You are not alone, anymore.... because your God is here.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). In Is 40: 9 we are told what the comfort is:  You who bring good news to Zion, say to the towns of Judah: “Here is your God!”

Those who come face-to-face with death, their own death and the death of a loved one need to hear: “Here is your God!”

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God and your God is here" (Is 40:1, 9). These words must be heard today by those who suffer because of their broken marriage relationships. Young men and women who get married with so many dreams and excitement and then have to leave with pain, anger and disappointment needs to hear. And it needs to be heard by the children from these broken marriages.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). Those who suffer as a result of life threatening decease have to hear these words:  Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). It must be heard by those who live with unemployment, poverty,  and those who experience financial loss.   It needs to be heard by those who are bullied and robbed and financially abused. Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). Teenagers who are intimidated, rejected by their peers, who have no friends, who feel abandoned by family and unaccepted by their fellow learners and educators, need to hear these words.   Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). The victims of abuse need to hear these words. Women and children who suffer behind closed doors, because of physical, sexual and emotional abuse! Orphans and widows, and child headed families, aunts and grannies looking after orphaned children and are crying for help and support need to hear:  Your God is here!

Listen to the Word of God:

Your God is here!

God is coming to you

and his coming means that he will grant you comfort.

You are not alone, anymore....

Because your God is here.

God is your refuge.

His grace will comfort you through faith in Jesus Christ which is a gift of his Holy Spirit.

Are you afraid of the dark? Remember, God is light!

Are you afraid of the dark? Many people are.

We see losing that fear of the dark as a good thing. We see it as part of becoming a mature adult.  Loosing an unhealthy fear of the dark is a good thing. But, at the same time, we should beware not to lose sight of the effects of darkness. Those effects are very real indeed. 

Darkness is nothing to be trifled with, especially spiritual darkness.

Darkness, understood biblically, is where the hidden things of evil have freedom to thrive. Darkness is the enemy of the light. Darkness is the strategy of evil to ensnare the unsuspecting.

It is easy to underestimate the power of darkness. It’s easy to make accommodations for darkness. It’s easy to stumble into darkness. You see, as the light dims our eyes slowly adjust. As Christians, we need to do periodic evaluations of our own lives to make sure that the level of light stays bright. Have you taken a good look at your life lately? Are you intentionally walking in the light? John gives us a wake up call. He gives us a challenge to turn on the light and take a good look at ourselves in the clarity of that light. Let’s look at a powerful Word for us today:

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

(1 John 1:5-7)

Sowing in the Kingdom of God.

Sowing in the Kingdom of God.   Matthew 13.

A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow   But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,  sixty or thirty times what was sown.

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.

The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, Jesus Christ our Lord.   The field is the world, and the good seed is the people of His kingdom.

Ready to die and ready to live!

When we have settled the issue of our eternal destiny, we are set free to live life to the full. Only then do we understand why we are here. You are here for a reason. God has a purpose for your life. His purpose is, that as you hold onto his eternal promises, you will make a difference to his kingdom through a “promise driven life”!

As Christians, we know that the greatest reaction to God’s promise of eternal life in Christ is to glorify God in gratefulness and love for him. 

This was Paul’s desire. Paul’s desire was to glorify God whether in life or in death. In all things our lives should glorify God.

This is not only about the “church” things we do. This is about everything we do. We do not only glorify God on Sundays, serving and worshipping God around his Word and Sacrament.  We are to glorify God every day of the week in everything we do: in our jobs, our families, our politics, our sports, our play. In all of our attitudes, actions and plans, we are to glorify God.

We glorify God when we reflect the life of Christ through our lives. In every situation that we face, we need to ask ourselves what Jesus would have us do. This is really the essence of following Jesus.  As we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit the through his Word, our lives will glorify God. We will surrender to Christ, the King.

We need to remember, as Paul did, that we are here for others. While Paul desired to depart and be with Christ, because he believes it is “far better” to be with Christ, he knew there were many more people that needed him:

  I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again, your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. (Philippians 1:23b-26 NIV)

Paul knew that his life was about being here for others. That is why Christ came to us and Paul was following the example of his Lord, giving his life to bring others to the Kingdom of God.

Our lives can make a difference in the lives of others. This is what the church should be about:  people caring for one another, people helping one another, people encouraging one another, people serving one another and people showing others that to live for Christ results in gaining eternal joy and life!

Because we are ready to die, we can truly begin to live.