This meme was from Friday and I absolutely loved it!  If Jesus were in our meme world, he definitely would’ve appreciated this!  I think he does right now! Or my little  toddler niece, who recited John 3:16 for Easter and then shouted “Boo!”  We all laughed at how funny it would’ve been if Jesus had come out of the tomb and shouted “Boo!” at everyone!  We all realize that this meme, and our little family moment, are not about making fun of Jesus.  If Jesus were here, he would be laughing with us.  We all know that phrase about laughing WITH someone and not AT someone. To laugh WITH someone is to benefit all parties with laughter, but to laugh AT someone is to bring another person down. Memes can be good and memes can be bad.  It all boils down to whether they’re laughing WITH or laughing AT.  And that is today’s point.  Everything boils down to purpose. 

We were created for a purpose and all that we do should fit into that purpose.  So what is it?

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV

We were created to do works that God has prepared for us.  Those works are GOOD works.  So what makes a work good?  This is actually more simple than many would think.  A good work is something done for the purpose of loving God and/or loving others.  Just like Jesus commanded in the New Testament. 

“Teacher, what is the greatest commandment of the law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind,
‘This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Matthew 22:36-39 NIV

The Bible tells us that God works everything to the good of those who believe.  We have mentioned this in other Monday Memes.  It doesn’t mean that everything in a Christian’s life is good.  It means that God will ensure that even the bad things benefit the believer.  This includes our current pandemic.  Just because many of us are locked in our homes, cannot meet with other believers, or have our workload doubled because we are essential, it doesn’t mean that this time is lost and no good.  

Times of crisis are often times where we can draw closer to God.  If we are stuck at home, we have time to contemplate his word, pray and memorize scripture.  If we are working even harder, we pray even harder.  We pray for our safety, our family’s safety, and for strength.  Note that prayer is in every scenario.  Whether we are drawing close to God in the peace of our home or in the chaos of our situation, we still draw close.  The method may be different, but the result is the same: being closer to God. 

This is also a time where we can do the second piece of the greatest commands: love others as ourselves.  If we are at home, we can love others through phone calls, video calls, letters, running errands, social media and more.  If we are working, we can how love to our coworkers and customers by being polite, helping out, and having peace in our hearts.  Right now, the slightest kind gesture goes a long way.  

Through this chaos, we really find out where our faith is.  Without a church to go to and facilitate worship, without our small groups to facilitate prayer, and without our ministries to facilitate outreach, will we do it on our own?  Are we going to take to heart what the Bible says?  Will we turn to God and reach out to others?  How are we purposing our time and actions?  Are they to benefit us or to follow Christ? The answer to these questions will determine whether we are going to grow in our faith and have lasting results in our spiritual growth or if we are going to stay stagnant, with little to no growth in our spiritual life. 

All things work to the good of those who believe.  During this pandemic, lean on God.  Whether you are home or working, whether you are separated or together, whether you are healthy or sick… lean on God.  He has purpose for your life and he has a purpose during this time.  Look to him and walk through this time period with purpose in your footsteps. 

Ponder your current situation during this pandemic.  What does your day look like?  How can you find God in those moments?

Reflecting on what you do during these days, how can you find ways to love other people?

Some of us have the opportunity to spend more time in prayer and Bible reading.  If you are one of those people, are you doing this?  How are you spending this extra time?

If you are with family during this time, how are you reflecting a Christ-like love to your family members?

If you are working during this time, in what ways can you show Jesus’ love to those around you?

Sign Up to receive these devotionals in your inbox every Monday!

Meme pictures derived from social media and shared under Fair Use Copyright Law

FOLLOW ME