10 Practical Ways to Be a Light to the Nations from Home
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“I am the Lord; I have called youin righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations.”— Isaiah 42:6
If you are like me, there have been a million narratives coming at you, a billion different thoughts bouncing around your head, and a trillion questions about what all the recent changes to everyday life mean for you in light of the coronavirus pandemic. I personally have a tendency to fear the worst and want to protect my family from any potential threats to them. But I also have a tendency to look to God in these fears and let his voice become louder than all the other ones.
As a pastor, the question I keep asking God in prayer is, "What would you want from your church during this time of fear and confusion?" As I have prayed and searched the Scriptures, I believe they provide wise and good answers and challenges to all of us.
Throughout history God has worked in unexpected ways.
God is unchanging (Heb. 5:8), but our experience of him does change. What I mean is that throughout history God has worked in unexpected ways. At the Red Sea when the people of God were being trapped between the sea and a hostile Egyptian army, God split the sea and saved his people. On the cross, the Son of God died, and all his followers scattered in fear, only to be surprised by his glorious resurrection three days later. Throughout church history, our Triune God has used plagues to bring people to himself. He has used the death of martyrs to expand the gospel to the nations. We have a God who is not trying to figure out how to adjust to the COVID-19 outbreak but is intimately involved with his people in this whole process.
In Isaiah 58, God is confronting his people for observing his Sabbath rest and fasting with the wrong intentions (Isa. 58:1-4). True Sabbath rest and fasting was meant to be a means of worshipping God by resting from producing, while also seeking justice and love for one’s neighbors (58:5-14). Isaiah 58:10 especially resonates at this time of COVID-19’s looming darkness:
“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
Throughout Isaiah, God calls his people back to covenant faithfulness, which is often paired to being a light to the nations (Isa. 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:3). And this call to be a light to the nations continued into the New Testament (John 8:12; Acts 13:47; 26:23) and continues with us today.
So, how do we become a light to the nations when confined to our houses? How do we become a light to our neighbors and unbelieving friends when a simple sneeze or touch could potentially spread the virus? If we were being called not to gather together as churches because of our faith, that would be a different story, but we are being called not to gather physically so we can help slow down the pandemic.
Just as there are ways to keep the Lord’s Day, such as streaming services online, there are also ways to love our neighbor and share the gospel while obeying the government authorities. Here are some suggestions for your consideration if you are working from home or spending more time at home than usual:
1. Pray more.
How many times have you thought to yourself, "If I had more time and fewer distractions, I would pray more?" Right now we are in a confusing time, but we have unlimited access to the throne of God (Rom. 5:1-2; Heb. 4:15-16).
2. Pray for revival.
I have been overwhelmed with the hope and longing that God would mobilize us by the power of his Holy Spirit to seek ways to love our needy neighbors. In a dark time like this, the church can be a light to the nations in a way that causes unbelievers to ask questions (1 Pet. 3:15). Wouldn't it be a shame to look back on this time and see that we drowned out our fears with Netflix instead of being a light to the nations?
3. Check in face-to-face via video.
Use this time to download Zoom, Marco Polo, or FaceTime to connect with brothers and sisters in the church. Read together, pray together, cry and laugh together.
4. Share your knowledge.
If you are a homeschool mom or dad, there are more than likely some parents in your church and some neighbors who have suddenly become new homeschooling parents. Share resources and help in any way possible. There are some amazing people in your church who can help with this.
5. Send a package to someone.
If you are aware of neighbors who are able to get out to the store easily for whatever reason, use Amazon to ship them something they need or something that can cheer them up.
6. Hold family worship time.
If you are a parent who has never really taken the time to lead your kids in family worship, start a new rhythm, spending ten minutes in the morning or at lunch. Include one Psalm, one song, and a time of prayer and catechizing.
7. Make a schedule.
Create a daily schedule of rhythms that can accomplish needed tasks, make time for family worship, and provide some kind of online community. Free time can often lead to sloth and lust, and we must be active to help avoid temptations.
8. Run necessary errands for those who can’t.
If you have a neighbor who can’t get to the store for a prescription or some other necessary item that can’t be shipped in time, check in with them and see if they need anything.
9. Get outside while following safe social distancing guidelines.
It’s raining like crazy as I write this. Get on some old clothes and go walk in the rain (umbrella is optional). Go dig up worms, get a little muddy, and be a kid again. Marvel at God's creation.
10. Pray for God’s kingdom to come.
Remember that God is moving his creation towards a new creation and this is all temporary. Live in light of the future:
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Phil. 3:20)
What appeared to be the darkest day in human history (Matt. 27:45) was actually the Light of Nations himself being lifted up to bring rest and satisfaction to all who would believe (John 12:32).
Friends, what if God is using this time of worldwide change to draw a host of people to him? What if this is a time for our neighbors to know that we are not a people of fear but a people of hope? This is an incredible and exciting time to be alive. We have a message that can give hope and eternal life to those who are afraid and dead in their sins. May we use this dark time to point to our glorious King and Savior.
Related Articles:
Heaven Bound: 2 Important Things to Remember to Develop an Eternal Mind-Set
3 Reasons to Be Excited Right Now about Jesus' Second Coming
Recommended:
Revelation: Worthy is the Lamb! (Teleios Academy) by Wes Van Fleet
Notes:
[1] Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 577-578.
