How can we sing?

Singing is often connected to a state of joy - although not always, but it is a lot easier to raise your voice when you are feeling joyful. Zephaniah urges God's people to sing and shout aloud, despite their present circumstances. He says: 

"Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm." - Zephaniah 3:14-15

As if Zephaniah hears the question from the people, "why should we sing", he gives them a few reasons why they must lift their voices:

1. The Lord has taken away your punishment
2. God has turned back our enemy.
3. God is with us.
4. We don't need to fear anything anymore.

As you contemplate the words of Zephaniah, may you know the peace of Christ upon you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Is it with an "I" or "E"? - Immanuel or Emmanuel?

"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” - Matthew 1:23

During the Christmas season we will come across the name Immanuel on numerous occasions. However, sometimes we will see that it is spelt with an "E" and then others with an "I." So the question I am asked is: "What is the difference?" 

Here is my answer.

The Hebrew word Immanu'el means 'God is with us' and is found in Isaiah 7, which is then quoted in Matthew 1 with the same spelling or sometimes with an "E." 

So, where does the "E" come in then? The simple answer is that in Greek the name "Emmanouel" is a translation from the Hebrew name Immanuel. The New Testament was written mostly in Greek, and the Old Testament originally in Hebrew. So in order to have the Bible in one language, the Hebrew Immanuel was translated into the Greek Emmanuel. 

But the biggest question to ask is: Does it actually change the meaning? 

And my answer is: Not at all. The meaning is the same. Jesus is the Word made flesh and He is God with us.

As Charles Spurgeon says, "in this great Name IMMANUEL is eternity’s sonnet, heaven’s hallelujah, the shout of the glorified, the song of the redeemed, the chorus of angels, the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky." 

He adds that "John Wesley died with the words "The best of all is GOD IS WITH US" on his tongue.

This Christmas season let us us not get bogged down with trivialities, but rather focus on the important truth - God is with us.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Something to shout about

When something good happens in our lives it is important to shout out the news of this great joy. Many people do this via social media nowadays, but we can also simply tell others the news via the trusted means of our voices. 

Zechariah speaks out the good news of God's presence amongst us when he says:

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you." - Zechariah 2:10-11

I take solace from the picture of God always living amongst his people. And when this happens we KNOW that God has sent help our way.

Question: How do you feel about Zechariah's good news? Does it change the way you view life when you know that God lives amongst us?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Out of the shadows

Most of us reading these words are familiar with the idea of the Incarnation - God becoming flesh and living amongst us. Sadly, this idea loses its magnitude in the fog of our religious language and rhetoric. This morning I was reading these words from Leonardo Boff and the image of the Incarnation struck home again:

"God has left the resplendent shadows of an inaccesible abode and now draws near the murky light of the human race. God enters the conflict, takes up the cause of the conquered and the marginalised against the mighty...the mercy of God is not reserved for the end time alone."

Question: Why would God leave the glorious light of His abode to come close to the dingy light of planet earth?

Answer: For us. 

John 1:14 - ^"And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth."

Living in Grace 

D3LM3 

 

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Charles Wesley is often overlooked in favour of his more illustrious brother, John. However, we should not ignore the huge impact that he made on the corporate worship on the English Church of the 18^th Century. Initially his hymns, poems and songs were made famous in England, but later on they gained international prestige as Christians took the catchy tunes all over the world.

The first printed version of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus was found in a collection of Hymns that Charles put together for Advent in 1744. Therefore it is very likely that he wrote the words a while before this date. The lyrics remind us of two pivotal events in the Christian experience – the First Coming of Christ (Jesus’ birth) and his Second Coming. Wesley often used his songs to help the ‘ordinary person’ understand theology in a simpler way.

It is thought that Wesley may have taken some inspiration from many Old Testament passages which referred to the promise of freedom for the oppressed. The Lord (Messiah) was spoken of as Israel’s consolation.

Another unlikely source of inspiration may have come from Blaise Pascal, who is often quoted as arguing: "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every person that cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator.” If you read the last line of verse 1, you will see the connection to this point.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

I am grateful that Jesus has already come to offer us freedom, consolation and strength. We are certainly going through so many times of trial at the moment and it reassures me to know that my King reigns and will rule in my heart.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Absence of danger?

What do you make of these words?

"The Christian finds safety not in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God." - Anon

Thomas a Kempis wrote something similar in the Imitation of Christ. He said,
"When Jesus is present, all is good and nothing seems difficult;
but when Jesus is absent, all is hard."

I find these words quite reassuring today, because it is our natural inclination to run away from trials and hardships, or at least to play it safe. However, LIFE always presents us with struggles and it is then that we need to remember that God is present with us.

"Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:20

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Among - New Advent word

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you." - Zechariah 2:10-11

Zechariah's prophecy came true in the most profound of ways. Jesus came to live AMONG us. The King of kings and Lord of lords, joined us in the midst of our world and revealed the love of God to all humanity. It is a pity that we miss out on the true nature of God, by getting images of people who insist that God is full of hatred. Advent reminds us that God is LOVE.

May the light of Christ fill your heart with joy today.

Remember God may not take our trouble from us, but He will be with us in the midst of it all.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Coming to the end of myself

It is when we come to the end of ourselves that we discover that God is already there. In fact, God has never been absent, it is just that we haven't recognised his presence or we have been distracted from God's "Immanuel" gift (...God with us).

It is when we get to a place like this, that we need to discern God's call for us to go deeper with him and to leave the safety of what we know. When we leave the earthly things behind we venture into the realm of the Spirit - this is where God can reveal to us the intimacy and dependence of our faith. I was reminded of this tonight as we sang these words in our service:

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever you may call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour." - Hillsong

So coming to the end of yourself may just be the very place we need to be in order to discover that we are at the starting point with God.

May your faith be made stronger today, as you walk in the presence of the Saviour.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Among you

Why don't you try something different when you read this verse? I pray that it helps you to focus on the verse and to allow the Spirit to speak to you.

"For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you." - Isaiah 12:6

• Now read it again, but slower.

•  Re-read the verse, but "chop" off the first word of the verse.

• Keep doing this, one word at a time, reading the remainder of the verse.

• Stop when you are left with only 2 words.... "among you!"

Ruminate on these words. Let them sink into your hearts and spirit.
God is among us.
Jesus is Immanuel.
God with us.
Always.

Prayer: Let your prayer now be Isaiah 12:6.

Blessings and Grace
D3LM3