School’s Out

My counsel to you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7, MSG

School’s out. Families are clustering around dining room tables sorting how to do school at home and everyone’s wondering… can I just sleep in every day?

The Coronavirus has brought a new level of suffering to the home, the neighborhood, the city, the state, the nation, and the globe. Life as we have enjoyed it until now has been altered by an enemy so tiny and so ambiguous we can’t see it to contain it.

In the United States, we thrive on being productive. How can we be productive when everything is shut down? What do we do? How do we navigate our days and live meaningful lives when so many outlets have been closed?

It feels somehow slovenly to just read, binge watch, and hoard our ways through the days and nights while we wait for the Virus to Go Away like Alex and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day.

The Message paraphrase of Paul’s words to the Colossians offers welcome instruction in this present crisis.

Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him.

Paul’s central emphasis to Colossian believers was that all things are fulfilled in the person of Christ. All wisdom and spiritual understanding we could ever need in any circumstance can be found in the Redeemer (Colossians 1:9-2:19).

That truth has not changed in 2020. 

Jesus is the center, the fulfillment, the completion, the stability, the constant, in these unsteady times. He never changes.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, at some point you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. You received all of Him at that time, not just part of Him. You have all you need to discern and navigate these trying times because you have all of Him.

Your role and mine is simple: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given.

If you haven’t ever chosen to follow Christ, now is a good time to get to know who He is and consider making the life-changing decision to trust Him.

We have not known much suffering, discomfort, or inconvenience as a nation in many decades. Our generation has been comfortable and well-taught.

School’s out now for us, Church. It’s time for all the studying and learning to bear fruit in our homes, our communities, and our nation. Our world. It's time to live Jesus. #Coronavirus #faith #hope #love Share on X

The world needs you and me to just go on with what we have been given: Christ Jesus, the Master. 

Our communities need to see the limitless fruit of the Holy Spirit flowing through us in a time when critical supplies are limited.

Our children need to see what it looks like to trust that no matter how unstable the world seems, Christ is our stability.

Our neighbors need to see that generosity is not dictated by the rise and fall of the stock market.

Our leaders need our prayers. 

There is much to do while school’s out. Go on, Christian, in the love, wisdom, and knowledge of the Savior you follow and show Him to the world. Let us quit studying the subject and start living it.

Lord, thank you for the way Your wisdom simplifies our complicated circumstances. Empower me today to live in You and bring hope to those around me. Amen.

@audreycfrank