The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed that when Christians believe they are in danger, they are more than willing to be equipped and educated about the danger, and take the necessary steps to protect themselves and the people they love. As the world considers which precautions to take to ensure the greatest health, safety, and protection of their physical bodies, Christ has given us an abundance of precautions to ensure the greatest health, safety, and protection of His own body- the church. Have you ever considered the following precautions to guard the health of the church body you are a member of? Or are you more familiar with the public health order than the Bible? What if these were "conditions" upon which you were allowed to attend the church gathering?

• Please come to church clothed with Christ (Rom. 13:14), including the following items:
  • Belt of truth
  • Breastplate of righteousness
  • Footwear prepared with the Gospel of Peace
  • Shield of Faith
  • Helmet of Salvation
  • Sword of the Spirit with prayer (Eph. 6:10-18)
• Please keep a Bible with you at all times (this will be easier if the Word of God is in your heart) (Ps. 119:11)
• Please confess your sin to God, who justly forgives your sin because of Christ  (1 John 1:9-2:2)
• Please abide in our Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:1-11)
• Be thankful to God (1. Thes. 5:18)
• Please be primarily under the influence of the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)
• Do not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30)
• Please walk in a manner worthy of your position in Christ and His Body (Eph. 4:1-6)
• Please participate in being equipped by your pastors (Eph. 4:12)
• Please be employed in serving and building the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12)
• Do not withhold forgiveness from a brother or sister (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13))
• Walk in love at all times, seeking the best for others before yourself (Eph. 5:1-2)
• There is no gossip or slander allowed (Eph. 4:29, 31)
• No bitterness, wrath, anger, and clamor is allowed (Eph. 4:31)
• No lying, flattery, or other deception is allowed (Eph. 4:25; Prov. 6:16-19; Col. 3:9)
• No grumbling (1 Cor. 10:10)
• Repent of sexual immorality, covetousness, and idolatry (Eph. 5:3-7; 1 Cor. 10:7-9)
• Do not consider man’s interests above God’s interests (Matthew 16:22-23)
• Please expose deeds of darkness when known (Eph. 5:11-16)
• Be devoted to one another in brotherly/sisterly love. (Rom. 12:10)
• Outdo one another in showing honor. (Rom. 12:10)
• Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another (Rom. 13:8)
• Pursue the things which make for peace and building up of one another (Rom. 14:19)
• Be of the same mind toward one another according to Christ Jesus. (Rom. 15:5)
• Accept one another, as Christ has accepted us. (Rom. 15:7)
• Admonish/Counsel one another. (Rom. 15:14)
• Greet one another. (Rom. 16:16)
• Wait for one another. (1 Cor. 11:33)
• Care for one another. (1 Cor. 12:25)
• Serve one another through love (Gal. 5:13)
• Do not become boastful, challenging and envying one another (Gal. 5:26)
• Bear one another’s burdens. (Gal. 6:2)
• Be kind to one another. (Eph. 4:32)
• Speak to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. (Eph. 5:19-20) 
• Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph. 5:21)
• Increase and abound in love for one another. (1 Thes. 3:12)
• Comfort one another. (1 Thes. 4:18)
• Encourage one another. (1 Thes. 5:11)
• Build up one another. (1 Thes. 5:11)
• Seek after that which is good for one another. (1 Thes. 5:15)
• Stimulate one another to love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24)
• Do not speak against one another, or complain against one another. (James 4:11)
• Confess your sins to one another. (James 5:16)
• Pray for one another. (James 5:16)
• Be hospitable to one another without complaint. (1 Peter 4:9)
• Fervently love one another from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22)

When Jesus was quarantined in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), the first temptation that Satan used against the Lord, was for Christ to consider His physical health above His spiritual health (4:2-3). Do you remember Jesus' reply?

"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (4:4)

Physical health is important, but should not supersede our trust in God's Word. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:2-3, where it was revealed that God allowed His people to experience the wilderness (removal of earthly comfort), 

• to humble them (8:2)
• to expose what was in their heart (8:2)
• to expose their view of His Word, to obey or not (8:2)

Most of Israel failed, but our Lord succeeded in His test, and because He has done so, we have power to walk in His ways by a healthy fear of Him (Deut. 8:6)!

Now, to be fair, Satan's next temptation was the opposite extreme- which was for Jesus to test God by recklessly applying God's promises out of selfishness (e.g. jumping off a building because of God's safety promises).

Dear church, how can we be careful to know how to navigate our current trials? Satan's third attack was temption toward misplaced worship. What you fear, is what you will serve. If what you fear most is not God, that is called idolatry, and we need to be honest about those idols. What we fear most usually exposes what we want most; Health or Holiness? Comfort, or Christ? How did Jesus respond?

"Be gone Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.'" (4:10)

And angels came and ministered to Him. 

Saints, these temptations by Satan represent his best stuff. Satan brought His "biggest guns" to the battle. He lost against Jesus, but these temptations have won against many believers. Don't join them. Trust God, and every word. If you need help, please pray, and say something to someone who knows God's Word, and read God's Word, and keep God's Word. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 
- 1 Peter 5:6-10