Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
Revelation 1:10
DEVOTION FOR TODAY, March 23, 2020
“I was in the Spirit on the Lords day…”
Being exiled to the island of Patmos meant that John was unable to be physically present with the church on the Lords day, yet nothing could separate them from being in the presence of God. Saturday when I stood in the pulpit to record Sunday’s message, there was a feeling of sadness as I looked out at empty pews. We keep reminding ourselves that the church is not a building, and I surely felt that then. Without your presence our beautiful building has no pulse.
As we all make our feeble efforts to keep on being the church in a quarantined world we are being reminded of how much of life we take for granted; that is also true with our Church. People not only need the Lord; but the Lord’s people need each other.
I get asked if I thought that God sent this plague to teach us a lesson. Absolutely not; He sent His Son to teach us the only lesson we need. I do believe that we can find some good in all things, even this, if we are willing to look for it. Perhaps we can find some gold in the middle of our chaos.
It is always noticeable when times are tough that people tend to get along with each other a little better for a while. Our divided society has been forced into social distancing. It is as though we are put into our corners and told to think about life, and how we have been living (or not living) it. When we are allowed to come out again we might even appreciate each other more.
The Gospel has been spreading even though church doors are locked. I pray that when they open again that we will fall on our knees in thankful praise that the Lord is faithful; He has delivered us through another storm. Perhaps our songs will be sung deeper, our hearts will reach higher, and our hands will extend to one another with a fresh new love. I pray that our feet will gladly be at home beneath the church pew; but that they will never get stuck there again.
“Things come and go,” so we say. Then let there be a revival of coming to the house of the Lord, and then going into all the world with the only message we will ever need: (John 3:16).
“Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Shout salvation full and free; highest hills and deepest caves; this our song of victory: Jesus saves!”
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
“THIS IS A LINK” to Facebook Streaming of Rev. Ray Amos’ Message
