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!

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.