Sunday 27 November 2011

December 2011 - Inclusion and Incarnation


Merry Christmas!!

It’s the time of year that our minds are drawn to think about family and friends along with favour and fortune. We consider how will Christmas be merry. I wonder though, will Jesus find this Christmas to be merry?

God had a goal in the first celebration—inclusion and incarnation. We read of this in John’s Gospel:

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:12-14, NKJV)

God desires that men and women, boys and girls, be included in His family. This is possible only though Jesus. It’s incorrect to think of all mankind as the children of God. The children of God are those who have been born again by the will of God and the Spirit of God through belief in Jesus Christ and His complete work of grace. (Exception is shown in the Bible to those not yet of sufficient maturity to be held accountable; but this pondering will not be covering that.) So, Christmas is about family: being or becoming included in God’s family.

Christmas is also about incarnation. This does not mean we all become white on the inside. (in-carnation … coffee whitener … ok, punny.) The word refers to something coming in the flesh. In this case, the very Word of God, full of grace and truth, became flesh. Paul writes that we are also to be incarnations of God’s words to man:

Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it. (2 Corinthians 3:3, The Message)

When we are living words of Christ, there is great joy in it. Great joy for us who are experiencing the very life of God being lived in us (Gal. 2:20). We see Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Col. 1:27) However, for Jesus it brings Him great joy in seeing the children of God being who they were created to be.

As we enjoy this Christmas season, let’s consider not only how we can enoy it, but also how God can have a Merry Christmas!

Celebrating Christmas with you and God, 

    Pastor Merril

Friday 18 November 2011

November 2011 - Integration

Have you ever had an idea that has seemed to take over your heart and mind?  For the last month there has been something that has dominated my thoughts, overwhelmed my heart and pulsated in my spirit. That concept is found in a word—integration.

Integration is an important concept for the Christ-follower.  Our western mindset tends to analyze things in life.  We take things apart and separate them into different components.  We compartementalize.  An eastern mindset is more geared towards synthesis—the combining of things into a whole.  Paul, who said he was the apostle to the gentiles (mostly western thinkers in his day), had to remind Christians to keep the whole in perspective:

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (1 Cor. 12:20-21)

While this passage of Scripture is usually discussed in its specific context for the church, the general principle is integration.  We must take all aspects of life in relation to the whole.  We must not limit our Christianity to boxes within our lives when it is to touch every aspect of our lives.

James also had to respond to this need for integration.  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (Jas. 2:17)  Our faith should be seen in all we do.  Paul also said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)  Too often we walk through life having little awareness of having a walk of faith.

I want to encourage you towards integration in your lives.  Synthesize your faith.  Be aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in you as temples of God.  Be aware of God’s directive presence in your life both in speaking with Him and in the circumstances He leads you into.

Let’s see what integration can produce!

Journeying together with you,

    Pastor Merril