Monday Reflection – June 15, 2020
Alive and Living

Your dead shall live. Isaiah 26:19  

Isaiah 26 begins with a song, a prophetic one too, that will be sung in the land of Judah. It’s a song about God’s work among his people and what he has accomplished. So they will sing, ‘We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks.’ It is also a song about the benefits of the people’s covenant relationship with God. What are these? The righteous nation that keeps faith in God will enter the city; those of steadfast mind will experience peace because they trust in God; in God they have an everlasting rock; God brings down the high and lofty city and casts it to the dust, and the poor and needy will trample it.

The rest of this chapter is about God’s faithful action on behalf of his people on the one hand, and the negative consequences of not following God on the other. Those whose souls yearn after God and whose spirit earnestly seeks him will experience smooth paths, peace, increase and enlargement of borders. But those who reject God will experience punishment and chastening. Yet the prophet remembers when he and his people were in distress, full of tears and feeling pain. What did they do? Seek God and pour out prayers to him. In response, God gives the promise of today’s Watchword: ‘Your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a radiant dew, and the earth will give birth to those long dead.’

God offers new life to those who seek him. But isn’t this the essence of the gospel and of God’s word? As humans we are inherently sinful and want to do our own thing and follow our own paths. Yet, God offers direction and guidance. Those who desire to be led by God, seek after him and are guaranteed the hope of abundant life in the here and now, and eternal life in the world to come. Perhaps, today’s Watchword is a prelude of the life to come. The secrets of the life to come have now been revealed by the appearing of Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Here is a confident expectation of the resurrection and glory for the Lord’s righteous ones. We have been slaves of sin and Satan, but by God’s divine grace we have been set free from all former masters. The power of God’s grace, like the dew or rain, which causes the herbs that seem dead to revive, would raise up those united with Christ.

I remind us that those who live outside of Christ are living deads. They are alive but not living, because real living is experienced only in Christ. Such dead persons need to live, and this is experienced when we confess our sins and surrender our lives to the sovereignty of God. I remind us too about the church at Sardis that had a reputation of being alive but was dead (Revelation 3:1).  It looked spiritually vibrant on the outside but was spiritually lifeless. Let’s not forget Christ’s scathing rebuke of the Pharisees who “look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27). We have to give full attention to our lives daily and ensure that we are engaged in continued surrender and commitment to Christ and passionately pursuing God and his ways. We must also endeavor to strive daily to become more like Christ. Only then will we remain alive and living.

Jermaine Gibson 

Saturday Reflection – June 13, 2020

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplication.” Zechariah 12:10

As we reflect, we recall the many troubles that assail us and the wrongs that are being perpetrated in our country and across the globe. We consider the lasting effects of COVID-19 and the other dangers that are imminent. There is growing concern over the welfare of fellow brothers and sisters as protests grow larger, there is the rising crime and violence and the scant disregard for our people, those in authority or for fear and reverence to God for whom we must all give account.

And as we face these challenging and uncertain circumstances, we cling our hope in the Lord Jesus which has kept us confident and sane during this time. The promise that the prophet shared with the people in today’s watchword, is indeed relevant and comforting in this time. As we continue to experience Pentecost – the day of outpouring upon the people – we are reminded of the here that God will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication upon his people.

Though the text uses the word ‘grace’, the New Revised Standard Version, uses the word ‘compassion’ which is just what we need to hear following the recent attacks that have perpetrated both at home and abroad. How we long for people to have regard and show compassion for our brothers and sisters and treat them as they rightly are: the embodiment of God’s creation made in the image and likeness of God. And if we really would see everyone in this light, with this Spirit of compassion, then the world would indeed be a better place. Also, the promise is one of supplication; which describes earnest prayer that we would be empowered to bring our petitions and intercessions before the Lord. When in boldness, we would pray and act and see the hand and power of the Lord at work.

But ever since the outpouring on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has been present among his people. And since that outpouring, we still consider the promise in the watchword and may begin to question, the presence of that compassion and supplication in our society. The answer, I would believe, goes back to our role, as Christians (salt and light) and in the Great Commission. When it comes to supplication, we are often reminded both of 1 Chronicles 7:14 which says “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 which implores us to “pray without ceasing.”  There is a responsibility on the believer to actively participate in this process.

We ought to pray that this spirit of compassion would be evident in our society. That it would be evident within us, and we ought then to portray this compassion – lest we become hypocrites. Also, our prayer that “thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’ and we must proclaim the good news of the kingdom so that everyone may hear, may believe and be changed. It is incumbent then upon us, as the now people of God, to return in prayer, seeking God and his divine will and purpose. That is what Jeremiah implores the people understand and act upon, He says in Jeremiah 29:7 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Friends, as we hold on to this faith: we must exercise it: in prayer, in precept and ministry. It is then that others will hear and will experience the Christ who is our love, peace and eternal joy. And when the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit is at work, through us (the hands and feet of Christ), then there is change – and change in one life ignites another until the world is ablaze with passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The good thing is that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we have a comforter, helper, friend, intercessor, advocate (adjectives which are interchanged by the different versions) that even when we don’t have the words to bring before the Lord in prayer or in sharing with others, when we may find ourselves overwhelmed or discouraged, and not know how to be witnesses of his love. There present is the Holy Spirit – strengthening us and continuing to intercede on our behalf. With the power of the Holy Spirit we get courage and boldness to witness, and as he lives in us – we in trusting and obeying may bear the fruit of the Spirit and therein to be his witnesses.

Until next week, let us pray that God’s Holy Spirit may descend upon us and transform our world and let us labour together, living and sharing the good news of the kingdom until our faith becomes sight. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair