How to respond in a crisis

The Bible is a very practical Book! The apostle Peter wrote 1 Peter in 64 AD. Jerusalem was destroyed only six years later in 70 AD. He wrote to prepare his readers for the coming crisis. The Roman destruction of Jerusalem was horrific. Josephus says that the Romans killed 1,100,000 Jews. Almost 97,000 were sold in slavery. The Arch of Titus in Rome even today commemorates the sacking of Jerusalem and the plundering of the temple.

How should a Christian respond in the midst of a crisis? What is God’s plan for you and me? In 1 Peter 4:7 the apostle wrote, “The end of all things is at hand.” He knew the destruction was coming. Their world was about to radically change. In 1 Peter 4:7-11 the great apostle spelled out three priorities in a crisis. We must follow these three priorities in times of chaos and difficulty.

The first priority is to pray (verse 7b). Peter said, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers.” Self-controlled and sober minded means to be clear headed. We must not panic. The opposite of sober minded is drunkenness. We must not respond with emotion but with clear thinking.

Clear thinking must result in prayer. Peter learned this lesson after his failure in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the garden Jesus faced His most difficult test. He was about to die physically and die spiritually for the sins of His people. The Father’s wrath for our sins was placed upon His Son. Jesus passed the test and showed His disciples how to win the spiritual battle.

Jesus told His disciples, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). Watch means to be spiritually alert. There are times we face great spiritual danger. Unfulfilled expectations bring great danger. Elijah in 1 Kings 18 won a great victory over the prophets of Baal. Jezebel refused to surrender. The nation refused to repent. Elijah’s expectations were unfulfilled and he cratered spiritually.

Times of rest and relaxation are dangerous also. David rested instead of going to war. He rose from a nap. He looked over the wall of his palace and saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. The rest is history. Certainly a crisis is also a time of great danger. We must respond with prayer.

Jesus prayed in the garden, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You (Mark 14:36)!” Remember God’s love for you. “Abba” is an Aramaic word. It means “papa, daddy.” “Father” comes from a Greek word. Who takes care of us? Our Father does! Remember also God’s power. “All things are possible” for Him.

One person said, “We’ve tried everything else. I guess we should pray.” No! Our first response must be to pray.

Our second priority is to love. Peter said, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” In a crisis we must come together especially as a church family. Tough times should drive us together never apart.

Did you see the video clip of the Chinese house church in Wuhan passing out masks and gloves and caring for the sick? We must love others. Times of stress make relationships difficult. Stress at work is often brought home into our marriages. A special needs child adds great stress to a family.

Our love must be fervent. We are to love one another earnestly. The love is agape love that focuses upon others. Our love must be forgiving. “Love covers a multitude of sins.” In stressful times some will temporarily make bad choices. We go after them and love them and forgive them when they return.

Our love must be practical. We are commanded to “show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Hospitality means “the love of strangers.” In 70 AD many lost their homes. People fled. Christians took them into their homes and loved them. How do we obey this priority without grumbling? Ultimately, we do it for the Lord Jesus Himself. Matthew 25 says that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit those in prison we are doing so for the Lord Himself.

The third priority is to use our spiritual gifts in verses 10 and 11. We will talk about this next week! Every Christian is uniquely gifted to serve others. Get off the sideline and use your gifting for God’s glory!

Is America facing a crisis today? Is the coronavirus very serious or only a temporary blip? Only time will tell. Events will unfold. The truth will become known. God does His greatest works in times of greatest darkness. God raises up the greatest leaders in the most difficult times. When a crisis comes, be a person of prayer and a person of love and a person of service for God’s glory!

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.