Wow!
Can you believe that Christmas is almost upon us?
It was only yesterday I was in the kitchen, slaving away preparing the roast last Christmas and, here I am in the kitchen planning the roast for this Christmas! Where has the time gone to?
I hope you are all well and that 2017 has not been too stressful.
The other day, at the checkout counter, I overheard two dear old ladies discussing the state our beloved country is in. Their list of complaints went something like this:
- Schools failing Educational Inspections and being downgraded.
- The lack of discipline, with children running riot and behaving as they please.
- The amount of drugs young people are taking.
- Child abuse.
- Politicians telling lies and fiddling their expenses.
After paying for my groceries, I walked home feeling rather sad knowing that they were right in their assessment of our world, simply because society appears to have lost its way.
There is no effective leadership anywhere, in any country and people really are at a loss to know what to do about it.
This reminded me of some verses of Scripture and a message of hope, which I would like to share with you all:
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes – Judges 21:25
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
There is no doubt that we all live in countries that for all intents and purposes, are morally and spiritually bankrupt and I am sure, like me, you have been shaken to the core as we witness the drastic downward spiral of morals and common sense, so much so that one could be forgiven for thinking that all is lost!
How wonderful it is to realise that God has not left us to fend for ourselves.
Read again the words quoted above: be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter.
We should make a note of these words and put them under the title of:
BE NOT SHAKEN!
The Apostle Paul tells us:
- Not to be shaken in mind: We are to guard against being tossed about, to and fro, like a ship in rough seas.
- Not to be troubled: We are to avoid being emotional and agitated by what we see going on around us. Not very easy!!!
- Not to be troubled by word: With so many different theories and ideas coupled with rumours which surround us every day of our lives, we are not to listen to those who do not preach the truth as found in the Word of God.
- Not to be troubled by letter: Questionable reading material is to be found in every bookstore and library throughout the land, and we are to avoid it!
The Scriptures are full of warnings of things getting worse and worse around us, and we are to comfort ourselves and comfort and support one another with the knowledge of our Lord’s coming.
Jesus is coming again!
Just when we think that hope has taken wings, we have even more wonderful news in the form of Psalm 40:1-3 which says:
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
With so many people disillusioned with the world around them, wouldn’t it be amazing if they could read Psalm 40 and truly identify with the words and alter the circumstances they find themselves in.
- Our situation – I waited patiently for the Lord.
- Our realization – And He inclined unto me.
- Our plea – He heard my cry.
- Our rescue – He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay.
- Our security – And set my feet upon a ROCK and established my goings.
- Our song – And He hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even praise unto our God.
- Our message – Many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
None of this could be even remotely possible if our Saviour had never been born.
But He was!
This is what Christmas is all about!
A celebration of the birth of the Saviour – JESUS!
By putting our trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we have been rescued, we have security, and we have peace of mind no matter what this world throws at us.
- We have a New Song in our heart.
- We have music on our lips.
- We have music that only a Holy God can give.
- And we have a message to share with others that is full of meaning.
- A message which brings Glory and Praise to God our loving Father.
It is our prayer that you will have a blessed Christmas and that 2018 will bring you closer to our Lord and Saviour.
There is no doubt that we will be seeing Him face to face very soon!