Friday, February 20, 2015

Lent is a Season of penitence and preparation.

There are two important aspects to Lent:
Penitence: We realise our own brokenness and our need for Christ.
Preparation: We strive to open our hearts wider for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus at the Easter Communion.

During Lent Christians add more prayer, learning and meditating to their daily lives. Contemplating the costly price of the suffering and death of Jesus and the powerful victory of his resurrection, strengthen their walk with the Lord and through repentant hearts they find amongst other benefits:  peace, forgiveness, passion for the Lord and a new joy in serving Christ.

Some also subtract from their daily lives by “giving up something for Lent” as a constant reminder of the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus and to create good habits that will help them in their quest for a closer walk with the Lord.

Lent is a focused spiritual journey of individuals and congregations, from Ash Wednesday till Resurrection Sunday, which produces the joy of a lifelong celebration of the living Lord.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

When Jesus becomes more...

A retired elderly 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 formal voice training, sometimes took the shorter solos. As the choir director prepared for an important and high profile cantata in that congregation, she felt that Bob’s voice and style made him a natural choice for the lead role. However, she didn’t know how she could give it to him without offending the highly respected, older man.

Her anxiety was unnecessary. The old man had the same thoughts as she did, and he told her that Bob should take the part. The professor continued to sing faithfully in the choir and regularly encouraged Bob which gave him the confidence to become the new lead soloist in the choir.

People who can selflessly set aside personal ambition and genuinely seek the good of others and the best for God’s work, 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 become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:22 – 30NIV).

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

Humility enables us to bow humble hearts before the Lord and enter his service unselfishly and unconditionally.  It enables us to let Christ be everything while we are his servants! 

Jesus must increase, always! All we have to do is to serve him, obey him, be the church he prayed for and be the Christians he wants us to be!  When we can forget about ourselves, we can do things others will certainly remember.   

When we love ourselves less and Jesus more, we will accomplish things that God will remember for all eternity.