I have come that you may have life and life in abundance,
The interaction of Jesus the Christ throughout time has the purpose of drawing us back to God. Jesus creates in us a new self (2 Cor. 5:17) the coming of the Kingdom, a kingdom of unity in God, of trust in each other and of a community of love and faith, which requires us to develop a new culture. This may require a new language, a new way of expressing ourselves, a new outlook, a new idea of unity, a new idea of forgiveness, a new idea of living sacrifices.
All of this requires letting go. In the new South Africa we are struggling to move forward because we are looking back. We are seeking a lost identity, not a new identity. We are seeking restoration and not renewal. We are not exiles in Babylon, we are wanderers in the wilderness. We are people who are worshiping the Golden Calf (Exodus 32) and not living by the Commandments of God.
This scripture says (1 Peter 2:10) “Once you were not my people, but now you are God’s people,” and “you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set aside for the purposes of God. (1 Peter 2:9)
in Advent we journey with God, who was and is and is to come. How has God been for you? (Who was God?) How are you in God today? (Who is God?) and where is God taking you? (Who is he who is to come?)
This Advent may we seek a fresh revelation of Christ. May you allow God to mold you and challenge you to let go of the past, live the present and aim for the future glory which is ours in Jesus Christ.
My prayer for you is that you will give yourself to the journey, and like the wise men, follow the star of Bethlehem and meet with Jesus. The purpose of religion is to have an intimate relationship with God. It is not just to know about God but to be hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:2 says “Set your minds in things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have dies, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” This does not mean that we do not care about life on earth, but that we bring eternal Kingdom values to everything that we do on earth. We don’t just live for our own again, but for the Kingdom.
We are the new wine, so let us be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Rom 12:2) this Advent, so that we be conformed to the likeness of Christ (Rom 8:29)
May God lead you into all righteousness.
Amen.
