The Famine

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." Psalm 34:8

Scripture says that there will be a famine upon the earth. Not a famine for meat and bread, but for the Word of God. That Scripture has proven true many times in this world, but perhaps none more so than right now. We have been, and are, in the midst of such a famine. We well know the taste of this world's food, but not of of His. We know little of the taste and beauty of His Bread, Milk, and Wine of the Holy Spirit, of His Holy Word. Because of that lack of knowledge and experience of that "taste," we also know so little as concerns Him. As a result we, His church, have in many ways become tasteless ourselves. Yet right now, I believe He stands before us and bids us come, taste, see, that the Lord is good, and then be vessels of that taste to a starving world.

Anyone who's frequented a grocery store of late can see that many food staples are either sold out, or in short supply. Fear and panic do that. We know the value of that food. Why do we know so little of the priceless worth of His? Jesus said that those who depend upon the water and bread of this world will only grow hungry again. That's natural. Yet He promises that if we partake of the bread and water that is His Life, as a way of life, we will not hunger and thirst again. That is supernatural, and only He could make such a promise. Dare we believe it?

We are seeing this panicked reaction to this virus because we, even in the church, know little, if anything, of the nurture and life to be found in Him and in His Word. We look to government, to science, to health agencies, and of course, to the media, to tell us what to do, where to go, and how to live. They all have their place. Our great sin is that we have allowed them to take His place. I am not making any kind of political statement in this, but certainly a spiritual one in that when a photo of Vice-President Pence was shown of him praying with his team for guidance, it was roundly mocked. Mocked as being a useless response to a real need. This is what a famine produces. A culture starving to death in their ignorance and unbelief. God help us all if the church in any way follows their lead.

Our church and many others are seeking to provide food and help in our city of Lynchburg in any way we can. This can be the only response of the church; being the church. Yet the greatest help and ministry we can give is to minister Christ, His Hope, His Life, His Food, to a world in the midst of a spiritual famine. We must be filled to the full with that food, and then live lives that a starving world can "taste." I want to live each day tasting His life to the full. Then I want to be, in every way He leads, a taste of Him to a generation living without Him. This virus has brought us the opportunity to be that. Will we? Or will this opportunity, like so many others, just pass us by?

Blessings,
Pastor O