Saturday Reflection – 25 September 2021

“The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.” Acts 17:24-25

We have always heard about God’s hatred for idolatry. There are many stories in the Old Testament in which we see many of the idols that were worshipped, and the consequences that were faced as a result from turning from Almighty God. Now, in today’s doctrinal text, the Apostle Paul entered the city of Athens and found the city filled with idols and idol worshippers. Chief among them was the altar bearing the inscription ‘to an unknown God.’ It was in that place that the Apostle as he proclaimed the message of the gospel, was confronted by some who thought him to be babbling about foreign divinities, but others were interested in hearing this message about Jesus, a message that they had never heard before. As Paul was given the opportunity to speak, he spoke boldly about the difference between Jehovah and other idols. It was his answer that is today’s doctrinal text.

We grew up, learning about God and experiencing the goodness of God, and as Christians sought to gain a more intimate relationship with the Lord and Master of our lives. The good thing is that as our relationship grows, as the days roll on, and we gain more experience, we continue to learn more about God, and as the saying goes, the more we are faithful to God, the more we find God faithful to us. And so, we reject idolatry and everything that seeks to draw our attention away from Almighty God. The thing is that the idols of this time, are not necessarily made of wood and stone, there may not be a golden image that we have to resist, but we find that in these days, instruments of technology; including social media and technological devices, music and movies have also sought to turn our attention, our morals, and attitudes from the things of God. We must be careful, to ensure that we have not made anything else in our lives to be idols. Anything or Anyone that take God’s place in our place is an idol. We must be careful in this pandemic, where we may seek these things to pass the time, or to comfort us, that they do not lead us from the comforting arms of our Journeying God.

Furthermore, the inscription gave the impression that they did not actually know Almighty God. Yes, the Apostle Paul, called the people of Athens a religious people, yet the label described an unknown God. It was interesting that they thought that they needed to build shrines or effigies, altars, and temples, to get to know God, though he remained unknown to them. Their thought was they needed to build something to represent their God, and so they built these structures with a view to get to know God. But Paul’s declaration is a reminder to us because we have confined Almighty God to the four walls of the church building. Because of that, our worship and Christian living was restricted to Sundays, when we would be at church. What the pandemic has almost forced us to do, was to live our Christian lives, and declare our Christian faith outside of those four walls. In fact, what the virtual worship experience has done is open a church in each home.

Paul explained to the people, that what they described as unknown, was in fact not far from them. They could not confine God to anything that they created, nor God does not reside in these objects of worship, nor does he depend on them. In fact, God is the creator and sustainer of all creation, and in Him, we live, move, and have our being. It is important then, that we seek to know God, and attain a relationship with Him. God will remain unknown to us, until we know Him in his fullness. Until we’ve come to a relationship with Christ.

Everything else that the world offers in an aim to give peace, joy, love, and contentment is fickle and fleeting. The hymnwriter pens “Solid joy and lasting treasure, none but Zion’s children know.” So, God cannot be restricted, nor will we come to know Him, by going through the motions, or in a more colloquial form ‘by just warming the benches’ Nothing can take our attention from God, in whom we know and believe, because we have experienced him, and in living by faith, we believe that God is who He says He is, and we stand on that assurance. If this is our resolve, then we are careful to ensure that nothing diverts our attention or allegiance from God. And that we do confine or restrict God, but that we remain open, trusting, obedient and willing to journey with God and to be used by God.

Until next week, many seek comfort and stability in uncertain times. It is this time, that we must live out our faith, by not confining God, to our church building, but to go in all the world. Furthermore, we are tested by many different immoral standards that are seeping into mainstream society. Now more than ever, must we stand resolute that others come to know God, and attain an intimate relationship with Him. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair

Thursday Reflection September 23, 2021

There is a difference

Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. Malachi 3:18

In our text the Lord gives the children of Israel a warning concerning their sinful ways. In Malachi chapter 3 a day of judgement is coming and those who practice witchcraft or obeah, who cheat their employees of their wages, who oppress the marginalised and less fortunate, who fail to carry out justice, and who do not fear the Lord will be dealt with severely.

The text continues by stating that there are those who find no issue with what they do, but God does. They cheat God of the tithes and offerings He deserve. They see no benefit in serving God or repenting of their sins, because those who are arrogant and do evil go without punishment, but our text for today tells us otherwise. “Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”

In this text some of the children of Israel grew weary in doing good, because they did not see any visible consequence of their sins or the sins of others. They no longer saw it important to remain faithful to God, because they can get away with their sinfulness. As I read this text I thought of those who gave their life to the Lord, but stopped being faithful to God. They now live a life of sin. In Jamaican terms them ‘backslide’. They no longer see the importance of remaining faithful to God. Hear the word of the Lord, punishment is coming for those who feel there is no punishment for a life of sin.

As I continued reading this text I realised that this text is not only for those who have ‘backslidden’ but it is also for those who fail to carry out justice. It is for those who oppress the weak and mistreat them, because they are in a ‘bigger position’. It is for those who mistreat others for their own gain. It is for those who continue to live in sin, but act as if they are holy. It is for those who commit adultery. It is for those who fail to give to God the tithes and offerings God deserves. It is for those who participate in witchcraft and obeah.

As I reflect on the above mentioned group of people I realised that this group of people were God’s chosen people. This group of people are Christians who fail to do what is right. God is saying in this text, do not be deceived for those who live this way and think they are getting away will be judged. They will see that those who are unrighteous will receive punishment while those who are righteous will be honoured. There is a difference!

In verse 7 of this chapter the Lord makes a plea, he says “Now return to me and I will return to you”. There is still hope NOW so return to God and God will return to you. Save yourselves from punishment by faithfully serving God for there is a difference between those who do what is right and those who do not.

shalom

Christopher Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, September 22, 2021

God of Comfort

Brothers and sisters, what a time to be alive! Tis a time of pain and sorrow, sickness and death. A time of war and unrest. Many are experiencing famine whilst others are experiencing spoils. Life is perhaps not how we imagined it would be. Work from home orders, curfews and quarantines…none of us are exempt from the effects of all these things. Yet, I would like to remind you that none of what is happening is new to God or comes as a shock to Him.

History indeed keeps repeating itself. In today’s watchword, Isaiah 40:1, Isaiah tells the Israelites, “O comfort my people, says your God. I imagine this verse to be like a drink of water to a thirsty traveller or the sounding of good news to someone who seemingly lost hope. God’s message to His people was to take heart, to be strong and courageous. He was aware of their sins which led to their sufferings yet He was still mighty to save, to pardon and to bless.

Friends, we are no different from the children of Israel. To God, these times are no different than in times pass. The same word He gave to His people then, He speaks to us even now, be comforted, knowing that God is still with you, He is still with us, available to each of us to redeem and to restore. Things might appear to be all doom and gloom at the moment but the Lord wants you to trust Him.

The Lord remains available to those who are willing to trust in and to seek him. In the gospel of Luke 9:11, he records, Jesus welcomed the crowd, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.

Let us pray,
Lord of comfort and compassion, when we come to you with open arms, you gladly receive us. Fill us with your compassion, so we too can be welcoming to all those who seek you. Help us, we pray, to bring healing and restoration in Jesus’ name. Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Psalm 44 is a song of contemplation. It is the cry for rescue of the nation of Israel at a time when they had suffered great defeat. Some think this may have been during the period of exile while others think it was during the reign of Israel’s kings. The Psalm begins with a recognition of God’s great deeds to Israel in times of old. God placed Israel in the Promised Land while removing the other nations that were there. They recognized that they were able to possess the land not by their own strength, skills or might, but by God’s action on their behalf. This was a memory that had been passed down from generation to generation and it triggered the confidence relayed through our watchword for today. In God we boast all day long, and praise your name forever. Psalm 44: 8.

As Israel faced the struggles of the present, they had confidence in God because of the record of their past. There expressed confidence in their prayers for God to give them victory over their enemies in the here and now, as God had done in the past. They would do their part, but their confidence did not lie in what they could do, their confidence was in what they knew God could, and expected God to do. When we know the power of our God over the situations we face, it gives us confidence in our approach to God and assurance in our praying. The boasting and praising of the people was based on the faithfulness of God and their confidence in God’s ability.

Friends, when we know the power of God to impact our everyday situations no matter how great or small, we will have that same confidence. In the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of natural disasters, in the midst of personal loss, in the midst of the worst news, we can boast in the power, ability and authority of God. Regardless of our personal situations, regardless of the general situations we find ourselves in, God is able to guide us through and save us. Indeed, we hear the question of the angels to Abraham and then to Mary, ‘is anything too hard for God?’ We remember in these times that man’s impossibility is God’s possibility. We can and we should boast in God all day every day for we know what God did and we are confident that He will do it again. Do not lose hope friends, rather trust in God. Amen.

Monday Reflection – September 20, 2021

Declare Life!

I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. Psalm 118:17

Today’s Watchword is a powerfully confident statement in the midst of all that was going on. It seems clear that David was facing the threat of death, this was a recurring reality in David’s life. His enemies hoped that he would die, and perhaps he himself feared he would perish at their hands. The news of his death may have been spread among his people, as the tongue of rumour is ever ready with bad news. In this context, the Psalmist proclaims himself as yet alive and confident that he shall not fall by the hand of the destroyer. He is cheerfully assured that no arrow could kill him, and no weapon of any sort could end his career. His time had not yet come.

Perhaps too he had been sick and brought to death’s door, but he had a conviction or discernment that his sickness was not unto death, but to the glory of God. Whatever the case, David knew that he should not so die as to give victory to the enemies of God; for the honour of God and the good of his people were both wrapped up in his continued life. While yet alive, he devoted himself to the noblest of purposes, he resolved to bear witness to God’s divine faithfulness, and declare the works of the Lord. He is determined to recount the works of God, and he does so in this Psalm, where he reflects with love and admiration upon the splendour of God’s prowess in the midst of the fight.

This verse is a charge as well as a comfort for us. We will not be hurried from the land of the living. The Lord’s prophets shall live on in the midst of famine, war, plague, and persecution, till they have uttered all the words of their prophecy. God’s priests shall stand at the altar unharmed till their last sacrifice has been presented before him. No bullet will find its billet in our hearts till we have finished our allotted period of activity. We labour on till our time comes. As I write this, I recall that as I shared thoughts about the death of a United Church minister last week, someone reminded me that having being spared from Covid-19, my time had not yet come.

Importantly, to live signifies not barely to live, but to live contentedly and purposefully. It is to commit to live today better than we lived yesterday, as we strive to become more like Christ. Paul affirms in today’s New Testament text in Galatians 2:20 – “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I wish to also remind us that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). I believe David emulates this truth in today’s Watchword. Let us learn to speak life to our circumstances. There is so much happening to us and each other, exacerbated by the never-ending and dreaded Covid-19. Pain, sickness and death is everyday news and many cannot find the strength nor time to mourn appropriately. Yet, let us speak life to our pain, life to our sadness, life to our sickness, life to depression, life to mental challenges, life to heartbreak, life after death, life and more life! Let’s rid ourselves of negativity and toxicity and let’s speak life, hope and positivity.

Jermaine Gibson 

Saturday Reflection – 18 September 2021

“The Lord makes his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.” Numbers 6:25

Today’s watchword forms a part of the Benediction, that as Moravians, we are accustomed to hearing after the Lord’s Supper, Baptism, and after a Ministerial Candidate has been commissioned, ordained, or consecrated to a form of ministry. This priestly benediction was given to Moses by Almighty God, which he then gave as a blessing on Aaron and his sons, and to all the Israelites. And in this blessing the gracious presence of the Lord, that does not bring judgement or condemnation, but reflects the love of Jesus on our lives, and marks us as His beloved.

When we consider this priestly benediction we hear Matthew Henry in his commentary saying “To be under the almighty protection of God our Saviour; to enjoy his favour as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while he mercifully forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the heart, and prepares us by his grace for eternal glory; these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings.” And this is important, because many times, we only consider blessing to be material, completely ignoring the grace, mercy, and favour that he bestows upon us as his children. And it is this grace, mercy, and favour, contained in the blessing that not only puts us in a good position to receive all that God has purposed for our lives, but is valued more than anything material, which certainly would be fickle and fleeting. No one else can give to us, can speak to us, can place in our lives that which God can give, can speak, or can do. Not only do we live, and move and have our being in Him, and without Him we are nothing and can do nothing, but we are reminded that “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” and “… we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (St. Matthew 7:11; 2 Corinthians 4:18)

It is just as Jesus told us, that God knows that we have physical needs, and continues to provide just as He does for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. But this blessing reminds us that even these things which are unseen are much more valuable to us. Furthermore, by these blessings, we will meet all our physical needs and desires as according to God’s will and purpose for our lives. So, we need not run down the things that are fickle and fleeting, but seek God and His righteousness, for then will all other things be added to us. I want to note here, that many times we come to God, seeking Him and His righteousness, with a specific plan or desire in mind, and many times we find that after a while, we recognize that the particular path is not one we find appealing or even though we thought that this was what we wanted, we recognize that it is no longer what we need. Coming to God changes our perspective, as we once were spiritually blind, now with the help of the Holy Spirit, our will becomes one with God and is the best for our lives. That my brothers and sisters, is a blessing! And finally, we are not blessed by what we have, but blessed by what we are. Saved and Sanctified, Holy-Ghost filled, Water baptized with Jesus on our mind. Declared blessed by Him. And with this blessing, favour, guidance, and journeying presence of the Lord, our Master and Chief Elder, the One with the world in His hands, who works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Interestingly, it is three times that the Lord is repeated. It is the blessing of the Three in One; the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit the Comforter.

Until next week, “The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord makes His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you and give you peace.” And we response by singing “In the name of Jesus, Amen.”

Dominic J. Blair

Friday Reflection September 17, 2021

Praise the Lord , all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord , my soul.
Psalms 103:22 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.103.22.NIV

Good morning friends, happy Friday!

Psalm 103 is said to be written by David. In the Psalm he speaks of the works of God ( verses 2 – 19) to include the following:

1. Forgiveness of Sin
2. Healing from diseases
3. Redemption of lives from the pit by crowning us with love and compassion.
4. He satisfies the desires of our hearts with good things so we are renewed like the eagles.
5. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

The Psalmist after pointing out the works of God, calls on His creation to praise Him! Because the Lord’s creation includes both heaven and earth; it is fitting that all His created beings and objects praise Him.

We may ask, how is this even possible? Even when God’s creation doesn’t speak in words, its very existence exclaims the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).

David went on to say “my soul praise the Lord”. These were the very words he used at the beginning of the Psalm ( vs. 1 & 2). Having been forgiven and given a new start, David had a reason to praise the Lord, not just to call others to praise. He had a praise of his own! Out of his own experience he was able to identify the works of God in his own life and he praised the Lord!

We, too, should praise the Lord joyfully, wholeheartedly, and thankfully for our salvation. We are to praise God for all His works in our lives. Even in the midst of a global pandemic God is still working, and He is deserving of praise!

Whatever you do from this day forward, don’t forget to praise the Lord!

God bless you!

Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Thursday Reflection September 16, 2021

God’s providential care is for all

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:26

Greeting friends,

Today I would like for us to briefly observe the birds of the air. I will use the birds that I encounter at Carmel where I live. I don’t know the names of all the birds that I’ve seen here, but I do recall seeing parrots, hawks, vultures and other types of birds.

The first thing I notice is that they begin to sing/communicate at 5 in the morning. You can hear them chirping or singing away. It’s a beautiful sound unless you’re really tired and just want to go back to sleep.

The second thing I notice is that they fly around during the course of the day. Let me put it this way, “they go about their daily business”

Thirdly, I notice that they are provided for. When apple is in season the birds will peck at the apples. When it’s not in season they will find other fruits. To further support this point I’ve seen where a fig tree was growing in the bark of a dead coconut tree. The coconut tree lost its leaves due to a lightning strike so only the bark remain. A fig is growing there because birds would often perch there at times and the seed would fall out of there mouth.

The last thing I notice they go home. There is a flock of white birds that live in a tree not too far from where I live and between the hours of 5&6pm they head back home to that tree after completing their day’s work. This is done every single day.

I mention all of this about the birds to demonstrate how they are cared for. God who loves his creation including birds care for them. They wake in the morning and sing. They carry out their daily business and head home and in all of this they are given the essentials to survive.

Now if God does this for the birds of the air, imagine what He will do for us. God loves you and just like how He takes care of the birds, He will take care of you.

Blessings!

Christopher Euphfa

Human Kindness Begets Supernatural Favor.

Have you ever been told to be kind to others because kindness leads to kindness? Show kindness to others and kindness will be shown to you. That’s what I was told as a child. It was sort of like a mantra in our home with our parents, my maternal grandmother, six brothers and one cousin. It’s important to note that the seven of us were all boys and we were not gentle. Not with those in the community and not with each other. My grandma and especially my mother somehow believed we could be kind and gentle and they never relented from challenging us to portray our best side. Show kindness to others and kindness will be shown to you, they would impress on us. As I read the watchword for today, I thank God for their efforts because all seven of us have successfully learned to be our kindest selves, to be true gentlemen, wherever we are. In fact, without even realizing it, we have all been recipients of God’s gracious kindness repeatedly. We can all attests to the truth of the watchword that human kindness leads to supernatural favor. Psalm 41: 1 is the Watchword for today. Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.

Taken in its context, this verse points out the responsibility of the community to care for those in need. In this case it points to a specific need. Those who are poor. The word used in the original language further categorizes the word ‘poor’ to mean the sick, the weak in body or the sick at heart. In Psalm 40, David describes himself as poor and needy or rather humiliated and weak. His experience was that in that needy time, God raised up a community of support and strength around him, moving him from being pursued by many enemies, his life threatened, to his coronation as King of Israel and Judah. As David reflected, he realized how blessed not only he was, but those who had helped him were as well. They had been delivered, restored, and now shared in his elevation to the throne. David saw God’s hand at work in the process, repaying their kindness, their loyalty to him when he was needy and humiliated.

The Deuteronomic law made clear the responsibility of the community to the poor, the needy, those who were destitute. Deut 15: 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” Note that poverty can come in an instant and the times of health crisis in which we are now living have seen countless businesses close putting many out of jobs. At the same time many have become emotionally broken with the loss of loved ones. We have more emotionally and physically poor among us that we are used to seeing. Ours is the responsibility to reach out in care to them, to lend a helping hand. Prov 19: 17 tells us, Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Our kindness to the poor is noted by the Lord who Himself rewards us with his favor. Note that we should not help for the reward, but because we have a compassionate heart for the needs of others. God rewards us according to the intention of our hearts. In Luke 6: 35 Jesus challenges us to have kind hearts which leads to God’s divine favor. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. When our kindness is unbounded, God’s supernatural favor to us will be unlimited. Put simply, the more we give, the more we get. God’s kindness to us is directly related to our kindness to those in need. Amen

Monday Reflection – September 13, 2021
Showers from God

Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it. Isaiah 45:8

As I read and reflected on today’s Watchword, my mind went to this famous hymn that we sing:
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.
 
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

In Isaiah 45, God makes solid declarations as He asserts his sovereign power over all creation. At the start of this chapter, God shows his control over human history by declaring his plan to use Cyrus, a stranger, foreigner, alien who did not acknowledge God to accomplish God’s will.  God also reminds His people of His control over nature, including sun, light and darkness. He further asserts in today’s Watchword that He will shower His people with the righteousness from Heaven. This is a very intriguing verse and one filled with the riches of God’s promises from heaven.

We usually associate heaven with the afterlife, a wonderful and beautiful place we get to live after our time here on earth. However, Isaiah 45:8 declares the showers of heavens raining down its righteousness on earth. Note that God commands the earth to open, so that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit. God can send His blessing from every direction. It comes down from the heavens, it comes up from the earth.

When the earth opens up to receive God’s blessing, there is a place for such blessing to go and bear fruit. Like a seed planted in fertile soil, the seed is the gift and the soil is the receiver. It takes both for the seed to sprout. God declares that the earth will open up to receive, and make salvation and righteousness sprout and grow. Salvation here means liberty, deliverance, prosperity and safety.

As believers, we have opened up our hearts and received Jesus Christ, God’s gift of salvation and righteousness. We, as the soil, and God as the giver, together cause these gifts to sprout and fill the earth with the sweet aroma of liberty, prosperity and safety. And lest we forget, God finishes Isaiah 45:8 with, “I the Lord have created it.” It is His sovereign power that makes it so, not man or the wealth and power of nations, but God alone. We, who are receivers of God’s gracious providence, are now obligated to spread his salvation and righteousness throughout the world.

There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Jermaine Gibson