It is the “last day” before Christmas today in New Zealand and the tills are ringing all over the counry.
There is also the “last day” of every week and the “last day” of every month. Very soon there will be the “last day” of the year 2012.
And one of these days there will be the “last day” of my life, and there will be the “last day” of your life.
What then?That will then also be the “last day” before judgment. How do I know that? Because I believe with many others what the Bible says in Hebews 9:27, 28:
“JUST AS MAN IS DESTINED TO DIE ONCE, AND AFTER THAT TO FACE JUDGMENT, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
“Reasons to stay together,” I read on the front page, when I picked up an old Reader’s Digest. (January 2007)
I am interested. The fact is that I am very interested.
Inside the Reader’s Digest the title is “New Reasons to stay together.” Did I ever enjoy reading the article by Elizabeth Marquardt. It says there also, “With the effects so long-lasting, is there any such thing as a “good divorce” when children are involved?”
I am reading about “Reasons to stay together” and New reasons to stay together.”
But for me there is only one reason to stay together:
“I HATE DIVORCE,” says the Lord God of Israel, …” We are reading that verse in the Bible, in the Old Testament. (Malachi 2:16)
And did I not say, “I WILL, ” when the minister asked me something like this on our wedding day (we got married in Thailand) : “A——-, will you take B—— to be your wife; will you commit yourself to her happiness and her self-fulfilment as a person, and to her usefulness in God’s kingdom; and will you promise to love, honor, trust, and serve her in sickness and in health, in adversity and prosperity, and be true and loyal to her, so long as you both shall live?” (The Broadman Minister’s Manuel by Franklin M. Segler)
Please remember also that the Bible says this in Second Corinthians 6:14, 15, 16:
“DO NOT BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS.
Intr.:
Questions (5)
1. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
2. Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
3. What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
4. What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
5. What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
“Wishing you Peace at Christmas Time,” is written on one Christmas card we received this year. The card is beautiful.
What is PEACE?
We are reading in Romans 3:23:
” …, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, …”
THE RESULT OF GOD LOOKING UPON US IN GRACE IS PEACE.
What is grace? Grace means favour we don’t deserve.
What does God’s grace give us?
1. God’s grace gives us peace with God.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” (Romans 5:1) Because of what God has done for us in his grace, we are no longer his enemies.
2. The grace of God does not only give us peace with God, it gives us inward peace. Inward peace follows after peace with God. (Philippians 4:7)
This inward peace is not hindered by the struggles of the world. (John 14:27 and John 16:33)
3. After that has happened, we are led to a state of peace with other people.
Part of the purpose for which the Lord Jesus Christ died was to make peace between man and man (Ephesians 2)
4. But that is not all. The Bible tells us that to all that ‘the peace of God’ is added.
The grace of God leads us to the peace with God, inward peace, peace with our neighbours and to ‘the peace of God’.
What is peace? The New Testament was written in Greek. When we are reading the word ‘peace’ in our Bibles we must think about the word ‘union”. That is the root meaning of the Greek word. We were separated from God, but now we are united. We were enemies of God, but now we are reconciled.
“What will you leave behind?” I am reading that question on the front page of a leaflet from the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.
What a good question! What an important question. I think it is one of the most important questions that we can ever ask. What will I leave behind?
We are thinking of course straight away about Money legacies. But there are also Ministry legacies.
MONEY LEGACIES
In the leaflet from the Baptist Churches of New Zealand mentioned at the beginning it says, “Your Will gives you the opportunity to make a final charitable gift (bequest) that will continue to do God’s work and bless others, long after you have gone.”
I have here also a donation form from the Far North Community Hospice. On the form we can also tick a box if we would like to remember the hospice in our Will. If we do so we will be contacted.
MINISTRY LEGACIES
In the publication called NATIONS of World Outreach International, Issue 4, 2012 , the International Director, John Elliott is writing in a tribute to the late Dorothy Walker, “Dal and Dorothy’s ministry legacy at TBS continues unabated.” (TBS= Tawangmangu Bible School in central Java, Indonesia)
I am thinking now about C. T. Studd’s ministry legacy. He was the founder of WEC International. I am thinking now about Hudson Taylor’s ministry legacy. He founded the China Inland Mission.
What about my legacy? What will I leave behind? All of us leave something behind!
“‘We’ve heard promises time and time again, but the time for promises has passed. We now have no confidence in those making the promises.” Horahora School Principal Pat Newman.'”
I am reading that in our loal paper. (The Northland Age, Tuesday, December 18, 2012)
The staff payroll system for teachers introduced this year in August causes problems. It is still full of errors. Teachers are overpaid, underpaid and pay increases are not being actioned. That’s why one “principal calls for heads to roll”.
Whenever I hear about promises, I think about the promises in the Bible. The time for the promises in the Bible has not passed and will never pass.
Here are six precious promises:
1. Hebrews 13, 5,6 The Lord promises HELP in need.
2. Isaiah 41:10 The Lord promises STRENGTH in weakness.
3. Psalm 32:8 The Lord promises INSTRUCTION and COUNSEL in perplexity.
4. Isaiah 66:12 The Lord promises PEACE in trouble.
5. Isaiah 61:3 The Lord promises GLADNESS in mourning.
6. Acts 1:4-8 The Lord promises POWER in the work for Him.
I have full confidence in the allmighty God who is making all those promises!
One of the schools in New Zealand (Kaitaia Primary School)
“Reasons to stay together,” I read on the front page, when I picked up an old Reader’s Digest. (January 2007)
