carry yourself, the way you speak in front of others, or too others, the way you respond to the testing circumstances, the way you handle disappointments and the way you approach these restrictions which, while necessary yet still feel a bit arbitrary and unfair – all these – give us opportunities for passers-by to sample our faith in God.
Often when my sister-in-law demonstrated some food product, people ended up buying the product – and she was good at it. What if someone got to sample your faith as it was being demonstrated … and they ended up “buying the product”, so to speak.
Every opportunity like this is just laden with eternity potential for souls God is desperate to draw to Himself.
FOLKS, WE CAN DO THIS! in the One who gives us strength (“ITOWGUS”) … ALL THINGS (which is the correct translation, by the way) and as we do, we demonstrate faith. The thing is, as the apostle Peter admonished … we have to always be alert and ready to do so.
My sister-in-law prepared well for her demonstrations, and we need to be just as prepared, too.
1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, …”
We can do this … and then some!
FINAL WORD
Paul’s letter to the Philippian church is the most positive passage of the New Testament. It is so full of joy in the Spirit, it positively overflows. And yet, the aging apostle writes this pastoral letter, (and one other last personal letter to his young protégé, Timothy, who was like a son to him), from a dank, and dingy prison cell knowing he was to be executed in days. He was in chains and stocks. In a very tough and lonely place. Yet this Philippian epistle is so full of joy and hope that it is contagious. Every time I read it, I can sense Paul’s fervency and passion and hope. This man could not be stopped by prison bars or stocks and chains. Hope soared despite the circumstances.
He is not putting on a brave front, either. This is not some “stiff upper lip” thing. No – this is real faith. Paul’s faith was so real and so deep and rich that it just oozed hope and life regardless of his circumstances as the executioner’s sword approached. There is not a hint of complaint, or even disappointment, or even sorrow, really – just sheer hope. That’s what tested faith produces in us. The Philippians, on receiving this letter, must have been blown away with the power of their pastor’s faith and hope that had been worked in him by Holy Spirit.
That’s the same impartation of faith that each of us has been given … and in testing times, as we hold on in that faith, and in the joy of the Lord’s fellowship, we not only overcome, we ooze hope, too. Faith is tested … and it produces new qualities and capabilities in us. That is what it is for!
2 Peter 1:5-8 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ mentioned here is not about information or data. It is the deep knowledge of what Holy Spirit is doing in us as He works the nature of Christ in us in testing times. Along the way, we like Paul will not be left without resources, we will not be abandoned – Paul never felt abandoned in that prison cell. And that is why he was able to say with joy …
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
He knew. By long experience …
WE CAN DO THIS! (ITOWGUS)
You are dearly, dearly loved.
Ps Milton
PS: WE CAN DO THIS!!