Service to an empty church to be videoed and live streamed. April 2020.

“Suddenly” (the captive free, the wicked bow)

ByTheLight
Min. Pat Benn
(April 26, 2020) – In recent years I remember looking at people in China wearing masks and it felt so odd, so strange. I recall thinking how sad it must be to live in a country that didn’t protect its citizens. As I gazed upon their pictures I felt a sense of sorrow for them yet a sense of privilege, if you will, for Americans.
In this 2015 photo Chinese wear wearing masks against air pollution, and climate change. (Photo: China Stringer Network/Reuters)

Many times I thought how great it was to live in a country that protected its citizens from “enemies both foreign and domestic”. Many times I looked at our great military forces and felt protected and safe. Often I looked at the stability of the dollar in the world market and felt financially secure. I remember being comforted as churches were on every corner and no matter your beliefs you could find somewhere to fellowship.

Then suddenly from seemingly nowhere, all of the things I looked to for security failed or proved useless against this most formidable opponent- the Coronavirus, Covid-19.
Suddenly the playing field is leveled. Suddenly Americans are wearing masks. Suddenly the military can’t protect us. Suddenly the value of the dollar isn’t stable. Suddenly there are no church services. Suddenly life in these great United States is different; very different indeed.
A family wear face masks for a walk in a NY park in April 2020.

As a minister, however, I remain unmoved by the uncertainty of society. My brothers and my sisters the Bible speaks of “suddenly.” The book of Acts 16:26 tells that suddenly there came a great earthquake and it shook the very foundation of the prisons and the doors were open and the chains loosed. It was such a miraculous move of God that even the prison keeper was saved.

During this pandemic, I encourage you to look for the suddenly’s of God. Though it seems like the very foundations of life in America has been shaken watch as God uses it to set the captive free. Suddenly even the wicked bowed down to worship God.

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