Daily Devotions

Paul E. Miller the executive director of See Jesus, a global discipling mission that mentors through seminars, cohorts, and interactive Bible studies, writes in his book, ‘Praying Life, Connecting with God in a Distracting World’, “‘Everything you do is connected to who you are as a person and, in turn, creates the person you are becoming. Everything you do affects those you love. All of life is covenant.

Embedded in the idea of prayer is a richly textured view of the world where all of life is organised around invisible bonds or covenants that knit us together. Instead of a fixed world, we live in our Father’s world, a world built for divine relationships between people where, because of the good news, tragedies become comedies and hope is born.’

Our Methodist Covenant Prayer speaks of such connectedness.

Within a shrouded New Zealand forest, a tree stump keeps itself alive by holding onto the roots of its neighbouring trees, exchanging water and resources through the grafted root system. Though the remnant stump appears dead, a grafting of roots underground connect the part that looks dead to the healthy trees 

During times of significant change or stress, we can find solace and sustenance by remaining connected to the body of Christ. In John 15:5 we read “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.”

God of goodness and mercy,

of gentleness and kindness,

of righteousness and faithfulness:

be the light of our salvation

and sustain our souls.

We offer the daily tasks

that consume us to you,

for we accomplish nothing

without your grace.

We submit to your will,

that we should love you

with our everything

and love our neighbours,

and even our enemies,

as ourselves.

Renew us and transform us

by your steadfast love

into the people of God.

Amen

Daily Devotions

At St Nicholas Methodist Church this coming Sunday we will hold our annual Covenant Service that was first was adapted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, for the purpose of the renewal of the Christian believer's covenant with God.

The first such service was held on 11 August 1755, in London. 

The Bible is framed with the old and new covenants that God made with his people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the entire Scriptures are permeated with covenant living. The heart of God’s covenant is captured in these words: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.” God is united with his people in the context of his unfailing love.

God’s covenant partnership with us is truly remarkable, for how can an unholy people and a holy God come together? This is possible only through the cross of Jesus, by which we are reconciled to God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The covenant between God and humans is a reality through Jesus Christ, our Lord. In Christ, we belong to God!

The great  Henri Nouwen the Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian spoke of Covenant in these terms.

‘When God makes a covenant with us, God says: “I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even when you run away from me, reject me, or betray me.” In our society we don’t speak much about covenants; we speak about contracts. When we make a contract with a person, we say: “I will fulfil my part as long as you fulfil yours. When you don’t live up to your promises, I no longer have to live up to mine.” 

Contracts are often broken because the partners are unwilling or unable to be faithful to their terms.‘But God didn’t make a contract with us; God made a covenant with us, and God wants our relationships with one another to reflect that covenant. That’s why marriage, friendship, life in community are all ways to give visibility to God’s faithfulness in our lives together.’

Father, we thank you that you are our God and we are your people. Thank you for providing a way back to your-self by giving of your Son on the cross for us. Amen.

Daily Devotions

The final title in our list of names of Jesus is “the bridegroom

There are few happier events than a wedding, and few happier people on the day than the bride and bridegroom. The Bible consistently refers to God’s people, the church, as his bride, and Jesus as the bridegroom.

Just as the bridegroom looks forward to being together with his bride forever, so too does Jesus rejoice over us.

In the Old Testament book of Hosea, an attitude of God is exposed which is quite enlightening in its scope.  The prophet reveals the God of the universe as seeing himself in a marriage relationship with the nation of Israel.  While Luke explains the Father’s heart through the story of the prodigal son, Hosea tells the story of God’s “sacred romance” through the story of a wayward wife.  In this prophecy, God equates Israel’s idolatry with adultery.  No other minor prophet exposes this metaphor quite like Hosea.

Each of us is made for union with God, but we do not always live up to this calling. Unlike us, God is faithful and He desires to achieve union with us. Through the Old Testament prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Hosea, as well as in Song of Songs, God reveals the mystery of His desire for union with humanity – a union so intimate that He describes it as spousal love: God is the bridegroom and Israel is the bride.

In this John 3:29, John the Baptist expresses his joy in acknowledging Jesus' true identity, noting that his own success lies in leading others to Christ rather than competing with Him. This paradigm encourages all believers to embrace their role in service, ensuring that Christ remains at the centre of their ministries and lives. John’s statement underscores the joy found in selfless service to Christ and the fulfilment of divine purpose, echoing the foundational truth that our worth is rooted in reflecting Christ’s glory rather than our own. Thus, John demonstrates a profound understanding of his place in God's plan, delighting in the success of the true bridegroom

Lord, we reflect on the joy that servants, like John the Baptist, expressed in recognising Jesus as the beloved Son of God, Who takes away the sin of the world. We are filled with wonder and awe at Your faithfulness to both Israel and Your great love of the Church. Open our eyes to the opportunities around us to touch others with your grace. Open our ears to hear the cries of those hungry for your bread of life. Please give us the joy of the friend of the bridegroom! In Jesus' name. Amen There are few happier events than a wedding, and few happier people on the day than the bride and bridegroom. The Bible consistently refers to God’s people, the church, as his bride, and Jesus as the bridegroom. Amen

Daily Devotional

It would seem appropriate in this Christmas week that we should consider Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

In Bible times, shepherds had bad reputations. They were essentially uneducated and their jobs involved them being away from society. The Bible uses the idea of “bad shepherds” to represent religious leaders who look after their own interests rather than those of the flock in their care.

In John 10, Jesus denounces the bad shepherds as thieves and murderers, yet, Jesus refers to himself as the “Good Shepherd,” who knows and loves his sheep, and who gives his life for them.

We should be careful whom we choose to follow.

We are hearers of many voices - the interior voices which call us to the full life of Jesus, the other voices which keep us stuck in ‘living and partly living', or the voice which leads us to evil. Jesus knows that goodness does not always reign, and that the evil in people spreads into violence and indignity and greed. 

A Pastor tells of being in the Middle East and watching a group of shepherds walk a large flock down a hillside one evening. As they got nearer each man called to his sheep and out of this huge mass the sheep moved to follow the voice they knew. They then led them into their pen and with a fire near the doorway settled down, literally sleeping in front of the opening, just as Jesus describes.

Loving Shepherd

We who live in a world of cities, tall buildings,

one way streets, suburbs, and gated communities

don’t necessarily know what sheep are like

or what shepherding entails.

Sometimes we do feel like sheep in our world

being herded by the dos and don’ts,

oughts and ought nots, media,

voices we don’t even recognise.

Sometimes the din of the voices gets so loud

we can’t even recognise our own voice.

Calm and quieten our hearts, our minds and our souls

to that one small voice; yours.

And in hearing your voice, Good Shepherd, we hear our own voices

that we sing your song of grace to one another. Amen.

Daily Devotions

“Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” so goes the descriptor of the Messiah found Isaiah 9:6.

I wonder how the first visitors to the Manger described what they had seen as they looked upon the humble couple and the new born babe. The only description of the shepherd's reaction is found in Luke 2:20 “The shepherds went back to work, glorifying and praising God for everything that they had heard and seen, which had happened just as they had been told.”

Of all the four names Isaiah uses to describe Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, I wonder, which one means the most to you? Why? I wonder what the shepherds actually thought.

Take some time to read this poem and discover the wonder of Immanuel, God with us in Jesus.

 

Shepherds on a hillside not highly respected

But these were the ones specifically selected

To be the King’s special guests

Because God almighty considered them blessed

The kind of guests nobody expected

To be the ones the saviour elected

 

The ones the rest of the world dismissed

Now sat with royalty dwelling in their midst

Thinking they were shepherds were really just the sheep

Of this tiny Good Shepherd laying fast asleep

Who would lead them to every pasture and stream

Who promises to give them all they need

Even through the valley of the shadow of death

He would still be with them closer than breath

 

Did they know this baby would be their protection

Guiding them in every right direction?

Did they know he would make them whole

Giving them deepest rest for their souls?

 

Like these shepherds by the world neglected

He came down to be despised and rejected

Creator of the galaxies gave up everything

Just to be with us, our shepherd King

 

The angels announced the first Noel

God is with us

Immanuel

 

How can it be, come and see

Come and worship, fall on your knees

Come to the king and bow before him

Come high and low, come and adore him

 

For us to say ‘it is well

God is with us

Immanuel

 

How did you feel when you knocked on that door

And saw that baby lying in the straw?

Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. We praise you for who you are. And we pray that you would help us to trust you as our counsellor, to trust your power, to trust you as our Father, to trust you as the Prince of Peace and our lives today, and to spread the good news of who you are to people around us and to peoples around the world. Amen

Daily Devotions

In ancient times, mighty emperors would call themselves “king of kings” because they would rule over other kingdoms with their own kings. In the New Testament, Jesus is called the King of Kings because he will rule over the entire world, and he rules over all. There is no higher authority in the world than Jesus. Yet the first to worship the King of Kings were humble shepherds, the most unlikely group of worshipers ever.

Do you remember that the shepherds are in the fields on a hillside near Bethlehem. In the evening, probably around a campfire, they talk about the promised Messiah. They are frightened when an angel appears, but they pay attention, and suddenly a host of angels are there to praise God. The shepherds find Jesus and worship Him.

As they leave the manger scene, they tell everyone they meet about their experience. Then they return to their flocks, “glorifying and praising God for all . . . they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20).

This is a lesson about worshipping the King of Kings; the shepherds join in the worship of Jesus in four ways: 

1. They cease being afraid and find joy in worship. 

2. They follow the angel’s instructions. They search for Jesus until they find Him.

3. They tell others about their experience, sharing the invitation to worship Jesus. 

4. They return to carry on their work, all the while praising God for what they have seen and heard. 

On this Christmas Day, let us go and do likewise!

Prayer

God grant us the light of Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ. Amen

Daily Devotions

Bread was a food staple that even the poorest could have. It sustained life during the times of the Old Testament. God was the source of bread, as he demonstrated by giving the Children of Israel manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16).

In the New Testament, Jesus reveals himself as the true source of life and calls himself the “bread of life” (John 6:35) because the one who believes in and depends on him will live forever.

Significantly, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. The literal meaning for the name Bethlehem is “The House of Bread.” 

-   Jesus was not born in the house of royalty, or the house of riches, or the house of celebrity.

• Jesus was not born in Jerusalem, or in Rome, or in Athens or Alexandria.
• Jesus was not born in any political, commercial, cultural, educational, or socially significant city of the day.

A story is told that towards the end of world war 2 where the Allied armies had gathered up many hungry orphans and they were placed in camps where they were well fed. Despite excellent care, they slept poorly. They seemed nervous and afraid. Finally, a psychologist came up with the solution.

Each child was given a piece of bread to hold after he was put to bed. This particular piece of bread was just to be held—not eaten. The piece of bread produced wonderful results. The children went to bed knowing instinctively they would have food to eat the next day. That guarantee gave the children a restful and contented night of sleep.

The bread was their comfort. Isaiah prophesying the coming of the Messiah said, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

Later Micah, the Old Testament prophet, foretold the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, he emphasised its lack of significance to the world. “O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past!” (Micah 5:2)

May we see clearly that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, "The House of Bread” as the “bread of Life.”

God, our hope, As we await the celebration of your birth, fill us with anticipation and prepare us by your Spirit. Be the first thought in our hearts and help us to be conscious of your direction. Strengthen us for service, Nourish us with the bread of life, Transform us for mission. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. Amen

Daily Devotions

“Christ” isn’t strictly speaking a name among the names of Jesus, but a title, although we often do use it as a name.

It is the Greek translation of a Hebrew word that means “the anointed one”.

In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and prophets were anointed. They were anointed by having oil poured on their heads as a sign of the special call of the Holy Spirit upon their lives, because they were to represent God before the people.

• Priests represented God in the religious sanctuary and temple services.
• Kings represented God as the rulers of the nation.
• Prophets represented God by conveying his message to the people.

In the New Testament, Jesus is called “Christ” because he is the ultimate anointed one, to whom priests, kings, and prophets all pointed. He is the one who came to earth with a special mission: to fully represent who God was to the world.

In Acts 4 we  find Peter and John before the Sanhedrin to answer why they healed a man. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”

Clearly, there was no longer any doubt in Peter’s mind who Jesus is; he is the Christ. What of us? Do we claim him as the Christ?

In Christ We Have:

A love that can never be fathomed
A life that can never die
A righteousness that can never be tarnished
A peace that can never be understood
A rest that can never be disturbed
A joy that can never be diminished
A hope that can never be disappointed
A glory that can never be clouded
A light that can never be darkened
A purity that can never be defiled
A beauty that can never be marred
A wisdom that can never be baffled
Resources that can never be exhausted.

Prayer

Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and on my right. This day be within and without me, Lowly and meek and all powerful. Be within the heart of each to whom I speak; In the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all powerful. Amen