We all deserve to die as payment for the sins we have committed.  We don’t deserve grace and mercy no matter how good we think we are because we are not good enough.  Nevertheless, God is so wonderful. He has given us the gift of eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.  We are buried with Him in baptism and empowered by his Holy Spirit to follow Him for the rest of our eternal lives.  

Adria Dunn

January 9~SPIRITUAL SOCIAL DISTANCING: SPIRITUALLY DISCONNECTED 

Isaiah 59:2  “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

The iniquities and sins of this world have caused a spiritual separation between man and God.  Just as we have to practice social distancing due to the pandemic, God also distances Himself from us when we sin.  Just as this virus has changed the way we live and interact with society, sin changes how God interacts with us.  I encourage you and myself not to let anything separate us from God; continue in the faith, follow, and trust God in all situations, obey His voice, and keep this flesh under the submission of the Holy Ghost.  Let’s not sin against God because it can be detrimental to our spiritual connection with Him.

Debra Drakes

January 8~SPIRITUAL SOCIAL DISTANCING: BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY

2 Peter 3:11  “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”

The phrase social distancing has become a part of our everyday vernacular but even long ago in Jewish custom an individual was given four cubits (six feet) of personal space to pray with intention.  In the scripture 2 Peter 3:11, the question is asked what manner of person are we to be with all that is going on around us?  The answer is found in verse 14 which says to “be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”  Saints of the Most High, God said, “Be ye Holy for I AM Holy!” Saints, let us be found being diligent in prayer and fasting, reading and adhering to God’s Word, keeping our lives and conversations holy so that we may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Natosha Harris

January 7~SPIRITUAL SOCIAL DISTANCING:  SPREADING THE GOSPEL THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

I Timothy 4:12  “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Paul told Timothy that his young age shouldn’t matter when it comes to proclaiming the gospel and serving in the Church.  Many young people have had powerful spiritual experiences.  How can we show our dedication to the gospel at this time of the pandemic?  Be a good witness and an example to the believers and to the world!  Even though we are social distancing, we can witness through social media and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Tanya Covington

January 6~SPIRITUAL SOCIAL DISTANCING: CLEANSING IN PREPARATION 

2 Corinthians 7:1  “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Washing and cleansing our physical body is a constant normality to us.  This concept must also become a spiritual consistency.  We must purge and cleanse ourselves of anything that is not like God.  Cleansing requires elimination of any defilement that will pollute our body or spirit.  I urge you to pull off and separate today to ensure you make the ultimate final destination of heaven tomorrow.

Nicola Conwell

Who wrote this?
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.”

Jan 04 answer: walk, agreed (Amos 3:3)

January 5~SPIRITUAL SOCIAL DISTANCING: KNOWING WHO’S IN CONTROL

Hebrews 10:22  “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.  In my experience, you should never try to live without Jesus.  When you try to go a day without Jesus, one becomes weak.  But, oOne week with Jesus heals the soul and strengthens the body.  “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:7)

Jesse Coates

January 4~SPIRITUAL SOCIAL DISTANCING: WE CAN BE SOCIAL, BUT DISTANCED!

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

In order to be righteous in God, we have to come out from among them and not do the same things as the old man did in the world.  We have to be DISTANT and DIFFERENT in order to become the righteousness of God and touch not the unclean thing.  In Him, we are righteous. 

Bridgette Johnson

“Can two ____ together, except they be _________?”

Jan 03 answer: David (Psalm 4:3)

January 3~SPIRITUAL SOCIAL DISTANCING: KEEP A SPIRITUAL DISTANCE

Psalm 119:9  “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Cleansing implies that the way you are is polluted by what is going on around you.  First, our hearts must be renewed then we must transform our lives to make it clean and keep it clean from the corruption that is in the world.  We have to keep a spiritual distance. We, as saints, must make the Word of God our Rule, acquaint ourselves with it and resolve to conform ourselves to it, and examine our lives by the Word of God!  Finding strength and wisdom in reading God’s Word and doing what it says is the way to stay pure in a polluted environment.

Pearlie Bearden