[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during December 2023]
Well, as it happens, today it is mine. One wintry December day sometime in the middle of the previous century the ambient noise level of a north London suburb was suddenly raised by several decibels. Actually I am speculating there as I have no memory of the event myself but I understand that it is normal for a new baby to announce his arrival. (more…)
[This reflection by Dennis Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 17/Dec/2023]
We are celebrating the birth of Emmanuel, God WITH us.
And that is wonderful! But there’s so much more: The gospels, especially John’s, tell us that the reason Jesus came was so that He – God – could now live IN us! He is standing at the door of each of our lives and knocking. (Matthew 7:7)
Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying to grasp the implications of God living in me by his Holy Spirit. The one who knew me before I was even conceived, the one who has seen everything I’ve ever done or thought, the one who sees everything that has ever happened to me – is waiting to come INTO me so that I can have ‘abundant’ life! He wants to live his life in and through me. And all I need to do is open the door?!
The title at the top is from Colossians 1:27. When we remember that this ‘hope’ is not a fond wish, but something promised and guaranteed, it may dawn on us that we are indeed children of God – and that He, now IN us, will perfect that which He has birthed! (Philippians 1:6)
What could be more reassuring than that?
Happy Christmas…
P.S. You might want to watch and listen to: THE GOD WHO SEES, by Nicole Mullen.
Resources:
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Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church online[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during December 2023]
In the more-established western denominations of the Church the period of approximately four weeks prior to Christmas is called ‘Advent’. Essentially, Advent means ‘coming’ and it is a time during which the Church’s adherents are encouraged to think about the coming of Jesus into the world. Many Churches organise special events, such as carol services, during this season. (more…)
[This reflection by Chris Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 10/Dec/2023]
If any one is in Christ, old things are passed away, all things have become new.[1]
Christmas and New Year seem to be a time when we rethink our lives afresh. It’s a bit like spring cleaning, when we clean out stuff that has sat on our shelves all year long, collecting dust, do we really need it and do we want it.
Patterns of our lives change, forced by circumstances beyond our control, we change the habits of a life time. This year, for instance I am rethinking sending Christmas cards because the price of stamps have gone up so much! The trouble is when you get older and don’t send people a card at Christmas, they think you’ve died.
Do our life long habits dictate what we should or shouldn’t do now? I have been challenged recently to reach out to those who are struggling with life, especially the lonely and those in need with families. But the question is how do we get to know them, perhaps through a food bank, or just chatting to people in the street.
I love that verse, “give and it will be given you”[2], but do I just give because I want to get back?
There used to be a song we sang, “I’m going to put off the old life, put on the new, put off the old life that’s what I’ll do”, the new life is Jesus His love peace and joy, so I’ll put off the old and I’ll put on the new.
Please Jesus show me how to become the person you created me to be, so I can reflect your glory and give you praise,
So Happy Advent and every blessing for a prosperous Christmas to each person who is seeking Jesus in this special season.
Christmas Blessings
Resources:
[1] 2 Corinthians 5 v17
[2] Luke 6 v38
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church online[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during December 2023]
December is here. Three weeks of frantic activity by those who cried ‘Too soon!’ but who are now bemoaning ‘Too late!’. Then, like the Bible narrative, things go quiet after Christmas. There is, of course, a precedent for taking a trip to Egypt but that country has already offered respite to more than its fair share of refugees this year.
In the first book of Samuel we read of events following the sacking of Shiloh in around 1090BC. Shiloh had been the geographical focus of Israel’s religious life but the nation had become complacent about its relationship with God. Once again the nation of Israel was at war with the Philistines and things had not gone well for them.
Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.
1 Samuel 4 v2 [NIVUK]
Matters took a turn for the worse:
Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. The ark of God was captured
1 Samuel 4 v10-11 [ESV]
The nation of Israel had, not for the first time, suffered a national disaster. Why had they, who considered themselves to be God’s chosen people, been so roundly defeated? Even worse, they had allowed God to be humiliated in the sight of the people around them. How could there be anything good about that?
The scale of the disaster made the nation of Israel return to God. They renounced the foreign religious practices which had crept into their society and devoted themselves to serve the Lord exclusively. The representatives of the people asked the prophet Samuel to intercede on behalf of the nation.
So that brings us to Ebenezer, but not the one often associated with a certain English novelist at this time of year.
Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it “Ebenezer” (Rock of Help), saying, “This marks the place where God helped us.”
1 Samuel 7 v12 [MSG]
A rock can be an arid trip-hazard or it can offer a place of respite and security. The psalmist chose the latter option:
In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Psalm 62:7 [NKJV]
In 1776 the English parson Augustus Toplady had a similar experience, which led to him writing the words of what became a well-known hymn:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
Resources:
[1]
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church online[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 03/Dec/2023]
It’s December, and at last we can legitimately play Christmas songs and put up decorations. I know there are some crazy people who do that in November, but that’s just weird! With that in mind, as I was putting this Sunday’s service together I delved into my Christmas Carol collection, trying to decide what we are going to launch this advent season with. One of my favourite carols is O Come O Come Emmanuel, and I was struck by how poignant and relevant the lyrics are of that hymn written over 150 years ago.
O come O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Our news reels have been filled with stories of hate, pain, death, and separation. We rejoice at the release of many captives this past week, and yet we recognise that this conflict that has a long history, is far from over and there seems little hope of resolution and peace.
However, during this advent season, particularly on the first Sunday of Advent, we are reminded that our hope doesn’t come through negotiations or cease fires, as welcome as they maybe, but in the reality of Jesus’ promised return. Unlike Christmas, where we celebrate Jesus’ coming into poverty and obscurity, when Jesus returns again, he will return in power and majesty. Wars will cease, death will be defeated, and God’s Kingdom will come in all its fullness. So as we wait for this momentous time, let us pray Come, Lord Jesus, Come – Bring your light into our dark world, bring the miraculous into desperate situations, and bring us peace and hope into our lives.
Resources:
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church online