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All quotations, except the first, are taken from Esther de Waal, The Celtic way of prayer. (1994)
May the road rise to greet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your shoulder… And may God hold you in the palm of his hand. And may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Many of you will be familiar with the prayer just quoted. It has become a lovely “good-bye and may God be with you” ending to a meeting or conversation. Esther de Waal says that many Celtic “journey” prayers also refer to the journey inward to deeply know God who dwells within. Earlier this week Lory Persaud shared a practice of 2-way journaling that speaks to this journey to know and to hear God. Those of you who practice “contemplative prayer” can also identify with the concept that as we listen to God, we also know ourselves more honestly and more compassionately. Here’s a prayer that seems to touch on both kinds of journey: the journey for the day’s work and the journey to know God. The first part speaks of the relationship of the earth to me – my feet on the path. The second part ends with the eye which speaks of the vision and the attitude of my heart, my life. Bless to me oh God The earth beneath my foot Bless to me oh God The path whereon I go Bless to me oh God the thing of my desire; Thou evermore of evermore Bless thou to me my rest. Bless Thou to me the thing Whereon is set my mind Bless to me the thing Whereon is set my love; Bless Thou to me the thing Whereon is set my hope O Thou King of kings Bless Thou to me mine eye. I am reminded of the song that sparked this meditation for me and the search for other prayers that incorporates the physicality of this life on earth and creation all around us: St. Patrick’s Prayer. I *For my shield this day A mighty power: The Holy Trinity! Affirming threeness, Confessing oneness, In the making of all Through love… V This day I call to me; God’s strength to direct me, God’s power to sustain me. God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s vision to light me, God’s ear to my hearing, God’s word to my speaking, God’s hand to uphold me, God’s pathway before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s legions to save me: From snares of the demons, from evil enticements, from failings of nature, from one man or many that seek to destroy me, anear or afar. *See attachment for copy of full prayer These prayers are especially meaningful for people who are more deeply connected to this physical world: I think of a friend who seems to draw from life by her walks in the outdoors, cross-country skiing, gardening. Those of us (like me) who are more inclined to sit and read and contemplate life from our chairs may need to learn to connect more directly with the physical creation around us. I pray for you on your journey: The guarding of the God of life be upon me, The guarding of loving Christ be upon me, The guarding of the Holy Spirit be upon me, Each step of the way To aid me and enfold me, Each day and night of my life. Song: The Lorica (Steve Bell) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFiV9QW4SCAwww.youtube.com/watch?v=hFiV9QW4SCA Bible Verse: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)
Some years ago, I read a story that brought a tear to my eye and it reminded me of just how powerful a force love can be, and the sacrifices that some people will make because of it. “It was late on a cold Christmas Eve in South Korea during the Korean War. A young mother-to-be, whose husband had been killed in the conflict began to feel the pains of labour. She knew it was time to make her way to the mission clinic a couple of miles away. The pains came faster and more intensely than she expected. When she got to the bridge crossing a ravine not far from the clinic, she could go no further, and so she sought shelter under the bridge, and there without help, gave birth to her firstborn, a son. The next morning the missionary nurse who worked at the clinic got into her ancient jeep to attend the Christmas services in the village church. As her jeep crossed the little bridge the engine suddenly died. Getting out to investigate, the missionary thought she heard a faint cry. There it was again. It seemed to be coming from under the bridge! When she went down to look, she found the baby boy lovingly wrapped in all his mother’s clothes, her lifeless body lying beside him, naked and frozen. Overcome by what she’d found, and the significance of finding a newborn boy on Christmas morning, the nurse decided that she would adopt the little orphan as her own son. She named him Kim, and he grew up to be a healthy boy. On Christmas Eve, as he was turning twelve, his mother decided she would tell him of the unusual circumstances of his birth. The next day Kim and his mother made their way to the village church for the Christmas celebration. On the way there Kim asked to stop by the graveyard where his birth mother was buried. When they got there he asked to go up alone. She watched spellbound as the young boy made his way up to the simple grave. Slowly he began to take off his clothes. First his jacket and shirt, then his trousers, laying them all lovingly and carefully on his mother’s grave until he stood there naked in the cold Korean winter. When his adopted mother finally came up behind him to wrap her own coat around him she heard him saying, “Mother, you did it all for me. You did it all for me!” I still get a lump in my throat as I remember the first time I read that story of love and sacrifice, and it reminds me of yet another similar story of love and sacrifice which is even more profound. Scripture tells us how the Almighty Sovereign Glorious Creator God stepped down from His heavenly thrown, stripped Himself of all His visible majesty and power in order to be born into His own creation as a helpless babe in a dirty animal shelter. Then when His ministry on earth was completed, we see Him hanging on a rough cross, spilling out His life blood, willingly wrapping us in His compassion and forgiveness. Why would He do that? Why would He sacrifice everything for us? Because His love for us is so much more than we can possibly imagine. He did it so that you and I could live. Jesus’ horrible death yields for us abundant and eternal life. Such love is almost incomprehensible, and yet we who believe, know it to be true. Our response to such amazing love should be to take all that we are and have, and like the little Korean boy, lay it down and declare, “Lord, you did it all for me. You did it all for me!” “My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 The VOICE)
As I grow in my faith, I have been blessed as I choose to be intentional about making time to hear God’s voice. There is a lovely spiritual discipline of two-way journaling. It’s something I would like to practice more regularly, so, as a reminder to myself, and an encouragement to you, I will share how I like to do this practice. I make the most of a still moment by sitting down with a journal and after quieting my heart, I ask God to come and be with me and to speak to me. I know from his Word in John 10:27, that I can hear His voice because I belong to Him. I remind myself of this promise to build up my faith. Then I come into prayer with thanksgiving (“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise…” Psalm 100:4 NIV). I thank God for His love and favour in my life and His goodness and faithfulness. This helps me to focus my attention on Him. I might share something on my heart with the Lord and then ask him a question, or I might just begin to listen with my heart and pay attention to the spontaneous thoughts that come to mind. Then I write down what I hear and trust that if it doesn’t contradict the scriptures, it is very likely the voice of the Holy Spirit that I am hearing (If I’m not sure, I can take it to a mature believer and ask them to test it for confirmation. This is how I was taught by Mark Virkler of Communion With God Ministries). I might ask God for a picture, or an image or scene might just come to mind. I could ask God what He means to communicate through that picture – is it a symbol? What atmosphere or feeling does it convey? I have, for example, seen in my mind the imagery of my legs and the legs of my Lord, bare and dangling from a dock, dipping into the cool and refreshing water. This helps me sense Jesus’ closeness and reminds me that He is my dear friend, sitting with me and enjoying my company. I write this down. It solidifies the picture in my mind so I can call it into remembrance again—perhaps in a lonely time when I need the reminder of His presence with me. No matter the method, hearing God’s voice is a great delight. A while back I had been inviting the Lord to speak to me more and I was two-way journaling in the evening before bedtime. In a cheeky way, I asked Him a question but closed my journal with a giggle before He could answer. I wanted to hear him another way. The next morning, I woke promptly after a vivid dream. In the dream I saw a monkey with what appeared to be a gold wired shape hung from his ear. I pondered the picture as I became more awake. My mind transitioned from its sleepy state to being more rational and I recognized the shape of the earring as the constellation of Leo. A quick google image search confirmed that I had seen the mirror image of the Leo shape. I picked up my journal again. “Lord, I just had a dream. In it, I saw a monkey with an earring that looked like the constellation of Leo,” I wrote. “Yes, and so too will you have a Lion in your ear,” was the spontaneous thought that came back. I laughed aloud. I didn’t realize God had such a great sense of humor. Being intentional about hearing from God is important. Just as we make time to reconnect with our close friends, family and spouse, we need to make time to fellowship with God. When I recently made the intentional decision to use my time to listen and hear Him and journal my dreams, pictures and two-way conversations, I was somewhat surprised that He had so much to say. Rather than filling journals with my words to Him, I began to fill journals with His words to me. These words have been precious and have guided me very specifically in the last couple years. Though I am still growing in this ability to hear and recognize His voice, I believe the more time we spend intentionally listening, the easier it will be to become familiar with His voice and recognize when He is speaking or has something to say. I invite you to join me in exploring this practice more. I can say with certainty that you will be blessed. He loves to speak to us. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV) “’You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you’, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14a NIV) David began Psalm 61 asking God to hear his prayer “From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help” (61:2). Perhaps David was far away physically from Jerusalem, far away from where the Ark of God was located when he cried out. Or perhaps David sensed in his heart that he was far away from God, and longed to have that sense of nearness restored.
Most of us know what it is to feel distant from God, to have an at-the-ends-of-the-earth experience in which we feel that God is far away. In this psalm, David shows us how to overcome the distance that intrudes in our relationship with God. “I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me” (61: 2-3). David cried out to the God he knew as a Rock of safety, a Refuge, a Fortress. He knew that God was not a faraway, uncaring deity, but a caring and capable Protector whom he could run to in the midst of his alienation. More then that, he seems to have recognized that God’s promises of safety and refuge would find their fulfillment in a King who would be greater than he was. This King would not be a distant deity but a King who will come to his people. He will not live in a palace. In fact, he will not even have a home. He will not be served, but will serve. He will not be crowned in honor, but crowned with thorns in disgrace. He will not wear a robe but will be hung on a cross. This is what it cost our true King to come to our aid when we cry to him for help. This is what it cost to have our alienation from God eradicated and our nearness to God restored. This is how good our King Jesus is – he overcame the distance between heaven and earth, between God and man, to come to our aid. When we join ourselves to King Jesus, we too can overcome the distance between ourselves and a holy God. Because of Jesus we not only have the hope of feeling close to God, we have an open invitation to boldly draw near to God (Hebrews 7:19). In a time that many of us feel distant from everyone and everything, how comforting it is to know that our God went to such great lengths, so that we can be close to Him now and always. Prayer – My towering Rock of safety, my safe Refuge, my Fortress, I am hiding in you where my enemies of self-centeredness and pride and self-sufficiency cannot alienate me from you. You draw me close and hold me tight. How good it is to know that I am under your protection forever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTdFEZhjiko King David knew that his sin had caused him to run up a big debt with God. The man after God’s own heart had turned away from God and gone after his own pleasure apart from God, leading to adultery and murder. And because God is perfectly just, David knew that the debt of his sin had to be paid for him to be at peace with God. But he also knew that he could not pay it, not with any amount of good works, not even with all the wealth at his disposal as King of Israel. And yet he celebrated, with a seemingly settled understanding, that his enormous debt had somehow been cleared: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” (Psalm 32: 1-2).
When David celebrated that the long tab he had run up by his sin had been covered and would not be counted against him, it was no small celebration! God had removed David’s sins from his spiritual ledger. David was given a clean slate. But how was this possible? Was his debt merely written off or overlooked? David’s debt was not merely ignored. Someone else paid it. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1: 18-19). Like David, we have racked up a big debt of sin that must be paid. At the cross, Jesus said “hand the bill to me, I will pay it. It’s a debt that you owe, but I will pay it with my own life’s blood.” When King David said, “Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,” he was celebrating that God had forgiven him on the basis of, and in anticipation of, full payment for sin by Christ on the cross. David received this payment on his behalf by faith. He could not see the cross clearly, but he believed God’s promise to forgive his sin on the basis of the One who would come and make full forgiveness possible. He looked forward to the cross in faith, just as we look back to the cross in faith. It is much clearer to us now then it was to David. We know with certainty that Jesus paid it all. What freedom and joy we can have by resting in this truth. Let us respond by living a life of thankfulness for this priceless gift. Let us celebrate! Prayer – Jesus, in your grace, you paid my debt. What a gift! What freedom and joy I receive from this wonderful gift. Now I can truly understand David’s great joy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaUTv1pXRyU Esther de Waal has written a book about The Celtic way of prayer. Two characteristics of the Celtic prayers stand out for me. 1. The physicality (earthiness, ‘full surround sound’, wholeness or completeness, immediacy) of the gospel is expressed in the prayers and songs. And 2. The theme of journey is frequently found, either a journey towards another town, another country, or a journey inwards to find God who dwells within us.
Are you sometimes tempted to ask God for healing for your body but you think you ought to be able to “get over” the anxiety on your own? Or that when you ask God for help, your prayer doesn’t “get through”—God is too far away. The Celtic way of prayer written by Esther de Waal describes the physicality and immediacy of the Gospel as expressed in prayers to the Holy Trinity, using the activities and objects in front of you as prompts to pray. Three folds of the cloth, yet only one napkin is there, Three joints in the finger, but still only one finger fair Three leaves of the shamrock, yet no more than one shamrock to wear, Frost, snowflakes and ice, all in water their origin share, Three Persons in God alone we make prayer. (as quoted by deWaal, 1997, The Celtic way of prayer). Every event, every activity is an occasion for prayer. When you meet the new baby in your family: The blessing of the Holy Three little love, be dower [inheritance] to thee, Wisdom, Peace and Purity. (de Waal). Many times a day, we are driven to the point of need and help. A prayer for healing and help reminds us of the specific activities of each person of the Trinity: I send witness to the Father , Who formed all flesh: I send witness to Christ, Who suffered scorn and pain; I send witness to Spirit, Who will heal my wound Who will make me as white As the cotton-grass of the moor. [or the snow on the ground]. (de Waal). Perhaps you could form some prayers of your own physical and timely reminders of God who is always present as Trinity? How about when you get up in the morning and you splash your face with water three times: “in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, in the name of the Spirit—be present as I start my day”. How about when making your way to work? Head, hands, feet – Father, give me wisdom in my decisions, Jesus guide my hands as I do your work, Holy Spirit, give me your ears to hear and comfort to share as I listen to my client today. Please share your prayers with me in an email. If we get a few prayers, I’ll share them via the Deacon’s corner or the community blog. Next week I’ll talk about the Journey with the Holy Trinity. Bible Verse: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”(Genesis 50:20)
Holding on to your faith during challenging times can be very difficult when you can’t see clearly what the road ahead may hold. Your dreams, hopes, and aspirations may seem unattainable because of the various barriers you face. Your health, finances, relationships, or other circumstances may seem insurmountable to achieving your goals. But hold on to your faith you must. Joseph was a person who had a very long wait before his dream was fulfilled. He had to go through many years of trials and discouragements before seeing the fulfillment of God’s plans for him. I’m sure he didn’t expect it to take nearly as long as it did. He suffered rejection and betrayal several times along the way, but he still believed in God’s plan for his life. Even at a young age, Joseph was able to see past his current difficulties and know that God was going to do something great in his life. He knew deep in his heart that he had his heavenly Father’s love and approval. Joseph’s success story seems unlikely from the outset. Born to Jacob in his old age, and sold into slavery in his youth by his older brothers, it must have felt like assault on his feeling of importance, especially after the dreams he’d had. He went from being a person of high status to low status in the blink of an eye. However, Joseph’s faith pulled him through all the hardships he faced, including his stint as a wrongfully convicted prisoner. He knew that God would still make his dream come to pass. This is where many of us fail. We see the challenges ahead and begin to focus on all the problems that continue to plague us. Instead of moving forward, we seem to move backward, making no progress at all. We take one step forward only to take two steps back. We begin to believe the lies of the enemy that we don’t have a call from God, that we’re worthless and there’s nothing God can do. But that’s not true, it’s a lie. God wants us to know that even in the midst of hardship, we are in the centre of His will. When the circumstances are tough, God is still in it with us. The Holy Spirit is still inside us and God is going to make His plans come to pass. We often have lessons to learn from these circumstances, because we are still growing as we journey, and God wants to teach us those things that help to build our character. We must take our eyes off our problems and look to Jesus. We need to settle in our hearts that God’s dream will come to pass no matter how dark our situation is. However difficult the present situation may seem, God is still with us. Even when Joseph was sold into slavery and found himself at one of the lowest points in his life, it was God’s grace that we see in action. Here was God stepping right into the midst of his hardships. Even though Joseph was going through the most difficult time of his life up to this point, God reminded him that he had a seed of greatness inside, and he knew that God was on his side. As the years passed and Joseph slowly climbed out of the pit of slavery, another ominous event clouded his future. A false accusation against him caused him to fall back to the bottom as a prisoner. He was thrown into jail because Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him trying to assault her. Once again finding himself in the darkest of straits, Joseph chose not to be bitter. Instead, he held on even more tightly to the promises God had given him, and did not let this hardship shake his faith. Even in the most difficult situations that Joseph went through, God was preparing him to be the man He wanted him to become. So we, too, can be sure that no matter what the circumstances, challenges, or difficulties that we face may be, we can be sure that God is with us and has a plan for us. “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. Never let go of the faith and hope we have in God, through Jesus Christ. He created us and He will sustain us. Praise be to God Most High. Have you ever had a “mountain top” experience? You found yourself in a quiet place where God spoke words of love and promise, purpose and strength to you and you felt certain that you knew it was Him and you felt confident of his comfort and nearness.
In the sixth volume in the Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, the lion Aslan gives school girl, Jill Pole, a special mission to find the lost Prince of Narnia. Having brought her out of the earthly realm, he meets with her at the top of a very high mountain, ensures she memorizes four signs to guide her quest, then sends her to Narnia, floating down the mountain on the breath of his mouth. Just before sending Jill off, Aslan stresses the importance of remembering the signs he had given her. “Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs. And secondly, I give you a warning. Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia, the air will thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse your mind. And the signs you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters. And now, daughter of Eve, farewell.” Though I doubt any of us are tracking down lost princes in strange lands filled with talking animals, the Bible says God has given each of us “good works” to do that he purposed and designed us for (Ephesians 2:10). I love how The Message Translation puts it in Ephesians 1:11: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” The farewell words of Aslan remind us the importance of holding on to our guiding signs—the Word of God (the messages He communicates to us through the Bible and the Holy Spirit). “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NLT) When we come down off our “mountain”, the place of his manifested presence, we descend to the contrasting situations of life, where we often sense the hiddenness of God and must seek to build our faith in Him and our assurance of his character instead of relying on mere emotions. For many, the year 2020 has been a confusing time, full of uncertainty and an unexpected turn of events. It would be easy to look at our circumstances in the world today and fall into discouragement by the way things appear. But, like Jill, we are instructed not to pay attention to appearances, we are told to set our eyes on things above. The Passion Translation puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.” Are you currently experiencing the hiddenness of God? Now more than ever we need to cling to His guiding words. If you are feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, weighed down by your circumstance and the state of the world, it is time to fix your eyes on the things above. Is there a hopeful verse you can memorize? An affirming truth about God’s purpose for your life and the promise of your destiny? What Guide Words have you been holding onto lately? “Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs. And secondly, I give you a warning. Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so... Take great care…And the signs you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters. And now, daughter of Eve, farewell.” Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiuvKo-7Me4 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6: 33 Luke 10: 38-42 Who in the world would you most like to meet? Think who that could be; it does not have to be a person who is alive today. Now imagine that this person was coming to your home. How excited would you be, what would you ask them, offer them by way of hospitality and how would you prepare your home and yourself? If you answer these questions you may be able to put yourself in the mind and emotions of Mary and Martha who welcomed Jesus (our Luke reading). We are told that Martha opened her home to Jesus and then became distracted by all the preparations she had to make. Mary (presumably not in her own home), who was Martha’s sister, simply sat at Jesus’ feet and listened. This vexed Martha who complained to the Lord. A very human response a very real situation. Jesus responded to Martha, “…..you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” Here is where I want to connect with our thoughts this week on God’s Grace filled plans for us and how we live within them. It is easy to oversimplify this account as being a choice between practical action and spiritual devotion. The truth though is that both are needed. We do not want to fall into the different traps of either being so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly use or being so wrapped up in doing that we do not know God at all. It is also true that if we are so anxious or troubled, we cannot choose the ‘one thing we need;’ that which is better for us. Bringing this point home, Jesus is calling us to choose Him and to lay all that troubles us at His feet. We can then begin to truly know Him and from that choice of Grace our actions will flow. As I often say in Church, “Our being affects our doing; who we are drives what we do.” If we choose Jesus, choose Grace, our ‘being’ will be changed and our ‘doing’ blessed. To echo the words of Christ recorded above, if we truly seek Him, He will help us overcome our worries and all else that we need will be added to us. The next step is then to live in the way of Grace. This latter point has been our area of focus for a while and will be further blessed this Sunday when Chris Barnes talks about ‘Being led by the Spirit.’ May we therefore let go of distraction, choose Grace and be led by the Holy Spirit in God’s plans for us. To Ponder: What really distracts and worries you at the moment? Try and make a written list and put it before the Lord, giving it to Him and laying it at the Cross (once prayed on in this way it may help to rip up the piece of paper). Then consciously choose to listen to Jesus, in prayer, through the bible and in silence. Listen for His still, quiet voice of Grace. Pray: May the Lord bless us and keep us; may the Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us; may the Lord turn his face towards us and give us peace. Amen From Numbers 6: 24-26 Praise: The Blessing Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6aygmvzM4&list=RDMMVuCLqoxigNA&index=14 *I am taking some time off now so my thanks in advance to the ‘Guest Bloggers’ who will seek to encourage and bless you in the Lord From Genesis through Malachi, the Old Testament is full of promises. God promises that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. He promises he will never destroy the earth again after the Flood. He promises to bless the whole world through Abraham’s descendant. He promises to give his people a home of their own where they can live at peace. He promises a King who will rule with justice. He promises to pour out his Spirit. He promises to heal, restore, renew, protect, provide and put right.
The psalmist sang, “All the Lord’s promises prove true” (Psalm 18:30). While the Old Testament makes promises about Christ, the New Testament is the story of how God has kept and will keep all of the promises he has made. Every promise of God relies on Jesus for its fulfillment. Paul said it this way: “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” ascends to God for his glory (2 Corinthians 1:20). Who Jesus is, what he has done, and what he will still do; is the sum and substance of the fulfillment of the promises of God. Jesus is the Deliverer, the Mediator, the Ruler, the Reconciler, the Restorer, the Rescuer, the Light, the Beauty, the Joy that God has promised to us. Jesus brings us into the close and nourishing relationship God has pledged to share with us. Jesus opens the way to enjoy the forgiveness God promised to extend to us. Jesus is the holiness we are given through faith so we can answer God’s invitation into his presence. Jesus is the life that is given to us so we do not have to fear the grave. And Jesus will still be God’s “Yes” to all of his promises yet to be fulfilled. He will return to us to resurrect our bodies from the grave. He will bring us into the new heaven and new earth he has prepared for us. He will be the source of our joy and satisfaction forever as we worship around his throne. In a world full of so many broken promises, let us keep our focus on the One who has never and will never break a promise. Prayer – Jesus, you are the fulfillment of everything God has promised. Thank you for all that you are, all you have done and all that you will do. I accept your invitation to spend eternity with you, with a resounding “YES!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E |
Preachers BlogIn 2024, each week's blog is a follow-up reflection written by the preceding Sunday’s preacher to dig deeper into the sermon topic and explore engaging discussion questions. Archives
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