It shouldn’t surprise us that sinful mankind, without God’s Holy Spirit always tries to leave God out of the picture.   Some of them go out of their way to try and disprove the existence of God.   But they are fighting a losing battle for the centre of history and indeed this whole cosmos is the “I AM,” the uncreated, eternal Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Scripture begins with this central truth (Gen 1:1) that God has always been.  God’s eternity is taught throughout Scripture and perhaps no more clearly when He commissioned Moses to bring God’s people out of Egyptian slavery.  “God said to Moses, ‘I AM who I AM’ (YAHWEH)… Tell them, “I AM” has sent me to you.”  God’s enslaved people needed to realize that the eternal, uncreated God, who was also the God of their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is going to save them out of slavery (Exo 3:14ff).  The great “I AM” didn’t begin to exist in the burning bush, or at creation, but has always been and will be forever and to Him goes the glory.

The “I AM” is the centre of the universe and beyond. The centre of the whole biblical story of creation, the ‘fall’, redemption history, salvation for sinners in Christ, their calling, justification, sanctification and glorification. is about the “I AM” and what He has done, is doing and still promises to do, all to His glory. 

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God will not give His glory to another (Isa 42:8).  Hence it is our responsibility to ensure that God gets the glory and not us.  Even unregenerate man can know that God exists from what He has made and can give Him glory.  The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1).  His divine nature and eternal power are for all to see (Romans 1:20). 

Sadly, less and less is heard about the centrality of God’s existence and the glory due to Him.   We live in an age where we have become so good at using evangelical Christianity, that God almost becomes an ‘add-on’ to the story of creation and our redemption, rather than being the centre of it to His glory.   So often our Christian talk slips into becoming all about ‘us’ and our actions, rather than the glory of God.   Yes, it is great and very necessary to know what the “I AM” has done for us in Christ, and our response to it, absolutely.   But even our response is not about us and our glory, but God’s glory as He works salvation in us.   Let us never forget, that the “I AM” came to us in the person of His Son, lived among us, sacrificed himself on the cross for us, so that believing in Him, living thankful obedient lives, we can share in “I AM’s” eternal glory.  This is why the whole cosmos is giving praise and honour and glory to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Rev 5). JZ

Last week I mentioned that we should not forget God’s design for our lives when he allows illness to come into our lives.  For Christians, illness is used by God to draw us closer to himself and for us to become more Christ-like.  He may even use illness for non-Christians to draw them to Himself. Whatever His plan is for us, we can be assured that He is allowing all things for our benefit for we are His children in Christ (Rom 8:28ff). 

In our struggle dealing with death and illness, we need to remember that they were not part of God’s original plan for this world.  Disease and death were part of God’s judgement against mankind when they deliberately sinned against their Holy Creator.   The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 5:12 that sin came into the world through one man and death through sin.  

In our struggle dealing with death and illness, we need to remember that the whole world is affected by sin.  Romans 8:20 reminds us that “The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope” (Romans 8:20).  Therefore, Christians are not excluded. “Not only the creation but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). We may sometimes ask, “Why me?” when illness or death comes our way, but it would be equally valid to ask, “Why not me?” 

When Jesus was on earth, to show his power as the Son of God, He healed many people from their illnesses (Matthew 8:16; Luke 6:19). He raised people from the dead (Luke 7:14; Mark 5:41; Jn 11:43;). But Jesus didn’t heal everyone who was ill, nor did he raise everyone who had died, nor did his disciples and neither did the great missionary Paul for that matter.  We read in 2 Tim 4:20, that Paul had to leave Trophimus behind, for he was ill at Miletus.  Sometimes, it is God’s will not to heal this side of glory. 

Thankfully, the misery of disease is only temporary, and death, although already defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection, will one day be fully defeated when Christ returns.   Rev 21:4 reminds us that at the end of history, Jesus will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore.  We look forward to a time when death and disease will be no more and all who love Christ will sing songs of thanks to the Lamb who was slain to redeem us from the curse of sin. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. JZ

D

Have you ever heard of Dr Google?  I think most of us have.  We go to the local doctor not feeling well and if the doctor tells us we have some illness (other than the common cold) that we have never heard of before, we go home and ask Dr Google for further information.  Sometimes, when it is more serious, we might search the internet for hours to read about further explanations and possible cures or even alternative therapies and cures.  

Of course, it is not wrong to seek further advice when you have been diagnosed with an illness and Dr Google is fairly reliable, but perhaps not always as reliable as we would like to claim.  Nor is ignorance a virtue when it comes to our health.  All three gospels record Jesus implying that the unhealthy should go and see a doctor (Mat 9:12; Mk 2:17; Lk 5:31). Indeed, Luke was regarded as a doctor (Col 4:14).  So, if you are unwell, go and see a doctor for they are a gift from the Lord. 

Having said the above, have you ever thought that your illness may also be a gift from the Lord?  When God permits illness, whether it be a cold or something more serious, He does so with a purpose.  When we think about illness in this way, it helps us come to grips with it and to seek God’s purpose for it in our lives.   When Job was struck down with boils (Job 2:7), he accepts it as coming from the Lord (2:10). 

This doesn’t mean we have to rejoice because we have been struck down with an illness, but it does mean that the illness is part of God’s plan for our lives and ultimately His glory and for our sanctification unto eternal life.  The more time we spend researching on Dr Google and elsewhere about our illness and possible cures may even indicate a lack of trust in God’s purposes for us through the illness.  Furthermore, the hours we spend with Dr Google takes away spending time with the Great Physician who can ultimately bring healing. 

Most Christians who are ill usually tell me they spend more time to reflect on God and his goodness to them when they are unwell.  That is part of God’s design for nothing happens by chance.  Illness is also designed by our Creator to draw us closer to Christ.   

The Prophet Hosea calls on God’s people to press on and know the Lord (Hos 6:3).  Daniel remarks that the people who know God shall stand firm and take action (Dan 11:32).  The Apostle Paul had some sort of illness to deal with throughout his ministry.  He called it a ‘thorn’ in his flesh (2 Cor 12:7).  Paul knew the purpose of that thorn in his flesh, namely, to keep him humble and to realise that God’s grace was sufficient, and His power was made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12: 9-10).

By all means, ask Dr Google when you are ill.  However, please don’t neglect the more important time of reading God’s word and prayerfully asking him to reveal His grand purposes for your life so that you can be a blessing to others, and He might be glorified, also when you are ill.   JZ.

Meditation – “It’s a sad day…” 

It’s a sad day when Christians bring the Lord’s name into disrepute.  That is no truer than for those in leadership, or more particularly, those who hold an office in the Lord’s church, for they carry extra responsibility.  So, whether it be a deacon, elder, minister of the gospel, or even a bishop or cardinal leading a whole denomination, if your past or present actions make the local, national or even world headlines for all the wrong reasons, the Lord’s name is brought into disrepute.  When that happens, it is a very sad day and the only one who is having a laugh is the devil and his followers. 

It is without a doubt that Christians are being increasingly targeted in today’s society, sometimes unfairly. Granted.  But that is not an excuse or a defence to excuse poor, sinful behaviour.  On the contrary, because we know that our Saviour’s name is on the line, we have more reason to remember that as Christians every deed and every word spoken is scrutinised to the nth degree by the world.  The devil just loves it when the world agrees that our behaviour as Christian leaders is immoral, inexcusable and highly offensive.    

Scripture warns that those who seek to hold office in the Lord’s Church need to be above reproach (1 Tim 3:2).  It doesn’t say we need to be perfect, for no one is, not even those who hold offices in the church.  But we do need to be above reproach and that means no one should be able to accuse us of behaviour that is immoral and detestable, not just before the Lord and his people, but also before the world in general.   

But it is not just those in Christian leadership who need to be careful, we all do.  If we wish to have a credible witness in our families, our fellowship and our communities about the love of God to us in Jesus Christ, then we need to ensure as far as it is humanly possible, that we are above reproach in all that we do and say.  

For instance, our love for one another must be clearly evident for Jesus said that the world will know we are his followers by the way we love one another (John 13:35).  Our words need to be dipped in love before they go out of our mouths so that they build-up and not tear down (Eph 4:29).  Our business practices need to be fair and above board for the Lord detests differing weights and dishonest scales (Pro 20:23).  I am sure you can add to the list. 

In many ways, it has been a sad week for the Lord’s church in light of the headlines.  The devil and his hosts have had a victory of sorts, but they will not ultimately win.  In fact, they have already lost, and they are doomed to eternal destruction because the King of this universe died for our sin and rose victoriously from the dead.        

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our sin and may we as Your people be a light in this dark world. May justice be served and Your kingdom advance, and may there be less sad days, for Jesus’ sake.  Amen. JZ.

“Saying sorry isn’t really enough…” 

When I was younger, I was often on dishes duty with my twin brother.  (There are a lot of dishes after the evening meal in a household of ten people.)   We didn’t have modern electric ‘dishwashers’ but had to do them by hand.  I soon learnt that saying ‘sorry’ isn’t enough after allowing a second plate to fall out of my hands and smash on the floor.  My parents soon told me that plates were expensive, and I needed to be more careful in the way I dried the dishes so I wouldn’t drop any more plates or else it would cost me.  The same is true for Christian sorrow and restoration. 

Most Christians are quick to say ‘sorry’ and even admit that they fail and sometimes ‘drop the ball’ as far as living an upright life before the Lord is concerned.   But I wonder whether Christians are too quick to say ‘sorry’ before actually considering what that means for them going forward.   There is a difference between saying sorry and truly showing godly sorrow. The apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that “‘godly’ sorrow brings about repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but wordily sorrow brings death” (2 Cor 7:10).   

It’s one thing to say sorry but it’s quite another thing to show a godly sorrow which brings repentance.  We often refer to the word ‘repentance’ meaning that we do a ‘u’ turn.   We no longer do things that led us to sin but now go in the opposite direction so that we will no longer commit the sin.   But doing a ‘u’ turn doesn’t happen in an instant, it takes time.  Just as it took time for me to learn a new way of drying dishes so that I wouldn’t drop more plates, so it takes time to change sinful habits and lifestyles so that we no longer sin.  

Equally problematic is when our desire to restore someone who has sinned before truly seeing the evidence of godly sorrow and repentance has occurred.  This desire to restore quickly, although noble in some ways, can be detrimental to the sinner’s physical, spiritual and mental welfare.  It can also be detrimental to the victim’s physical, spiritual and mental welfare, the church’s welfare, and worse still, bring the Lord’s name into disrepute within the church and the local community.   

Some good questions to ask in relation to this is whether there is evidence of godly sorrow and true repentance.  What has changed?  Is spiritual, fruitful living increasingly evident?   This doesn’t mean we haven’t forgiven or been forgiven, but we are simply waiting to see the evidence of godly sorrow and true repentance and how that translates into fruitful living for the Lord going forward.  

Thankfully, we know when there is godly sorrow and repentance for sin there is forgiveness, salvation and no regret with God, for He knows the heart that truly trusts in Jesus for forgiveness and renewal.   As Christians, we also forgive when there is godly sorrow, however, for restoration to be credible, we also need to see the evidence of repentance with fruitful living going forward and that takes time as the Holy Spirit continues to sanctify us.   

By all means, be sorry for your sin but that isn’t enough if it isn’t accompanied by a ‘godly’ sorrow which brings about repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. JZ.

Have you ever heard of the three “P’s”?  Sometimes pastors use three memorable ‘P’s’ for a message hoping that their listeners will hear and remember the main three points.  There is also an understanding amongst those in the leadership of faithful churches that the three “P’s” stands for “Preaching, Prayer and Pastoral-Care.”  I don’t think too many of us would deny the importance of all three when it comes to ministry and ‘running’ a church. 

But where does the responsibility lie that all three are done well, especially in larger membership churches?  I guess we would like to think that the teaching elder (minister) would be involved in all three areas of ministry.  No one would argue that the teaching elder has been trained to bring a message from God’s word.  And no one would object to the teaching elder being a person of prayer.   And if the teaching elder wishes to be relevant with sermon application, he needs to be involved at some level of Pastoral Care for the congregation too.

Now before you think you have been let off the hook, the three “P’s” is something we can all do.  As part of God’s family which meets regularly as a fellowship, we have a responsibility to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.   Just as we seek to minister to, pray for, and care for our immediate families without thinking of it as a burden for a moment, so too, we have a responsibility to each other who are brothers and sisters in Christ.  

Now we may not all be trained or gifted for pulpit ministry but that doesn’t mean it is only the ‘minister’ who should encourage other family members with God’s word and His promises.  Each one of us should be able to open the Scriptures and read a Psalm or some other passage to encourage a fellow brother or sister in the Lord.  Likewise, all of us can pray for or with each other.   Our prayers may not always be fluent and graceful, but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans even while we are stumbling to find the ‘right’ words to express what we wish to say.  Similarly, most of us are in a position where we can care in practical ways.  Perhaps the parents need a night off from the kids; perhaps an extra meal is needed; perhaps someone who is lonely needs a visit; perhaps an elderly person needs to be invited out for dinner or a cuppa.   It’s all part of being part of God’s family.

Let me mention three “d’s” in closing.  

1. Don’t say you cannot be involved in some way, for that would be denying the oneness we have in Christ and a lack of love for God’s family in Christ.   Rather, just as it is a real privilege to be part of a loving earthly family, see it as even a greater privilege being part of God’s family, especially when you consider what it cost His Son to make you part of the family.  

2. Don’t abuse the privilege of being part of God’s family or treat it with contempt.   And if we have been guilty of abusing the privilege, we should sincerely ask for forgiveness, knowing that just as earthly parents always stand ready to forgive their children, God even more so stands ready and able to forgive because of His Son.   

3. Don’t put yourself in a position where you cannot be ministered too or be able to minister to someone else in the family.  That would grieve the Holy Spirit and be to your detriment and to ours.   

Prayer:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank you that You have made us part of Your eternal family. JZ.

“The beauty of being in God’s family”

Today we see the sacrament of baptism administered, twice! Little Harvey Sibe Knol (9 months) and Zackary Jacob Knol (7 weeks) are being presented by their respective parents for baptism.  The parent’s wish is to present their children to our covenant God, before God’s people, to acknowledge and thank Him for the precious gift of new life and wishing their children to be regarded as part of His greater family.  

In the Old Testament (OT), God not only created the family unit (Adam and Eve), He became the Father of a whole nation when He called Abraham.   God promised Abraham that He would be his God and that He would make him into a great nation, bless him, and all people would be blessed through him (Gen 12). God then made a covenant (promise) with Abraham assuring him that his descendants would be as many as the stars above and that God Himself would make it happen (Gen 15).  And so, the nation of Israel was born, and they became God’s children, or if you will, His family.  The sign that they were part of God’s family was that all boys at the age of eight days had to be circumcised. 

God also set down some house rules, the main ones being that they were to love Him above all and each other.  Sometimes, God’s children enjoyed being part of God’s family and at other times they rebelled.  But God as a loving Father, continued to love them, even disciplining them, but never forgetting they were His covenant children.

The great love God had for his OT children continues into the New Testament (NT), and even more so.  God’s promise to Abraham that all people would be blessed through his seed, has come to fruition with the birth of Jesus. God knew already when he made the promise to Abraham, that perfect obedience was beyond sinful human beings.  So, He promised that a Saviour would be born (Gen 3:15) and that His law would be written on their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit) so that they are able to obey  (Jer 31:31ff). 

So, in the fullness of time, because of His great love and mercy, He sent His one and only Son, born of Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, to be the Saviour of all who, by the power of the Holy Spirit would acknowledge their sin, repent of it and wholeheartedly believe that Jesus paid the debt through his death and resurrection. 

Today, all who believe in Jesus as Saviour and Lord are part of God’s NT family. Baptism is a lovely outward sign and symbol that all God’s promises in Jesus are true, not only for those who can make a heart confession but also for the children of all believers (Acts 2:42ff), just as children were part of God’s OT family.    

As parents, we are given the extra privilege of teaching our children (Deut 6:1-9; cf. Eph 6:1-4)  about our God and especially His love to them in Jesus Christ As we do so, we pray that the Holy Spirit will help us and create faith in their hearts so that they too can stand with us and say, “Jesus is mine and I love belonging to His family.” JZ.

“

When Jesus spoke about the separation of the goats from the sheep at the end of time (Mat 25:31ff), the deciding fact is that the goats didn’t do what Jesus expected from them.  They didn’t do it because they didn’t know Jesus and the work He came to do.  They had no living relationship with Him.  Hence, the failed to feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, or clothe the naked.  The sheep, on the other hand, those who loved Jesus and followed him and were in a relationship with Him, did all the above, not because they were motivated by guilt, but in thankful response for what Jesus had done for them.  

In our ‘reformed’ churches we pride ourselves a little on ensuring that God’s word, and particularly the gospel of Jesus Christ remains central in all that we do.  We are not ashamed for it is key to the way the Holy Spirit works to create faith in people’s hearts.  So, whatever else we do, we want to make sure the gospel remains central and even to do it better if at all possible.   However, we haven’t always been very good at showing the love of Christ to our local community in practical ways.  

During this past week, I received an email which mentioned several things which were also discussed at the last Church Council meeting the week before.  “How can we give back to our local community the blessing of being loved and saved by Christ in some practical way?”  

At Church Council, it was suggested that at our AGM, several possible areas of practical ministry should be placed before the congregation for them to consider how and where we can be a blessing to our community by showing the love of Christ in a real and practical way. In other words, the Church Council want you, along with our support, to have the opportunity to ‘give’ something back to the local community so we can show them the love of Christ.  However, we don’t want you to do it because we have twisted your arm, or made you feel guilty, but as a willing response to the salvation that has first been given to you in Jesus Christ (Mat 25:31ff).

Now you may already have an idea for ministry.  If you have, Church Council would love to know how you think we as a fellowship could be involved and make it work.  So, that will include doing some research about the costing, personnel (volunteers) required, premises required if any, and even the finances required if needed.  Church Council are keen to support any viable, practical ministry so that as a fellowship we could make it happen. 

Several ideas were already floated at the Church Council meeting.  A soup-kitchen once a month on a Friday night; a Connect 3218 (op-shop) in the hall three days a week, served with coffee/tea; an English language class for migrants were just some of the suggestions.  

Anyhow, if you have some ideas about how we can show the love of Christ, not just in word ministries, but also everyday practical ministries, we would love to hear from you.  Knowing Christ as Saviour and being Christ-like really goes together and is a great way of showing Christ’s love to others.  JZ.

We are living in the “Year of our Lord, 2019.”  It is sometimes easy to forget our purpose and goal in life.  Living and doing ‘life’ in this world is not always easy and it is especially difficult when we think we need to do it on our own.   Not only do we need to cope with the consequences of sin in this world, but we also need to cope with it in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.  And the consequences of sin are far-reaching.   Work can be difficult, relationships can be strained and awkward, and our mortal bodies need to deal with tiredness, sometimes illness, and the frailty that comes with age and not least, death itself.

So, at the beginning of this New Year of service, let’s remind each other that 2019 is also a “Year of the Lord.” We don’t go into this New Year on our own.   The battles we face as mortal human beings we face with the Lord by our side.  He promised that He would go with us until the close of the age (Mat 28) and so we go into this year with much more confidence than if we had to go into this year all on our own.  As Martin Luther penned in his well-known hymn, “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. You ask who that might be? Christ Jesus it is He;”

Knowing that the Lord is with us gives us new energy and confidence for the work that He has called us to do.  Our calling, amongst all the normal things we need to in life, may be a ministry in the local church and the surrounding community.  He may call on us to lead a Bible Study group, be part of the music team, be a part of Lifted-Up, the audio-visual team, part on the flower roster or welcoming committee, or even to serve as an office bearer in the church.  Whatever His call on our lives, we need to remember we don’t have to do it on our own for the Lord is with us and has promised to equip us for the task ahead.

There have been numerous leaders and workers in the kingdom who thought they were unable to do the task the Lord had called them to do. Moses was such a leader, but the Lord provided for him to lead His people out of slavery and towards the Promised Land. Paul reminds us that he, and I suggest along with us, can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Phil 4:13).  That doesn’t mean we should do things that are not within our skill set, but it does mean we can all do something.  As the saying goes, ‘many hands make light work.’  If you would love to help out in some area of service in the kingdom, let us know and we shall see where we can bless you with some opportunity to serve.  So, as another year is dawning, dear Father let it be, in working or in waiting, another year with Thee; Another year of service, Of witness for Thy love; Another year of training For holier work above. Dear Father let it be on earth or else in heaven, another year with Thee. (PsH 475) JZ.