It seems that through this pandemic almost everything has changed. Although we know that there is one thing that will never change. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8). 

We need to continually share the saving work of Jesus on the cross with everyone we come into contact with. This task can seem daunting and difficult, but it’s not more daunting or difficult now than at any other point in history.

The Great Commission in Matthew 28 should be a huge encouragement for us. Before giving an instruction, Jesus informs us that he has now been given all authority, both here on earth and in heaven (v18). Nothing happens that is outside of Jesus’ control. It is Jesus, and not the world, that gives us the opportunity to share our faith. Jesus gives us the words and phrases to use. It is Jesus that has the authority to soften the hearts and open the minds of those who are still rebelling against him. Jesus is in complete control of every situation because he has all authority in heaven and on earth. 

After Jesus reminds us that he is in control, he instructs us to make disciples as we live out our lives waiting for his return. Jesus does not call us to save, he does not tell us to have the most logical and in-depth presentation of the gospel, one that is unable to be argued against. He call us to make disciples. 

A disciple is a student, someone who goes to the master to learnt. We are to point people to Jesus so they can go to him and learn. Jesus will save them, Jesus will give them faith, Jesus will teach them to fear the Lord. 

So make sure you go and introduce people to Jesus.

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Prayer of the Day

Heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that you may grant me, according to the riches of your glory, to be strengthened with power in my inner being through your Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. I pray that I might be rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of your love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that I may be filled with all the fullness of you. Now to you, who is able to do above and beyond all that I might ask or think according to the power that works in us — to you be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

It’s good news that the government is starting to relax restrictions. Australia has been successful in flattening the curve. However, the Federal Health Minister warned that CovID-19 is not over yet; not until a vaccine has been successfully developed and deployed.

Many of us have used the opportunity during our social isolation and lockdown to work around the house. The gardens are immaculate; the house is sparkling clean and we probably have run out of jobs around the house and the novelty of staying home is wearing out.

We want the pandemic to end. We pray that God will intervene and grant us a vaccine. We just want to return to our normal lives. Our lives have been on ‘Pause’ for too long.

If you are like me, you are probably also suffering from Zoom fatigue. Even though it is great to be able to see each other virtually, it’s not the same as face to face contact. Some are struggling to cope with the children at home all the time while some miss playing with their grandchildren. The economy downturn is starting to impact directly on us.

The isolation, lockdown and restrictions and the impact on the economy and our livelihoods are getting us down. Our normal work and social activities that gave us routines and meaning are on hold. The confinement is wearing us down, physically and mentally, and we may struggle to motivate ourselves to keep ourselves emotionally and mentally strong and healthy.

Psalm 121 is a good psalm for us to reflect upon. Instead of focusing on our isolation and loneliness and having a pessimistic view of life, verses 1-2 encourages us to lift up our eyes towards the mountains. This is a metaphor that encourages us not to dwell on our problems or anxieties or feel down. Rather, we are to look beyond our narrow view of our current predicament and to look at the wider and bigger picture. 

As we lift our eyes to look at the distant mountains, we will see the wonders and beauty of God’s creation around us and are reminded of God’s transcendence and immanence. He controls all creation, including the sun and the moon (v6). He is our God who, as surely as He looks after the birds of the air, will look after us (Matt. 6:26-27). God is with us.

In our isolation and struggles, anxieties and worries, we remember to turn to our Almighty God – my help comes from the LORD. Our relationship with Him does not rely on what we do or how we feel or what is happening to us. Our help comes from God. There is no greater help He gave us than the gift of life through death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 3 to 8 tells us not only is God with us. He protects us. He watches over us. He is a shelter for us. He spreads His wings over us (Psa. 17:8). 

God has not been caught by surprise by this pandemic. While our lives have been upended through this pandemic, our Sovereign God is the same compassionate, loving and merciful God who is in complete control.

Let us continue to pray that God may bring this pandemic to an end. Until then, let us continue to hold fast to the hope we have in Christ and to look to Him for help for He is our God. 

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Prayer of the Day

Our Father in heaven,
 your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
In Jesus Name, Amen. 

 

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Prayer of the Day

Heavenly Father, I pray this: that my love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that I may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of you. Amen.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes to our lives – social isolation, strict lockdowns and the severity of economic downturn. With the relaxation of restrictions, we look forward to the day when life will return to normal.

Through this crisis, we are forced to examine our priorities, plans, securities and comforts – our jobs, our investments, overseas holidays, road trips, dining out, etc. This pandemic has shown that what we regard as secure and dependable are not as secure as we had thought. It makes us evaluate what the important and essential things in our lives are. They are definitely not toilet paper or hand sanitizers!!

Our daily routines, schedules and plans are disrupted, and we cannot plan too far ahead. We cannot go on the overseas holidays that we had saved and planned for a long time.

As Christians, we put our trust in Jesus. We may not know what the future holds, but we have a sure and certain hope in Christ. We have heard about finding contentment in Christ and the current crisis must surely challenge us to examine ourselves and find contentment in Christ.

Amidst the changes in our lives, Christ is the one certainty. The pandemic is temporal and will end. We want it to end immediately and recognise that God is in charge. Our trust and our hope in Christ are built on a certain foundation. Nothing in this world can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38).

Paul did not teach us to give up everything and to live monastic lives, i.e. to renounce the world and devote ourselves fully to spiritual work. In Phil. 4:10ff, he encourages us to be satisfied and be joyful in what God has given us and to confidently declare with him, “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13).

It is very easy for us to be anxious about material provision; to be worrying about whether we will be able to make ends meet. Our heavenly Father reminds and assures us that, in His providence, He will take care of us (Matt. 6:26-34). Our priority is not our material provisions. Our Number One priority is to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If we do this, God assures us that ‘all these things will be added to you’. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with these things but they are to be received as outcomes of our discipleship of Christ. Like Paul, we get to enjoy these things when and if we are blessed with them. The material provisions (these things) are not gods we seek and worship, but these things are the gifts of the Great God we worship.

It is not always easy for us to be content with what we have. We see others having things that we are unable to enjoy. We dream of nice houses, investment properties, better paying jobs, prestigious careers, beautiful cars, dream overseas holidays, and so on. This pandemic has shaken us and reminded us of the indispensable and ultimate priority in our lives – to seek God and His righteousness. 

It is God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. It is always God who gives. This means that whatever we are given, whatever riches we may have, we hold them in trust for God (1 Tim. 6:17-19). And we have the wonderful promise in 2 Cor. 9:8 – ‘God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.’ This is what contentment in Christ means – that God will always provide us enough for our needs and also enough to let us provide in abundance for the needs of others.

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Prayer of the Day

Almighty God,

We know that you are the powerful ruler of this world and that everything that happens, occurs to fulfil your will. Lord please help us to remember exactly this in these difficult times. Remind us that you are in control, that you have given us a steadfast love that can never be taken away. Lord God, give us the strength to continue to preserve in our faith and our walk in Christ. Help us to be bold and unashamed, proclaiming our faith to our friends and family even in these unusual circumstances. Help us to remember that we are not the kings or rulers of our lives and that we by ourselves cannot control this situation. And in all things, we pray that your kingdom will come and your will will be done.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

I so often find that my prayers get stuck on the level of mundane. I find myself praying for a deadline I’m struggling with, the kids’ could sleep better, the runny nose that just won’t quit, Aunt Mabel’s ingrown toenail… These are good things to pray for and let me assure you God loves to hear about them… but if that’s ALL we pray.

So as I’ve been reading through Ephesians I’ve been challenged by just how God-centred the Apostle Paul’s prayers are – they are prayers that are driven by and shaped by and concerned for the holiness and glory of God.

In Ephesians 1 Paul prayers that Christians would know 3 specific things: 1. That they would know God. 2. That they would know the hope to which they were called. 3. That they would know God’s power. He prays for these things because this knowledge can and will change their life, it will change their mind, their attitude, their motives and ultimately their actions. Knowing God, knowing the hope he has in store for us and knowing God’s power will bring about a complete transformation in our lives.

And so let me challenge you to consider your own prayer life this week, let me challenge you to refocus your prayers to be like the Apostle Paul who prayed constantly, night and day, without ceasing that Christians would know God.

So this is my prayer for our church, that we would know God, know him as our Father, know Jesus as our Saviour and know the Holy Spirit as our counsellor. I prayer that you would know the certain hope to which God has called us – eternity in heaven, and that you would know God’s immeasurably great power for us who believe.

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Prayer of the Day

Heavenly Father,

Thank you that you made us, and that each day you sustain us. You feed the birds of the sky and clothe the flowers of the field, and you tell us we are as your people are worth far more. Please provide the things we need, and help us to be content with what we have. Father you know the worries of our hearts, help us to entrust them to you. Thank you that you hear our prayers and that you provide for us. Amen