Caribbean Moravian Devotions

 

You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.   Amos 6:6 (NIV)

During this festive season, we are so caught up in the festivities that the focus and real reason for the celebration is lost. Thus GodÂ’s will is neglected because of our iniquity.

God through his prophet Amos had warned Israel about this when he said, “You drink wine by the bowlful and use the first lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.” Amos 6:6 (NIV) In other words, a major matter was neglected whilst focus was placed on matters of less importance and matters that satisfied their own fleshly desires.

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I will remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. Psalm 143:5 (NIV)

Having just passed Christmas Day, this text is quite apt, for we would have just celebrated a major work of our Lord. But, of course, the question is whether we have given apt consideration to the work of our Lord amidst all the celebration or if we have forgotten the ‘Christ’ of Christmas and paid attention only to the ‘Mass’ of Christmas.
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The Lord said to Abram, “I will bless you and you will be a blessing.”   Genesis 12:2 (NIV)

 

The blessings promised to Abram were many: A good reputation; a great nation through his descendants; blessings for his allies. However, they were preceded by a command from the Lord to gather his family, leave his home and proceed to a new land.  Most would think this an arduous task for someone of seventy-five, but, without question or complaint, Abram obeyed. So steadfast was he that even when commanded to sacrifice his only son Isaac he obeyed, trusting that the Lord would guide his path and provide every need. 

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Lord, may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.   Judges 5:31 (NIV)

 

How Sad!
There are some folks who have no time, no place, no reverence for God - a God who is always good and just and who is love! They count themselves his enemy. They refuse his claims on their lives. They will perish.

How Sublime!  
Others accept and enjoy his favour. They walk in his fear and he is their strong hold. They love him and prove it by their worship and their service.

So God makes their lives as the noonday sun. They bring light and warmth into a world which also ultimately need God's smile. This is the basis for rest – for peace. Peace in our lives as individuals, peace in our communities, peace in our land. Peace such as the Son of God, by his coming to earth, offers.

Prayer:
O God, help us to understand and acquire your peace so that our lives may shine with the brightness of the sun.   Amen.

 

Since 9/11 travelling whether by air, sea or land, is a whole different experience. Checked bags are now searched more thoroughly. Going through the security check point can be a stressful time. Empty your pockets! No liquids! Take off your shoes! Remove laptop! Take off your belts! You wonder what else you will have to remove before you board that aircraft, train or cruise ship. There are so many regulations now about what is PERMITTED that you realize less is better. So travelling now requires that we decide before hand what we must OMIT because the authorities no longer just PERMIT us to travel with what we want. With this in mind I invite us all to reflect on the final FF for 2013 and it is this PERMIT AND OMIT!

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O Lord of hosts, you are god, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.   Isaiah 37:16

 

“Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her king.”         (Isaac Watts, Hymn 65 in Trial Moravian Hymnal)

Some 2000 years ago he came to us in human form. This we celebrated yesterday.  He came to us as a representative of our Lord, the creator of all mankind and all life here on earth. Our Lord sent his only Son in human form and stature from baby-hood, through childhood, and onto adulthood.

Why did our Lord do this? 

 

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You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.   Psalm 66:12

 

This Psalm is very personal and passionate. It plumbs the depths of human suffering and sorrow as well as explores the heights of human ecstasy and joy. The Psalmist, looks beyond his trials and sings loud praises to God for all the blessings in his life. Truly this is great encouragement and strength for all who are in the midst of struggles.

The theme of verse 12 is deliverance. It tells about trouble and GodÂ’s power to deliver us from that trouble and from the depths of despair.

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Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens.   Psalm 68:19

 

Many of us lead very hectic lifestyles, rushing from meeting to meeting, from activity to activity.  For some of us the mere thought of the day’s activities makes us want to curl up in bed, go back to sleep and hope that the day’s burdens will all go away.  But as we know, this is just wishful thinking or is it?  God is well aware of our situation and our daily struggles and he wants to help us to get through them and come out victorious and better off than we were before.  God’s word is full of promises:

“When you pass through the water, I will be with you;When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you; And when you pass through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze.”   Isa. 43:2

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Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.   Isaiah 45:17

 

God promises to never leave us or forsake us.

We all know and can think of difficult times when we feel as though we have no one to turn to or trust with our innermost thoughts.  Even in good times, because of envy, we hesitate in sharing our good news.  But Jesus has promised us that he will always be there in good times and bad times.

IsnÂ’t it reassuring to know there is someone you can rely on and trust explicitly, who will always have your back?

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The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. Psalm 19:7

God’s way is good. In fact, it is perfect. Hence he provided the perfect solution to our problem of sin – he gave his Son to pay its penalty. This is truly refreshing to our souls.
In a few days we will be called upon to celebrate GodÂ’s perfect way -- for this is what Christmas represents. Therefore, amidst the festivities of Christmas, I urge you to reflect upon the following:

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Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest.   Exodus 34:21

 

“Drop thy still dews of quietness,Till all our strivings cease;Take from our souls the strain and stress,And let our ordered lives confessThe beauty of thy Peace.”

During creation God worked six days and rested on the seventh day.  It was therefore mandated that man should follow the great example set by our Lord.

The disciples of Jesus, while walking through the cornfields on the Sabbath day; being hungry they plucked the corn.  This caused criticism by the Pharisees.  Jesus in His reply to the Pharisees stated that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).

 

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In many Sunday Schools this time of the year is filled with the staging of Christmas pageants and plays. The successful staging of Christmas programs requires lots of planning. Apart from the Sunday School programs, community and church choirs have spent hours in rehearsals trying to get their notes right and making sure that they have the correct dynamic for their Christmas music. In the same way, the musical Christmas programs can be very demanding. But when all of the programs are over and the applause of the audience has died down, those who would have sung or recited have the satisfaction of knowing that they did a great job pronouncing the message of this season. A Christmas play, pageant or concert involves many persons. But each one has a special PART and when each person does his/her PART then all of the other PARTS ultimately benefit. One of the messages of Christmas is simply this: EACH PART MUST DO ITS PART! And thatÂ’s todayÂ’s FF: EACH PART MUST DO ITS PART!

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You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God.   Deuteronomy 4:2

 

This directive speaks to uprightness of living.  God’s way is his way and we cannot think to adjust it in any direction.  Unfortunately, today, many consider that they can adjust the law to suit their purposes.  But think what would happen if one day someone decided to drive on the other side of the road!  The result could be catastrophic.  Similarly if we try to bend God’s rules!  This is what led to the need for a Saviour.  Mankind was ‘cutting too many corners’ and getting into trouble with God’s law. So instead of trying to cut corners himself, God decided to send him Son to get humanity back on track.  Thanks be to God!

Prayer:
Help us, O Lord, as we celebrate his birth, to see the need to keep your law straight, and so live straight lives before you.   Amen.

 

 

My word shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.   Isaiah 55:11

 

We tend to fear failure because it hurts to fail and we see ourselves as failures when we fail. This is why this word of God from Isaiah is so strong and powerful. God gives his sovereign promise that when he declares a thing over and in our lives it will happen. He says that He thinks only good thoughts towards us. That is the greatest news any one can get because all things will work together in such a way that we will benefit from it. God builds faith in us by daring us to believe that he will catch us when leap in faith. Each leap prepares us for the next which often is bigger. GodÂ’s sovereign promises will come to pass. This is very evident when we consider his gift to us of the Christ Child. His promises sometimes appear to be failing but his promises will not return to him empty. If we believe them we can and will receive them.

Prayer:

Father, I thank you for this reminder of your love for me. I believe you and though I can’t see the future I know you hold the future.   Amen.

 

 

 

I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.   Isaiah 42:8

 

People, place earthly processions such as, a house, how many square feet or where it is located in the heights or terraces; what make or model car one owns; job status and wealth before God, thus make these things more important.

These earthly processions over-shadow what is truly important; praising and worshiping God.

 

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