18 March 2020

LEARNING TO HAND OVER OUR CARES TO THE LORD (LENTEN 20)

By John Ollis

I offered to assist Margaret with her grocery shopping today, Seniors have a special time slot 7am-8am at the supermarket we mainly shop at. The idea is  so that they (Seniors) can make sure they can get their necessary staples before they are sold out each day, because of the panic buying that is going on because of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. I couldn’t believe the numbers that were queued up waiting for the store to open.
We personally have not felt the panic much, but it seems to have effected much of the population. I am very aware though that other matters can concern us, and cause us to panic, things like poor health, spiritual struggles and challenges.
I have been reminded much lately of 1 Peter 5:7 PASSION Pour out all your worries and stress upon him AND LEAVE THEM THERE, for he always tenderly cares for you.
AMP N.T. Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, ONCE AND FOR ALL on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
I have highlighted 2 statements in these 2 translations.
AND LEAVE THEM THERE
ONCE AND FOR ALL
Not being a Greek scholar, I do not know whether this action  is in the present continuous tense, but both the translators have felt to emphasise that it it is not a one off decision but it must be LIFESTYLE CHOICE. We must learn to lay all our cares and worries at the feet of Jesus, and constantly choose to leave them there. We know from painful experience that if we don’t we rob ourselves of our joy and peace, and especially at this Lenten time, it will hinder our journey, and we could miss out on much the Lord wants to do in us and through us.
There is no doubt the enemy of our souls will seek to cause us to worry, and Paul tells us in Romans 14:23 AMP N.T. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin
PASSION For anything we do that doesn’t spring from faith is, by definition, sinful.
MESSAGE If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.
We must learn use every weapon at our disposal to deal with these cares. I listed these weapons in a recent blog.

WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH?

FEAR
DOUBT
UNBELIEF
NEGATIVITY
So, if we are going to make the most of our Lenten journey this year, we must be on our guard, and not relax for a moment so that we recognise  immediately when those things that are NOT OF FAITH raise their ugly heads.