Social Distancing is not normal!

You can avoid the isolation of social distancing by connecting with God, and with others in ways that are still meaningful.

Our creator knows that humans thrive THROUGH CONNECTION and in loving relationships.

Social distancing goes against all our natural instincts. We engage, greet, and hug before the conscious mind grabs our attention and reminds us of the new order. Social distancing feels weird. It is awkward for me and impersonal.

I feel distance and emptiness. But I know it’s necessary. This is not like anything we have ever faced.

Social connection is natural and we are naturally designed for connection.

God knows we need companionship. In Genesis, he wrote,  “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18)

Science confirmed what God previously revealed — we need relationships. Even the Lone Ranger didn’t do it alone. Tonto was a great companion for him. Batman had Robin and Lucy had Ethel.

We need each other.

I need you and you need me.

Scripture details the relationship and underscores the value of a relationship. Here are some examples of places the scripture indicates that we are to be in a relationship intentionally and with care:

• Love one another (John 13:34 (16 times)
• Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
• Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
• Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
• Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Be like minded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
• Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
• Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)
• Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
• Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
• Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
• Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
• Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
• Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
• Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)
• Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
• Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and songs (Ephesians 5:19)
• Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
• Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
• Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
• Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
• Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
• Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
• Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
• Stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)

You can take many of the above scriptures and still connect with people in order to avoid the feeling of isolation that may come with social distancing. This may be through making a phone call, a video call, or even ordering a special gift to brighten someone’s day. Take a moment to go through your contacts, or to ask God who you can reach out to today, and even ask him for a unique way to do so. You may be surprised at what or who comes to mind!

We are a body of believers.

Each one in the body has a significant gift. Every person is made unique. Dare we say that we are YOU-nique? Yes!

We discover how significant we are when we step into God’s purpose. This happens best when God aligns the moments we step out and serve others with our gift. I have seen this happen when people are clearing away the debris of a tornado, singing a song, or doing a TED talk.

God can show up anywhere, at any time. Have you ever witnessed a moment that shifted from natural to the supernatural? The supernatural occurs most in moments when we leverage and use the gifts and the talents God has given to us.

We are all empowered by God to serve others with our gifts.

Discovering and deploying our gifts occurs most in people who are defined by God and not by our feelings.

Here is God’s thoughts about you – He wants to connect!

When the battle is raging and it seems like the ill effects of isolation from social distancing are setting in, take the time to spend a few moments with God and meditate on His Word.

·      I will not be condemned by God.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

·      I have been set free from the law of sin and death.

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

·      As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ.

And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)–if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:17)

·      I have been accepted by Christ.

Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory. (Romans 15:7)

·      I have been called to be a saint.

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2). (See also Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, and Colossians 1:2.)

·      In Christ Jesus, I have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption … (1 Corinthians 1:30).

·      My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 6:19).

·      I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.

But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17).

·      God leads me in the triumph and knowledge of Christ.

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).

·      I am a new creature in Christ.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away–look, what is new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

·      have become the righteousness of God in Christ.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us so that in him we would become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

·      have been made one with all who are in Christ Jesus.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female–for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

·      am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir.

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God (Galatians 4:7).

·      have been set free in Christ.

For freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

·      I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

·     I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (Ephesians 1:4).

·      I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ.

In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

·      I have been predestined by God to obtain an inheritance.

In Christ, we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11).

·      I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)–when you believed in Christ–you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

·      Because of God’s mercy and love, I have been made alive with Christ.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ–by grace, you are saved (Ephesians 2:4-5)!

·      I am seated in heavenly places with Christ.

And he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … (Ephesians 2:6).

·      I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:10).

 

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