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The world is crazy right now, but...



It's hard to put into words what is going on in the world right now.  There is chaos and isolation simultaneously.   There is a deep longing to be with community, but also a fear of being around people.  There is a deep tiredness from listening to the news, from our fear, and from grief of loss, while there is also anxiousness to move and get on with life.  This situation that the whole world is experiencing is new, strange, and scary.

While we can't physically go to church right now, I was listening online and reading through Hebrews.  This week, my discipleship group is ironically studying about how Jesus has given us a "better tabernacle".  Considering we can't actually be in the church building right now, it was a good reminder of what Jesus is offering.  The reading today focused on the sacrifice priests had to make just to enter the tabernacle and experience the presence of God back in the old testament.  I am also currently reading through Leviticus, which admittedly has been a challenge to go deep with, but it has shown me how thankful I am that we aren't living in that world of physical sacrifices as required in the old testament anymore.  Experiencing God's grace and full presence was not as easily accessible back then, but Jesus' ultimate sacrifice has made His presence, grace, and comfort permanent and all around us-we don't have to physically enter the church, but instead Jesus meets us where we are in the midst of all our emotions.

That phrase moved me to tears today.

But Jesus.

The world is in chaos, but Jesus brings peace.  There are so many unknowns, but God is all-knowing.  There is a sickness we've never before experienced, but Christ is the ultimate healer.

Here are "but" phrases found in scripture:

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:3-5
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.  But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions.

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Jonah 2:6
To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit.

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

 The entirety of the Bible is a giant "But Jesus" statement.  On our own, we are lost, broken, scared, and without a purpose. BUT JESUS gave His life for us, making this earth our TEMPORARY home, this pain TEMPORARY, and the chaos of the world right now TEMPORARY.

Because of God giving His Son for us, ALL of this is temporary, but Jesus is PERMANENT.  He will NOT leave us on this earth, and we have all of eternity to experience His goodness and perfection when we chose to accept His sacrifice.

The world is crazy right now, but Jesus is so, so good.

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