Thursday Reflection September 10, 2020

The sign of God’s Covenant

God said, “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13

Good day friends!

I pray that you are keeping safe during this time of the Pandemic in Jamaica. Remember to do the essentials as we protect ourselves as best as possible.

Have you ever looked in the sky and seen a rainbow? It’s quite beautiful isn’t it? This rainbow was established hundreds of thousands of years ago. It was established during the time of Noah in Genesis chapter 9. God destroyed the world during the days of Noah, because of the sins of the world. God did this through a flood. Only Noah, his immediate family and two of every kind of animal were saved on the ark. The floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days before it gradually began to recede. Noah lived in the ark for approximately one year before the earth was dry. Upon God’s command he left the ark. Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord. It is during this period that God makes a covenant with Noah.

Chapter 9 confirms the covenant made by God. The Lord gave Noah instructions how to live. It is at this time the Lord confirmed his covenant with Noah and the earth. God promised not to destroy all earth with floodwaters again. He then gave a sign in the form of a rainbow as a reminder of his covenant. Friends, there are a few points I want to highlight from this text and I encourage you to read the text especially from verse 8-13. The first point is:

1. God initiates Covenant (vs. 9)

Hear the Lord in verse 9 of this text, “And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you and with your seed after you.” Noah didn’t initiate the Covenant, it is the Lord who looked down and created this covenant. God did this, because of his love for us. It might seem ironic that I would say that after He just destroyed the earth with flood, but we must remember God did so because of the sins of the people. Even though He did this God still love his creation, which is why He made the Covenant, so that He would not wipe out creation again with flood because of our sins.

2. God’s covenant is for the earth (vs13)

Even though the Lord was speaking to the lone surviving family, God was also making a covenant with the entire earth. It’s interesting how God’s covenant with one person spur over to incorporate others. God’s covenant with Abraham of a chosen nation spur over to the entire world. God’s covenant with David to establish his throne forever has impacted us for now we are royalty, because of Jesus. So God’s covenant is not only for us, but for the benefit of others as well.

3. God gives a reminder of his covenant (vs 13)

The covenant is a reminder that God will not destroy the world again with floodwaters. The rainbow in the sky that is seen primarily after it rains is a reminder that God is keeping his covenant. It makes me wonder what other signs God is giving to remind us of his various covenants, promises, agreements that He made with us. The Lord promise never to leave us nor forsake us. What are the signs that God is keeping this covenant? Oh yea, God led us to a scripture of encouragement when we were down… Oh and He came through for us when we had absolutely nothing… Let’s not forget He protected us from the snare of the devil… When everything was going wrong He gave us peace. Friends, the point I am making is that there are many signs and evidences around us that God is keeping His covenant with us. Let us open our eyes to them.

Until next week look for the signs of God’s covenant

Shalom
Christopher Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, September 9, 2020

God Redeems the Captive

Good day friends, today’s reflection is transporting us to the past, back to the period of the Babylonian exile. In particular, Isaiah 47. Babylon is puffed up with pride yet the prophet opens the chapter telling us of a city stripped of all its glory and likened to an embarrassed woman.

Babylon had captured Judah and Jerusalem and subjected them to great humiliation. The Lord God speaks through the prophet, telling them that the same treatment the captor meted out to the captives would be returned to them. It is explained that contrary to the Babylonian thought that they had captured Judah and Jerusalem, they were only able to do so because the Lord allowed it. Brothers and sisters, there must be no comfort or security in arrogance and self righteousness.

Babylon was so puffed up with pride, they forgot that the people they held captive belonged to the Most High God. They were a wicked people who thought that the more they dwelled or entertained wickedness the more powerful they would become. In today’s watchword, Isaiah 47:13-14, the Lord continues to challenge the babylonian stargazers and sorcerers, “let those stand up and save you, who gazed at the stars and at each new moon predict what shall befall you. See, they are like stubble, the fire consumes them.”

My friends, there are many of us who have or are even now are being held captive by a number of issues, thoughts and concerns. Some of us represent the great, beautiful and powerful city of Babylon in our own lives. Others may be likened to Judah and Jerusalem. Chosen, and set apart yet unwilling to flee or deny our sinful nature. We have fallen prey to a myriad of things and people all because of sin.

2 Timothy 2:19 reminds each of us, ‘nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “the Lord knows those who are His,” and, “let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Until next week, I borrow the words of N. Macleod, “some will love you, some will hate you, some will flatter, some will slight; turn from these and look above you: Trust in God and do the right.”

Amen

Tuesday Reflection – September 08, 2020
The Abundance of God’s Goodness and Mercy

I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not hear the expressions or phrases: ‘If God was like us!’ and ‘Thank God that He doesn’t treat us as we deserve’. Today’s watchword is a reminder of those saying and may well reflect the origin of the thought. ‘You shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or corrupt deeds. Ezekiel 20: 44

In Ezekiel’s vision of chapter 20, God points out to the prophet, His case against Israel. God was not happy with the apostacy of Israel. They had turned away from God to idols, and they were constantly comparing themselves to other nations. As God’s people they knew that they should not worship any idols for God was a jealous God visiting the iniquities of the parents upon the children. Ex 20: 5. They knew that child sacrifices were hated by God. They knew that any act of sacrifice or indeed any act of worship to God from an unrepentant and sinful heart was despised by God yet they continued in their sinful state with their false hope in other gods. 

God’s response to this double standard by His people was promised judgment. They would face the harshness of God’s judgement and it would be executed right in front of the very nations they were seeking to be like. Note however that God’s judgement was not with the aim of destroying Israel, but in order that they might be restored to their covenant relationship with God. It was God’s intention to use this judgment on them to remind them who they were, to remind them of their special place in God’s heart, to turn them away from idolatry and back to God. That dear friends is the abundance of the goodness and mercy of God. 

Today God continues to reach out to us in similar ways, causing us to endure hardships, to undergo trials and tribulations, all with the aim of restoring us to Himself. The doctrinal text from Luke 6: 35 reminds us that God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Imagine then God favor to the righteous. If God was like us, He would punish us as we deserve, causing us to suffer for our sins and for those of our fore parents. Fortunately for us that is not God. In fact God does not want us to be lost and will do everything to save us, even when we do not deserve it. God declared in Eze 18: 20 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! God is willing to pardon and restore us if we are willing to accept our sinful state, repent of our failures, and seek his forgiveness. In this way He calls us to live according to the new covenant we have received through the blood of Christ. This, dear friends, is the abundance of the goodness and mercies of God. 

Bevon White

Monday Reflection – September 07, 2020
Our Amazing God!

Great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the ways of mortals, rewarding all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their doings. Jeremiah 32:19

Whenever I read Jeremiah 32, I can’t help but marvel over again at the mysteriously awesomeness of God. Isn’t it amazing what God tells us to do in the midst of life’s challenges. Jeremiah learnt this firsthand for after the Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem, he was thrown in prison. King Zedekiah didn’t like that Jeremiah told people that the Babylonians would succeed in conquering the city that Zedekiah and others tried so hard to defend. Zedekiah also could not deal with Jeremiah’s assertion that he would also be captured. It was this message of defeat that landed Jeremiah behind bars.

In the midst of this reality, God told Jeremiah that his cousin Hanamel would visit him in prison and ask him to buy a field in their hometown of Anathoth on the basis of the right of redemption – that the land was to remain in the family, and must therefore be offered to Jeremiah before anyone else. Note that Jeremiah was to purchase this land that was already under Babylonian control, thus utterly worthless. Though it didn’t make sense, Jeremiah did as the Lord instructed for he was convinced that it was the word of the Lord. When God’s instruction is followed by the open door, we need not hesitate.

With Baruch being told to preserve and hide the title deed and details of the transaction so that they could be read later and God’s declaration that houses, fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land, this was God’s promise, and the purpose for an otherwise foolish property purchase. The property purchase from prison is an expression of confident trust in God’s promise that the land would be possessed again. God would restore his people.

Jeremiah doesn’t understand it all so he prays to God. Today’s Watchword is part of this prayer. Jeremiah recognizes and praises the great power of God, confessing the truth that there is nothing too hard for God to do. He declares, ‘Great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the ways of mortals, rewarding all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their doings.’ Jeremiah affirms the greatness and might of God, as well as his infinite knowledge, his justice and judgment.

Such is our Jehovah God! This God is faithful and true and does wonders in our lives. He is with us along life’s treacherous journey and promises to take us safely to a victorious end. Paul reminds us through his challenge to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:10) “We have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.”

Jermaine Gibson 

Friday Reflection
September 4, 2020

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
Numbers 6:22‭-‬24 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/num.6.22-24.NIV

Good morning Friends,
Happy Friday! 🌞

This is the day that the Lord as made let us rejoice and be glad in it.. Today’s reflection is one that will be short and to the point. It is high times in our country, Jamaica, and we need all the encouragement we can possibly get from the word of God.

Yesterday Jamaicans went to polls in the face of the Covid 19 pandemic. We are expecting that the numbers will increase in the next 14 days as some persons did not follow the protocols issued by the Health Ministry.

It is frighten to think that the death toll in our small island has passed the 20 mark. Today I am encouraging you to keep safe and remain watchful and prayerful.

As the Lord instructed Moses in Numbers chapter six, to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel. So has he instructed me to pronounce a blessing on you, your family and the entire Jamaican family:
“The Lord bless you and keep you”
It might seem like few words, but believe friends this verrrrrrrrry short group of words are most likely to be what will take us through this pandemic!.

If the Lord blesses us then we will never lack! And if he keeps us we will never go weary!

One love friend! Go with God and have a blessed weekend!

Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, September 2, 2020

All of Creation has a duty

Greetings friends, in today’s reflection we will look at a call to worship and it’s significance to all of creation. From the very Genesis God created all things on the earth for His pleasure and that pleasure is generated from the praise of all he created. Genesis 1:318

It would be remiss of anyone to think himself more highly than he ought, likewise, if one neglects to give honor where it is due; then therein lies a grave error for whilst the created reflects the creator it must never be thought that what is created is superior or even more amplified than its maker.

In today’s watchword, Psalm 148:3,5 “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! For he commanded, and they were created.” The psalmist calls for worship, reverence, for honor to be given to Jehovah. In the entire chapter of Psalm 148 all of creation is called upon to give praise to the creator. Nothing and no one is left out.

The sun, moon and stars and all majestic wonders yet none of them can compare to the awesomeness of their creator -God. Brothers and sisters, daily we face tests and trials or probably experience very good periods of peace and quiet but how much of our days, how much of our time is dedicated or set aside for praise?

We set aside time to meet with friends and communicate with loved ones near and far; yet much of the time we ought to spend simply offering praise and just giving thanks to God gets taken up by the things of the world that seemingly consume all our time, energy and effort.

Where ever you find yourself today, just begin to praise the Lord, open your mouth, lift your hands, stomp your feet! Whatever it is that you do, however it is that you are led to praise, may the Lord inhabit your praise and may the flame never be put out.

Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and we’re created.

Until next week, keep praising the Lord!

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Tuesday Reflection – September 01, 2020
Jehovah-Nissi

In Genesis 17 we read of Joshua leading the Israelites in battle against the Amalekites. While the battle raged, Moses stood on a hill overlooking and praying with the staff of God held high. When his hands became tired and began to lower, the Israelite army began to lose so Moses sat on a stone and Aaron and Hur held his hands up. After the victory of Israel, Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord is my banner. Through today’s watchword let us explore the importance of the Lord as a banner to the world. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples. Isaiah 11: 10. The word translated signal in the text, is also translated ensign and banner in other translations.

It is believed that this prophecy of Isaiah 11: 10 was partially fulfilled in the lifetime of King Hezekiah who we read about in 2 Kings 18. He restored the Jewish religion, rebelled against the oppressive Assyrians and recaptured territories taken by the Philistines. His reform became a banner of encouragement and hope to many Jews who had been living in other lands and they returned home. As Christians we know that the complete fulfilment of this prophecy took place in the life of Jesus our Lord, described both as the root and the offspring (branch) of David in Rev 22: 16 I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. Jesse was the father of David who was an ancestor of Jesus. As the divine, he was the root, the one from whom all things flowed. John 1: 3 reminds us that nothing was created without Christ. As a human being he was the descendant or branch of the family tree of Jesse. A banner or ensign is a signal, a rallying point, a symbol of unity. Jesus as a banner, signal or ensign, becomes that which unites us together under God. At a time when many are uniting under flags of social justice, at a time when many are uniting under flags of racial divide, at a time when many are uniting under flags of political affiliation, at a time when many are competing scientifically to be world leaders, this serves as a timely reminder that God’s children ought to be one under the banner of Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink [a]into one Spirit. 1 Cor 12: 13.     

May today’s watchword therefore caution us: to be Christians first, before being anything else; to cautiously weigh the consequences of our words and actions before we speak and act; and, to let Christ be seen and experienced through us in all our daily encounters, even in politics and the fight for social justice.  Only when the banner of Christ is held high, is esteemed above all else, will there be true and lasting change in our world. Finally friends, let us remember, we all have a part to play. Some are engaged in the physical battle against evil, other battle spiritually through prayer and still others give physical, moral and other support to those who are battling. None of us can be deadbeats. There is work for all to do. Jesus Christ is our Jehovah-Nissi. The banner has been lifted up. The rallying cry has gone out. Let us march forth under the banner of our Lord for only then can we be the changers and movers that Christ calls us to be. Remember we are in the world but not of the world and as such we ought to be different as we encourage godliness in all around us. Indeed this is how we draw people to God while we prepare the world for our Savior’s return. Amen.   

Bevon White 

Monday Reflection – August 31, 2020
Make a Joyful Shout!

Know that the Lord is God.  It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3

Today’s Psalm is yet another well-known and beloved one. I recall repeating this Psalm regularly in Sunday School and Primary School. Psalm 100 is simply titled, ‘A Psalm of Thanksgiving’ and it is the only Psalm in the collection to bear this title. It speaks of an invitation to the whole earth to know and to worship God. For G. Campbell Morgan, Psalm 100 is jubilant with confidence for the whole earth, as it contemplates the glory of that earth, when all its people are submitted to the reign of Jehovah.

The Psalmist begins by summoning all people from everywhere to make a joyful shout to the Lord; to serve God with gladness; and to come before his presence with singing. Unlike previous Psalms, Psalm 100 does not begin with a declaration of God’s sovereignty or character. Rather, it begins with the simple and direct exhortation to all to praise God. Nations beyond Israel’s borders should give a joyful shout. The nations must recognize who the Lord is. He is Yahweh, by whose grace and blessings his people exist. All should join in singing in God’s presence.

David does not just summon the whole earth to praise God, but provides the reason. God is our Creator and Shepherd. So he says in today’s Watchword, “Know that the Lord is God.  It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” The praise offered to God from his people and all lands should be mindful. We have many reasons to worship Yahweh, and those reasons begin with the recognition that he is God. Our praise should be grounded in our recognition of who God is; such knowledge ought to be a pre-requisite of our praise. We must know and be convinced of who God is.

The next reason to worship God is because he has made us; he is to be recognized for his work as Creator. The idea that we could make ourselves is absurd, and we should worship the one who has made us. This implies that God has every right over us, thus we should willingly give him his due. On another level, believers have a second and greater reason for praise for we are new creatures in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Yet another reason to worship God is because we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. God has chosen us to be his people and he cares for us as the sheep of his pasture. Though wayward we often are, God treats us as his own, his beloved. Our Great Shepherd paid the ultimate sacrifice by rescuing and redeeming us through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are priviledged not just to be created by God, but to be called his own. These are sufficient reasons to raise a song of praise and make a joyful shout. Hallelujah!!!

Jermaine Gibson 

Thursday Reflection

August 27, 2020

Protected

“He protected us along the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.” Joshua 24:17

Good day friends!

Let me apologize for the absence of last week’s reflection.

Today we journey to the last chapter of the book of Joshua. In this chapter Joshua gathered the people of Israel, after successfully conquering the enemies in the Promised Land; they were now at peace. Joshua brought them together for one last rally speech as this chapter also tells us of his death. In this rally speech, Joshua reminded them of their history and where God took them from.

God took Abraham, their founding father, from the Euphrates and led him through Canaan, giving him many descendants through his son Isaac. Isaac was father to Jacob and Esau. It was through Jacob’s lineage they went to Egypt to survive a famine. However, whilst in Egypt they became slaves. God sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egyptian slavery. The Egyptians pursued them but died at the Red Sea. He brought them through the land of the Amorites; He caused their enemy to bless them. God brought them across the Jordan and destroyed the enemies there. God gave them land they did not toil and houses they did not build.

As a result of all God did, Joshua encouraged the people to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully. Put away the idols of their ancestors and serve the Lord alone. But if doing so seemed unfavorable to them, Joshua was certain that at least he and his family would serve the Lord. Our text is found in the response of the people to Joshua. They responded, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; it is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.”

Friends as we reflect on this next I want us to reflect on our own lives. As we reflect on the years we have spent on this earth we have had good times and bad times. We have faced problems and difficult people to deal with. We have been on the road, for some different countries, but we are still here. We have experienced challenging times, faced so many attacks both spiritually and physically, but we are still here. We are here, because God protected us.

We have also experienced good times. We have experienced blessings that we did not thought was possible. We are alive today and reading/ listening to this reflection, because of God. We have been recipients of the provisions of God- home, friends, family, money (regardless of the amount), food, job (where applicable) and daily bread or provisions. We have received all these because we are protected by God.

The protection of the Lord is a complete package. He protects us from harm, this also includes providing for us what we NEED. Notice the need is in all caps? This is done to remind us that even though some of our wants are not met, our needs have been provided by God. So we are protected by God, just as the children of Israel were protected and provided for.

I end this reflection with a question. What is your response to the protection of the Lord? Is it fear and faithfulness or is it ignorance?

Until next week choose today how you will respond to the protection of the Lord

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa

Tuesday Reflection – August 25, 2020
Rejoice in God’s Salvation

Today’s watchword is from 1 Sam 2: 1. Lord, I rejoice in your salvation. It is part of Hannah’s prayer which she prayed when she brought Samuel to the temple in fulfilment of her promise to God. The birth of her son was for her the greatest gift she could receive and the surest confirmation that God heard her prayers. Hannah had promised the Lord that if he gave her a son, she would return that son to him as soon as he was weaned. He was about five or six years old when she returned to the temple with him. By this time, she had taught Samuel about the Lord, and now he was ready to be taught by Eli and be trained for his duties in the temple.
Hannah was able to rejoice because God had heard and answered her. Note however that her rejoicing was in much more than God’s blessing of a child. She was rejoicing in God’s salvation.

As Christians we understand what it means to speak of salvation. We know that God had a plan for the salvation of the world which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ life, death, resurrection and ascension and will be culminated in His return for the church on earth as He establishes His new kingdom. God’s plan has always been to save or deliver humanity from a life of, as well as the consequences of sin. God’s plan gives life where we deserved to die. Ez 18: 4 reminds us, Indeed! All lives are mine – the life of the father as well as the life of the son is mine. The one who sins will die. Although our sins made us deserve death, God put in place a plan for us to live. As a Hebrew, Hannah understood that no human could redeem her, neither could she redeem her son as much as she loved him. She knew the words Psalm 49: 7 ‘None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. God’s plan was the yearly atonement sacrifice for Israel’s sin which pointed to the coming of the messiah who would be the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s redemption. Hannah’s rejoicing was in knowing that regardless of what others did or said, God’s plan was the only certainty for Israel’s salvation, and that was all the assurance she needed.

Today I want to assure us that God’s plan for our salvation has not changed. Indeed Paul wrote: “God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5: 21. Christ became the atoning sacrifice for our sins and our acceptance of Him as our Lord and Savior guarantees our salvation. It is such knowledge and acceptance that leads to our rejoicing today. In the midst of the turmoil of pandemic, injustice and disasters, we have the assurance of salvation. Don’t be distracted. We may need justice, we may need intervention, we may need a vaccine, but none of these needs surpass the need for salvation. Jesus himself promised in John 6: 37 “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away”. This is reason to rejoice. With all that’s happening around us, we are safe in our salvation; we are safe in our Lord. God gifted us with life eternal through Jesus Christ thus we can rejoice. John assures us in 1 John 5: 11 -12: And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. That’s just it friends. Salvation is not coming from a political system or from some politician. Salvation is not coming from a vaccine. No Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and it is from Him alone that it comes. I urge us therefore to keep our focus and our hope on the Lord, the author and finisher of our faith, and like Hannah, let us rejoice in God’s salvation. Amen

Bevon White