Wednesday Reflection, November 17, 2021

The Fear of the Lord

Greetings friends. Today’s reflection bids us to examine our belief, our standing/position in Christ as well as how we view men. In Isaiah 50, the Lord spoke through the prophet, and he asked the children of Israel about a certificate of divorce. God also asked the people to tell Him which of His creditors he sold them to. Of course these questions could be deemed rhetorical but let us reason out the matter.

Zion was described as the mother of God’s people, Israel. God as their Father put away His wife yet there was no certificate of divorce. Likewise, His children belonged to him so there were no creditors to pay. As was customary, God allowed the children of Israel to be exiled because of their sinful ways.

It saddened/concerned God when the children of promise did not expect to be delivered. In today’s watchword, Isaiah 50:10 states, ‘let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord.’ Brothers and sisters, should we forget who our Father is, who has engraven us in His palms; then we run the risk of walking in darkness. That is what sin is, it strips us of our light as well as our ability to trust God and to rely on Him.

God is never far from us. He remains available to us both in and out of season and sometimes we forget His promises so we end up breaking the ones we made to him. 2 Peter 1:19, the new testament text for today reminds us, ‘so we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

When one understands that God is far superior to than any and everything and that man is a mere creature; then he is exercising fear of God, this fear doesn’t lead to flight but to faith because he knows he can trust in God for protection, provision and salvation. Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we can only be wise when we fear God.

Until next week, keep fearing God.

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Are You Listening?

According to Paul Treuer, “Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences. Listening leads to learning.” Today’s watchword is from 1 Samuel 3: 9.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

The boy Samuel was in training in the temple service under the leadership of the High Priest Eli. As he slept one night, God called him. He heard the call but thought that Eli was the one calling him. This happened three times before Eli realized that the Lord was the one calling Samuel. Dear friends, we always hear but we do not always listen. For this reason, it is possible for us to miss the call of God in our lives. God however has provided persons along our path with a spirit of discernment who will be able to direct us to listen for the call that they can already see that God has placed on our lives. Something else to note, no matter how many persons discern your call, until you hear God’s voice for yourself, you will never give effective service. I thank God for the many persons who have confirmed my call along my journey. I am grateful for their discernment, direction, and encouragement. Samuel was not listening, but Eli was discerning. Sometimes in the absence of listeners we must depend on the discerners of the Lord’s wisdom and direction for us. Discerners are also great listeners. Are you an Eli who discerns? Are you a Samuel who listens? Are you listening?

Eli’s instruction to Samuel is clear. Go back and lie down and if he calls again say; ‘speak, Lord, your servant is listening’. Once Eli realized what was happening and shared with Samuel what he should do, it was left to the youngster to do what was necessary to answer God’s call on his life. He had to listen for God’s call. I imagine Samuel lying in bed, heart pounding, not daring to fall asleep because he did not want to miss the next call. Effective listening has to be intentional. Effective listening is intentional listening. You are not just listening for the sake of listening, but you are listening for the voice, the command, the instructions from God. It is through this intentional listening that we learn, that we discern and that we are called into the service of our Lord. In the doctrinal text we are introduced to Lydia who listened eagerly as Paul ministered in Philippi. Following her listening she became a partner in their ministry in that city. Are you listening? Have you heard him call your name? Have you received your mandate to service? Are you listening? Amen.

Monday Reflection – November 15, 2021
God’s Faithful Promises

Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it. Ezekiel 36:36

As humans, we many times treat with the promises of others with scepticism. Thus we often say things that trivialize promises such as, ‘A promise is a comfort to a fool’. Such scepticism is sometimes caused by the bad experiences of the past where others have failed to fulfill promises that they have made. The truth is that some persons rush to make promises, some not considering whether they can fulfill such promises, and some even knowing that they cannot fulfill same. We make promises ever so often, not just by saying, ‘I promise’, but when we surrender our lives to Christ, when we dedicate our children, when we are being ordained or commissioned to church leadership, when we are getting married, when we recommit our lives to Christ etc, we make promises.

In the midst of mistrust for promises made and unfulfilled promises, we have a God who makes promises and keeps them all. In Ezekiel 36, God offers hope to the people of Israel by establishing a new Covenant with His people and the land. God offers eight promises – to renew the land of Israel; to establish a new covenant for the renewal of the people of Israel; to cleanse filthy Israel; to gather scattered Israel; to spiritually renew Israel; to bless the land and her agriculture; to restore the desolate places; and to restore their relationship.

Today’s Watchword reveals that God was not just doing His restorative work for the sake of Israel, but that His actions would be a powerful testimony to a world that was watching. The nations around that are left will witness and know assuredly that God has rebuilt, replanted and restored. The full work of the new covenant would proclaim the greatness of Yahweh. The results of the restoration would lead to the repentance of the people and the return of all the prosperity which through sin they had forfeited. It would also mean a renewal of their witness to the nations round about of the power, grace and love of God.

When God acts in our lives, it is not just for our benefit, but that through us God will be seen and heard and believed. There are many people who ridicule the church today and the people who are in it. Many who have nothing to do with God. Some are at this position because of our shameful actions and attitudes that have defamed the name of God. Whatever the reason, God will not sit by and allow His name to be stained. God intervenes and sometimes interrupt our situations so that His integrity and character remains intact.  When God acts, all witness that He is at work. It is no wonder that the verse ends, “I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.” To remove all doubt and to assure the trust of His people, God gives a solemn oath regarding these promises.

We who represent God ought to be faithful to our promises to God and others, so that the world may see God through us. Yet, in our many failures, God shows Himself real and faithful to the world so that all will know that He is sovereign and true. God’s promises are trustworthy, because God is trustworthy, and God honours His word above His name (Psalm 138:2).

Jermaine Gibson

Saturday Reflection – 13 November 2021

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.” Ephesians 3:20-21

I absolutely love our Moravian Festivals! Each one brings a story that renews our relationship with God in an amazing way, refreshes us as His children, and gives us a newfound or renewed appreciation for our Unitas Fratrum or the Moravian Church. Of these many Moravian festivals, is our Chief Elder Festival, celebrated on November the 13th. This festival takes us back to 1741, when Leonard Dober was retiring as Chief Elder of the Moravian Church, and the Synod met in London to elect the new Chief Elder. At that Synod, they recognized that only Jesus Christ could adequately fill the role as Chief Elder of the Church, and formally elected Jesus Christ as the Chief Elder of the Moravian Church on September 16, 1741, and the formal announcement was made in all Moravian churches on November 13, 1741. Therefore, November 13 is celebrated as Chief Elder Festival as Christ is honoured as the true Head of the Church.

It is against that backdrop, we read today’s doctrinal text. It was not that the Synod was trying to find a way out of assigning an overwhelming responsibility of managing the different sectors of the Moravian Church, but a recognition of the One who is the Alpha and Omega, who alone called the church into being, saved and commissioned its members, and by whose Spirit we are joined and equipped for the task set before us. The doctrinal text is a praise that the Apostle Paul uses at the end of Ephesians 3. We give God thanks for the work that He has wrought in our lives, and that he alone is deserving of our loyalty and commitment, and who alone is to be honoured and glorified.

It is a recognition that we are empowered only by the Christ who called us for such a time as this! We do not seek our own human advantage, by getting caught up in pride of place or position, but continue to humbly serve Christ who is the Head of the Church. We are reminded that outside of Christ, our labour is in vain, and so we ask Christ to hold our hands, guide our feet, and stand by us, while we run this race, so we do not run this race in vain. But not only does this Festival, speak to us as Moravians, but as Christians, for not only is he the Head of the Church, but Lord of our lives. That, my brothers and sisters is the foundation of this Festival. The recognition that we ourselves are led by Christ who saved us from sin, and opened to us the gates of glory. That by the Spirit of God, we are taught truth and led in the way everlasting. Then will that resolve, lead us to yield to the leading of Christ who is the Chief Elder of the Church. These thoughts are summed up amazingly by Rev. Dr. Michael Johnson who said, “As we approach another November 13, we remain grateful for our predecessors, who defied convention and appointed the head of our lives as the head of the church.”

Having reflected on these thoughts, and recognizing that only by Christ’s power are we able to accomplish the mandate to which we have been called. What is our resolve as Christians, and as a Church? As we honour Christ Jesus today, remembering a history that has certainly been passed down to our generation, may our prayer be that Christ reigns in our life, and in our church, that in all we do, we exemplify and honour Him. Let us acknowledge that of our own strength, we are powerless to do anything, but with Christ’s power at work in us, we may accomplish far beyond that which we could ever ask or imagine. Let us then faithful to Christ, to His teaching and His example. Let Christ reign in our lives, and in our church. Let us not be doubtful, proud, self-serving, or double-minded, but rather be humble, loyal, faithful, and in one accord. Let us commit our lives and our cause to Christ, and let all we do, emanate the Christ who reigns in our life and in our church.

Until next week, I leave you with the words of the Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood, on this Chief Elder Festival “By proclaiming that Jesus is our Chief Elder, we acknowledge that he is the true head of the church and that all we do should be pleasing to him. It is also a reminder to us that true leadership is servant leadership like that of Jesus Christ. Every November 13, Moravians around the world should ask themselves, “What does our Chief Elder want us to do as a Church?” As we ponder this question, may Christ reign in our reflection, deliberation, and execution of this mandate that lives may be transformed, and God be glorified. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair

Thursday Reflection November 11, 2021

Be careful of the lure of sin

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise. Genesis 3:6 NRSV
https://bible.com/bible/2016/gen.3.6.NRSV

Good day friends! Peace and love to you.

Chapter 3 of Genesis begins with a description of the serpent who represents Satan in this text. We’re told that the serpent was more crafty than any other animal made and evidence of this can be seen in the discourse it had with Eve. The serpent began with a “question” that misrepresented what God said in the first place. Eve corrects the serpent and states what God actually said, which was that she and Adam can eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, except of the tree in the middle for if they eat or touch it they will die.

The serpent again showed his craftiness by telling Eve that she will not die, instead God told her not to eat or touch the fruit of the because their eyes will be opened and they will be like God knowing good and evil. So when the Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise she ate and gave her husband as well.

As we look at what transpired and our verse for reflection there are some lessons that it teaches us about the lure of sin.

1) She saw it was good for food
The word saw used in this verse means a change of mentality or view. Eve was able to tell the serpent what God said concerning the tree in the middle of the garden, but after the conversation with the serpent her perception of the tree changed. It was no longer a forbidden tree, but one to indulge in. The lure of sin changes our view from that of God and we should be careful.

2) It was a delight to her eyes
Before the tree wasn’t of importance or significance to Eve. It’s almost like she saw the tree, but didn’t see the tree. It was there, but knowing it was “out of bounce” caused her not to bother with the tree. But after her discourse with the serpent, the tree became a delight to her eyes. Once one’s perception has changed sin now becomes a delight to the eyes. Here she lusted after the tree. The lure of sin can cause us to change our view of sin and that can cause us to lust.

3) The tree was to be desired to make one wise
The serpent said that once Eve eats of the tree she will be like God knowing good and evil. For Eve the tree was now to be desired, because it will give her wisdom. The lure of sin caused her desires to shift from pleasing God to doing what she wanted. Before the dialogue with the serpent she was contented in doing what God told her. But now her desires was about doing the opposite of what God wanted. The lure of sin will cause our desires to shift from God to self and we have to be careful.

Also to note the lure of sin impacts others and also gets them involve in sin as well. So we have to be careful.

Friends sin is tempting. It will entice us and drag us away from God. Let us be careful that we do not give into the lure of it.

Blessings!

Christopher Euphfa

Monday Reflection – November 08, 2021
Meditating on and Praising God

God, I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night. Psalm 63:6

Psalm 63 was written while David was on the run in the wilderness of Judah. Whether it was David’s wilderness years before he came to the throne of Israel, or to his brief exile from the throne due to the rebellion of his son Absalom, or the wilderness years when hunted by King Saul one is not sure. What is certain is that David is on the run, moving from place to place like a fugitive. He begins Psalm 63 by expressing his thirst for God. David’s soul demanded to be satisfied early in the day. ‘Early’ has the sense of early in the morning, but also of eagerness and immediacy. His longing for God is for the here and now. Through this thirst, David is also proclaiming his allegiance to God. He could have sought satisfaction elsewhere, but he knew fully well that only God truly satisfies.

Another significant element that David speaks of is the greatness of God’s love. Such love stirs David to praise God. David is motivated to pursue God because of God’s lovingkindness. The lovingkindness of God was better, more meaningful to David, than life itself. This means that David knew and experienced something of God’s lovingkindness that gave him comfort and assurance. It’s amazing where people go to quench their thirst and fulfill their yearnings; concerning where people go to for comfort and assurance. Many turn to the things of the world and people for this. Some soon realize that these may only offer temporary satisfaction, if any at all. People regard life as natural, but David regarded God’s great love as natural. People enjoy life, but David enjoyed God’s great love. People value life, but David valued God’s great love. People are in despair without the sense of life, but David was in despair without the sense of God’s great love.

In today’s Watchword, David believes that there are not enough hours in the day to think upon God’s greatness and goodness. Therefore, he also used the night watches to meditate upon God. Watches of the night stresses the slow progress of the hours. I imagine that since David was on the run, he could not allow himself to fall into deep sleep, or sleep any at all, lest his enemies find him. Thus, he utilized his time reflecting on God’s goodness in the past and craving for God so He can rescue and deliver him. No doubt, solitude and stillness render the watches of the night a suitable time for meditation on the mercies of God.

What do we do with our time? How much of our time do we spend meditating on God? How much time is reserved for reflecting on God’s love, mercies and grace? I imagine that most, if not all, of us have had nights where we cannot sleep. Perhaps sleep just can’t come, or we are troubled to the extent that sleep is hard to come. We may have so much on our minds that sleep becomes a stranger. What do we do in these times? I challenge us to use these times to meditate on God and commune with Him. May these times serve to develop a yearning for God. I pray we will find time to reflect on God and all of God’s lovingkindness to us, and offer our wholehearted praise and adoration as we sing of His goodness.

Jermaine Gibson

Saturday Reflection – 06 November 2021

(Special thanks to Bro. Akim Panther, one of our young people from the Covenant Moravian Church, who wrote today’s reflection.)

When I thought, “my foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. Psalm 94:18

Brothers and Sisters, today’s text from Psalm 94 carries a significant message of faith. A message no doubt spoken by a Psalmist who had recently come in close contact with the very lesson he is now hoping to convey. In the Psalm, the Psalmist comes to acknowledge, as we do, that often times the very hardship and struggle that were meant to make us stumble is the very thing that shows God’s presence and intervention in our lives. As we read the Psalm in its entirety, we get the impression that the Psalmist had some trouble although he doesn’t address the peril directly, we are assured by his own admission that the Lord was the reason he made it through.

As we read through Psalm 94, we see the Psalmist conversing with God on a number of different topics. We see him begin with a recognition of who God is and his status as a just God. The Psalmist then moves on to offer a rebuke of the sinners for their sinful ways reminding them that God is aware of their transgressions, before then speaking to the righteous as he reminds them that God is present even in their hardship. It is in this very next section that we find the verse of our focus, as the Psalmists begins to take a more personal approach to the conversation with God speaking directly to God’s faithfulness to the writer personally.

The watchword and the context around it speak to the Psalmist wondering who his defence is, in a world will be filled with struggle and evildoers and quickly acknowledging that the Lord himself not only has been that for him but will continue to be for years to come. It is in this context that our focus verse takes on a powerful meaning of faithfulness and love. The Psalmist says in Today’s Watchword “When I thought, “my foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.” Here the Psalmist is assuring the reader through his own experience that God is a faithful God and is deserving of our faith and devotion regardless of the circumstances. The Psalmist calls on us to remember that it is through Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone that we do not slip. This verse alone reminds us that no matter what the enemy may place in our path and no matter how big that obstacle may seem that God will hold us firm and ensure that we will not fall.

The Psalmist words are captured best in the Chorus of a familiar song: “The anchor holds although your ship is battered, the anchor holds though the sails are torn…” We may not be able to avoid the storm, but the Psalmist left this Psalm as a testament for us that we may never be left alone to fall. In that resolve, we can be strengthened to say like the Apostle Paul “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Amen

Akim A. Panther

Friday Reflection November 5, 2021

More like Jesus

Good morning friends,
Happy Friday!

Today’s text for refection is 1 Peter 2 :21-22. Let us see what lessons we can take from this passage as we seek to be more like Jesus!

Focus Scripture
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
1 Peter 2:21‭-‬22 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.2.21-22.NIV

Background
In verses 21 & 22 Peter is alluding to what he had just written in 1 Peter 2:20 about suffering for doing good. He then went on to explain the reason for which we ( Christians) are called, by pointing to the example of Jesus.

Application
We are not only called to reign with Christ, but also to suffer for his sake by living a life that is righteous and doing good even when we are mistreated. Peter puts it this way, Jesus suffered for our salvation ( the ultimate good) leaving an example for us to follow. Even though He suffered, He did not sin and neither did deceit came from His mouth.

It is customary for any human being to get angry when they are treated unfairly especially for doing what is right and good! Because of this unfair treatment one might be led to sin in words, deeds and thoughts. However, Peter reminds us that we should follow the example of our saviour! He suffered, but He did not sin!

I know some of us are saying, that it is impossible to live a life of suffering without sin. However, it is very possible. If we seek to be more like Jesus each day we will realize that our human nature will submit to the spirit of God. Then we will do what is good and right in his sight.

Charge
I charge us today, be more like Jesus, even if you are persecuted for doing good!

God bless you!

Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, November 3, 2021

Holiness Unto the Lord

Brothers and sisters, greetings. Have you ever faced consequences because of someone else’s actions? Perhaps endured a punishment for something you did not directly do? The old adage, ‘show me your company and I’ll tell you who are’ springs readily to my mind. Whilst this is true in many instances we do not always get to choose the people with whom we have to associate simply because some of those people who cause us to go into purgatory are members of our families.

In Leviticus 10, Aaron faced a particular conflict. Two of his sons (the eldest ones) decided to put fire and incense in their censers and offered what the bible explains as strange fire before the Lord. This was something God did not tell them to do and as such; there was fire from the Lord, it devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

Friends, how easy is it for us as human beings to forget our place. To lose our standing with God. As Aaron’s sons these men were annointed as part of the preisthood. They got to wear nice clothes and were respected in their community. Yet their disobedience to God led to their demise. In today’s watchword, Leviticus 10:3, “Lord said, ‘through those who are near me I will show myself holy, and before all the people I will be glorified.’

What about us today? Do we understand our responsibilty? Our duties to God? How easily do we do all the things God has told us not to do? What consequences do we and others around us now face or have to endure? In today’s new testament text, we are asked, ‘do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Brothers and sisters, may holiness unto the Lord be our watchword and song.

Until next week…

Kerone Lamoth

Christ Our Everlasting Light

While Isaiah 59 speaks of impending darkness and gloom, chapter 60 begins with a call to arise as the light had come and God’s glory had risen upon them. While darkness represents war, doom and gloom, death and defeat, light spoke of peace, new life, hope and a brighter future. Today’s watchword from Isaiah 60: 20 speaks of this newfound hope that comes when the Lord brings about change and renewal among His people. Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light.

The prophet Isaiah prophesies of the darkness that will overtake the city of Jerusalem. This will impact every area of life in the city. Isaiah shares a prophecy however of a coming sun that will repel and permanently displace the darkness. The same would happen with the moon. The idea is that the darkness would be gone to return no more. How can this be possible you may be asking yourself? How can there be a sun that shines forever? Isaiah does not mean the sun or the moon the shines from the sky during the day and at night. Not those celestial bodies. What the prophet speaks to is the one who would come as the light of the world. While Jesus ministered on the earth, he declared himself to be light. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8: 12. Jesus was not just any light, but the light of the world. God’s light, given to guide His people back to himself. At another time John 9: 5 Jesus said: When I am in the world, I am the Light of the World. The presence of Jesus in the world is therefore the presence of light, both in the world around us and in our lives. In these days of dark uncertainty, it is good to be reassured of the light of God that is present in our lives.

There’s more, however. This prophecy is quite similar to the vision of John in Revelation 21 where he describes the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven. In this new city, there would be no need for the sun nor for the moon and the stars. In verse 23 John says: The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The light that Jesus brings into the world and into our lives now is but a foretaste of what is ahead. Indeed, the Lord will be the everlasting light for all the world and His people will be blessed in His radiant glorious presence day and night. We can live in the sinful and oppressive darkness of the world today knowing that it will not overtake us as long as Jesus remains the light in our lives and knowing that there is coming a time when Jesus will establish His glorious kingdom and be the light shining in it. He will indeed be our everlasting light. Amen.