Christian Living

MY MORNING JOE DEVOTIONAL

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
04/01/20
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INTRODUCTION

How are you faring these days, in the midst of this so-called pandemic, brought on by the Coronavirus? Been shopping lately? How was it? Did they have what you needed? Did you get out alive and unharmed? Then, shout a big Amen!

We see grocery stores being emptied of the main necessaries of life by uncontrolled shoppers. Fast food restaurants are closed, preventing us the enjoyment of eating that big, fat cholesterol-filled hamburger around the table with friends.

Work places are closed, sending all to work at home, or to have no work at all. The Stock Market is experiencing some ups, but mostly downs.  Even medical facilities are now limited to only medical emergencies.

These are just a few of the inconveniences this Coronavirus has caused American society. Parallel these inconveniences with irrational panic shopping, which always fosters many unwarranted harsh words. (Leviticus 25:14)

Most importantly, the church doors are now closed indefinitely in compliance with the mandate of controlling the spread of the Coronavirus. So, what’s the answer to this unusual religious quarantine? Simply put, we can all worship, singly and families alike, in the quiet of our homes. God’s Word has this covered as well. The Scripture gives us specific instruction for Scriptural worship. (II Timothy 3:16-17) A suggestion! Why not take the book of Proverbs, and read one chapter a day? Meditate on its reliable down-to-earth spiritual and practical advice as you go.

I trust you will enjoy this little timely fiction satire entitled. “My Morning Joe Devotional”

 “Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by. See, the Lord is coming out of His dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer.”  (Isaiah 26:20-21)

As I sit here on my front porch, basking in the bright spring sunshine, enjoying my morning cup of caffeinated joe, my mind tends to turn to the circumstances of our time.

What a shame life’s uncertainties can’t simply be inhaled like the sweet smelling baleful emitting aroma of a cup of joe. If only life was as blissful as this warm cup sitting by my side.

Then it hit me like a religious ton of bricks. Is our all-powerful, all-knowing Creator God begging to get our attention? I’m not in any way being dispassionate, just asking a simple question.

It may be because this world of ours has quickly become more openly opinionated, more openly popularized, and more evil minded, causing our populace to be more divided.

In my surfing of the various television news media, I see a distinct difference between the secular news and the Christian channels. The secular media are broadcasting a message of doom and gloom versus the Christian ones which portray trust, hope and faith.

In all fairness, obviously the mainstream secular television is commercial orientated, and not outfitted for spiritual matters of faith, but geared toward nonspiritual, materialistic broadcasts. Wouldn’t it be great, however, if all television viewed our situational living circumstances through the same faith-based mirror?

According to our most prevalent source of information, the trusted Internet, this Coronavirus gets its name from the microscopic appearance of crown shape protons. This causes my mind to again wander. The Bible speaks to five different Christian crowns which will be given to Christians who conquer or stay the course in Jesus' name.

These are the Crown of Life, (James 1:12); the Incorruptible Crown (I Cor. 9:24-25); the Crown of Righteousness (II Timothy 4:8); the Crown of Glory (I Peter 5:4); and the Crown of Exultation (I Thess. 2:19).

So is this virus, with its crown-like protons passing through the skillful eyes of the microscopes of science, portraying a particularly negative-orientated message of evil living, and much need repentance? (Romans 12:19) This is a message of the times which is misunderstood by today’s generation. (II Peter 3:3-4) 

There again, is this just my morning cup of joe working overtime, powered by caffeine, telling me the past, present and future happenings of our great universe? Definitely and positively not, our Providence-given Scripture is plain and simple (II Timothy 3:16-17), divinely given out through the writings of man. (II Peter 1:20-21)

However, as the old cliché goes, “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” Thought not found in Scripture per se, it does make perfect doctrinal sense.

Well, now that I’ve given a conceivable cause, let me give you the positive final Scriptural effect. It’s found in (II Chronicles 7:14).

You see, it’s up to us, God’s people, to take the lead. If we follow God’s instructions, He has surely promised to solve our problems, including this well-orchestrated Coronavirus pandemic. Fear not!

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.(Proverbs 12:25)  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.(I Peter5:7) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.(Philippians 4:5-7)

Now, that that’s settled, just let me move my chair out of the sun, while I mull over a second cup of joe. Amen!

CONCLUSION

What are we learning from our sheltering at home? Materialism is not as important as things that really matter in life. The me, myself, and I syndrome is all but forgotten. Why, we even find resorting to the old-fashioned board games are not so bad after all. I’ve just passed go, please give me my $200 bucks. And, I think I’ll buy Boardwalk. 

Most importantly, we have learned to calm down, stop and smell the roses, and not buy into the emotional hype and hysteria created by the news media outlets.

Here is a nice improvising written by Jerome Zeiler, a Catholic priest.

Satan: “I will cause anxiety, fear, and panic. I will cause the churches to lock their doors. I will cause Christians not to worship together on Sunday. I will cause the sacraments not to be given or received. I will cause fights to break out at the grocery stores and on social media and inside the home. I will cause greater animosity between nations. I will cause turmoil inside and out.”

 Jesus: “I will restore the family. I will bring husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters closer together. I will greatly strengthen the communal life of religious brothers and sisters. I will greatly strengthen the spiritual lives of my priests. I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table and to the refectory. I will help my children slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not on what is of this world. I will deepen my children's faith in me. I will renew their prayer life. I will deepen their love for me and for one another.”

Thus, we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Rather than be led captive by fear, let’s evaluate our circumstances, spiritual, medically, and mathematically. Amen!   

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