“HELP US PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE,” I am reading on the front page of the special edition of Regional Report. (Issue 23, March/April 2012, Northland Regional Council)
I am wide awake, even more so because on a special poster a child is holding up it says, “tell us what you think.”
There are three ways to have my say: I can make an online submission. I can send a email. I can fill in a submission form.
Of course I am interested in the summary of “NORTHLAND’S DRAFT LONG TERM PLAN 2012-2020.”
But I am extremely interested in the plan God has revealed to us regarding Christ.
It is a mysterious plan. It is a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure.
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
1. Everything will be brought together under the authority of Christ at the right time.
a. everything in heaven.
b. everything on earth.
2. “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ,
we have received an inheritance from God,
for he chose us in advance,…” Ephesians 1:11
“Tell us what you think.”
I can only say with the apostle Paul, “….he makes everything work out according to his plan.”
You find all this in Ephesians 1:9-11 in the NEW LIVING TRANLATION.
“Colour and I are one. I am a painter.” – Paul Klee
When I read the above quote by Paul Klee in one of our local papers, ( Northern News, March 14, 2012, page 7 ) a verse from the BIBLE came to my mind, namely where the Lord Jesus Christ says in John 10:30 “‘THE FATHER AND I ARE ONE.'” ( NLT )
In John 10:38 the Lord Jesus Christ says, “‘Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.'” Please read the whole verse in the New Living Translation. (NLT)
In John 14:9-10 the Lord asks Philip the question: “‘Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?'” (NLT)
And then we read that the Father is working through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father lives in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ is speaking the words of the Father.
In John 17:11 the Lord is praying for the disciples to be united. (NLT)
And in John 17:20 the Lord is also praying for us (all believers) . What is he praying? (NLT)
He is praying that we will be one.
He is praying that we may be in the Father and in the Son.
Why?
That the world will believe that He was sent by the Father.
“To the educator, He is the great teacher – John 3:2”
Unknown
In John chapter three the Lord Jesus Christ teaches Nicodemus. Nicodemus is Israel’s teacher. Here, the Lord Jesus Christ , the Divine Teacher, instructs Nicodemus concerning the New Birth.
Nicodemus is interested in the miracles the Lord is performing. He talks to the Lord about the miracles.
The Lord has changed water into wine. He has healed the Son of the Official. Then there is the catch of fishes. Jesus heals the demonic in the synagogue. Peter’s mother-in-law is also healed. Jesus is cleansing the leper. And the list goes on.
What does the Lord answer? He starts to talk about the greatest miracle to Nicodemus. The greatest miracle is the NEW BIRTH.
Another name for the NEW BIRTH is REGENERATION.
WHAT IS REGENERATION ALL ABOUT?
I have learnt that God is the author of generation, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the channel of regeneration and that the Holy Spirit is the executive of regeneration. “The medium of regeneration is through receiving Christ by believing the Word of God.” ONE HUNDRED BIBLE LESSONS by Alban Douglas, page 120.
“In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'” –
A boy on his bicycle on our main street in Kaitaia, Commerce Street.
I come from one side and a young lady is coming from the other side. Just then the boy comes off his bike and of course he has hurt himself. I am just standing there but the lady helps him up. When I ask him, “Are you alright?” he is nodding his head and straightening out the handle bar of the bike.
He seems to have grazed one of his knees. The young lady finds her small packet with paper tissues and hands him one of the tissues.
With me saying , “Kindness of strangers. I read about ‘kindness of stragners’ in the Reader’s Digests”, we are parting.
In the December 2008 Reader’s Digest I am reading that in order to make way for the Christmas stock, the Bibles have been cleared away. ( Life’s like that, page 117)
That the Bibles have been cleared away was the answer someone received who wanted to buy a Bible as a present before Christmas and could not find any on the shelves.
At the beginning of the same Reader’s Digest the editor is writing that the monthly feature called KINDNESS OF STRANGERS is now one of the most enjoyed features in the Reader’s Digest.
On page 30 starts the KINDNESS SPECIAL section and I am learning that kindness not only makes me happier but also might help me to live longer.
“HOW KINDNESS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE,” it says on the front cover of the Reader’s Digest. ( December 2008)
What is the Bible, the Word of the Living God, teaching us about KINDNESS?
Let me draw your attention to Titus 3:4, where Paul is telling us that God our Savior has revealed his kindness and love.
When he did that he saved us. He saved us because of his mercy. He washed away our sins. He gave us new birth. He gave us new life. He poured out his Spirit upon us. He declared us also righteous because of his grace. He gave us also confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
We are rich and we are reading all that in Titus 3:4-7.
And listen what it says in Titus 3:8
“…, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing GOOD. These teachings are GOOD and beneficial for everyone.”
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS,…” (Galatians 5:22)
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, KINDNESS,…….” (Colossians 3:12)
