Scripture: I Corinthians 12:31; “But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. (13:13) These three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Galatians 6:10 “Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

When the world shakes you down, how do you keep from getting all shook up? In the hardest times of life it is faith, hope and love that will carry us through.  

When Paul wrote I Corinthians, he was dealing with a church who had a strong, pagan cultural background. Corinth was a large metropolitan city of commerce and trade. Paul spent roughly 18 months in this city. He taught in the synagogue, worked at making tents and planted this church with the help of people like Aquila and his wife Priscilla along with Silas and Timothy. Because of their pagan background, worshiping multiple gods had been a common practice. This city was also one in which immorality was prolific. Intellectual pride created the divisive spirit that existed in this congregation of Christians. Trying to get this cultural thinking out of the believer’s mindset wasn’t an easy task for Paul, but it was possible through the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

There are many ways in which a church can become divided and find themselves moving in different directions. Paul’s answer for the Corinthians is to seek the greater gifts of faith, hope and love. When we are faced with a world-wide crisis, it is our love for Christ that keeps us united and strong. Praying for our church family and others in our community and nation becomes a priority.

I want to give our church family at MoSt a challenge. Take some time over the next few days and find someone in our congregation that you can check on, preferably one of our older members. Reach out to them and express to them the love of Christ. See if they need anything. Perhaps they need something from the grocery store. In these moments when the world is shaking us down, it is faith, hope and love that will keep us from getting all shook up.

Prayer: Dear GOD and Father in Heaven, thank you for our church family at MoSt. Thank you for pouring into us your love. We are blessed in so many ways and all of those blessings point right back to you. We pray for you keep our church family strong and connected in a time of separation and disconnectedness. We continue our prayer against this COVID-19 virus. We are thankful that many businesses in China have opened back up. We thank you, Father, for blessing many people who have survived, and we pray for those who have lost family and friends because of this virus. Please reveal an answer to those in the medical profession who are working to help people, especially those of the household of faith. In the powerful and mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.