Our human limitations are being starkly revealed in the pandemic. But to each of us at the end of our tether, Jesus says: "Come." Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash.
In an interview with Salt&Light, Lawrence Tong, International Director of one of the world’s largest missions agencies, Operation Mobilisation (OM), said the entire organisation is taking time to reflect on what God is trying to say through the coronavirus crisis.
To each of us at the end of our tether, Jesus says: “Come.”
“This morning we had a prayer meeting, and I shared this with the team: The world has never seen a more powerful military nation than America. The world has not seen a more powerful economic country like China. Everybody seems to be able to deal with the problems around the world.
“And yet, God allowed a small virus to humble all of us. Military minds, economic minds cannot deal with the simple virus. So, what is God saying?”
Our limitations and our frailty – as individuals and the whole of humankind – are being starkly revealed in the pandemic.
But to each of us at the end of our tether, Jesus says: “Come.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Salt&Light gathered the prayers of church leaders for each day of this week, so that we can, in unity, pause and pray together.
Day 5: May our hearts and eyes be turned upon You
Almighty God in Heaven, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid.
“Holy, holy are You Lord
The whole earth is filled with Your glory
Let the nations rise to give
Honour and praise to Your name
Let Your face shine on us
And the world will know You live
All the heavens shout Your praise
Beautiful is our God, the universe will sing
Hallelujah to You our King.”
Humbly, O Lord, we bow before You. We fall down and lay all our crowns at Your feet.
Search our hearts, O God! We confess our waywardness. Disobedience. Division. Callousness. Godlessness. Prayerlessness. Arrogance. Plunder of the earth. And our sufficiency apart from You. How far we have drifted away from You, Your purposes. Worse still, walked away from You. Forgive us, O Lord!
Strengthen and sustain Your people as we live in “the eye of the storm”.
We plead Your mercy, grace and love at such a time as this. And we surrender our whole selves — bodies, hearts, souls and minds — for such a time as this. Lift Your hand off this scourge when You so choose.
Strengthen and sustain Your people as we live in “the eye of the storm”.
You, O Lord, who keep us from all harm, who watch over our lives, and who watch over our coming and going both now and forevermore, we trust in You!
May we be found with our hearts and eyes ever turned upon You, looking full in Your wonderful face that the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of Your glory and grace. Amen!
– Lorinne Kon, cell leader, Paya Lebar Methodist Church
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