Scripture for Today, 3-19-20: Sickness & Wisdom

Godly Faith: God is in Control?
​The Apostle Paul said: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. v6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him [God]: for He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. v18 Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. v26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” 

​Hebrews 11:1; 6; James 2:18, 26
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3-19-20, * -- Among Christians these days we hear the common cliché: “God is in control!”  This means different things to different people. Some believe that no matter what happens, great or small, God is in control of every small detail. Others believe that people believe that God is in control, but there is free will to make decisions and experience the consequences of those decisions—good, bad, or indifferent. Overall, I believe God is in control in that He allows us to make decisions and He will intervene according to His will.

Why this is significant ... some Christians say they will not abide by the US government China coronavirus restrictions because God is in control and anybody taking precaution ... lacks faith.

There are at least two problematic issues with this position; and they are interrelated:

1. One is of faith
2. Testing God

In Luke 4:10-11 we see Satan try to test the Lord Jesus asking Him to throw Himself down. The Lord said: “...Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” [Luke 4:12] True faith is based in trust and should result in wisdom, not foolishness.

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With respect to coronavirus; faith with wisdom might look like the actions of Martin Luther during the time of the Black Death Plague in 1527 AD Germany. The Priest helped those with the 'Bubonic Plague' that killed millions he said:

“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. This I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either 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.”

Godly faith is not absurd or idiotic, nor does it tempt God. We are God’s representatives on earth. If you believe God is in control, show your faith with wisdom and love. ​

​*Excerpted and adapted full original message from Bill Wilson, Daily Jot here

Related:
Martin Luther's on the Plague: www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2020/03/plague-martin-luther/ and here 
Bubonic Plague 1527 AD Europe: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death
Bubonic plague in California: newrightnetwork.com/2019/06/leftist-policies-bubonic-plague.html/ and here from WSJ