Since mid-June, Sydney has been locked down again because of COVID-19, and it’s hard to know how long this lockdown will last. Certainly everyone hopes that we can get out of lockdown soon, but as the virus continues to mutate, no one can be certain what life will be like afterwards, and we might even need to learn to co-exist with it.
Despite the severity of the pandemic, from a spiritual viewpoint, we need to recognise that this pandemic is under God’s control and He allows it to happen. Even though we might not understand it, we believe that God has His perfect will.
During lockdown, we have to stay home and have a bit more time. This is a great opportunity for us to better manage our time, to draw close to God and to quieten down from our busy lives. Let us spend more time in reading the Bible, spiritual books and in prayer.
We can also use this quieter time to say hello and care for each other on the phone or through video conference, to pray together, to read the Bible and do devotions together, so that we can build each other up spiritually.
Furthermore, why don't we take this opportunity to say hello, care for and pray for our friends and relatives who are not yet Christians? So that they too can experience God’s comfort and salvation, and to evangelise for God.
In Romans 8:37-39, it says, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We are already conquerors by the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even the pandemic. Since we have received this wonderful grace, why don’t we take this opportunity to share it with others? That more people can experience God’s comfort and eternal salvation. Let us put this into action during lockdown, and share this blessing and protection from God with our family and friends, and witness for our Lord.
從六月中開始，悉尼又因疫情而封城了，這次封城，暫時還不知道，會維持多久。當然，每一個人都希望很快可以解封。但病毒不斷的變種，沒有人能說得準，以後的生活會是怎樣，我們可能需要學習怎樣與疫情共處。
雖然疫情嚴重，在屬靈生活來看，我們必需認定這次疫情，是在神的掌管下，容許這事情發生。雖然我們不一定能夠明白，但我們相信，神必定有衪的美意。
在封城期間，各人都必需留在家中，大家都有更多時間，這是我們可以更好利用時間的機會，與神親近，從以前的忙碌的生活中，安靜下來，讓我們可以有更多時間，讀讀聖經，屬靈書藉及禱告。
我們還趁著這安靜的機會，有更多時間，跟弟兄姊妹在電話或視訊的平台上，彼此關心，問候，一起禱告，靈修及讀經，彼此建立靈命。
再者，為何我們不趁這機會，向還沒有信主的親朋戚友，向他們問好，關心及為他們祈禱?讓他們有機會經歷神的安慰及救恩，為主廣傳福音。
在羅馬書8:37-39那裡說:
「然而，靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。因為我深信無論是死，是生，是天使，是掌權的，是有能的，是現在的事，是將來的事，是高處的，是低處的，是別的受造之物，都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕；這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。」
我們是已經得到耶穌基督的救恩而得勝，沒有任何東西能隔離我們與神的愛，疫情也不能夠。我們既然已經有這樣偉大的救恩，為什麼不趁著這機會，與別人分享?讓更多人找到神的安慰及永恆的拯救。讓我們在封城中，坐而起行，享受神的保守祝福的同時，也分享給身邊的親朋戚友，為主作見證。
