Repent!

Many Christians never talk about sin and repentance. Many never talk about the need to fall on your knees and confess your sin to God. Many never talk about how we human creatures offend the majesty and holiness of God.

But if we don't talk about repentance, we miss the point of the cross. If we don't talk about repentance, we forget the main reason why Jesus came. If we don't talk about repentance, we don't understand the wonder of God accepting us. If we don't talk about repentance, we end up believing that Jesus only came to make us feel good. If we don't talk about repentance, we think what is wrong with us requires only a hug and friendship, instead of a bloody Cross.

Repentance means that we see our sins as God sees it. To repent means we see our sins as sins – without excuse, without a victim mentality, without making light of them. To repent means we see the depths of our sin.

And, to repent means we recognize the wonders of God's grace, mercy and love. There is a correlation between seeing our sin and God's love. The more we see the depths of our sin, the more we see the heights of God's love.

Mark 1: 15: Jesus said: “The time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent! – and believe the good news."

"The time has come." We must make a radical decision: either to continue in our sin and live without God, or repent and experience the joy of salvation.

ONLY JESUS CAN!

I cannot save myself o God,
- no one can, my Lord!
There is no one, to take away
all my guilt, unrighteousness!
Just Jesus can,
can achieve God’s gospel plan.
Yes, Jesus can,
o holy God,
only Jesus can!

A Saviour pure, I need, o God,
- sinless man and God,
to carry all my punishment,
satisfy your will, your wrath!
Pure Jesus can,
sinless Christ, the Son of man.
Lord Jesus can,
the Son of God,
only Jesus can!
only Jesus can!

Sung to the music of I WORSHIP YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD.

Only by grace I’m saved!

Washed with the blood of Christ,
cleansed with his Spirit’s flame,
only by grace was called to live,
and only by grace, I came!

Only by grace I live,
only by grace restored.
Only by grace my faith is real:
I’m only by grace adored!

Only by grace I love,
only by grace believe,
and by the Spirit’s gracious work,
a trusting heart receive!

Jesus has made me whole,
into God’s heart engraved.
Father who chose me – praise the Lord -
yes, only by grace I’m saved!


Sung to the music of “Breathe on me, Breath of God.

Saved!

The word "saved" is a remarkable word within Christianity. It is a descriptive word that says that although we were lost, now we are found. People, whom the Lord saved, are people that he found and brought back to his family. The Lord, in his mercy, searches for us until he finds us. This is the process by which he helps us understand and accept that we are lost without Christ, and if we surrender to Jesus Christ, he found us, and we are saved.

There are not many roads that lead to salvation. There is only one way to heaven. Tragically, many do not travel on that way.

Paul writes the following about being saved: If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10: 8-9)

To be saved means that you believe and that you confess. You believe that God raised Jesus from the dead – that he is victorious over anything and everything that made us into “lost people” and then you (sincerely) confess that he is your Lord. This is what saved people do.

There is something within us, part of our weak sinful hearts, which prefers to work for, and earn to be saved. We hope that if we could just be good enough, we will somehow be worthy to inherit God’s promise of eternal life with him.

Can someone who needs to be saved from drowning tell the life guard that he or she would rather try to swim to safety? Can someone beneath the rubble after an earth quake afford to say to the person who came to save him or her, that they would rather dig themselves out of that life threatening danger? Will anyone who became lost from Christ’s family and God’s church and who is in the dark, find the way home by themselves, without the Light, Jesus our Lord?

I completely owe my salvation to God. He saved me. Jesus Christ had to die for me, and I have to surrender to him in order to have eternal life, I have to give him my life. If I believe in my heart that God raised him form the dead and confess out loud that he is my Lord – I know that he saved me.

To quit trying to save yourself and start trusting the living Jesus, and surrendering to his Lordship, is what the Bible calls faith - faith through which we are saved.

Surrender now to him. Confess it today. Live it everyday!
There is only one way to heaven and it is not the way of human effort. It is the way of responding to God’s divine initiative. It is the way of having a personal relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ. It is the way of surrender to the Saviour. Surrender to Lord Jesus, the Saviour, today, and you are saved.

Forgiven and Restored

When Jesus was asked to preach in his home town, Nazareth, he claimed these words form the Book of Isaiah to refer to him: (Luke 4: 19) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour". It refers to what in the Old Testament was known as the Jubilee year.

A Jubilee year is a year to celebrate Israel's entry into the promised land, flowing with milk and honey. It is a year to celebrate Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt, and above all, to celebrate God's goodness towards his people, Israel.

In a Jubilee year the land lies uncultivated. Both the land and the people rest and are restored. And it is in this year that debts are cleared: a time when mortgaged land is returned to its owners and Hebrew slaves are freed; it is a time of restitution and fulfilled hope. A Jubilee year had a theme of forgiveness and restoration.

These celebrative events continue to declare the will of God for his people. God's will is to forgive and restore us, no matter what we have done or who we were before we became a child of God.

Jesus came to proclaim that the time of God's favour has come for you and me.
It means -
In Christ, God restores what is impossible for us to do.
In Christ, God has cancelled our debt to him.
In Christ, God has forgiven us our sins.
In Christ, God has set us free to live as his children.
In Christ, God has set us free to enter the eternal promised land of his glory.
In Christ, God gives us renewed life through his presence with us.

The humble church has to face the fact of the "already but not yet."

Already at the cross and in the grave we have shared in the death and resurrection of Christ. Already the old man of sin is dead and the new man of righteousness is alive if we are Christians. Already if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation and the old has passed away.

But lets be humble, because the old man has not yet fully gone. The new man has not yet fully taken over. The fact is, we still sin.
So we already have new life but it is not yet fully displayed.

Think here of a couple expecting a child. They are in the "already but not yet." In one way they already have a child and in another way they do not yet have a child. They can hardly wait for the child to become a full reality in their life. In the same way, we believers experience the already but not yet of our new life in Christ, but we have to wait patiently before it becomes a complete reality on the Day of the Lord.

I love the words of Col2: 3 & 4: "your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." The life guaranteed by God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as ours at our baptism, is not fully ours yet; it is still hidden in Christ, but will be fully revealed at his second coming.

We can draw great comfort and strength from this when we become discouraged by our sins and failures, when accusing fingers get pointed at us. When this happens, we can console ourselves that there will come a time when our new lives in Christ will be fully and completely revealed for all to see: at the cross and the grave we died and have risen with Christ.

Because we humbly acknowledge the “not yet” of our existence, we are motivated to "put to death" what already died on the cross: "sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (Col 3:5). We must rid ourselves of "anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language" (Col 3:8). We must not lie to each other (Col 3:9). Instead, we must clothe ourselves with what we own, but has not yet been fully disclosed: "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Col 3:12). We must bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. And, above all we must have love (Col 3:13,14).
This is how the death of Christ – and his resurrection – becomes more and more unveiled in the humble church, – until on the Day of the Lord, when it will be fully revealed and we will also share in his glory!

Lets embrace this truth, personally promised to each of us when we were baptised, by taking off the filthy rags of the old life and put on the clothes of Christ’s resurrection - compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, purity and love!
Lets live out what we already are, in anticipation of what we in humility know we are not yet, but certainly will be!

The humble church can remain one in following Jesus

Diversity is as visible in the church as it is in society. There are many “brands” of churches and our members come from most of these church backgrounds. There are liberal, conservative, reformed, Anglo-catholic, Pentecostal and charismatic churches. There are white, black, brown, English and Afrikaans churches. Our members come from all these church backgrounds. And it is a challenge for our quest for unity in Christ.

It requires all the humility Christ can give us through his Spirit to pursue the dream of "One Jesus, and therefore united in one Church!"

Yet the Bible teaches that we must serve and love as one in his church, because we follow one Jesus. He is the Head of the Christian church which is a single, universal Body with one purpose.

According to Acts 1: 14 – 15, the Christian church was established when all the believers were together in one place and prayed in one accord. The result was that our Lord sent the Holy Spirit to fill the church and let the Spirit take charge of it. (Acts 2:1-4). This church was so strong in the power of the risen Christ, that they in one generation claimed all of the known ancient world for Jesus. (Acts 17:6).

Therefore we must always be careful that Jesus’ personal influence on us and as such on his church and work, never becomes less as a result of personal or ethnic causes and passions becoming more important than him.
It is Christ’s will to respond to our coming together as his one, holy Bride, by giving us spiritual growth, stronger faith, hope, love, inspiration and a sense of calling and obedience when we as his Body, only focus on following Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Real unity can only exist in the church, when we humbly focus on our Saviour. Then we can live up to a slogan that says: one Jesus, one Church! The purpose of unity against all odds, is to efficiently serve Christ and his work.

The Christian church began by being in one accord, in prayer. They experienced the fullness of the Spirit and as a result experienced a unity of love to the extent that many converted, because they were convinced by this unity in Christ that Jesus really is alive and is the almighty leader of his people that lives and reigns in his church. (Acts 2:4, 44-47; 4:23-37)

When we become proudly self-centred and more concerned about ourselves and our preferences than about the Body in which we find love, mercy and salvation, there will be a decline in our spiritual growth and passion for the Lord. Only a congregation that follows Jesus as one, can ever experience unity and in this unity share in the power of the risen Christ Jesus.

What does God require of us in order to be more like the first church? To never be half-hearted in our obedience to him. We must be passionate in our pursuit for the honour and will of our Lord. We must give Jesus pre-eminence in all things. We must demonstrate our love for Jesus with humble, sacrificial lives of obedience, serving him, because we are to do his work as one. This is Christ’s purpose and intention for us!

Shall we not during 2010 consistently unite in prayer and worship and in the experience of the powerful leadership of Jesus in everything we do? Then we can move ahead as one Church, with the sole purpose to follow, love and obey one Jesus!

The power of the humble church...

If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19-20)

"Where two or three are gathered together in my name," Jesus says, "I am in the midst of them." The power of the church does not lie in the numbers that it can gather together. What a mistaken idea it is, that if we can get enough people together, we shall have enough power to correct the things that are wrong in the world and set them right again. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nor is the power of the church the status which it occupies in a community. The power of the church does not rest in its numbers, its status, its wealth, its money, its position.

The power of the Church of Jesus Christ is stated right here. "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

Let us rejoice in this! Jesus Christ lives and moves in our midst. We belong to him and his life is expressed through us. It is only through him that prayer makes its glorious impact.
It is only through his presence that prayer has world changing power, meaning and value.

It is only in the power of Jesus always present, that the humble church shares in "all the power in heaven and on earth" Jesus received at his exultation!

Numbers, Discipleship and humility!

When one minister meets another, a question usually asked is, "How big is your church?" The replies immediately establish the pecking order. The minister with the larger church automatically has the greater status.

Numerous seminars are conducted on church growth, on the latest and greatest way to attract more people into a church, and the programmes that will surely succeed in growing the numbers. When you ask ministers for their God-given vision, usually it will be focused around increasing the numbers of people in their church. Visions range from hundreds to thousands.

Yet the reality is that 90% of churches worldwide that effectively involve the un-churched, point them to Jesus and disciple them, would be humble churches and leaders that have less than 100 members, with the majority having less than 50, according to reliable Missiologists.

The reality is, we do measure success by numbers, because in many cases our visions for our churches are human based and worldly, rather than God based, Biblical and humbly dependent only on what God gives and provides.

What is God's way? What are we really called to? What does the Great Commission actually say?
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20.
It does not say to get everyone in the world into the same constituted church, but to make "disciples", for it is only disciples who will "obey everything Jesus has commanded."

Jesus, although he also spoke to large crowds of people, only attempted to train 12 male leader disciples, and one of them didn't last the distance. He did of course, also train a number of women disciples, but according to the customs of the times, they weren't listed in the NT in the same way as their male counterparts. We simply find them all over the NT doing the job! Much like we find so many ladies in our own churches, humbly doing what really counts, being disciples and making disciples according to Bible-principles, without claiming the glamour and status often associated with holding an office!

The point really is that it is impossible to disciple people in large groups. For developing discipleship is a relational activity. One on one. Or in small groups. This is the most effective way for a minister / pastor, an elder, a small group leader or a women’s fellowship group to 'shepherd' God's people. And shepherding is the true role of a pastor, and of any member in Christ’s church.

God is calling on his church to discard the human based philosophy that 'big is best' and to go back to the relational basis of discipleship that Jesus humbly modelled in his own ministry.

The vast majority of ministers out there whose churches are not growing into 'mega-churches', take courage. The Lord first and foremost desires you to encourage your people to a deeper commitment to the Lord. It is through your pastoral commitment to discipleship that the Lord will say, "Well-done, good and faithful servant'". This vision Jesus gave us through his own example! Let us put aside the ways of man's 'biggest and brightest' philosophy and return to the Biblical pattern of discipleship, of commitment, of submission, of humility and of obedience to God.

Yes, you certainly do find large churches with sound Biblical teaching, with reverence for God, with the humility Jesus required from his followers and a motivation to serve, driven by the promises of grace, rather than by the potential of man. You also find big churches with sound teaching, that host excellent programs that benefit the poor, the seekers and those keen on growing in grace and sanctification.
But then in these cases there will also be true, Christ like shepherding that requires enough ministers, well trained elders and enough group leaders for the development of discipleship.

Remember the warning to the Laodicean church:
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Revelation 3:15-18)

To those prepared to change their ways and become disciples of Jesus, a wonderful promise is made: 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20)

Ministers, Pastors, Elders, Leaders, Christians: your shepherding / serving role is simply to encourage people to open their doors to Jesus and feast with him every day.

Humility - a gift that leads to salvation and service

To be humble is a gracious gift that leads to salvation and service.
Humility is the attitude with which men and women turn to God in faith for eternal salvation. In this way Christ will increase, and we will decrease!

And also no man or woman can truly be a Christian helper to others or the work of the Church, until we come to a place where we humble ourselves before those whom we ought to help. We must put the interest of fellow Christians first, before our own. And then the glorious paradox of Christianity becomes evident, namely that:
When we die to self, we live; when we give up our lives, we find them; when we abandon our pursuit of impure pleasure, we become totally fulfilled. And so humility result in a path of wonderful blessings.

Those who have chosen not to humbly submit to God, must know that while God presently allows men and women to rebel against him, soon he will subject all creation, when Jesus comes again. The choice is ours, we can submit now or be subjected by force later. Either way, we will bow the knee to him who is above all and over all. The difference is that Christians now humbly submit to God with great joy in their hearts, while unbelievers will be painfully forced to do so on the Day of the Lord, as they enter their doom:

Philippians 2: 9 - 11: Therefore also God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The prerequisite for humble submission to God, which leads to humble service of those given to us by God to serve, is the word “surrender”. When we are saved by grace through faith, we submit to God, to the authority of his Word, and to Christ as his means of salvation. This means that we surrender to God!

Once we have truly surrendered to God, the natural fruit of this surrender will be humble service; to give up our lives for Christ’s work and receive fulfilment in God’s will and not in our pursuit of selfish ambition or worldly pleasure! Once we surrender, humility will be the natural outcome of the work of the Holy Spirit within us. It is the fruit of our walk with Christ.

We can choose to serve God and to serve one another, in love!
Gal 5: 13 – 15:
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself."

May we, by God’s grace, practice true humility, serving from the heart, to his glory.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD - continues

Joshua 24:15 quotes Joshua as saying: "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Families that live by this Word, worship the Lord.
Congregational, family, and personal worship are all included in this concept of service. Families that serve the Lord, faithfully gather together with his people on Sundays for joyful worship, praise, and song. And families that serve the Lord also have a time of daily Bible reading and prayer with young children and teens. In families that serve the Lord, individual members of the family also spend time with God in personal devotions, or quiet times.

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Families that live by this Word are obedient to the Lord.
They obey God, joyfully, willingly, and eagerly. As people set free, redeemed, and ransomed by the blood of the Lamb, we want to serve God, our Father, and be ready to do his will.

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Families that live by this Word are children of God and are servants of Christ and of his Gospel.

Lets pray that Jesus is central to every marriage and to every family and to every life. Lets pray that whatever the cost, we by grace will choose to serve the Lord, who is God that loves us in Christ Jesus.

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Our Sunday School opens on Sunday, 17 January in three brand new class rooms! We look forward to see the children and teachers enjoying these excellent facilities. As a church we ask this question, though - Will parents be faithful during 2010 in bringing their children to church to be trained up in the the Bible truths and to learn how to love, serve and follow Jesus Christ their Saviour. Are families still willing to choose to serve God - as a family?

We bring our children to church, because we as a family choose to serve God!

Joshua 24: 14 – 18: "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness… . But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served… or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we travelled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."

Children copy what takes place around them. This is how they learn to speak, walk, behave and believe in God! If we, like Joshua, choose to serve the Lord, we effectively make it possible for our children to come to God. If we choose any thing else to be more important to us than the Lord and serving and worshipping him, or fail to bring them to church, we are practically preventing them from coming to Jesus, their Saviour.

Parents choose, through their example, to make it possible for their children to love Jesus, or to sideline him!

What does the Lord require from us?

This not a new question. All who are committed to serve God and make the Lord our first priority, have always asked this question. The prophet Micah, in the Old Testament, quoted the following questions of the people of his time as to what it is that God may want of them. Micah quotes them as saying:
(Micah 6:6-7) With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? (7) Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Israel and Judah thought they knew what the Lord requires: they thought it was sacrificial religion. In today's language, Israel and Judah thought that going to church was more than enough! And yes, the Lord does want praise and worship from his children. He loves their gifts and offerings. But, he wants more than a Sunday Service response to his grace. Micah tells us that God's requirements extend to all of the week and not just to what happens in church!
(Micah 6:8) He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

God requires from his people to act justly. This first of all means to accept responsibility for the well-being of the weakest members of society: the unborn, the babies, children, orphans, the elderly, people living with disability or poverty and others.

God's people are being asked to act like God. Over and over again Scripture tells us about God's concern for the weak and helpless. Deuteronomy 10:18, for instance: "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." The Gospels present to us a picture of Jesus who has compassion for the crowds who come to hear about his Kingdom, who wants little children to come to him, who heals the sick, who has mercy on lepers, who rehabilitates prostitutes and who promises forgiveness and salvation to prisoners. Jesus was angry about any and all injustice and treated all people equally.

According to Micah, God also requires that his people love mercy. To love mercy is to be filled with a longing, even a thirst, to help others, and to do kind and compassionate deeds for those who are in need.
In a country where there is so much hunger and poverty and hardship, we are always to act like God and love mercy.

Finally, what does the Lord require of you, but "to walk humbly with your God." This is the most important of the three requirements. In fact, unless you walk humbly with your God, you cannot act justly or love mercy.

To walk humbly with God means to live for God and make him the centre of everything in your life. It means to live a life of fellowship with God. It means to give the control of your life to Jesus, who gave his life for you. It means to be filled with the Spirit and the power of Christ so that you are a new creation. It means to spend time with God in prayer, being trained in Scripture and to follow Jesus every day in what the Bible calls the life of discipleship.

Living for Jesus is to walk humbly with your God.
Every day, everywhere, under all circumstances!

May the blessings of our just and merciful God help and sustain us, always.

Humility

A music professor with a well-trained voice usually sang the major male solo parts in the choir of a large church. A young man named Bob who had no training sometimes took a few shorter solos. As the choir director prepared for the Christmas cantata, she felt that Bob’s voice and style made him a natural for the lead role. However, she didn’t know how she could give it to him without offending the older man.
Her anxiety was unnecessary. The professor had the same thoughts as she did, and he told her that Bob should take the part. He continued to sing faithfully in the chorus and was a source of much encouragement to Bob.

People who can humbly set aside selfish ambition and genuinely seek the good of others, have an attitude that pleases God. This is how John the Baptist reacted when the crowds left him and began following Jesus. John said, “Jesus must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:22 - 30).

What did John the Baptist and the music professor have in common? They were happy to see others elevated above themselves where the purpose is to serve God in the best possible way.

Do we understand what this humility is that enables us to bow humble hearts before the Lord and enter his service unconditionally? To let him be everything and we simply being his servants! To truly live our confession of faith that says that Jesus is King and Head of his church, which means that he must become more, greater! He must increase, always! All we do is to serve him, obey him, be the church he wants us to be and be the Christians he wants us to be!

When we can forget about ourselves, we can do things others will remember.

Epiphany reveals the glory of the only Son of the Father!

Jn 1:14: The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us.

Let me repeat the middle line: "We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father."

John is saying that Jesus is God. Like God, Jesus is glorious. In the glory of Jesus, God is revealing himself to man. And he expects the same response to the glory of Jesus than to his own glory - worship, praise, and obedience and faith (Jn 20:31).

When we read through the Gospels, we see glimpses of this glory. The first of Christ's miracles that John writes about is the miracle of Jesus changing water into wine.
(Jn 2:11) This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory ...

What is true for this miracle, is true for all the miracles: they reveal his glory, the glory of God. Read any miracle: the healing of the official's son (John 4:43ff), the cure of the man at Bethesda pool (John 5:1ff), the multiplication of the fish and loaves to feed the 5000 (John 6:1ff), Jesus walking on water (John 6:16ff), sight given to a man born blind (John 9:1ff), Lazarus raised from the dead (John 11:1ff); all of these wonderful, powerful, awe-inspiring acts give us glimpses of glory, they give us glimpses of God!

"We have seen his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father." What is this glory John is talking about? At the beginning of the Gospel, we realise that the complete glory is still to come. The real glory is yet to be revealed. The real glory of Jesus is something we do not see until he has died on the cross and rose from the grave.

Remember what Jesus said to his mother when she told him there was no more wine at the wedding feast in Cana. Jesus said, "My time has not yet come" (Jn 2:4). The time for the fullness of his glory to be revealed had not come. It is only when the cross is an immediate prospect that Jesus says, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (John 12:23; John 12:27,28a). And, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you" (John 17:1).

Look at the order. First the cross, then the glory. First the shame, then the highest place in heaven. First the suffering, then the crown. First humiliation, then exaltation.

Paul saw this glory of the risen Lord first-hand. Think of Paul on the Damascus road. He was on his way to persecute and imprison and kill Christians. Then he met the glorified Lord. Listen to the description:
(Acts 26:13-15) ... as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. (14) We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? ...' (15) Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. Acts 9:3-5.

When God showed his glory in the Old Testament, it was always spectacular: Fire, smoke and thunder on Mount Sinai. Pharaoh and his armies drowning. Israel walking through the sea on dry ground. A pillar of cloud and fire. The presence of God filling the Tabernacle and Temple. When John said, "We have seen his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father" (Jn 1:14), the Jewish people would have expected another cosmic spectacle. A display of thunder and lightning and fire and smoke. What they got was a baby, a cross, and a grave. What they got was that God became a human being. Not at all what they expected.

Look at the end of the Bible. John is given a vision of the glorified Christ. Unlike Moses, he does not see only part of God's glory. Unlike Moses, he is not covered with God's hand. Unlike Moses, he sees Jesus as he really is:
(Rev 1:13-16) ... among the lamp stands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. (14) His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. (15) His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. (16) In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance".

Do you hear what is said about all the glory? Do you imagine all the glory? Like Isaiah before him, John was scared by his glimpse of the glory of Christ. But Jesus said, "Do not be afraid" (Rev 1:17).

"We have seen his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father." Why didn't John have to be afraid?
Because of the cross and the grave. Because God became a human being. Because Jesus died and Jesus rose. Because he was dead but now he is alive for ever and ever.
Because all those who receive him, all those who believe in his name, have life in his name and therefore nothing to fear. Jn 20:30.

This is the unique Christian gospel.
It is the only good news we have: The unique glory of God, revealed through becoming and remaining a man for the sake of our salvation and our eternal joy!!

Feast of Epiphany - Lord reveal the light and glory of your love!

Many Christians across the globe remember today, 6 January, that the glory of Jesus was revealed to Wise Men from the east. We too should desire a life changing epiphany of who Jesus really is! We too should pray that light of his love will be known to us. This well known song could just as well have been an "Epiphany Carol!".

Lord, the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine Jesus shine,
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze Spirit blaze, set our hearts on fire!
Flow river flow,
Flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word, Lord –
And let there be light.

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me!

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness,
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me! Shine on me!

Shine Jesus shine,
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze Spirit blaze, set our hearts on fire!
Flow river flow,
Flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word, Lord –
And let there be light.

Twelfth Day of Christmas: Lord - stay with me

In Christian tradition, where the birth of Christ is celebrated on December 25, the arrival of the Magi is celebrated on January 6, called the Feast of Epiphany. This feast is in Eastern Christianity celebrated with more magnificent festivities and church services than 25 December. It was originally within Christianity the day of the giving of presents, following the example of the Magi. This tradition is upheld in Spanish speaking countries and in the Eastern Church. It is only in recent years that the Epiphany was again included in the liturgies and celebrations of some branches of the Western Church, and particularly the Protestant churches.

Epiphany - sometimes also called "Little Christmas" is considered the day when the Messiah was revealed to the Gentiles, while Christmas, the birthday, is considered the day when Jewish believers, such as the shepherds, worshipped the new born King. This is why amongst Gentiles in the East, it became an important day of remembrance and celebration of an “epiphany” of the meaning of the light and love of Christ for the gentile nations.

The twelfth day of Christmas is therefore the Eve of Epiphany.

For most of us the twelfth day of Christmas is the day when decorations are packed away and when we “leave” the contemplation of the meaning of the birthday of Christ, expecting an epiphany of the glory of the Son of God, as it was revealed to his followers through his miracles, parables and other teachings! The real, complete and final epiphany of the glory of Christ comes only when we remember his suffering, and his glorious resurrection during Lent and Easter.

The 12th day of Christmas is a day when we pray that Jesus will not leave us, but show us the fullness of his glory, through his kindness and his victory!

Here follows a prayer for the Eve of Epiphany:

O Lord God of love, where ever I may go,
may your gracious mercy overflow.
Listen to my plea, Lord, listen to my praise,
will adore you all my days.
God of love, your mercy is untainted pure,
with your help and care I am secure.
Never, never leave me, bless me gracious Lord
and never let me go.
Lord let me never, never go.
Let now your power vibrantly show.
For every knee shall bow and every heart rejoice:
Lord Jesus, listen to my plea.

Eleventh Day of Christmas: God with us!

20ten is already 4 days old. Do your resolutions still last?
More importantly, will your faith last for a whole new year with all its challenges? What will make the difference is that we pray to God and that we serve God. God is good and kind and almighty, and serving him will carry, comfort and sustain us. Are we ready to serve God, with our families, during this whole year until the very last day ? Will we keep remembering the Christmastide message that in Jesus, God is with us!

After saying that, we need to ask: What difference do our prayers really make?

1. The first thing we need to remember, is that God is the one who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will’ (Eph 1:11). The most important thing is that I align myself with, is his will (Rom 12:2). I was made by him and for him and find meaning and purpose in his will for me during this year. (Col 1:16). We pray: “You will be done on earth, as it is in heaven….”

2. And then the Bible affirms that God is good. What God created he also cares for (Ps 104). And he has a special care for those he has in Christ adopted as his children. (Eph 1:4-5.) As a Father who loves his children, God invites us to bring all our needs to him. And he promises to hear and answer every one of our prayers (Matt 7:7-11). When you pray, say – “our Father who is in heaven… “

3. At the beginning of the year it is important to be reminded is that nothing is too difficult for God (Gen 18:4, Job 42:2). He is able to raise the dead, calm the storm and bring universes into existence. God’s infinite power and his infinite mind mean that he is not overwhelmed by numbers or confused by detail. He is able to give full attention, care and protection to every person throughout the world. "For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory…"
Our heavenly Father gives each of us his undivided attention.

Therefore be blessed as you share your concerns for 20ten with God, in prayer. Seek his will for this year through prayer. Believe that God is good!
Know that God can and will, in his mercy, listen to your prayers!

Tenth Day of Christmas: The eternal Man!

Many often think that Jesus stopped being a man once he rose from the dead. He became a man in order to save us, and now that we’re saved, he doesn’t need to be a man anymore (even though this is entirely against the conclusions of 1 Cor 15, the entire letter to the Hebrews, and the NT.)

What the Bible teaches, and Christianity teaches, is rather that the one who is complete and true God and became fully man in one person, Jesus Christ, will always be fully God and fully man — precisely because he will always be our Lord and Saviour, our Mediator, our Head and our King. Jesus will forever be himself. That is why it is important to try to grasp the mystery of God becoming human on our behalf; it’s a matter of faith in God and faith in Christ.

So even though we do not know exactly when Jesus was born, he was most certainly born. Eternal God became a newborn! The almighty Word of the Father through whom all things were created (Col 1:16), didn’t know how to speak! The one in whom all things hold together (Col 1:17), had to be held! And he did all this, from cradle to grave, to resurrection from the dead, to ascension - for us and for our salvation:
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Col 1:19-20)

The incarnation’s significance is eternal. When we want to know something of what eternity will be like for us, we must look to Jesus, the perfect and glorified human being.

Even though Jesus is glorified and perfected beyond our comprehension, he is still fully man – and because of him, complete and true God and fully and true man, we will on the last day be perfected and glorified men and women as well!

Ninth Day of Christmas - God commands good parenting!

Ever since the Reformation 500 years ago, a lot of time and attention have been devoted to the study of humankind in all its diversity. Philosophy, natural and applied scientists, sociologists, psychologists, medical scientists and others taught us to better understand the behaviours of the human race.

Some of these studies have been devoted to trying to learn more about children and what makes them behave as they do and the people they eventually become.

Of all living organisms God created, the humans have the most poorly developed reflexes at birth, and has very little instinctive behaviour. Almost all human behaviour is learned behaviour. Almost everything we know, we do, and believe is the result of processes of up bringing and learning.

The first learning behaviours that the youngest children exhibit are the result of imitation – they copy what occurs around them. Thus it is that they learn to speak, smile and walk and to display the behaviours that are characteristic of the family they have been born into.
Parenting is of critical importance. Our children are what we make them. If we choose to serve the Lord, we effectively make it possible for children to come to God.
If we allow them to be exposed to evil, or set a disgraceful example or fail to bring them to church, we are preventing them from coming to Jesus, their Saviour.

In the Christmas story it is quite evident that God carefully chose Mary and Joseph to play a critical role in receiving, protecting and caring for the new born Messiah.

Mary, an important role model of innocence, obedience and most of all faith, was chosen and equipped to mother the One that would be like us in every aspect, except sin.
Joseph, who without questioning believed and obeyed the Word given to him by angels, was instrumental in preserving God’s salvation plan through the Christ Child, who grew up to be our Lord and Saviour.

As God let his Son grow up in a particular family and house hold, he also ordained that your children and grand children will through your parenting be nurtured, educated and equipped for the purpose God has for their lives.

Shall we also pray the words Mary answered when Gabriel first told her that she was the chosen mother of the Messiah?
Luke 1: 35, 37 and 38: The angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For nothing is impossible with God." “I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

Shall we be as trustworthy, humble and obedient before God as Joseph, when it comes to what our children will imitate, learn, decide and choose during their life times.
Matt 1: 20 and 24: An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Let the little children come to Christ! Do not hinder them. Also not by the way we choose to remember the birth of our Lord.

Eighth Day of Christmas

Oh depth of the riches - the wisdom of God;
How unsearchable is Gods judgments and paths.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, Amen.

Oh who has known the mind of our glorious God?
Or who has been his counsellor, yes, who is that wise?
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, Amen.

Does God owe anyone that it should be repaid?
For from Him and through Him, and to Him all things!
To Him be the glory for ever! Amen.

Seventh Day of Christmas - God became a human being...

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE ABOUT
CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO JOHN!

Listen to John's Gospel: "The Word became a human being and lived here with us. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us (John 1:14, Contemporary English Version).

If we want to give this verse a “name” we may call it: “Christmas according to John”.
In John’s version there is no reference to Bethlehem, shepherds, angels, wise men and all the other details that usually make our celebration’s itinerary.
John begins to tell the story of Jesus since the “beginning”. (John1 :1) He tells us that before time and creation, the Son of God existed and that he played an important part in the creation of our world and of our human race. We need to know that he always has had an interest in the details of our “daily reality”.

And then John tells us that the Son of God “lived here with us”.
“Christmas according to John” wants to assure us that in Jesus, God came to experience what its like to live on this earth, to dream and desire, to experience life, to be excited, to be disappointed, to feel pain and human tragedy, weakness and death. Jesus came to be part of everything significant in every person’s life.

The point of this verse, The Word became a human being, is that we are never alone:
In Jesus, God is with us when we are depressed and hurting and sick.
In Jesus, God is with us when we are hit with bad news.
In Jesus, God is with us when we feel guilty and ashamed.
In Jesus, God is with us when we are worried about someone we love.
In Jesus, God is with us when we are so excited about what lies ahead – that it almost scares us to death!
In Jesus, God is with us when we are powerless to face the challenges of a new year – 2010 – that is to dawn on us this weekend!!

We say all of this, because the Bible says that The Word became a human being, in Jesus. He is Immanuel - God with us.

Jesus has become part of our realities. Christmas tells us that God is not detached and disconnected from our world and our experiences. He is with us. He has come to hug us and hold us, even though our mistakes and impurities often make us feel unattractive and unloved.

Jesus was born to show us the heart of God. It is a heart that pulses with love for every one of us. Jesus does not come to us with philosophical descriptions and definitions of love. Or with complex assessments of why we are whom we think we are. Jesus is love and simply came to show us the love of God.

He is the only way to God the Father and eternal life.
Jesus is the only source of inner peace.
In this baby of Bethlehem, born to Mary, we shall see as much of God as we shall ever hope to see in our earthly life. This baby is God in flesh and blood.
Jesus makes a difference to your life.
Christmas invites you to trust Jesus.
Christmas challenges you to take Jesus seriously during every day in 2010 – and beyond the new year.
Jesus wants to refresh your daily existence, even when the dirt amongst which we live, starts to show.

God has a word for you for today and for the year ahead:
God became a human being because he loves you.
Trust God. Accept his love. Understand that he knows what you need.
Ask him what you need, anyway.
Be calm.
God is in control - and is with you. He will bless and keep you!
This was what celebrating Christmas has been about all along!

Sixth Day of Christmas!

Who is Jesus? (Melody “Rock of Ages”)

Who is Jesus, do you say?
Many claim He is Thé Way.
Peter calls Him Christ and Lord.
John says He’s the Son of God.
Paul knows Him as source of grace,
states through Him, we’ll win the race.

Luke says He’s a virgin’s boy.
Mark reveals He’s heaven’s joy!
Gospel names Him: Only One.
God the Father calls Him Son!
Spirit says He’s Saviour, Lord,
Emmanuel, life giving Word!

Jesus Christ, eternal King!
Men and angels for you sing.
All your people love you Lord!
All your Church in one accord,
calls you Jesus and our Friend,
’mighty Christ, until the end!

Christmas is about two saviours and two kings – 5th day of Christmas.

In the very beginning of St. Luke’s Christmas story (Luke 2:1) he tells us about Caesar Augustus. Then in Luke 2: 11 he tells about a baby in a manger, who is a saviour - Christ the Lord!

Why mention Augustus and Jesus in the same passage? Why include Caesar in the story of the birth of Jesus? There are a few reasons. Luke wants to firmly establish that the birth of Jesus was a real historical event that happened at a specific time and place. Without our modern day calendars, it was then the custom to provide a “date” by mentioning the reign of a well known ruler or important event. We have to know that this Christmas story is not one of the many legends and myths that became part of the Christmas tradition. This is the factual first episode of the personal history of a historic Jesus.

And still the question remains, why did Luke choose Caesar Augustus to provide a geopolitical setting for the birth of Christ. It was not done by chance!! Caesar Augustus also claimed the title “saviour of the world” for himself. He demanded that “the whole world” acknowledge him as their king.
The main reason that Caesar and Christ are mentioned together in this version of the Christmas events, is because this Christmas story is one about two saviours and two kings.

Unknown to Augustus, in the year 4 B.C. a rival was born, someone who is until today called Saviour and King.

1. The story of two saviours.
At the time when Jesus was born, the people living within the Roman Empire were for more than 90% - a conquered people! Consider the psyche of conquered people. Anger, confusion, despondency, scepticism, negativity and discouragement would be some of the words to describe the mood within the mighty empire! Not an approach conducive to growth, prosperity, hope and peace! After many years of warfare and turmoil the Roman armies were completely in control – of dispirited people.

It also had implications for their religious beliefs and practices. Conquered peoples did not know what to believe anymore. In those days when a nation lost a war, it meant that their gods had forsaken them and they were not powerful enough to save them from their Roman enemies. The Empire was filled with subjugated people who had no trustworthy gods left to depend on. They were discouraged and confused.

Mighty Augustus planned to change all this. He would provide the security they needed. He would give them a new way of life, a new world order and new gods to worship. He would give them peace, justice and the gods of the Roman empire. Was he not a son of the gods? Did this not qualify him to be the saviour of the world?

Augustus was going to save the world by his stringently executed politics, his excellent administration, his powerful military resources, a booming world economy and by the sophisticated magnificence of the Roman culture and its exciting, fun loving – yet often cruel - gods. An important part of reengineering a new society with a new religion of Caesar worship, was a census to be taken of all the people and nations under his rule.

This man, Caesar, would be a saviour as never seen before! To him an anthem could be sung that said, "Glory to man in the highest."

People today still practice the religion of Caesar Augustus. People today still believe in the greatness of man, his politics, culture, abilities, discoveries and strategies to provide his own salvation.

As in Caesar's day, leaders put their heads together and proclaim new orders and new saviours. Political groupings and mighty nations standing together, the UN trying their very best to stop climate change, world wide plans supported by science to provide food security, new leaders and new programs are to be the salvation of the world. Scientific discovery and achievement will make life meaningful and safe. Technologists propose the might and power of the computer, internet based information and communication solutions as the key to our future happiness. Researchers are looking for the perfect cure. The perfect teaching model will end the painful skills shortage and psychologists will find the key to contentment and happiness and joy!
"Glory to man in the highest" seems to be an appropriate anthem for a world order where man can save himself, create utopia, build a perfect society and bring an end to despair, where the beginning of hope is man himself...

But Luke comes to us with a different message. For hope and salvation, Luke directs us to "a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2: 12). Luke comes with the Gospel News that is the truth. He comes with God’s news that will result in true, everlasting and complete salvation: "Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you" (vs 11). This Saviour’s name is not Caesar Augustus - "he is Christ the Lord" (vs 11).

And how is this Saviour going to save a disappointed, sceptical, discouraged, irreligious and despondent people?
He would die upon a cross. He would freely give his righteousness to people who failed dismally and are lost.
This Saviour brings hope and salvation through his blood and his Holy Spirit. He is God who comes to earth as a man, dies upon the cross, brings about a kingdom built on victory over death, reconciliation, forgiveness, grace, mercy, righteousness, justice, love and peace, by changing the hearts, the minds and the destiny of all people to whom God gave the gift to follow him.

Caesar’s plan of salvation came to nothing.
But Jesus is a Saviour beyond worth. His plan of salvation makes a difference, because it results in redemption and deliverance. And this is so, because the salvation in Christ depends upon God. It is God who works out our salvation through the blood and Spirit of Christ. Only God can succeed where Caesar fails. Only God can save!

The anthem that we hear on Christmas Eve on the fields of Bethlehem resounds the glory of this Saviour by praising God, who gave his Son – who gave the Saviour. In the heavens, says Luke, there were a multitude of angels singing, "Glory to God in the highest" (vs 14).

The big difference between the two saviours? One gives honour and praise to God and the other relies on weak, silly man who always thought that he could save himself!

2. The two Kings
The Christmas event is a story not only about two saviours, but decisively also about two kings. The name of the one is "Caesar Augustus." This is a title that he took for himself which means "The Exalted One." The other one, Luke says, is Christ, the Lord!

Augustus indeed was one of the greatest men of the world. He commanded thousands of Roman legions, his empire stretched to the furthest corners of the earth. He was a powerful, mighty man. Augustus just had to give one command, and the whole world was on the road to be enrolled and counted. Nobody would dare to even ask why! People observed his every command and his every wish. His birthday was a national holiday for the entire Empire.

But then the Christmas story also is about another king, a little child born in the city of David. He is called "Christ the Lord." His title and the details of his birth in Bethlehem are in the Bible, because he is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the everlasting King.

Could he really be such an important King - God, born as a human king on earth? There is no room for him at Bethlehem’s inn - and he is born in a stable and laid in a manger. The only ones bowing before him are poor, lowly shepherds. His is an invisible kingdom that is not of this world. But he claims to be The King. For him and about his rule, angels bring honour to the One who gave his only Son to be King for the sake of salvation, redemption and joy: "Glory to God in the highest."

After 2000 years, where is Caesar today? He is dead!! His empire has been dismembered. He died, and eventually after many centuries, his empire died as well.
And King Jesus? Jesus is alive! Jesus is victor over all our enemies, even death! Christ reigns for evermore!

What a turn-around this Christmas gospel has!
Christ's birthday, not Caesar's, is a time of celebration for many millions of his followers. Christ's Kingdom, not Caesar's, is growing day-by-day. Christ's rule, not Caesar's, is in effect. Christ sits at the right hand of God and has been given all authority and power. He is the almighty Christ - Saviour and King of heaven and earth.

Man continues to elevate himself to the throne as saviour and ruler of the world. Man still pretends that he is master of his life and controller of his destiny. Man fools himself into thinking that he is in control.
Man loves to play God!
But Christ reigns!

Who is our saviour: Caesar or Jesus? Who is our king: Caesar or Jesus, man or God?
We either believe in "Glory to man" or in "Glory to God."
Believe in Christ! Believe in the life he gives! Believe in the salvation he provides!
Because only through faith in Christ can you share in his righteousness and grace!

Fourth Day of Christmas

ONLY JESUS CAN!

I cannot save myself o God,
- no one can, my Lord!
There is no one, to take away
all my guilt, unrighteousness!
Just Jesus can,
can achieve God’s gospel plan.
Yes, Jesus can,
o holy God,
only Jesus can!

A Saviour pure, I need, o God,
- sinless man and God,
to carry all my punishment,
satisfy your will, your wrath!
Pure Jesus can,
sinless Christ, the Son of man.
Lord Jesus can,
the Son of God,
only Jesus can!

Third Day of Christmas

Jesus acknowledged as King by Gentiles!

If the baby in the manger really was the promised Messiah, the King of the Jews, we could expect the New Testament to describe how the governors, lords and kings of the world bowed before him, and how all people placed their treasures at his feet.
This was what the Magi also thought. We can imagine them hurrying along on their camels, eager to participate in the celebration and excitement they expected to find in Jerusalem.

But when they arrived, they must have been deeply disappointed. They found no dancing in the streets, no national holiday and no excitement. And when the Magi announced that the King of the Jews was born, the people, together with Herod, were not thrilled – they were disturbed. Herod was disturbed because Messiah was a rival to his throne. The ordinary people were disturbed, because they knew what happened when Herod felt threatened by rival claimants to the throne – he murdered and killed and plundered. The priests and leaders were disturbed, because the Messiah's birth threatened their political power and positions. Messiah would demand change! And like most of us, they refused to accept even the thought of change.

But the Magi, in spite of Jerusalem's response to their news, continued their search for the Messiah. They went on their way to Bethlehem to worship him! When they came to the house where Jesus was "they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him" (Matt2:11). Imagine that these proud and independent wise men, bowed before Christ, acknowledging him as Ruler of their lives, and accepting him as Lord and Master. And "then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh" (vs 11). These Magi gave themselves and the best they owned, to Jesus.

In the story of Jesus and the Magi, Matthew is giving a very strong message to his fellow Jews: namely, that Gentiles recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, whereas Jews did not. Gentiles worshipped Jesus and gave him gifts, but his own people became disturbed at the news of his birth.

The Jews had the Scriptures. They could read about the promised Messiah on every page. Yet, they refused to worship him! The Magi only had a star. They had to go to the Jews for information about the Messiah, yet, they were the faithful worshippers of our Lord.

It is still true that those who own the precious gospel from birth often become unresponsive to its amazing message. Often new Christians are far more excited and enthusiastic about the truth about Jesus, than we who have grown up with it. Ours too is a history of God dealing with us through generations – and we have a Bible, a church, the sacraments, a Christian upbringing and sound teachings about Jesus. Yet, not unlike Herod and the Jews in Jerusalem, we too are so often blind to the treasures of the gospel of grace and salvation. It becomes a burden, a disturbance and even a disappointment to us. We have to be careful that the Gospel treasure never loses its lustre in our eyes.

There is always this two-fold reaction to Jesus: some believe and worship him and others are bored with and even irritated by the excessively known gospel story and its message. It still happens today. And when Jesus returns – some will be disturbed, while others will lovingly and reverently, worship him.

The story of the Magi is a call to us all to come and worship Christ: to be excited about Jesus. The story of the Magi is a call to us all to bow down and worship and adore Jesus, to give him the best of our love and service, because he is the Messiah, the promised Christ, the King of the Jews and for all eternity our King of glory! .
May this Christmastide bring us to a place where we truly worship Christ, the Lord of glory!

Second Day of Christmas!

Our Lord was born on Christmas,
as prophets did foretell.
In David’s blesséd city,
became Emmanuel.
With choirs of holy angels,
we gladly worship Him.
Our Lord was born on Christmas:
Our Saviour and our King!

He brought the light of heaven,
to guide us on our way.
For love of lowly sinners,
He came to serve, to pay.
God so much loved the world, that
He gave his only Son -
our Lord being born on Christmas:
eternal life was won!

Our Lord was born on Christmas;
his people waited long.
So shepherds shouted “Glory!”
after the angels’ song!
As we are waiting ages,
for God’s new glorious reign,
may we be found elated,
when Jesus comes again!!

Christmas

Jesus Christ was born for me,
on that happy morning!
He has come to set me free,
set my spirit soaring!
Brightly shone the angels’ light,
singing, giving honour.
May His birth bring me delight:
Christ became my brother!

Virgin Mary was so glad,
God had shown her mercy!
It’s the Son of God she had,
born in splendid glory!
She in faith accepts the word,
God’s own proclamation:
“I’m the maiden of the Lord,
serving incarnation!”

Let now all who love the Lord,
gladly bring Him honour.
In our lives, is born the Word,
by His Spirit’s favour!
Jesus Christ remains the same,
as today, for ever!
‘Cause He one of us became,
He’ll forsake us never!

Advent excites us about going to heaven!

Most people have only a blurred idea of what living in heaven and on a new earth will be like.
But what is the future then for those who are followers of Jesus?

The Bible says that God will one day restore his perfect rule over the universe through his Son, Jesus (Eph 1:10). Every form of evil, corruption and tyranny will be destroyed. Sickness and death will be no more. There will be no more disappointment or frustration or pain. Everything that stands against God’s purposes will be completely destroyed.

Instead, people will enjoy the fruit of their labour. “They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit” (Isa 65:21). They will enjoy a world of perfect peace, righteousness and justice. We will enjoy perfect relationships and real community. What will guarantee this future, is that God will live with his people and be with them forever.

For the Christian, heaven will be the home towards which we look forward. It will be our promised land, the place of rest and abundance. It will be a wedding feast. It will be the security, companionship and riches of a great and perfect city.

What the Bible presents is only a glimmer of what that future glory will be like (1Cor 13:12, Rom 8:18). But God’s word calls us to always set our hope on that day when Jesus returns (1Pet 2:13, Col 3:4). We are called to think often about this future hope like travellers, like pilgrims and pioneers, looking forward to the day when we will finally be at home with the Lord (2Cor 5:7).

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the King of this coming kingdom, to bring everlasting peace and to reign over God’s glorious dominion with us, his bride, for ever! Let’s then celebrate his birthday with due gladness and reverence on Friday. Let’s not allow anything or anyone preference to the One whose birthday it is!

Go to church on Christmas Day! Take the family and all your guests and sing with the angels:
Luke 2: 14 - "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

(Why don’t you take some time this week to meditate on some of the Biblical pictures of heaven in the following passages: Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelation 7:14-17; 21:1-22:5?)

Advent and reconciliation!

Today, 16 December, is the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa.

One could say it is a civilian and national holiday, meaning that it is not a “church holy day” such as Christmas, universally celebrated within Christianity.
Yet, it fits well within the spirit of the season! An encounter with the Newborn King - and a people who awaits the second coming of Christ, should take seriously the challenge to make a difference to national civilian reconciliation.

This rainbow nation is characterised by diversity and by disproportion.
Political history shows that we most of the time struggle to maintain a non-racial, fair, just and free society. Anger about injustice, cultural and personal pride hurt by favouritism and keeping a record of wrongs show that only a God-given miracle and true regeneration of the very soul of people and of the nation will be able to bring about lasting peace and a fair society in which the children of the beloved country will remain safe and in high spirits!

All should PRAY on Reconciliation day - that God will take self seeking anger away amongst us and grant our nation a spirituality characterised by patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness and love that delights in truth!
Pray that we will be a nation that are not angry - and can therefore work together to eliminate the vast imbalances between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, honest and corrupt, skilled and unskilled, and content and angry.

Are you an angry person?

One can describe a generally angry person as someone who often shows frustration about people and situations, is constantly upset and irritated by trivialities and cannot control body language, tone of voice and words of criticism that are hurtful to others who merely intuitively act out their personal views, values, choices and preferences.

We all know what Paul says godly love is: In 1 Cor 13 he amongst other things say that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (Vs 4 – 7)

Love is not easily angered! Spirit filled children of God, desiring sanctification, fight the tendency to be easily angered. Because being self-seeking and keeping record of wrongs are the opposites of Christ like behaviour!

Proverbs 13: 10 says that “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
This means that only fools are easily angered because others hold different opinions than they do! And it also means that when we are uncomfortably touchy and upset, it most probably is the result of unholy pride!

Anger may be holy when the honour of God and Jesus and the Kingdom of God are injured and when the witness of the church is harmed!
Unholy anger would be an emotion I experience when my pride and my position of power and control is endangered! Unrighteous anger is what happens when a proud sinner lacks self-control.

Anger is an emotion. And some say emotions are neither good nor bad – it just is. Yet, it is clear that the Bible teaches us that a lack of self control is a sin! Paul says in Ephesians 4: 26: ‘In your anger do not sin’. When we lose control, we sin against God and man. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is amongst others, self-control. (Gal 5: 22-23

James summarises this very well in James 1: 19 - 21.
He says: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
The opposite of sinful pride that is easily angered, is a humble acceptance of the Word planted in us!

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Humility kills pride. But pride kills the Word planted in us!

May God’s love keep us pure.