The Church Sofa

Because of our unfailing love, I can enter your house;

Psalm 5:7a, New Living Translation

We take a lot for granted. Currently in the UK we’re in lock down due to the world wide crisis caused by the corona virus. And you don’t realise how much we take for granted until you no longer have it. I used to never think anything of taking my kids to the local park, so much so that I probably didn’t do it enough as we could always do it tomorrow. Now we can’t and we really miss it! I read a story the other day of an older gentleman in Italy (I have no idea if this story is true but I like it anyway) who was admitted to the ICU because he was struggling to breath due to the corona virus. He needed to use a ventilator for a day to help him breath and was hooked up to tanks of oxygen to make sure he stayed alive. After he’d recovered and was being discharged from the hospital he was given the bill for the use of the ventilator, the equivalent of about £500. He started to cry. The nurse discharging him offered him support and started to explain about payment options to ease the burden. He stopped her and said that he didn’t have a problem paying the bill, it’s just that he couldn’t believe how much he must owe God for the breath he’d taken every other day.

I certainly took it for granted that I could go to church, worship God and lead others in worship. You’d hear of other governments saying that religious gatherings weren’t allowed yet here we are in the UK not able to meet as the church and finding new ways to be and do church.

Fortunately we don’t need to rely on a physical space or place to enter God’s house. We know that under the new covenant in Jesus that we are living temples and that God dwells in us. But how amazing that any time and in any moment we can enter God’s presence.

Prayer

Thank you God that you are give us so much so freely. Thank you for the air we breath, the food we eat and the world you created. Thank you that we can enter your presence wherever we are. Help us to remember this and not take this for granted! Amen.