Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3:1
You've been asked the question a thousand times - "Whatcha thinkin?" It seems that when there is no better way to start a conversation, a question like, "What's on your mind?" is a good way to get the discussion rolling.
Of course, we know what's on everybody's mind - the coronavirus. How do I maintain social separation? Should I self quarantine? Is it best to absent myself from church right now? How do I protect my elderly parents so that they don't catch the virus? Can I trust the reporting from the news media?
These are important questions. We live in frightening times and the threat is real. Given the reporting of the coronavirus in the news media and social media, and the discussion between family and friends, it would be easy to think of nothing but the coronavirus day after day.
Let me offer an alternative - Hebrews 3:1 urges us to "fix your thoughts on Jesus..."
So, how do you do this?
First, you could start by thinking about the meaning of Jesus' name. His name means "Savior." You could think and pray and give thanks that Jesus is your Savior from sin and death.
In Hebrews 3:1, Jesus is referred to as an "apostle." This seems like a strange designation - wasn't that what Peter, James and John and the others were called? In this case, apostle is a reference to Jesus' mission to carry out the will of the Father and bring reconciliation between God and sinful people.
You could think and pray and give thanks that you are now a child of the Father through the suffering, death and resurrection of the Son.
Jesus is also called a "high priest." This refers to the sacrifice Jesus made, paying for all your sins on the cross. You could think and pray and give thanks for the forgiveness and new life you've received through faith in your great "high priest."
Today, fix your thoughts on the words of Jesus. Read Matthew 6:25-30 and trust your future to Jesus. Read John 14:27 and trust your heart to Jesus. Read Matthew 19:26 and trust that the seemingly impossible things you face are nothing to Jesus.
The devil would love nothing more than for you to become all consumed with the coronavirus - the death toll, the infection rate, the impact on the economy, the fear of what it might do to you and the ones that mean the most to you.
So, be informed. Get the facts. Use discretion. Be safe.
But lay next to the source from which you get news and information, the Bible. Dip into it as often as you watch the news or check in with social media.
Turn to that source of good news - the news about the Father who saw our need for forgiveness and reconciliation and sent His Son to meet our need through His death and resurrection. In the midst of such terrible and upsetting news, get the news that brings peace and encouragement to troubled hearts - fix your thoughts on Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit abide with you today!
