March 21, 2020 (Saturday)
As I stated in yesterday’s blog social distancing is especially difficult for Christians who are part of a fellowship of believers that emphasizes the church as a family. We are constantly emphasizing our love for each other and through the years have become accustomed to greeting each other often with a hug or a very sincere and warm handshake.
We love to sing songs like “I’m So Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God,” and “Blest Be The Tie That Binds.” Feeling close to each other and gathering from time to time to share our testimonies and our love for the Lord–these kinds of things are part and parcel of who we are as children of God.
So we should be able to understand that it is exceptionally difficult for us to stay away from each other intentionally. But part of our faith is a commitment to follow the teachings of Scripture, which instruct us to be submissive to Christ as the Chief Shepherd and to his servants who are “under shepherds.” It is their job to remind us that the Bible teaches us to submit to authorities who have been put in place by God Himself.
There is a crisis. That is undeniable. We intend to do our part in cooperating with the suggestions of our leaders that we do everything possible to keep the viral infections from spreading to others. We can be good citizens, responsible to each other and members of the family of God–all at the same time. God bless us one and all.
BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS
Words: John Fawcett
Music: Hans G. Nageli (Lowell Mason)
1782
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne,
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts, and our cares.
We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.