Monday Reflection – September 06, 2021
Mercy Lord!

Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly. Psalm 106:6

One of the critical characteristics of God that we depend on every day is God’s mercy. Without God’s mercy we would all be dead by now. We talk a lot about God’s grace and mercy, but what do these terms mean? For me, God’s grace has to do with what God gives to us that we do not deserve; God’s unmerited favour. On the other hand, God’s mercy relates to the judgement or punishment that we rightly deserve, but God withholds same and replaces that with mercy. Mercy and forgiveness are twins, since we receive God’s mercy because God forgives.

Psalm 106 celebrates Yahweh’s mercy to His covenant people. The Psalm begins by praising God for His enduring mercy, as the Psalmist invites us to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Why? Because God is good and God’s mercy endures forever. This praise for God’s great mercy is especially sincere because it is offered to an often rebellious and ungrateful Israel. Indeed, we celebrate a God who is longsuffering.

In today’s Watchword, the Psalmist confesses Israel’s past and present sins and thus highlights their need for God’s mercy. Verses 6 and 7 say: “Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly. Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.” Not only were God’s people sinful, but they paid no attention and forgot the magnitude of God’s mercy. So what we have is a contrast between the loving acts of God and Israel’s continued sins and lack of response. This dramatizes the greatness of God’s love and salvation, for He delivered a people who did not respond to His love.

Having acknowledged Israel’s sins, the Psalmist notes in verse 8a, “Yet God saved them for His name’s sake”. Though the Israelites responded to God’s deliverance with ingratitude and rebellion, God answered with rescue, but not only for Israel’s sake, but God’s. Boice makes the noteworthy point that “Israel’s history is as much the story of God’s mercy, faithfulness, and long-suffering as it is the story of Israel’s faithlessness and unbelief. In fact, it is against the background of their sin that God’s patience is most fully illuminated.” Yet, this is our story! We continue to be sinful and rebellious in the face of God’s continued mercies. However, let’s be careful that we don’t become so flippant and carefree doing what we want and ignoring God’s direction because we believe that God is forever merciful. There will come a point when God stops winking at our rebellion and inflict judgement.

Let’s be forever grateful for God’s manifold mercies to us every day, confess our sins and seek God’s forgiveness, pursue a life that honours God, and extend mercy to those who offend us.

Jermaine Gibson 

Saturday Reflection – 04 September 2021

“We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Acts 5:29

The Apostles had been arrested and brought before the chief priests for disobeying the strict orders that were given to them, not to preach the name of Jesus. You see, the gospel message had spread like wildfire all over Jerusalem, and in jealousy the chief priests along with a sect of the Sadducees arrested the apostles and had them thrown in a public prison. However, an angel had set the apostles free that night, and instructed them to go to the temple and continue preaching. Lo and behold, when the chief priests met, and sent for the apostles, they were not in the prison, and perplexed as to what happened, they spotted them in the temple faithfully teaching about Christ, and took them to the chief priests.

It was here that in verse 27-28, the high priest says to the Apostles “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” And in response, Peter and the Apostles say today’s doctrinal text “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” In fact, they go on to say “The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (verses 30-32)

The teaching of Christ had been rejected by the chief priests and they had tried to snuff out any preaching of this gospel. There was also jealousy added to the mix, as many people had been drawn to the teaching of this Messiah, and had converted to the church. You can imagine that the Apostles held on to Jesus’ commission to them, and continued faithfully to execute that mission. And here came the instruction that finds itself contrary to Jesus’ instruction. How would they respond? As they did in the doctrinal text. They were convinced by the teaching and example of Christ, that he was indeed the Messiah, that came from heaven, and that he has by his death and resurrection, and by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, offered to us abundant and eternal life. And that anyone who would hear and accept this gospel, would be saved. Therein was the duty to faithfully preach and teach the gospel regardless.

Their answer demonstrated the higher authority that they held as Christians, and importantly the fulfilling of Jesus’ promise, that should be taken before the rulers, that the Holy Spirit would give them the answer and empower them to speak. Whether they were examined together, or individually, their answer exemplifies this promise. They were even frank to the chief priests, not begging for pardon, or giving excuses, but spoke as those given authority by God. Even in their answer, they told the chief priests of their own role in the crucifixion of Jesus. What do we learn from their example? The Apostle Paul reminds us that as Christians, we must be obedient to our leaders and rulers, and observant of the laws that are laid down. However, where those rules contradict, our obligation is first to Almighty God. To his rulership, and therein the principles laid out for us in scripture and in line with the character and heart of God. We must never be disrespectful, instead, be faithful and loving witnesses of the truth, that in God’s time, and by God’s grace, others may see the truth. And God will reward our faithfulness.

For the Apostles, there came Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the law, who pleaded with his fellow chief priests not to have them killed, but to leave them alone, for if their message is from man, it will fail, but if from God, then nothing we do will stop it, and worse we would be defying God. And instead, the Apostles were flogged (to which they rejoiced for bearing dishonour for the sake of Christ) and let go. The chapter ending by telling us that they did not cease to preach the gospel of Christ. As Christians, it is a call for discernment and wisdom, as we are led by the Holy Spirit and encouraged by our brothers and sisters of the faith. And as they were led by the Holy Spirit, so will we be empowered. For if we deny Christ on earth, so will Christ deny us in heaven. We must be committed to the mission of Christ, just as we are to our secular engagements. When it comes to the test, let us never deny the name that we bear, instead, may we be faithful to God, and there we will find God faithful.

Until next week, let us commit to the cause of Christ, spreading the gospel message, shining the light and love of Christ, in a world filled with darkness and hate. When tested, remember, we are faithful first to God. However, knowing that God has ordered the one in authority over us, let us be respectful, observant, and obedient of the law that guides us. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair

Thursday Reflection September 2, 2021

The fear of the Lord brings hope

Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
Psalms 25:12

Greeting friends!

We’ve made it to September. I pray God’s continued blood coverage over us as we journey through this pilgrim land.

As I look at what is happening in our country and by extension the world, there is so much to cause confusion, anxiety and stress. At the top of this list is the matter of vaccination. Should one get vaccinated or not? This topic is causing a lot persons to become stressed. The matter of crime and violence is still a thorn in our flesh. The COVID-19 spike causing people to be further afraid. Some have not recovered from Tropical Storm Ida but we learn that there are more systems out there being formed. Then there is the personal stress at home, school, work and in the community and for many they are mourning the loss of loved ones.

During these times of uncertainty, anxiety and stress, there are some of us who feel alone and afflicted. King David was not foreign to these feelings as he in Psalm 25 makes mention of these feelings in verse 16-18. Hear King David, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.”

It’s not easy going through stressful situations. They cause us to lose hope and become despondent. But even though David was going through this situation, hear David in verse 12 speaking to us and offering hope, ” Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.”

Let me briefly break down this verse for us.

Who are they that fear the Lord?

David is speaking about those who have decided to follow the Lord completely. The fear of the Lord is not just going to church or praying in the morning and evening. No! The fear of the Lord is having a serious relationship with God. Those who don’t have it, don’t worry yourself you can have it now and those who already have it BIG UP YOURSELF!

He will TEACH them

For those who fear the Lord, you’ve gone into another realm and another dimension. For many of us who are stressed, confused and anxious we think we’re alone, but this verse tells us that God is there with you. How do we know this? David says God will TEACH you. God cannot teach you if He’s not there with you. So God will teach you.

I believe teachers will have a greater understanding of this phrase. Why? I believe some teachers become teachers not because it’s a job, but they see it as an opportunity to not only give knowledge, but to impact students in a meaningful way to help them make inform decisions in their daily life. This is what God is doing for us. God is shaping us and moulding us. What is God shaping us for?

The way
In this time of confusion we do not know what to do? Where to go? Which path to take? God teaches us and what He has taught us helps us to know what path to take. Everything that happens in life is for a reason and everything is to help us know what path to take. Many of us don’t know where to go from here, but don’t worry God has a path for you, let him show you.

That they should choose

Ultimately the choice of the path we choose belongs to us. God will teach us what path to take, but WE have to choose to take that path. Of course if we choose the path opposite to what God has chosen then we are going to be in further problems. So it’s wise to choose God’s path. This matter of choice affects every aspect of our life. We choose… We choose whether to allow the uncertainties of the situations we face to stress us or to be anxious about them or we choose to give them to God and let him show us the path to take. We choose whether we want to have hope or not. It’s a choice!

Ultimately God shows us the way to go, but we have to choose. In the midst of all that is going on choose God and choose hope and God will show you the path to take.

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa