Wednesday Reflection, May 27, 2020

It’s all in the Plan!

Psalm 138 is a rather short poem/psalm however, no one can say that it is abrupt or that it was not fine tuned. We see David declaring his praises, giving reason for his praises, declaring future praise sessions and then his unwavering faith in the Lords plan for his life.

Imagine feeling like a misfit, unwanted, unappreciated, caught up in a whirlwind of struggles and temptation and feeling as if this place, this world, this body, this family, this church, these friends, this job, is just not for you. Hard pressed on every side with no way of escape in sight.

Things may not be looking all bright for many but keep your praise, continue to exercise your faith. God has a plan! Even before the beginning of time. Long before your very conception and even now. It still stands!

David was a man who went through many different stages throughout his life. Scripture tells us, he remains a very well decorated character. Similarly, you and I have gone through or experienced different stages in our lives and lived to share our testimonies.

A look at David’s life reminds us as believers that we are all here for a purpose. God planned for you and I to be here today, in this moment. He included us in His divine plan for His family.

In today’s watchword, Psalm 138:8a, “the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me”. David had the right attitude of and for praise which is why he was able to be so bold in asserting this fact.

Brothers and sisters, as children of God, we each have a responsibility to represent our Father. This life with all its cares may burden us down but that does not negate the fact that God’s will must be done.

Be reminded, be encouraged, for there is no life happening or experience that can outweigh the love of God.

Paul wrote, : I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:6

Until next week, I leave you with a reminder from Charles Spurgeon, “adversaries may be many, and malicious and mighty, but our glorious Defender has only to stretch out His arm and their armies vanish.”

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Tuesday Reflection – May 26, 2020
The Wise Seek God

Two weeks ago, I spoke about godly wisdom. The idea was that we should always pray for a spirit of wisdom to guide us in our everyday endeavors. Wisdom does not originate with us, it is a gift of God. Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom. Wisdom, when received, should be employed in ways that please God and draw us closer to God,. Today’s watchword from Psalm 14: 2 supports this. The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.

Contrasted to this verse is the first verse of Psalm 14 which states: The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. While the fool rejects the knowledge and experience of the existence of God, the wise will seek after God, even through uncertainty. What brought creation to this point though? What brought us to the point where the created can reject the existence of the creator. The answer is simple and yet complex. Sin! Since the fall in Eden, humanity has constantly existed in sin. “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecc 7: 20. We all are born with the propensity to be lost in a life of ungodliness, of sinfulness. This is the reality of life in this earthly realm. No matter how hard we try we will constantly fall to sin. Sin is defined as ‘missing the mark’ (literal translation from the Greek ‘hamartia’). The best of us constantly fall short of God’s standard for life, God’s laws. We ‘miss the mark’. God looks to find a righteous human being but alas there is none: ‘For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’. Rom 3: 23. Is there no hope for us? Are we all doomed to be lost forever? A complete reading of Psalm 4 has David acknowledging God’s protection of the righteous, God being the refuge of the disparaged, and God sending salvation for His people. While some may have rebelled and gone on to live godless lives, those who pursue righteousness will have God on their side. Indeed, those who seek the Lord will find him.

What make the difference in all this? The text says ‘the Lord looks’. Picture the Prodigal Son who decided to return home to beg his father’s forgiveness and employment as a servant. Here’s what I love about this parable. While the son was still a far way off, his father saw him and ran to meet him. It tells me that this father was always on the lookout for his son even though that same son had rejected his ways and wandered off. God looks out for us in the same way, and even when we stray, he offers us a way back to him. This is grace. John Stott describes grace as ‘love that cares and stoops and rescues.’ Grace is mercy. In a world which is fast embracing the rule of karma, grace stands as its opposite. Karma give back what we deserve, a payback. Grace is rendering to us what we do not deserve. Romans 5: 20 reminds us, where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. Grace is about God and not about us. God looks, and those who wisely seek Him are quickly identified and covered by His grace. Through grace, God cares, stoops and rescues us from sin. I am humbled by the thought that the only difference between the wise and the fool, the one who seeks God and the one who rejects God, is God’s grace. Friends, this Grace is available to all but receivable only by those who seek God. The foolish who reject God will be eternally rejected in the soon coming judgement. I pray that we all will in wisdom constantly seek God so as to be found by Him. Amen.

Bevon White

Monday Reflection – May 25, 2020
Morning Prayers

O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. Psalm 5:3

Charles Hummel wrote that many people often wish for many more hours in a day, so they could get more done. However, if we had it, we would soon be filling it up with more of the things that we are already squandering our present 24-hour day! His solution? Do what Jesus did, and get up and spend time with the Heavenly Father to begin the day. Get his direction and priorities for the day, and then follow that. The whole plan hinges on getting up and spending time with God first thing in the morning.

In today’s Watchword, David says, “In the morning … in the morning …”. One of the ways the Hebrews emphasize something is by repeating it. So David repeats “in the morning” showing the emphasis that he puts on it. It was in the morning that his prayer would rise up to God. His first duty of the day was going to be to let God hear his voice in prayer. Jesus had this pattern, for in Mark 1:35 it says, “And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place and was praying there.” This was his alone time with his father for he made it a priority to get up early and seek God.

In this verse, we hear David’s commitment to prayer; it is a very determined statement. He pleads his case to God. Another version says, “I will order my prayer to you”. This rendering is so beautiful because it conveys the sense or arranging or setting in order. It was used for the priests who were commanded to arrange the pieces of the sacrifice on the altar. This gives us the picture of a prayer that is not just a series of random thoughts, but which has structure and organization. There is also a high note of expectation in this verse for David talks about praying and watching, eagerly watching. It conveys the sense of looking up. For the Psalmist, he is going to pray then look up and watch and see what God will do in response to his prayer. Our prayers must be prayers of faith if they are going to please God as we wait expectantly on God’s response. The other thing too is that we pray but rush off without waiting on God’s response, yet we say prayer is communication with God. So many times our prayers have become a monologue where we talk to God and then disappear from the conversation. Significantly, our prayers should come from a relationship with God so that it is not just saying prayers but talking with the Lord with whom we have a personal relationship.

I am not here saying that we can and must only pray in the morning for we should pray without ceasing. Today’s New Testament text in Ephesians 6:18 says, “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication…” What I believe is that it is important to begin our day by spending at least some time with God in his word and prayer. We should at least do something in the morning to begin our day with the Lord, because it affects the rest of our day. Stay in tune with the Lord and wait expectantly on him.

Jermaine Gibson

Saturday Reflection – 23 May 2020

“Serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:24-25

As we consider Labour Day, let us be reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus in St. Matthew 25:40, 45 (MSG) “Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me…He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.”

Since the quarantine and isolation effects of COVID-19 have kept us at home, we may not have even realized that we are approaching another public holiday. Today is Labour Day (although it will be celebrated on Monday) and it is no coincidence that the text is a reminder that as the now people of God, we are called to serve and even as we labour in our jobs and studies, in the various ministries that we engage in, that as we serve others even so we serve the Lord Christ.

Paul, the writer of Colossians, engages the church on the station in which they find themselves, to remind us that all that we do, yes, our entire lives must exemplify Christ. We have been redeemed, restored, filled and called to be the now people of God, spreading his gospel and enlarging his kingdom; however, there is a false sense of thinking that this duty is wrapped up in our worship and the many Church committees and ministries that we engage. No, the Christian life is one of ministry and service and it is a 24/7 calling. Yes, wherever we are, and whatever we do, we do it as unto the Lord. And God is not biased to any position or station but will judge all people equally according to their own responsibility, contribution, effort and result.

There Paul, addresses wives and husbands, children and parents, employees and employers so that wherever we find ourselves, we would put our best foot forward, just as when we would in worship and in whatever ministry that we take part in. That as servants, we must be willing and dedicated but even as leaders, that as we lead, we serve Christ and therein must be gentle and reasonable in our leading. Friends, it is a dutiful Christian life, and exemplifying Christ also means we have a responsibility to be compassionate, obedient, and assiduous in our various occupations.

As we consider Labour Day, brothers and sisters, let us be reminded that our sense of calling, our salvation and righteous living would only allow us to fulfil this responsibility every day as we live and labour with one another. And in considering our various roles whether at home, church, in our communities or the workplace the text in reminding us to be diligent and fair, trustworthy and honest, that even as we serve Christ, that he will reward our good works and even so will repay the wrongdoer for their wrongdoing. When all is said and done, we must give account before our righteous Judge who “…knows everything people do, even the things done in secret. He knows all the good and all the bad.He will judge everything people do.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14, ICB) May we then in the service of others employ humility, zeal, effort and goodwill, knowing that we labour unto the Lord.
Until next week, let us be reminded, encouraged and sent with our text, Colossians 3:23-25 now from the Amplified Version “Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. For he who does wrong will be punished for his wrongdoing, and [with God] there is no partiality [no special treatment based on a person’s position in life].” Amen.

Dominic J. Blair