Monday Reflection – February 07, 2022
God’s Safety and Security

He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge. Psalm 91:4

In a nation where crime and violence is prevalent and racing out of control, there is the growing cry for action to ensure the security of us all. In a world where war exists and there is the ever-present threat of more war, humanity’s safety and security can hardly be guaranteed. Safety and security is one of our basic human needs as humans. Based on Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the most basic is our physiological needs including food and water, sufficient rest, clothing and shelter, overall health, and reproduction. Next is our safety needs including protection from violence and theft, emotional stability and well-being, health security, and financial security. Thus, there is the real and deep-seated need for safety and security on the part of us as humans.

The Psalmist in chapter 91 provides an answer for our lack of security and safety. For David, there is true security in trusting in the almighty God, and those who dwell under the shelter of our God and Saviour are shielded and protected under the shadow of His wing. He is our Safeguard and our strong Shield! He is our Defence and our almighty Defender. We can positively affirm that the Lord is our Refuge and our Fortress. The Psalmist is using the metaphor of a bird with his mother. God is the protective mother who feeds, nurtures, and protects her young. The image is meant to invoke safety and warmth when we dwell in God. In his shelter, he will cover us with his feathers and we will find refuge. God is our protector because he is faithful. Our relationship with him always rests on his unfailing faithfulness. There is no other place for the Christian to look for refuge. There is nowhere safer to be than in the arms of the Father. To come under his wings to find refuge would mean looking to him in prayer, looking to his word to see how to live, and then living out his commands, acknowledging his presence the whole way.

The Lord is likened to a bird whose wings of protection overshadow us and whose strong-arm guards us when danger approaches or when we are overcome by the heat of the day or the perils of the night. We can boast that the Lord our God is our never-failing help in time of trouble, and that His abiding faithfulness has become our shield and protection. We know that the cruel enemy comes as a roaring lion and morphs into a snake in the grass, seeking by every means to attack, injure, harm, and discourage God’s children. We know that the devil is a liar and murderer who deceives the world and seeks to shipwreck the faith of all God’s children. But God has promised to cover us with His pinions and provide refuge under His wings. God has promised to protect us from harm and danger, to protect our minds from discouragement and despair, and to safeguard our hearts with His perfect peace. What tremendous security is ours, for we are kept under His protective wings and covered with His pinions.

Yet, we must remind ourselves that God’s safety and security is ours not because of own merit, but because of His goodness and grace. It is nothing to do with our own worthiness or virtue that we are furnished with such heavenly privileges, but it is entirely founded on His unswerving fidelity and His never-ending faithfulness towards the children of men. Indeed, God’s grace and mercies are new every morning and His promises never fail. Let’s place our entire lives and complete trust in God who provides the safety and security that we always need.

Jermaine Gibson 

Saturday Reflection – 05 February 2022

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.” Psalm 33:12

Last week, we spent a moment to reflect on the many challenges that we face as a people; the things that leave us frustrated, perturbed, and despondent. And it seems that since then, as almost to rub salt into the wounds, we hear of more incidents of disaster and destruction, and are left to wonder, what condition is our nation in, at this time. But even as we reflect on this question, the Psalmist in today’s watchword, reflects on the goodness of God, and spends the time to describe God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and kindness, all for which we are called to rejoice.

In his reflection on these things, we hear in verses 8-11 “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” (KJV) Almighty God is in control of the world and all its inhabitants, and will move in accordance with His heart and character, to fulfil His sovereign will and purpose. We serve a good God, who has purposed to bless His people. With that thought, we encounter our watchword. The songwriter says: “All the other gods, they are the works of men, but You are the most High God, there is none like You.” With all of this goodness, God’s sovereignty, and faithfulness that the Psalmist describes, I believe that he makes clear, that we will experience these mercies once we stay connected to the Vine. It is not just for us as individuals, but the nation who will be faithful to God will ever find God faithful to them.

For every time God’s chosen people wandered from God and did evil in God’s sight, they encountered disaster and eventually was overthrown, led away in captivity into Assyria and Babylon. When they served God faithfully, they and all that they did prospered, and the word of God was evident in their lives, that “if God is for us, then who can be against us?” Nowadays, we can certainly identify with the many ways we deviate from God’s precepts and principles as a people, the things that we ought to detest as God’s people, that we’ve accepted and even begun to normalize. The times when we were concerned with ourselves, and our own circle, and have not spent the time to concern ourselves with the mandate of Christ, that His transforming gospel would reach the whole world. It is interesting that as the people sought to return to their homeland amidst the mess around them that word of God to them was “… seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)

In the midst of the mess around us, the answer, I believe, brothers and sisters, is stated for us clearly in today’s watchword. But it takes more than just mere acknowledgement, mere lip service, while our hearts remain far from God. We must take the time to reflect, to repent and to shine the light of Christ within us. There is just something about the transforming power of Christ, but others will never know it, our nation will never experience it, if there is no one who will commit to speak of it, to teach it and to show it. For when one light ignites the other, that light will ignite another, and another, and another and soon the whole world will be lit. The idols will come down, reverence will become worship and obedience, and we will all be able to sing of the goodness of God in the land of the living.

Until next week, we are called not to shrink in fear and anguish but to be wise yet active. Active in our prayer and call upon God for divine intervention, and active as children of God in being genuine, intentional, and committed to His way and in sharing Jesus’ love and way of living that the darkness may turn to dawning, and the dawning to noon-day bright, as Christ’s great kingdom will come on earth, the kingdom of love and light. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair

Friday Reflection February 4, 2022

One Family Under God

Good morning friends!
Happy Friday!
Happy Black History Month!

Today’s text for reflection is Romans 12:10, it reads: Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10 NIV
https://romans.bible/romans-12-10

Here in Romans 12, Paul is explaining what it means to live as an unselfish Christian. In the verse before this one he expressed that our love as believers in Christ for one another must be real and evident!

In our text for reflection, Paul is making reference to loving one another as a form of devotion to a brother or sister. Many times he explained in different letters to the churches that we MUST LOVE each other with a brotherly affection What does that mean? For the most part, family is a unit that looks out for each other in a way where siblings (brothers and sisters) will do anything and everything to protect each other. Paul is saying here, that it is the same type of affection we as believers must have towards each other.

We that are in Christ Jesus are really brothers and sisters. God adopts us as His children! Making us apart of His family. This family is made up of everyone who accepts God’s Grace and salvation. Brothers and sisters, of course, we don’t always get it right! We don’t always get along well! We are no different from most blood related families. However, the same level of shared loyalty and devotion to one another is expected!

Paul went on to talk about how we should treat each other in realation to showing honor! It was said that as a family in Christ, we should outdo one another in showing honor to each other

Can you just imagine how wonderful things would be if we take this verse and put it into practice? Everybody wudda always feel gud Inna God! Christians in the body of Christ would always feel deeply honored by others and would never be satisfied that we are honoring one another enough. It would be like a form of motivation to continue asking, “How can I show more honor to you than you showed to me?” What a beautiful thing! We would all be taken care of by each other!

As I wrap up, I just wanna say to us as children of the light, love one another! Treat each other well!

Blessings!
Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Thursday Reflection February 3, 2022

Protected by God

And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. John 17:11 NRSV https://bible.com/bible/2016/jhn.17.11.NRSV

Good day friends,

Jesus was making final preparations before his crucifixion. After sharing in the Last Supper with His disciples He began to tell them what will happen to him and gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit. He also spoke of the importance of remianing connected to him, the True Vine, whilst noting that the world will hate them. There other lessons Jesus taught them leading up to Chapter 17.

When we reach chapter 17, we see Jesus praying for his disciples. He knew he wasn’t going to be there to protect them, so He asked the Lord to protect them against the evil one and not only his disciples present at that time, but also all who would come to accept him as their personal saviour. Friends, as we look as Jesus’s prayer in chapter 17 and more specifically verse 11 there are a few things that stand out that I want to point out.

The world we live in

Jesus knew that He was leaving and that the world that his disciples presently lived was not their own as stated in verses 14 & 16. It was governed by the evil one, Satan. Satan uses various tricks or guises to trick the world and ultimately turn them away from God. We know the challenges of living in this world. We see the evidence of it on the news, in our communities and almost everywhere we look. But Jesus here prays for protection.

Protection
Jesus asked the Lord to protect his disciples whilst in this world, especially from the evil one. This text is interesting, because we view protection primarily from a physiological point of view, like when Jesus says protect us from the evil one. But in this text, Jesus alludes to much more than that. In verse 13, the joy of Jesus being made complete in us is mentioned. The thing about fear or insecurity is that it takes away our joy. When we feel secure and safe we have joy. But here Jesus says complete Joy comes from him.

Protection also comes from being sanctified or set apart in the Word which Jesus says is truth in verse 17. Security also comes from knowing the word of God which is truth. Let us put it another way. The Gospel of John says in chapter 1, “In the beginning was the word and word was with God and the word was God.” Also in St. John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”. So when Jesus says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Jesus is saying set them apart in me. The more we know about the word of God the more we know about Jesus and the more we know about Jesus, the more we feel secured in all circumstances.

So that we might be one
All of this is being done so that we can have a shared identity. People tend to gravitate to those they can relate to and this gives them strength. Being alone might make us very afraid, but having company make us feel less afraid and the more company we have the less afraid we become. Here Jesus is asking God to protect all of us, so that we can have that shared commonality and operate as one. When we operate as one we give support to each other like how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit give support to each other.

Friends we are protected by God so that we can have joy and be set apart in Jesus, protected from the evil one and operating as one.

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, February 2, 2022

Continuous Praise

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Throughout a believer’s life, there will be tests and trials and mounting tribulations; some highs, some lows, sometimes a yes and other times a no but whilst this has been the reality there is also another side to all this.

When one understands and accepts that no matter the lot that he has seemingly been dealt, it does not change who or how God is. Yet the way in which he reacts will very well determine how he is able to wade through and further overcome adversity.

Brothers and sisters, happy are those who delight in the Lord, those who trust in Him and wait on Him. In today’s watchword the Psalmist declared that he would praise the Lord at all times, in and out of season as some would say but David did not simply end there but rather he went on to declare that praises would always and continually come from his mouth.

Praises are what help to fuel and strengthen the believers walk in faith. It enables us to maintain an active relationship in which we are able to enjoy open communication with God.

Paul in writing to the Thessalonians encouraged them to, ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Friends, as we reflect today, I pray that praises will rise from within us, that our praises will not only be continuous but also contagious and that God will receive our offerings of praise.

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Firmly Rooted, Bearing Upwards.

In today’s watchword, Judah is given a promise by God through the prophet Isaiah. It is a promise of a brighter future in the face of destruction and doom. A promise of better days when they seem to be facing the end of their days. It was a prophecy of new life and new growth in the face of death. Indeed, God spoke hope and restoration where everyone else was seeing only impending destruction and no hope for God’s people. Hear the watchword for today from 2 Kings 19: 30: The surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downwards, and bear fruit upwards.

In the preceding events leading up to this prophecy, we learn of the Assyrian siege of Samaria, the capital of Israel. After three years of war, the Israelite Kingdom was captured, and the people deported to Assyria and resettled in what we know today as Iran. They were part of a larger group from many other conquered regions that were resettled there. The Israelites, representing ten of the twelve tribes, soon intermarried and became part of this new community, losing their Hebrew identity. The Bible makes it clear that Israel suffered this displacement because they did not follow anything that the Lord commanded them to. Prophecy, however, has declared that these tribes, known today as the lost tribes of Israel, will one day return. Eight years later, the Assyrian army besieged and captured Judah. Hezekiah surrendered and met the demands of the Assyrians, stripping the gold from the temple doors to do so. That however was not enough. The Assyrian army marched into Jerusalem and sent insulting and threatening messages to King Hezekiah while insulting God Almighty. The King and the religious leaders in their alarm at this threat and insult to God, sought God through prayer, and through the prophet Isaiah. The Watchword is part of Isaiah’s response from the Lord to his people.

There are several valuable lessons we can learn from this text and its background. Firstly, when we refuse to follow God’s command, we set ourselves up for a downfall. This was what happened to Israel. Secondly, never make light of the plight of others for we never know when it will be our time. Not that Judah did this. I imagine however, that Judah may have been feeling secure, feeling that they were too small and insignificant for the mighty Assyrian army to even bother with, when suddenly they were under attack. Thirdly, never believe that we can satisfy the enemy to leave us alone by agreeing to his demands. The Bible teaches us that the enemy, the devil is like a roaring lion seeking to destroy its prey (1 Peter 5: 8). He is cunning as a fox and can never be trusted. That’s why we should always trust God and no other. Fourthly, prayer is the only response that God’s people have against the assailing storms of life, whether they be spiritual, physical, emotional, or medical. No matter what we face, our God is able to bring us through. Phil 4: 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Fifthly, when God’s people are firmly rooted, our fruits will bear upwards. People may not be able to see our roots, our hope our faith our trust, but by our actions and words, that is, by our fruit, they shall know that we are God’s children. When God’s children stand up for what we believe regardless of what is happening around us, the enemy has no footing and will have to flee. In 1 Cor 15: 58, Paul encourages us who look forward to Christ’s return or being called home to Him: Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. This steadiness and uprightness in our faith journey will keep us firmly rooted and bearing upwards. Finally, friends, always remember this, it is never about the situation you face, the happenings around you or the threats against you. Rather, it is always about the God who is for you. May God open our eyes so we can see that those with us are far greater than those against us. Amen.

Monday Reflection – January 31, 2022
Returning to God

Return, O faithless children, I will heal your faithlessness. “Here we come to you; for you are the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 3:22

Have you ever left a conversation and thanked God for just how beautiful and impactful it was? Perhaps, a better question to ask is, how many conversations have we had and either or both persons benefitted positively from it? Amazing, the Almighty God, our Abba Father, is always inviting us to talk with Him. The Bible is replete of instances of persons who dialogued with God, God’s dialogue with people, as well as God’s invitation to reason with humanity (cf. Isaiah 1:18). Jeremiah 3 features a dialogue between God and his people, where He offers gracious terms of pardon to them, and they should make sincere professions of obedience to Him.

In today’s Watchword, God invites His people to return to Him. God’s invitation is for the people to return to Him, to His worship and service, to their duty. God says this upon hearing the weeping and supplications of the Israelites, acknowledging their sin, and humbling themselves before Him. God’s invitation is accompanied with His promise – I will heal your faithlessness. In other words, God says, I will take away your guilt and save you from your rebellious and revolting disposition. God heals our backslidings and faithlessness by His pardoning mercy, His abiding peace, and His renewing grace. Such a promise is met with a resounding positive response, “Here we come to you; for you are the Lord our God.” For the people – We readily and cheerfully obey your command, and comply with your invitation. This is an immediate, speedy answer, without delay; not we will come later, but we do come now; we need not take time to consider it. This is grounded in the reality that the people remember who is their Master and Lord, Yahweh.

David Guzik reminds us of the features of backsliding or faithlessness. Backsliding brings desolation; backsliding is worthy of great mourning; backsliders may return right from their wayward place; backsliding is shown in a perverted way; backsliding is shown in forgetting God; backsliding is something only children of God can do; backsliding is a decision to turn from; backsliding is a disease to be healed from; backsliding is corrected by the recognition of a wrong way; backsliding is corrected by the recognition of having forgotten God.

Yet, we must settle why we should return to God, having been faithless. Because:

1. God is the true God
2. The idols do not profit us; they can give no help in time of trouble
3. We are worst off when we abandon the worship of God
4. It is the prerogative of God alone to offer forgiveness, redemption and salvation

Today’s text challenges us to practice regular introspection, as well as analysis of our relationship with God. And when we miss the mark, we should quickly repent and seek God’s forgiveness and restoration. The Apostle Peter, in a beautiful commendation of the believers, says in 1 Peter 2:25: “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” Let’s follow suit.  
Jermaine Gibson 

Saturday Reflection – 29 January 2022

“I will save them from all the apostasies into which they have fallen, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be my people.” Ezekiel 37:23

Just when we thought it was all over, that we were at the point of no return, that we were so far down the rabbit hole, so unredeemable that we couldn’t even recognize ourselves, just that moment when we felt that we had strayed so far from the Lord our God, that we were no longer worthy to be called his children, that today’s watchword reminds that God will save us, restore us and bring us back into right relationship with Him.

In Ezekiel 37, we hear the popular story of the prophet’s experience in the Valley of Dry Bones. But there was a second experience recorded in the chapter. Ezekiel was then instructed to take a stick and write on it “For Judah, and the Israelites associated with it” And to take another stick and write on that one “For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with it” And then to join them together and hold them as one in his hand. And when anyone should ask the meaning of this, that the Lord will unite the two nations into one kingdom and under one king. God will be with them forever and they will never defile themselves again but live in accordance with God’s will.

We probably can relate to how Israel was feeling by the time we got to Ezekiel’s experience. All we hear of recently are continued price increases which will affect the price of food and other living expenses. We see the rise in crime and violence; specifically murders, and many times we feel unsafe in our own communities and on the streets, especially at nights. We hear and experience the continued wonton disregard for safety on the roads, and continue to grapple with finding logical explanations for many of the events that we encounter or hear of as a society. There are the continued social effects in our society, our concerns of education and healthcare greatly worsened by the pandemic. And in spite of all of this, we try to remain sane and a positive contributor to our society And this may have left feeling overwhelmed and often depressed. We feel cut off, and divided as a people, that many others are comfortable, whilst it is not the reality for others. There is that wide gap between the social classes in our context, and often we see no way out for us as a people. We may feel just as cut-off, dried up, and sorely divided as Israel.

But the promise of God, that came out of these two experiences that the prophet had, are just as meaningful for us today. Just when we thought that there was no way, God “made a way, when our backs were against the wall, and it looked as if it was over.” God made a way through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour who would usher in a reign of righteousness, peace, and transformation for all nations of the world. That through Christ, our Saviour and King, we would be restored, saved from the consequences of sin, renewed from hopelessness and despair, and returned into prominence and prosperity through right relationship with Almighty God. Jesus came that we would life more abundantly, that through him, there would be no more division, but we all would be one, in Him, as Christ is all and in all. That no matter where we have turned, to whom else we have gone. No matter, how far-gone we are, His blood is able to purify us and make us white as snow. He calls us to follow Him, that we would no longer stumble in darkness, but have the light of life, which brings hope, peace, joy, and love eternal. We may not always have it easy, but in Christ, we will always be blessed!

It is then for us, who have had this life-transforming experience with Christ, even as we pray “Thy kingdom come on earth, as it is heaven” to be the trailblazers for this cause of Christ. Yes, we are called upon, by our lip and life, individually and as the Body of Christ, to be exemplars, in positive and radical ways, that others may come to experience and emulate Christ. Christ is the only answer and has given us the perfect example; all we need to do is go and do likewise. Go and transform the life of the orphan and the widow, the marginalized and the oppressed. Go and show love to all people, inviting them all to respond to the call of the Spirit, and experience the joy of being apart of the Family of God. That is when we will see the difference, as one light ignites the other, soon the whole world will be lit.

Until next week, let us turn to Him who calls us to be active participants in His mandate, that by our witness, and the work of the Holy Spirit, lives will be transformed, and we will truly experience His kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair

Thursday Reflection January 27, 2022

The Unchanging Jesus

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NRSV https://bible.com/bible/2016/heb.13.8.NRSV

Greeting friends,

There is no doubt that we live in a changing world. The evidence of this is all around us. Technology is continuously being changed or improved. Covid has definitely changed how the world now operates. The value of money continues to change and for the worse. Its spending power is limited and has negatively impacted most families.

There is no doubt that we live in a changing world. Everything around us has changed in one way or another and that is difficult. Even the message of Jesus is being changed to suit the needs of people, even though some of what is being preached is contrary to Gospel of Jesus.

In Hebrews chapter 13 verse 9 it tells us to be careful we are not carried away by strange teachings. In verse 7 we are called to remember our leaders who spoke the word of God and how they lived their lives. But more importantly we are called to remember in verse 8 that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow.” The message of Jesus Christ has not changed. It is the same from the beginning until now.

Hebrews 13 gives us a preview of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has not changed. In verse 1, We’re to continue in mutual love, showing hospitality even to strangers. In verse 3, We’re to remember those in prison Verse 4 tells us marriage should be held honourable by ALL Verse 5 tells us, Don’t be consume by the love of money. Verse 12 tells us, Jesus suffered for all and we have been sanctified by his blood. Verse 14 reminds us that we have a lasting city as our hope

In this changing world Jesus remains the same as from the beginning. His loving nature and his dislike for sin has not changed. Jesus is our constant in this changing world. Jesus is unchanging in this world and I remind us to hold on to the unchanging Jesus.

Shalom
Christopher Euphfa

God’s Penal System

It is well known that when we correct or punish in anger, we are apt to over do it. One of the things I always shared with parents when I worked as a guidance counselor, was the importance of not disciplining their children in their anger. What was meant to punish and or correct has the potential to become acts of abuse and cruelty if administered in anger. In today’s watchword the prophet Jeremiah is begging God not to correct him or discipline him in anger since such action from God will lead to the prophet’s total annihilation. Rather he asks God to ensure that the discipline is tempered by God’s mercy. Correct me, O Lord, but in just measure; not in your anger, or you will bring me to nothing. Jeremiah 10: 24.

Discipline today has moved from being corrective to exacting punishment as well as withholding privileges. We see the unjust ways in which the penal system applies justice to society. A person may be more severely punished for a crime because of their ethnicity, status or locality. Look for example of the case of Felicity Huffman, the wealthy celebrity who was sentenced to fourteen days in prison for forging her child’s SAT scores as well as her involvement in a college admissions scandal. Compare that to the case of Tanya McDowell who was sentenced to five years in prison for lying about her home address to get her child into a better school district. The most striking difference between the two ladies is that Felicity is white while Tanya is black. There are those who have used punishment for making money rather than to punish and rehabilitate. In the US, 1 in every 54 Hispanic men is imprisoned. 1 in every 36 black men is imprisoned and 1 in every 106 white men is imprisoned. These are all in the 18 plus age group and shows the racial disparity in our penal system. The United States is home to 4.2 percent of the world’s population, yet it holds 20 percent of the world’s prisoners, most of who are young black men. This is because the penal system is more of a money-making mechanism for the rich and a means of racial discrimination, than a means of rehabilitating and returning an offender to society. While the rest of the world may not seek to benefit from the penal system in the same way, the stigma attached to being punished or incarcerated is demeaning and life changing. It sure seems as if the world does not correct in just measure.

Jeremiah’s request then may well be reflective of the request of anyone who has had to face the law and have been punished in any way, including being incarcerated. Punishment in just measure speaks of justice which is retributive and reformative. It must fit the crime and it must lead to the offender being a better person. God as the righteous judge is never vindictive, but always fair in His judgment. It is for this reason that the prophet asks that God not judge him in anger but in just measure. We are destroyed by God’s wrath, but Christ came to save us and grant us life everlasting. In the Hymn written by John Hus, we find these fitting words. To avert from men God’s wrath, Jesus suffered in our stead; by an ignominious death He a full atonement made; and by His most precious blood brought us, sinners, nigh to God. God’s penal system is Jesus Christ. He is God’s way of not punishing us in his anger but in just measure, for Christ already bore the brunt of God’s anger for our sins. It doesn’t give us an escape hatch however, for God will discipline us in love, to correct us or to bring us back to himself. In Hebrews 12: 5 – 6 we are reminded, My child, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every child whom He receives. May we accept God’s discipline in love and may it have the desired effect of moving us into better relationship with God and with those around us. Amen.