A new lockdown list
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true… noble… just… pure… lovely… of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on (think about) these things (Philippians 4:8).
Last night Boris Johnson, our Prime Minister, announced a new lockdown to protect the country from the increasing effects of COVID-19. Lockdown restricts us in so many ways. We cannot live our lives normally, and what is particularly distressing is not being able to mix freely with family and friends. It seems the list of things we cannot do has grown longer over the past weeks, and we find ourselves in the same position as when the restrictions began. But perhaps not!
June is always telling me to write lists. I tell her I keep my lists in my head. She is not at all convinced my head is the best place for lists and has collated a significant body of evidence to prove her case. So, I thought I would try her new approach this morning and use Paul’s list in Philippians 4 as a starting point.
1 True. It is manifestly true that the past months have not dampened or undermined the faith of the Christians I know. Instead, they have turned their eyes upon Jesus and found ways of overcoming restrictions to encourage one another in the pathway of faith and reach out to others. The surge in Zoom meetings for outreach, ministry, missionary encouragement and fellowship is just one example (1 Corinthians 15:58).
2 Noble primarily means “well-born”, usually in the sense of being a member of a privileged family. Our nobility comes from being made God’s “own special people” (1 Peter 2:9), and it is expressed through God’s grace in us.
3 Just describes doing right in the sight of God and for the benefit of others. It is associated with faith: “Now the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). COVID-19 and the restrictions it causes do not have the last word on our existence: our lives are in Christ. We have eternal security, and we are enabled to walk by faith, trusting our Saviour and living the abundant life He has given us in adverse circumstances.
4 Pure. We are to love and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:22). We have called on the name of the Lord and seen remarkable answers to prayer over the past months. These answers should encourage us to pray more urgently and confidently.
5 Lovely. Lockdown has taught us to look for what is admirable in others. Not to find fault but faith, not to distance but to embrace, and to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
6 Good report. The basis of all that is good in our lives is the “good tidings” of the Saviour (Luke 2:10). May the Gospel and its blessings always be in our hearts and empower us in seeking to bring others to the Saviour and to share good news.
May the God of peace be with us all (Philippians 4:9).
