HAPPY ASCENSION DAY

 

May 9, 2024

1 Timothy 3:14-16

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.

HAPPY ASCENSION DAY!!

Happy Ascension Day? The ascension of Jesus may seem like a teaching that makes no difference. In some Christian circles the Ascension of Jesus receives little attention. I suppose when the Ascension is compared to Jesus suffering and death and his resurrection victory over death, Jesus’ ascension can seem almost an afterthought.

However, the ascension has always been a part of the Christian story. Christianity is a religion of events, not abstract ideas. It is too alive and down to earth to be lost in abstractions. Think about the story for a moment, the Jesus story, the gospel. We notice in this story there are meetings and encounters, goings and returnings, judgments and forgiveness, woundings and healings of mercy.


The apostle Paul, summarizing that story here, reminds us that the Lord who “appeared in the flesh” was also “taken up in glory.” It is from this whole story—not just part of it—that “true godliness springs” and our lives are changed.

Last Sunday in our worship time we noted with the help of The Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 18, that the Ascension of Jesus was not some after thought, some abstract idea, but holds a profound and encouraging and comforting truth that we all need to remember today.

The Catechism asks, What do you confess when you say, he ascended into heaven? We answer with:

That Christ, before the eyes of his disciples, (Acts 1:1-11)
was taken up from the earth into heaven,
and that he is there for our benefit

Then a follow-up questions comes, and this answer is what I would encourage you to read slowly, and reflect on today. Here is the question,

How does Christ's ascension into heaven benefit us?

The answer?

First,
he is our Advocate in heaven
before his Father.
Second,
we have our flesh in heaven
as a corresponding pledge that he, our Head,
will also take us, his members,
up to himself.
Third,
he sends us his Spirit as a pledge,
by whose power we seek
the things that are above,
where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God,
and not the things that are on earth.


LET US PRAY

Ascended Lord, you are our Savior and King over all things. By your Spirit, speak to us and guide us, that we may worship and honor you. Give us power to serve you and to share with others all you have done. Amen.

COMPELLED BY LOVE

 

May 8, 2024

2 Corinthians 5:11-16

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. . . . 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

COMPELLED BY LOVE

In our devotion yesterday we saw that Paul was reminding the Corinthian believers that while we long to be “at home with the Lord” we live in the time between promise and fulfillment. In that space of waiting for fulfillment he says “we live by faith, not by sight”, underscoring God’s faithfulness and that we can trust in the promises of our good God. While we wait, the apostle says, “we make it our goal to please” our creator. 

In today’s verses from 2 Corinthians 5, we see what we have to live for as the community of Jesus. “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others” of the Gospel promises and he then writes we do this not for personal gain, rather we do this because “Christ’s love compels us.” 

Let's take a sidebar for a moment. The "fear of the Lord" that Paul mentions, how are we to understand it? Throughout Paul's letters this "fear of God" seems to refer to a fear that is good and that brings us to place where we recognize God's call to attentiveness. God calls us to spiritual-mindedness. God calls us to set our minds on things above. And to "fear the Lord" in this way is not to quake in our boots, but it’s to take God seriously. It’s always to have an eye to God, to his presence, to what he’s doing, to his promises and their relevance for our circumstances. And so, the "fear of the Lord" is that God-centered focus, wherever we may be, whatever circumstance we may be living, whether it be happy or sad, whether it be life or death, that we would be mindful of God and his presence. 

The message here is that our relationship with God and the transformation He brings within us, results in our cultivating a heart that reflects God’s love, compassion, and grace. We take God seriously. When we do so, we naturally see others through the same lens. In other words, God’s transformational work in us gives us “new eyes” through which we view the world and others. We drop the labels, and we see the “image of God” in those around us.

"For Christ's love compels us" means that the love of Christ is a powerful force that drives people to act in certain ways. This phrase describes the motivation behind Christian discipleship and service. Reading a little further in the context we notice that this drive is based on the gospel truth “that Christ died for all, and therefore all died.” Jesus through the cross "died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

2 Corinthians 5:11-13 reminds us to be God focused which means in part to view people as God does, valuable, loved, and worthy of reconciliation. Let us strive to see with new eyes, as Christ’s love compels us, recognizing the divine image in every person we encounter, and wanting to "persuade" people around us, that taking God seriously, to "fear the Lord" is a good thing. For there we encounter grace. In all of this, “we make it our goal to please” our Creator.

 

 

JUST "PASSIN" THROUGH

 

May 7, 2024

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

JUST "PASSIN" THROUGH

We often struggle with understanding God’s will. At times It can be hard to know what God would have us do. I am sure most of us have been in that spot. I have found, perhaps you have as well, that God doesn’t open the full future to us, rather he just shows us the next step for our life.

The Jesus followers in Corinth struggled with faith too. They struggled with sin, worldly influences, false teachers, and pleasing God. In 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, though, the apostle Paul offers them some encouragement and exhortation.

Paul reminds us in these verses that it is important to remember that this world is not our home. Our hope is in the Lord’s return. So despite the messy and painful difficulties of life, we can look forward to being “at home with the Lord.”

What the Apostle reminds the Corinthians, and you and me, is that we are called to trust and follow. Throughout all our struggles, we trust that God is ruler of all. And this belief has implications as Paul puts it we “would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”

We can be of good courage because our Lord is coming. We don’t fear, because we know that God is control and His plan will be carried out. While we wait for the Lord’s return, we live by faith with the goal to seek to please our Creator “while we are at home in the body.”

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 is reminding us that we can live with courage and hope because this is not our final home. There is a hope filled future ahead. Yet, in this in between time we still experience the presence of God and know His will, if only by a step at a time. We may not know the whole future, but we can live by faith and please God now, because “Great is His Faithfulness.”


LET US PRAY

God, in the middle of all the struggles, pressures, and discouragement we face while in our bodies, would you continue transforming us into servants who are always of good courage.

Lead us by your Holy Spirit to find rest in the grand promises that you’ve revealed to us in your Word. 

We confess that we need your help. 

Though we feel undeserving of your grace, we cannot even find the words to express our gratitude that your son, Jesus our Lord, in love took upon himself our guilt and shame upon the cross.

God, we long to experience the moment when you will declare to us, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master.” Help us this week as we continue our walk of faith looking forward to the day when our faith will become sight. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray, Amen

LOOKING AHEAD

 

May 6, 2024

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

5 1-5 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

LET US PRAY 

God, we praise you for the wonderful future that you have prepared for us through the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. We eagerly await the day when we will enter into your presence for all eternity with holy bodies untainted by sin. Please help us to not lose heart when we face the many pressures, anxieties, and troubles of life in this fallen world. Let us take great courage in the knowledge that you’ve given us the Holy Spirit to prepare our souls for our kingdom dwelling with you. Thank you for Jesus life in us. It is in his name that we pray, Amen.


Philippians 3:20-21

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

What a tremendous promise! What a hope we have! We don’t have to despair because what we see now is temporary. God is making something that’s much more permanent and everlasting.

Today our emphasis is about what we have received in Christ. This life will not last forever, but the life we have in Christ will. It’s about the One who will take our mortal bodies and swallow it up with His own life. 

May we all have the confidence to say, “For I know that my Redeemer lives!!”

BEHOLD OUR GOD

 

May 3, 2024



Revelation 4:11


“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

BEHOLD OUR GOD

Behold. It’s a great word isn’t it. We said in our Monday devotion that the word behold means more than just looking at someone or something. It means to give your full attention to experiencing and understanding the wonder of the person or thing that has caught your gaze.

So, to behold our good and gracious God means to gaze upon Him, with full attention and wonder. To behold our good and gracious God means to know Him more intimately, to hear His voice more clearly, to seek Him more earnestly, to be more aware of our sin and His grace, to put Him in His rightful and exalted place in our lives, to welcome Him as the leader of our lives. To transform our prayer lives so that we listen more and talk less, to long to sit with Him in the still as a good and trusted friend, to enjoy life in his presence more.

That is why our verse today is inviting us to an act of worship as we declare, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

We know that we are not in control of things. What if the practice of beholding our creator would give us strength and perspective in all areas of life. So that no matter what comes our way, we would be able to be at rest in God’s power and presence within us! Imagine a life where we continuously recognize our place before the almighty God. You not the place that acknowledges "you are God and we are not." Imagine a life where we seek God’s wisdom above the wisdom of this world. Imagine a life where we look to our Creator for direction on the things we should fill our life with. Imagine a life lived in wholehearted gratitude for His unfailing love. Imagine a life where we delight in His joy, His goodness, and His love forever.

I want in on that don’t you? Let us behold our heavenly Father together, today and everyday.

Have a listen to the song below as a starting point today,

WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE

 

May 2, 2024

 

Revelation 3:20


Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE

 

When you can't see, how can you behold God?

The old saying "seeing is believing" can be true if you are willing to behold God in the things we can see. The beauty of nature, the kindness of a smile, the joy of children and grandchildren, a nice meal with long trusted friend. However, how do we behold God if we cannot see anything that would remind us of who He is? We have these moments in life don't we. When it seems like the cares of life pile up, in times of illness, or loss, or sudden change. 

Our reading from the book of Revelation today invites us to listen for God's knock and voice during those times that feel like God is silent. Revelation 3:20 invites us to welcome God's presence and friendship into our life situation. 

Not long ago I heard a beautiful story about an  older woman who spoke about God as an old, trusted friend. The way she rested in her friendship with God was so evident, to anyone who knew her.  When asked what advice she would give to a young believer, her answer was simple: read the Bible and pray as if you are sitting down and having a wonderful meal with God, knowing He is your best friend.

That is a wonderful image, don't you think? A meal with God, as with a trusted friend, letting the scripture speak God's word into our life, and our prayers as our response to God's voice. 

I must confess, I do not always feel the comforting presence of a trusted friend when I read the Bible and pray. Far too often my focus is on the cares of life, rather than on the one who lovingly cares about my life and wants nothing but the best for me.

I am trying to listen to behold God’s love in the words of the Bible, and to welcome God in quiet moments during my day with the simple words, something like "God, You are welcome in my life  please help me to behold you today." 

Friends At Their Best

 

MAY 1, 2024

Psalm 133

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell in unity!

Friends At Their Best

If you could give a description of what humanity on its best day might be like what would you say?

I suspect that for most of us we might describe humanity at its best in some act of kindness towards one another. A vision of selflessness, sacrifice, and generosity toward another with no strings attached. I think that is why “Random Act of Kindness Day” caught on because deep down we all want to live in world like that.

Through the insight of David in Psalm 133, God invites us to notice how wonderful unity is, especially in our Christian friendships. Now, that does not mean we’ll never have tensions. I believe we know that all healthy relationships need genuine investments of time and energy, and we will all have times when a conflict will require us to listen respectfully to another person’s perspective. It may mean we need to apologize for something and ask for forgiveness.

The aim of lovingly working through conflicts to a place of peaceful unity is always about reconciling the friendship. And when that happens, it’s wonderful, not only for the ones who’ve worked through the conflict, but it’s also an inspiration for others and a witness to the gift of faith as our foundation in all relationships. No wonder our Psalm today declares “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell in unity!” To behold the beauty of unity and kindness inspires us all to be a better version of humanity. Today let us notice the acts of kindness we receive with thankfulness, and how about we look for opportunities to offer an act of kindness to someone we meet today.

A couple years ago, I was returning home after conducting a funeral, I stopped at my favorite little shop to grab a sandwich, and someone asked me why I was so dressed up, I told them I was returning from a funeral. I placed my order and when I went to pay, I was told that the women ahead of me paid for my order. A stranger, but fellow human, with an act of kindness. That is my description of what humanity on its best day looks like.

 

BEHOLD MY BELOVED

 

April 30, 2024


Matthew 3:17

“… behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

BEHOLD MY BELOVED

The Bible teaches us that Jesus is the cornerstone and the centre of our faith. For example, Ephesians 2:19-22 records

9 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Psalm 118:2 is quoted in Acts 4 in reference to Jesus, we read “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” These verses describe how Jesus is the foundation of the Faith Community and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

God shows the awe and honour owed to Jesus when His words announce ‘behold,' my son, and there God makes a public declaration of His love for His Son. When we behold Jesus, we live in awe and amazement of all He is doing. We pause and gaze and We behold Jesus as He works through situations in our lives and communities.

We behold His answer to our prayers.
We behold His constant love towards us.
We behold his transforming work in our lives, and the lives of others.

If it is in God’s heart to honour Jesus, then for us to walk in obedience to God means to honour Jesus too, and all that He lovingly sacrificed for us. Remember Paul’s words in Philippians 2 about Jesus? He describes him is this way:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Now, beholding Jesus may look different for you compared to how someone else might behold Him. We are all different in our needs. The beautiful work of the Holy Spirit is that he ministers to us in such a way that sheds light on areas in our lives where we need growth and improvement so that we can Behold Jesus work of healing in our life that ultimately strengthens our relationship with God. Have you noticed how the Holy Spirit does this? The Holy Spirit brings an awareness to those places where we are struggling to behold Jesus activity in your daily walk. From that awareness God’s spirit helps us come into the fullness of life that God intends for us all.

As Colossians 2:9 ff puts it, “… in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.”

What Is Your Greatest Desire?

 

April 29, 2024

Psalm 27:4

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

What Is Your Greatest Desire?

I wonder what your answer would be to the question, ‘What is your greatest desire?’ Your first answer might not be to have a better relational connection with a specific person, but it is likely to be in your top 5. We are wired to desire relational connection, and it turns out God’s greatest desire is to have a close, loving relationship with us.

David wrote Psalm 27:4  that more than anything else, he wanted a relationship with God that meant he could behold the beauty of the Lord. The word behold here means more than just looking at someone. It means to give your full attention to experiencing and understanding the wonder of the person or thing that has caught your gaze.

Most of the other places where the word behold appears in the Bible are invitations from God, to experience something of who He is as a loving Father, a saving friend or an empowering spirit. Take as an example Revelation 21:3

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with humankind, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Or Consider Psalm Psalm 33:18

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy. . . .

Or the Birth announcement of Jesus in which angels appear to shepherds and say

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. Luke 2:10

Today in Psalm 27 we are invited to join David, to take time, even a moment, to enter a space in our day where nothing matters more than being in God’s presence.

What if today before we start asking in prayer for guidance, or we start praying through our prayer list, we were to let our gaze rest on the sky, or the impact of yesterday’s rain on the grass, shrubs and tulips, or something in your field of vision that might remind you of God, our loving Creator. Let's pause and behold the love God has for us and breathe deeply in gratitude.

I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN

 

 April 26, 2024

EPHESIANS 6:11

11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

EPHESIANS 6:13-17

13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Psalm 16:8

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN

Have you ever seen the picture of that lone Chinese man standing in front of a line of tanks? It's this iconic snapshot from years ago because it is a thrilling picture of courage and a man who was standing firm. Just an average looking slender guy. I think he was wearing black pants and a white shirt. He's all by Himself in front of these war machines that could easily crush him and kill him. But there he is, and he stands firm. The lead tank gets within feet of his face, but he doesn't move. He doesn't wobble, he doesn't run. He stands firm.

That picture makes me think of something that Jesus said in Matthew 24. We have read it a few times this week. He said “because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Jesus said you could be living in a war zone. In the harshest of situation. Love could be completely absent, but if you stand firm to the end, you will be rescued.

It is easy to feel scared or anxious  in the “real world” because of constant change and uncertain circumstances. That is what makes Psalm 16 so encouraging. It is amazing to know that the real constant in life is the love and power of God. He has never changed in the past and He will never change in the future. God will always love us and God is always good.

When we keep God in our focus, we do not need to be alarmed about the shifting sands of life. Things around us can be constantly breaking, sinking and moving, but God promises that if we keep our eyes on Him, we “will not be shaken.”

We need God. In Him, we have consistency and a firm foundation. This foundation is how we find peace in the midst of chaos. This peace that we can have is a true testament to the power of God, and this ultimately brings glory to Him.

So, when you feel overwhelmed and uncertain about the ever-changing world, turn your eyes to the never-changing God. You will not be shaken. You will be able to stand firm.

This makes me think of the words of the Apostle Paul, He said this.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God. So that you can take your stand. Put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm them with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.

Let us keep our eyes always on the Lord. . . and we will not be shaken.”

 

 

STANDING FIRM

 

April 25, 2024

Matthew 24:6-14

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

STANDING FIRM

In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus was, as we have identified in previous devotions, thinking of wars and rumors of wars and he was open and honest about how difficult life on Earth could be. That sometimes what we know about the realities of life on our planet just doesn’t make sense.

Here's what Jesus said.

Then you followers of Jesus will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death. And you will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people because of the increase of wickedness. The love of most will grow cold.

“Thanks Pastor”, you might say, “real uplifting stuff!” What Jesus says here sounds bad, doesn't it?

He didn't say, well, someone might poke fun at you on social media. No, he said, persecuted, hand it over, put to death. Hated. Not by just one or two bad apples, but many will do this. Many false prophets will appear, the love of most will grow cold because of the increase of wickedness. This kind of message is alarming, isn’t it?

Now, before we are alarmed and before we panic at another terrible headline that doesn't make sense to us. I want to let Jesus finish the thought. Here's what he said “because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Jesus gave us this incredible promise, you might be living in a relationship right now or in a family right now that is overtaken by sin, or sorrow, or the pain of senselessness. You know the ones that make us ask Why? Why? Why?

We may feel like we are living in a culture right now or in a country right now, where wickedness seems to be increasing and people's love and patience and compassion seems to be decreasing. Perhaps, You are being persecuted or feel hated. You might describe things around you as a battle a war. But Jesus said, don't be alarmed. And don't panic. The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

This is what the Saints of old used to sing about. Take the book of Psalms as an example, there we encounter King David, who was running for his life, who was hated, persecuted, hunted, being pursued to be put to death, yet, he would often find joy in the fact that he would be saved.

God was his refuge, and his strength, his tower, and his song, David would say things like if, if God is for me. What should I be afraid of? If God is on my side, If I can run to him, and my soul can be safe, what could humans possibly do to me?

6The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies. 

Psalm 118

And Jesus, who is the son of David, wants you to think and believe, just like David. You might be hated. Your heart might be broken, but don't panic and don't lose your peace. The one who stands firm to the end? Will be saved.

What have been reading this week?

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

We see the brokenness of this world, wars, rumors of wars, the persecution. But God has a plan to bless, believe me the Bible asserts this over and over again. In this world you will have trouble, Jesus said. But take heart (you are blessed) because he has overcome the world and all of you who stand firm to the end will be saved.

 

 

 

THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS

 

APRIL 24, 2024



MATTHEW 24:6-8

6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS

A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a Somali refugee who is the only surviving member of his entire family. His family were killed during the genocide which took place in his country. I was deeply moved by his story, but at the same time I was profoundly aware that I could not possibly identify with this person’s sorrow, pain, or experience. After all, within a few blocks of where we were standing, I could visit with my family members.

In my experience, the veterans that I have met never want to talk about what they have experienced in war. I was reading of a veteran recently, who when asked by his family members “what did you do in the war?” His answer was always the same, “I passed out flowers.” Makes me wonder what happened. What memories this man lived through that he did not want to think about or discuss.

Some of you reading this today, can relate, either from your own experience, or the experience of friends or family who served in a place like Iraq or Afghanistan, who still live with the scars of war and struggle to cope, or try to stay healthy as they live out of the brokenness of PTSD.

Maybe you know what that's like. Maybe someone you love has served in war efforts and have come home silent and reluctant to talk about the memories of what they saw and heard and did.

With this as a backdrop, I am drawn to the Gospel of Matthew and Jesus words.

Now remember, Jesus, was living in the midst of the Jewish and Roman tension, he was thinking and speaking about things to come when the Romans would besiege Jerusalem and destroy it.

In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke these words.

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you're not alarmed. Nation will rise against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom that there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All of these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Think about that last phrase, birth pains. Pains. I mean, Jesus was brutally honest about what life on Earth can be like.

If some of you ladies have experienced birth pains, you know what Jesus is talking about. I have heard that such pains are almost unbearable, they're torturous. You just feel like you can't even take another moment.

And that's what Jesus said about this world, and especially a world that's at war.

I don’t know how war impacts on you, but perhaps some of you feel like you can’t live through it. You can't survive another day. You can't read another headline. It breaks your heart too badly, and it takes your peace. What some people will do for the sake of more land, more oil, more power, more money, more ….

But notice Jesus didn't just talk about pains. He talked about Birth pains. You know the great thing about birth pains is that after the pains comes a birth. The pains might be the worst that you've ever been through, but something comes that is actually so good, so blissful, so, so beautiful and so much better that it makes all of the pain worthwhile. It makes all of it seem small by comparison.

I wonder if Jesus doesn’t want to put that image in our hearts today.

In Matthew Chapter 24, in the first 14 verses, Jesus uses the phrase “the end” four separate times. The end is coming. The end is coming and then the end will come. Jesus knows how bad your life can be. How you feel like you just can't keep going, especially during a war and rumors of war. But he says when the end comes, when Jesus, who is the beginning and the end, shows up again, then war will end, and pain will End. Your fear will end. Your anxiety will end. Your depression will end, the pills will end. The heartbreak will end. The divorce will end. The drama will end. The temptation will end. And something so good will start that it will make all of that seem small.

A birth so joyful, of seeing God face to face. Jesus says don't forget this. These are just the beginning of birth pains.

Near the end of the Lord’s prayer there is a line that speaks to me today, “Deliver us from evil.” Deliver, a delivery is what changes the birth pains into the birth. When the hard stuff ends, and the beautiful stuff begins.

"Lord, deliver us from evil. Come quickly. Lord Jesus, may you, the beginning and the end, put an end to our suffering so that our celebration can begin." Amen

 

DON'T BE ALARMED?

 

 

April 23, 2024

MATTHEW 24:6

6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

JOHN 16:33

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

DON'T BE ALARMED?

War is alarming, isn't it? People are dying. People are suffering. If you listen to the news streams and analysts’ projections the current conflicts that we hear so much about are unlikely to end anytime soon, that it actually could be catastrophic. It could go global. Things could get much worse.

It is light of this messaging, that I wanted to share with you today something from God’s word, the Bible. Now when you hear about wars or rumors of wars starting, that phrase may trigger in your mind something that Jesus once said the week before he died. In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke these words. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. But see to it that you are not alarmed.” All right. Yeah. It's going to happen. Wars are going to break out. There are going to be threats of other wars breaking out. Jesus says see to it. Make sure. Work hard, do everything you have to do so that you are not alarmed. So that you don't panic. So that you don't worry about it so that you don't lose the peace that Jesus wants to give to your heart.

Now that seems totally unreasonable, doesn't it? I mean if I'm just the guy scrolling on my phone, here in Canada, OK, maybe I can keep from being alarmed. But for people. For families. For those living in a war zone, Jesus are you serious? See to it that you are not alarmed? How can that be?

There are literally expecting mothers whose water is breaking as they sit in a bunker and bombs explode around them, their homes destroyed, food shortages, medication and medical care disrupted, families separated, sorrow and grief gripping the hearts of those who didn’t start a war, didn’t want a war. See to it that you're not alarmed.

While at first, it does seem like Jesus words are unreasonable for us. Think back to the prayer of our devotion yesterday. Did you notice the way each petition began?

God of Comfort
God of Justice
God of Love
God of Hope
God of Mercy
God of the Nations
Strengthen our faith in you, O God of All Flesh


Each petition focused on God. A God who is constant, and a God who is good, a God who is present in the midst of this broken world. A God who always hears our prayers, a God who is merciful, a God who is loving, and a God who is forgiving. A God who strengthens.

I wonder if that is not the place to start when “we don’t have clear answers”? We “lift our eyes up to the mountains, where does our help come from? Our help comes from you, maker of heaven creator of the earth.”

With the focus on our creator, let us open our Bibles and read the good news. Before our hearts and minds get swept up and alarmed by the wars and rumors of wars. Let's fix our eyes on the God who sent his only son to be our Prince of peace. Jesus himself said just a few days later to his friends in that upper room. "I've spoken these things to you so that in me you might find peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. Don't be alarmed. Don't lose your peace. Take heart. I have overcome the world."