Am I My Brother’s COVID-Keeper?

Do you pray for the sick? Bring meals to families during health crises? Comfort the bereaved and check up on the lonely?

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Do you reach out to those in need? Feed the hungry? Clothe the “naked”? Help the homeless?

Do you pray for the sick? Bring meals to families during health crises? Comfort the bereaved and check up on the lonely?

Do you believe that these acts of service are examples of Jesus’ call to “love one another as I have loved you”… to “love your neighbor as yourself” … to “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider[ing] one another as more important than yourselves; … not merely look{ing} out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others”? (Philippians 2:3-4)

Then why are there so many of us followers of our Lord Jesus, who are indwelt by the Spirit of our loving Christ, promoting the erroneous idea that we have no responsibility during this pandemic to do whatever we can to help one another stay safe and healthy?

And yes, this may mean wearing the dreaded masks and social distancing, because it’s not about politics, brothers, and sisters … it’s about LOVE!

So I have been grieving because I believe at this time we are indeed our brother’s keeper.

Brothers and sisters, why not reflect with me on these Scriptures, and respond to the voice of God.

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

— Mark 10: 43-45 NLT

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

— Philippians 2: 1- 11 NLT

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

— Philippians 2:6-11 NLT

 

 

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on A Branch In the Vine

Featured Image by Kobby Mendez on Unsplash

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Jan Loyd is a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a Jersey girl, a former nun, a teacher, and now a wife of 48 years, mother of two, grandmother of 5 boys and finally a baby girl...these are just some of the hats she wears or has worn. Her hat as teacher has seemed to be one she’s worn her entire adult life, ranging from teaching elementary school, homeschool, adult ESOL and GED language and writing. But along with all of these opportunities has been her favorite above all the rest: teaching women the Word of God in various ways, Precept Upon Precept and Bible Studies she’s developed by the grace and tutelage of God along the way. The heart of the message that she delights to share is that we are in union with the Living God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Currently you may find her on her devotional blog “A Branch in the Vine” where she shares several times a week and in her Bible Study/ devotional book The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension.