Written by Tiffany Jacox, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Bellevue, Nebraska
Sitting here looking out the window, it is a sunny day but the wind is blowing hard and the temperatures are cold. We are experiencing the Corona Virus all around the world and people everywhere are being quarantined. People are fighting the illness; people are losing jobs, losing vacations and fun plans, and losing loved ones. It is a time of great uncertainty and anxiety, but we must remember where our strength and protection come from.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15). Jesus is the image of God! He was first. Firstborn of all creation. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Col 1:17). Jesus is our glue! He is our strength (Phil 4:13), He is our peace (Phil 4:7), He is our joy (Luke 2:10), and He is our refuge (Ps 46:1, 9:9). We can go to Him in prayer and we can trust in Him (Prov 3:5) during our moments of troubles and weakness. We can even find joy in our weakness because as we endure these hardships and difficulties, we become strong because of the strength He gives us. Enduring refines us, it strengthens us, and it grows us as we lean into God more. As we lean into Jesus and He holds us together, we can then reach out to others.
Christ is the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning (Col 1:18). We know He is the head and we, the members, are various (important and needed) body parts. I would also like to focus on Christ as the head of our lives. He is our example, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28). Jesus served. We see examples through the Bible of Jesus serving, healing, listening, and loving many. We are His chosen people, as 1 Peter 2:9 states. He has called us out of darkness. He has called us to a purpose greater than ourselves. He is always with us, and as He states in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” He is the head; He came to love and serve us and called us out to do the same.
How can we make that applicable today? Christ is the head. He is the bridegroom of the church. He loves us and never forsakes us (Deut 31:6,8). He, in His love, cares for us and He is our example. We can rest in Him and His promises. We can remain secure in our eternal salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And if we can stand strong on our Jesus foundation, then can’t we spread that love and security to others? Jesus is the head and we are the rest of the body (1 Cor 12:12). So, come on arms, legs, hands and feet! Let’s get to work! Let’s love and serve like Jesus did. We can provide hope in a time of uncertainty, we can provide light in a time of darkness, and we can provide comfort in a time of grief. God equips us to do these good works (Eph 2:10). Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, and being devoted to prayer (Rom 12:12). Just as Christ did.