For Lord’s Day, April 19, 2020

Dear Saints,

This week’s e-devotion is short and sweet and silly.  But before I continue, I wanted to let you know that our church just had an article published on Reformation21 today which you might like to read and share with others: https://www.reformation21.org/blog/submit-to-the-government-serving-god-to-save-lives

This week, our family came about some fun videos on YouTube that are intending to help us all feel connected and keep our spirits up while isolated from one another and our various communities.  One of the videos featured a cute young boy closing out the episode’s credits singing a familiar refrain by reggae crooner, Bob Marley: “Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing: ‘Cause Every Little Thing Gonna Be All Right!”  You can enjoy it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ZRI0zVpY4.  I hope it puts a smile on your face and a melody on your heart as it did for us.

Now of course we can’t endorse a lot of things about this singer/songwriter.  But isn’t it interesting that the song’s title is actually, “Three Little Birds”.  Well, Jesus did say to behold the birds to trust God and not worry in Matthew 6:25-34:

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [don’t worry, don’t be anxious] for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Can we in Christ face this pandemic situation and say to all its challenges, “No problem!?”  Yeah, mon! We can.

This catchy song brought two other songs to mind that we’ve had fun singing around the house also this week (and perhaps tapping our toes and grooving a bit while doing the dishes).  Perhaps you should click on the two hyperlinks below and sing along and relax.  And listen for the birds that sing even overnight around here and be at peace that God will take care of you 24 hours a day, and you can yet still glorify and enjoy Him during quarantine:

• The movie Sing’s, “Don’t You Worry About A Thing”.
• Bobby McFerrin’s, “Don’t Worry Be Happy!”

All this is not to make light of the serious circumstances in which we all find ourselves.  But this message is to keep us from having heavy hearts, as is the design of the source from which we saw the little boy singing: Some Good News (search it on YouTube and you’ll easily find it).  We encourage you to look them up and enjoy them (there are a few things I trust you will have discernment about being less than preferable but I think you can sort it out and find the overall blessing).  We especially recommend episode two and the live Zoom version of “Hamilton”: that well written and performed song has stuck in our minds around our house as well this week, and it’s been a blessing.

Don’t worry beloved.  Trust Christ and be content in Christ’s strength through all things (Philippians 4:6-13).

Semper Reformanda,

Pastor Grant