Not Afraid: How Christians Can Respond to CrisesSample

We shine the light; we do not hide it. During times of emergency, we often discover that panic is contagious. But the good news is that the message of Jesus is way more contagious than any chaos we face. So, how can we, as the Church, respond to chaos? We shine the light; we do not hide it. Check out these words from Jesus: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NIV When the world gets dark, we shine our light. We don’t hide ourselves away. We seize any and every opportunity to light up dark places with the light of God’s love. What does that look like in emergencies? It looks like helping our neighbors. It looks like giving generously to the church and other organizations who are making a difference in your community and helping those impacted by tragedy. It looks like serving others, taking people meals, sharing our supplies, and countless other things. Because here’s the thing: following Jesus isn’t just something that we do once a week when we make it to church. Following Jesus is a radical, daily decision to die to ourselves and put God and others first. In uncertain times, people are more likely than ever to search for answers. People are looking for hope. Let’s be people who don’t just say we love others—let’s really love them. Let’s be known for more than a gathering once a week. Let’s be known for meeting needs, for dealing hope, and for shining light into darkness. What can we do amidst a crisis? We shine the light; we do not hide it. Pray: God, You have given me so much. Help me to share Your love with others in my path. Help me to have more than a once-a-week faith. Show me what it looks like to serve You daily. Open my eyes to opportunities to shine Your light to others. Help me share Your love and Your hope to others who are looking for answers. In Jesus’ name, amen.