Why I'm Not Worried

John 6 (1)

WHY I’M NOT WORRIED

- Read John 6:1-14

The World Health Organization's China office says it began receiving reports in late December of a mysterious virus behind a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in eastern China with a population of roughly 11 million people.

Since that time, news of the virus and its spread has increasingly filled our news. The virus has spread around the world, with most countries now reporting cases. Many of our national sporting events have now been canceled. Many of our large tourist attractions are closed or are closing within days. The majority of cruises from our state have been canceled for the rest of the month. Our schools and universities and closed. Travel from Europe is now stopped. People are stock-piling supplies.

As of 1:45 this morning, 106 – Florida Residents have tested positive for the Corona Virus.

7 – Florida Residents have been Diagnosed and Isolated Outside of Florida. 9 – Non-Florida Residents currently staying here have been diagnosed with the virus and there have been 4 deaths related to the virus in our state.

We are told that the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, and respiratory conditions are the most susceptible to this disease.

How should Christians respond to this situation?

In 1527, less than 200 years after the Black Death killed about half the population of Europe, the plague re-emerged in Martin Luther’s own town of Wittenberg and neighboring cities. When the plague came, Luther was asked by another minister if it was OK for a minister to flee the Black Plague. In response he answered:

“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not need in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as the result of my negligence. If God shall wish to take me, He shall surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.” (Martin Luther, works V 43, p. 132. Letter “Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague” written to Rev. Dr. John Hess).

We Christians are careful, but serve. We are cautious, but minister. We are prudent, but not alarmists. We are mindful, but we are not fearful.

Because we serve a God who cares.

1. We serve a God Who cares -

- Read verse 5

Jesus has been serving these folks. He has taught them and healed them and now He takes His disciples and heads to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to get some rest, to recharge their batteries and the crowds follow them. The crowds won’t leave them alone.

I believe I’d be tempted to be a little irritated. I think I’d be a bit frustrated, to never be able to get alone or to get away for an extended period of time.

Jesus, looking up and seeing the crowds, was concerned for them.

> Matthew 10:29-31 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

I don’t know what you’re going through right now. I don’t know how your health is, or what your finances are. I don’t know what frustration you’re experiencing at work or at home. I don’t know how your spouse, children or grandchildren are doing, but I do know a God Who sees, and cares, and loves you.

We are mindful but not fearful because we serve a God Who cares.

We are mindful but not fearful because we serve a God Who tests.

2. We serve a God Who tests

- Read verse 6

God sometimes allows things to come into our lives to test us. To see how we are going to respond. To help our faith to grow.

a. God allows tests to refine us, to help us become what He wants us to be.

God said of the Children of Israel that he will put them in the fire so that he may “refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested…”- Zachariah 13:9 (ESV). To get us to the place where God wants us to be he will put us in the fire of affliction, persecution and different things happening in our lives most of which we may not understand so that he may refine or transform us into the person he wants us to be. What the fire does to silver and gold is to remove all the impurities or any unwanted substance so that it may come out as pure silver or gold. When we give our lives to God we are unrefined, the flesh or the old sinful nature is still operating or controlling our lives so to get us to walk in the Spirit or to have a renewed mind he applies pressure. For example he will put you through hunger and financial problems so that you may learn to trust him and seek him more, or he may want to get you to the place where material things are not your gods. He may allow people to talk bad about you so that He may get you at the place where you’re not easily offended by the words and deeds of others.