King

Well we made it! To the end of the year at least, after a life changing and history making year, and with the major disruptions to our lives and our Church. We can do nothing less than to give thanks to our our good Lord and Saviour for seeing us through, not only as a Church but as a nation, in comparison to the rest of the world.

This time of year we are reminded of the miraculous nature of the birth of Christ. The very idea itself of God becoming man is one shrouded in mystery and wonder. The Apostle Paul tells us that “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh….” 1 Tim 3:16. The mystery is in the ‘how’ of God manifesting in flesh. We don’t know how God did it, it’s supernatural, it’s miraculous but He did it.

While the world was oblivious to the fact that God had come into the realm of humanity as a baby on that Christmas day, the nativity story tells us that there were wise men from the east who had knowledge that a great King was born. Having finally located him in Bethlehem, they presented gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The significance of these gifts may get lost in the other details of the narrative but perhaps they reveal aspects of profound importance in the life of this child. The Gold represents his Kingship, the frankincense his priesthood and the myrrh speaks to his suffering as the Messiah.

As King and Priest he carried out his calling, revealing his deity and absolute authority but ultimately his purpose was to go to the cross and as King and Messiah, pay the penalty for man’s sin. This is why today, we are victorious because our King has fought the battle against the tyranny and burden of our iniquities. He won by dying on the cross and being raise again the third day and our conquering King reigns and rules supreme forever. Glory to God in the highest!

Simply Jesus

As the year hurries to a close, for many it signals relief and a break from what may have been a tough and tiring year. It is the festive season that so many of us enjoy since it’s a time of food, gifts and in this part of the world, summer holidays. People love Christmas for these reasons because they bring happiness. Who doesn’t love honey leg ham, prawns and trifle? And who doesn’t love gifts and reconnecting with family and friends?

We know that this season is more than just these physical and material enjoyments that bring us happiness, it is the knowledge of God coming into this world to bring us into his saving grace. It is about the Christ in Christmas! As I say that however, we can be easily misunderstood as being ‘Over-saved’ or super spiritual. Others may say that we are being spiritual ‘Scrooges’.

On the contrary. I think that God wants us to be happy. The pursuit of happiness is at the heart of our existence and it is the motivating factor to what we do, even responding to the Gospel, is driven by a desire to discover enduring happiness. Blaise Pascal said, "All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.”

Thus it is perfectly acceptable to pursue happiness in your life but the most profound of differences is in the object of happiness. If you look for joy only in food, fun and festivities, it may give you some temporary semblance of enjoyment but it doesn’t last. It is fleeting. I am convinced, lasting and true happiness is not found in the ‘what’ but in the ‘who’. We were created first and foremost to have a relationship with God. To know Him and to have Him is to have joy. That regardless of our material situation if we have Jesus and He has us, then happiness will persist because our joy is not based on fleeting pleasures of this world but on our eternal connection with a loving Saviour. It is SIMPLY JESUS! Praise God and Joy to the World!

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10

The Search of the Wise

As the world enters a period of festivities and holidays, for many it is a busy time of shopping, travelling, hosting and celebrating. And for the most part, that is all it is. They get together with family and friends because that’s what they’ve always done, it’s part of the tradition that’s been passed down from previous generations. Nothing more, nothing less.

While as Christians we know that there is more to the celebration of the birth of Christ than turkey dinners and exchanging of gifts, we too can fall into the trap of merely going thru our Christian tradition. Where our spiritual walk simply becomes religious custom. Now there is nothing wrong with having routine, and in fact discipline and consistency is commendable, but we must be cautious to not substitute relationship with religion.

I am reminded of the wise men from the East in Matthew 2 who came to see the King who was born, that they may worship him. These men were wealthy, powerful and, more importantly, they were wise. In all of their prestige, they were pressed to search for the great King even at the cost of their lives being threatened by Herod. What motivated them was their desire to see face to face the one who was promised and as such begin a relationship with him.

During this period, let me encourage you, that while you search for the best bargains, food and fellowship (and that’s great) don’t stop seeking that which is most important; God Almighty. Hunger and thirst after him again, even if you’ve been a Christian for a very long time, or especially if you’ve been one for a long time and perhaps your journey of faith has dwindled down to religious observance. Ask Him to restore the passion and appetite for Him. This is the search of the wise.

“Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth” Psalms 105:4-5

Gratitude

For many people the final month of the year is welcomed with a long awaited sigh and celebration as it signals holidays, food, festivities and summer. For others however the season is viewed with a sense of dread and weariness, due to the stress of expenses, events, deadlines and get togethers, or not.

Regardless of whether this month energises or depresses you, one thing is for certain, it represents an opportunity to look back over the last 12 months and assess our successes and failures. This is vital in seeing whether we have been effective or not but don’t let that be the only function. Let this month also serve as a time to look back and be truly grateful for all that has transpired, both good and not so good.

Gratitude is not only a virtue that our parents insisted that we show as children with good manners but it is an attitude that secular researchers are now discovering has tremendous health benefits. In 2007, Robert Emmons began researching gratitude through a psychological lens. He found that expressing gratitude improves mental, physical and relational well-being. Being grateful also impacts the overall experience of happiness, and these effects tend to be long-lasting.

Little wonder that the Bible repeatedly commands us to give thanks. Col 2:7 tells us that we are to abound in thanksgiving. Luke 17 records the remarkable story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers. After instructing them to confirm that their leprosy had ceased to the priests, one of them came back immediately praising God and throwing himself at Jesus feet out of sheer gratitude. Jesus marvelled at the absence of the other 9 who were also healed but did not demonstrate the same level of appreciation. Due to this man’s gratitude, Jesus made him whole, the implications of which are that his sins were forgiven and possibly any missing body parts as a result of the leprosy were restored.

Gratitude is an attitude that the child of God ought to embrace. We have so much to be thankful for, even when our lives are not ideally placed. Get into the habit of giving thanks always (1 Thes 1:2). Get into a habit of being grateful. Here are just a few tips:

• Keep a journal where you can list 2-3 things to begin your day being thankful for and end it in the same way. (I recommend the Five Minute Journal).
• Spend a significant part of your prayer time thanking God for every detail. Count your blessings everyday and name them one by one.
• Practice thanking your loved ones for something at least once a day
• Say ‘Thank you’ often
• Write a letter or send a gift of thanks to someone who has made a difference in your life.

We don’t celebrate a Thanksgiving holiday like in North America but we can exercise this wonderful virtue that can literally transform our lives every single day. Remember that the word gratitude comes from the same root as Grace. Gratitude is the appropriate response to Gods’ amazing grace in our lives.

Have a blessed season!