One Unfortunate Truth about COVID That We Seem to Have Forgotten

There are a lot of things circulating about COVID and the pandemic. My desire here is not to debate what is true and what is not true; my desire is to remind myself and you of who we are in Christ and how we should be representing him, especially in times like these. When we are confronted with verses like these in Colossians, it forces us to take a step back and consider who we are and how we should be living.

If you consider yourself to be one of God’s chosen people, then these should be the markers of your life. As we think about those who have lost loved ones during this time, there are two questions I want to ask you based on these verses.

1. Are you set apart?

When we think of the word holy, we think of living right, or of something sacred. One of the definitions is to be set apart for God’s use. In other words, you should look and act different than those around you because you have been set apart for a higher purpose. Are you living this way during this time? Regardless of how you feel, we as followers of Christ have a responsibility to make sure we are positioning Christ in the right light by living the right way.

2. Are you displaying compassion?

The true meaning of the word compassion is that you are moved by a person’s situation to the point you will do something about it. I guess the question is, have you been moved with compassion, or have you moved away from compassion? I’m not sure how you will answer this, and it is not a question of judgment but reflection. Just a reminder that we should always be reflecting Christ’s character.

I hope you hear my heart in this and recognize these things go beyond how you feel about anything concerning the pandemic. I hope this forces us to go back to how God desires us to live. As we hopefully get closer to the end of this pandemic, let’s not gloss over the number of lives that have been lost, but let’s be people who are holy and filled with compassion. Not just concerned about fighting for our way of life, but remembering those who have lost people in their life. I can say without a doubt this is what Jesus would want us to do.

More from this author
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6 Steps to Becoming Strong Men and Women of God
Who Are the People You Are Thankful For, and Do They Know It?

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Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a dynamic speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club, dedicated to helping people live with purpose and clarity. In addition to his ministry work, Clarence has spent the last 13 years as a trusted financial educator, guiding thousands of people across the country—including employees at many Fortune 500 companies—toward lasting financial wellness. His unique ability to blend practical wisdom with spiritual insight equips people to thrive in every area of life.

He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.