April 17, 2020 Fear#31

Dear Trinity Baptist Church Family: I will freely admit it. I am angry. Things are out of my control. I am being given no options. I am being given no real information. When might we have church as we once did? When will we be allowed to minister family to family? Is it going to be months, years, or never? What’s this ministry and my family’s life going to look like in June or September?

We are not the first to wrestle with these thoughts. My list of verses on fear brings me to Zechariah today. Israel’s past was full of judgment because of their sin. The remnant of Israel has good reason to fear. Hear God’s encouragement to Israel concerning their future: Zechariah 8:13-15 “And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.’ 14 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Just as I determined to punish you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I would not relent, 15 so again in these days I am determined to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear.”

Do you have some extra time because of Safer at Home? How are you using it? Have you read more of God’s Word or another good book? If you have a blessing, share it with me. And if you’d let me, I’ll share it with others that we might be a community of blessings to each other.

Pray for the Purcell’s health. Pray for Janet in her loss of her niece. Pray for Pat as she works through many things after the passing of Tom. Pray for our country and state.

I’ve attached note material for Sunday morning’s sermon. We will see how Jesus ministered on the Emmaus road.

Embracing Truth, Pastor