Pestilence Confronted: Looking for Good Soil

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The conditions of Covid have brought much fear and uncertainty to the people around us; some suffer deep pain from the loss of a loved one, the security of work or a business.  What a contrast these negative conditions are to booming economic years of 2017 to 2019.  For many people the shock of the Covid shutdown has shaken confidence in government, society and the marketplace. It is causing a rethinking of what is important in life including: What is the purpose and meaning of life.  Put more bluntly, Covid is causing much despair.  

In CBMC, one of our best practices is to maintain a top ten list of people in our circle of influence that we can continuously pray for and be the salt and light of Christ in their life.  During these times I have been asking God to help me discern who on my list might be more open to “seeds of the word of God” (Luke 8:4-15).  Who on my list is asking life questions? 

In his parable of the “sower” Jesus compares four conditions under which the truth of God, the word of God as seeds are most often received: a path, rocks, thorns and good (receptive) soil.  Good soil is indicative of a an open heart and mind receptive to truth.  When we meet such a receptive person, our work is to be prepared to give an account of our faith, our trust in God and why we regard Covid as a passing, temporary phenomenon.  I often tell people that Covid is only a moment in time which will soon pass away.  I tell them I have learned through my trust (faith) in God to be more concerned about my eternal destiny.  

Ask God to show you those on your top ten list with good soil and check in with them to see how they are doing.

If you don’t have a Top 10 Card, please download and print one here.

Blessings,
Jim

Global Prayer Points

As we seek to see our marketplace transformed by the Gospel, join us in prayer this week for the following requests from our Global Leadership.
Africa: Pray for the translation teams working on translating Operation Timothy into Portuguese and Arabic.
Asia/Pacific: Pray for the translation of Operation Timothy to Khmer, the language of Cambodia.
Europe: Specific prayer requests can be sent to [email protected]
Latin America: Pray for continued follow-up from the Transcende 2020 virtual conference hosted earlier by CBMC Mexico and Latin America.
North America: Pray for establishing an e-CBMC (next generation) in North America Korean CBMC. Pray that Christian leaders would take the challenge to lead other leaders who need Jesus.
If you have a prayer request, please send an email to CBMC International.