“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).

For people living in a world that distrusts the church and organized religion, in a society that continues to reject God and God’s word, in a world hurting and despondent due to the economic downturn, the global pandemic, the continued racial unrest, multiple natural disasters one after another, how will they ever discover the hope and the peace that God offers in Jesus Christ?

Is a person who is far from God going to find a Bible and start looking through it to find answers to the problems that our society faces? Even if they were to read sections of the Bible, will they be able to understand it? Would a person far from God ever consider turning to the Bible?

The obvious answer is a resounding, “No.”

So how will those who do not know God in such a context ever come to know God?

That’s a great question. Here’s the Bible’s answer. “You yourselves are our letter…and you show that you are a letter of Christ.” Although a person far from God will not likely turn to open up the Bible, you – Christians, Christ-followers – are being read by those who are far from God.

God forbid that they don’t notice any difference in how you are coping and thriving in the midst of the same difficult circumstances! God forbid that we get down by the same things are people who do not know that there is a God who loves us and is in control! What a crying shame it would be if people did not see a qualitative difference in our outlook and hope and how that knowing God is in control shapes and changes how we live and respond in this world.

Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, you are the first “bible” people far from God will encounter. Are our lives, hopes, dreams in the midst of 2020 clearly spelling out the love of God for people who are far from Christ?

God is at work in our world. God is in control. God loves us.

Go ahead! Let the world know by how you live.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17)

I admit. These months have been long and difficult.

I’ve limited how much news I will see and read. I want to know what’s going on but listening to news radio all day, and watching news reels all day is not helping. It just upsets me.

I’ve stopped Facebook for the same reason.

But, it doesn’t mean God’s no longer at work. In fact, I have seen the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace step up to serve and care for one another in beautiful ways. It’s not just the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, there are people doing wonderful things all around us.

This is exactly what the devil would love for us to do. Focus on all that’s wrong. Because when we’re focused on what’s wrong it will paralyze us.

Stop.

I challenge you to focus on God. Look for where God is at work. And give thanks.

I spent ten to fifteen minutes jotting down everything that I am thankful for, the areas where I see God at work.

And you know what? The world doesn’t look so messed up anymore. God’s not done with us. God is still very much at work in his world.

So won’t you do that? Take some time and write down everything you are thankful for, for the places where you see God at work.

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness.

Right now. Even in the midst of the global pandemic. Even in the midst of social distancing. Even for moments just like now, God has given us everything needed for life and godliness.

The plan works when you work the plan.

Just because God has given us everything needed for life and godliness doesn’t necessarily mean that you and I are growing and thriving in life and godliness. You see, we have to put into practice and use what God has given to us. And unless we put into practice and use what God has given to us, nothing changes.

Just because someone has the desire to get healthier and joins a gym and hires a fitness coach to help them get fit doesn’t necessarily mean they get healthier and fit. The only way a person will get healthier and fit is if they work the plan that the fitness coach outlines for them. The plan is there. The plan works. But the person has to work the plan in order for the plan to work.

God has given us everything we need in his word for life and godliness. But the only way this plan works is when we work God’s plan.

Here’s what that means. The basics of God’s growth plan for godliness includes:

• Daily prayer and daily reading of God’s word
• Weekly participation in worship
• Working out our faith with a small group of believers

The plan works when you work the plan. The word of God is clear: God has given us everything needed for life and godliness. Now it’s up to you and me to do our part.

Let’s get to work!