How Will You Serve The Lord This Year?

By: Gary L. Hutchens

   This is probably the strangest beginning of a new year that any of us has ever experienced.  We’ve just come through the strangest ten months any of us has ever experienced, and the source of that strangeness, the COVID 19 virus, is still with us and seems to be going strong.  What is your outlook for this year?  A more focused question, How Are You Planning To Serve The Lord This Year?

   For some, an initial response to that question might be, “What?  I can’t serve the Lord in the middle of this pandemic, with all of the limitations and restrictions it has brought upon us.”  Really?  Are you completely powerless to do anything to serve the Lord during this time?  Let me make a few suggestions…
   There are some who are in facilities that restrict them from leaving the facility and from having any visitors whatsoever.  In at least one case of which I am aware, the residents are also prohibited from visiting other residents within their facility.  The word that describes that reality?  Isolation!  Some others are living in a self-imposed, semi-quarantined existence simply out of concern over possibly getting exposed to the virus.  That kind of extended isolation can lead to other health problems.
   In both of these cases you could frequently make a phone call and touch bases with those individuals for a few minutes.  Being able to talk to somebody could really be a highlight of their day and bring them tremendous encouragement.  You could also send them a card with a few personal words of encouragement every couple of weeks.
   Something all of us can and should be doing is pray.  We need to pray for God’s deliverance from this pandemic.  We need to thank Him for the vaccines becoming available and, at the same time, pray for their effectiveness.  We need to pray for His healing upon everyone who is sick, not just from the Covid virus but from whatever illness or problem they may be experiencing.
   We need to be praying for souls.  In difficult times many people start to think about their souls and their relationship with God.  Pray for people to open their eyes and their hearts to come to God for spiritual healing.
   Another way we can serve God is to become diligent students of His word, studying and growing in our faith (Rom. 10:17) and preparing ourselves to be able to reach out to others with the gospel.  One easy way to reach out right now is by sharing our pod casts and live streams everyday.  That can be done through text messages, through Facebook Friends, through our website and through Utube.  You could also reach out to somebody you know right now who needs to learn the gospel by sending them a tract or the first lesson of a Bible correspondence course.
   Don’t let the devil delude you into believing you cannot do anything to serve the Lord at this time.  You can do much right now, and you can do much in way of preparing yourself for the time when you can be more open and active in serving Him.  Think about it, and pray about how you can serve the Lord this year.  Then, Follow Through!…
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