Monthly Devotion - December 2020
PERFECTED TO DO MISSION & EVANGELISM ASSIGNMENTS
“I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:23, NIV)
Without realizing it, we are already in the last month of 2020, and
in less than thirty days we will move into a new year, namely 2021. It
has been more than nine months that we have gone through the Covid-19
pandemic and it looks like the church of God still faces challenges to
come together in unity, because so far we have mostly held meetings and
services only online. In His prayer, the Lord Jesus said in John 17:23,
that we, His disciples could be perfected as one unit, so that the world
would know that the Father has sent Jesus and that the Father who loves
us is the same as the Father loves Jesus. So, apart from being sanctified,
we also need to be perfected into one by Christ so that the world will
know that Jesus came into the world sent by the Father to bring the way
of salvation. Praise God, that during this pandemic, every church of God
from any church background or denomination has the opportunity to be perfected
into one in Christ, namely in building prayer together and also becoming
a blessing for one another. Our world is indeed no longer a safe place,
because apart from the existence of Covid-19 around the world, humans
are also facing various problems which lately have made humans even more
afraid of losing their peace because they don't know what to do anymore.
People who previously felt secure in their job now feel unsettled because
they may also be terminated. People who do not have a job now find it
increasingly difficult to get job opportunities. The leaders of countries
and the world are competing fiercely on the political scene while touting
what they think will be better. But unfortunately in reality all their
efforts that are against God's will are in vain and the world economic
situation is increasingly unsecured. Seeing the condition of the world
that is increasingly directionless, we are called to be more sanctified
and perfected into one so that many people who don't know God can know
Him personally and experience His peace. We are called to be His living
witnesses and preach the good news among all nations. This is all we can
do only for the glory of His name.
About 2000 years ago there was great joy to the whole nation which was
delivered by the angel of the Lord to the shepherds in the fields: “Do
not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11, NIV). Then a great
multitude of armies of heaven praised God with the angel and said: “Glory
to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his
favor rests.” ??(Luke 2:14, NIV). This is what mission and world
evangelism really means. The world is no longer able to provide hope and
sure peace, but instead human only find themselves in fear and restlessness
here and there.
But we don't need to worry. Why? Because at times like these the only
hope of man is the gospel of His Kingdom. His Word is the same, both yesterday,
yesterday and forever, which says: "And this gospel of the kingdom
will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and
then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, NIV). Our main assignment
as disciples of God is to preach the gospel of His Kingdom in the last
days. Whatever and whatever the circumstances of this world, His peace
can still be experienced by everyone whose life pleases Him. Let us continue
to be perfected in the Lord and let "The peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 4: 7, NIV).
HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2020 & NEW YEAR 2021! Amen !!
By Pastor Silwanus Obadja M.Th.
...Monthly
Devotion - November 2020