A Word of Encouragement – Psalms 62

Leslie Brandt, writer of Psalms Now says that “wisdom and confusion, joy and sorrow, trust and fear, and calm and frustration are all a part of the Psalms.”

These are all feelings that many people throughout the world are more than likely experiencing, as we come to grips with what countries are doing in response to the covid-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world.

So, with that in mind I will be putting together a daily Word of Encouragement to help those associated with the Wellington City Salvation Army here in New Zealand deal with the social isolation that many will, and or are experiencing due to the governments call to lockdown the country as of midnight on Wednesday 25th of March. This day I’m sure will go down as a day in history in which we have attempted to ‘flatten the curve’ or stem the tide of the virus’ spread throughout what we affectionately call ‘God’s Zone’, Aotearoa.

Obviously with the advent of Social Media and platforms such of this that same message of Hope and Life can go out throughout the world at the push of a button and I hope and pray that family, friends, associates and of course new friends worldwide also find comfort in these daily updates.

Today’s encouragement comes from Psalms Now 62: “As for me, my heart waits on God. I know that my salvation comes from Him. I may change my views about many things; but as for my need for God and His love, that is one conviction which shall never change.

There are many who would like to sabotage a man’s deepest convictions. With skillful use of words and logic they try to destroy the very foundations of his faith. As for me, my heart waits on God. He is my Hope and my Help. The temporal values that men focus on are quickly lost amidst the tempests of this life. Their highest aspirations burst forth like bright flares, only to fizzle out like wet fuses.

But my God offers a security that is eternal. It cannot be logically defined, but it can be experienced. Commit your life to Him, and you shall discover an anchor that will hold firm despite the chaos of this existence or the prattle of godless intellectuals.”

The opening words of Carole Bayer Sager’s song, The Prayer, are quite pertinent for these days: “I pray you’ll be our eyes, And watch us where we go, And help us to be wise, In times when we don’t know. 

Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way, Lead us to a place, Guide us with your grace, To a place where we’ll be safe.”

I’m sure that many of you will enjoy this link to the Wellington Citadel Bands rendition of that song:

The Prayer – featuring Dixon McMillan and Emma Downey

 

So, stay safe and keep calm everyone, look after yourselves and those dear to you, and also those in and around your neighbourhood – for God is with us at all times. Well

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Children’s and Youth Ministries Christmas Service

This morning we were privileged to hear the Christmas Story from the mouths of our young people at the Children’s and Youth Ministries Christmas Service. During the week the auditorium has been transformed with a number of Christmas decorations, streamers and wrapped presents adding to the atmosphere.

Over the past term the young people have been exploring the Christmas Story by focussing in on the key characters. This morning the whole congregation, which included a large number of friends and family of those young people who are associated with our pre-school, children’s and youth ministries were introduced to the angel Gabriel, Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Shepherds, Kings and the angelic host.

Emily and Madison (our two active Junior Soldiers) narrated the story and received their Bronze and Gold Awards respectively as part of this mornings celebrations, well done girls! And a huge thank you to Raewyn for teaching them throughout the year all about God and The Salvation Army.

It was fantastic to see the amount of young people in attendance (and of course their families as well). Well done to all those that were involved and also to all those that helped with the planning and decorating. Talking to a number of the visitors this morning they really enjoyed the service and were blessed by the atmosphere.

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Doctrine reemphasised…

One of The Salvation Army doctrines states that: “We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.”

Which in many ways is at the foundation of most Christian denominations. But one thing that astounds me more and more is that in today’s world this statement in many ways runs counter cultural ‘to the pluralist religiosity of our world’.

In a world where truth apparently has become anything that we want it to be, and the idea that all religions point to the same end point this is something that as Christians we may just need reminding of “There is only one God.” As Acts 4:12 says “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  

“We are taught by the over-tolerant spirit of our age that the gods of the Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, and Hindus are to be considered equally valid. If that were true, there would be many ways of salvation, and hence no need for evangelism. But since there is only one true God, then He is the One in whom all must believe to be saved (1 Tim. 2:5). There is no other name under heaven by which sinners may be saved (Acts 4:12). Evangelistic prayer recognizes that all must come to the one true God.

Not only is there only one God, but “one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” “Mediator” refers to one who intervenes between two individuals to restore peace or ratify a covenant. The concept of a mediator is seen in Job’s lament, “There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both” (Job 9:33). Because Christ is the only mediator, all must come to God through Him (Acts 4:12). There isn’t an endless series of aeons, or subgods, as the Gnostics taught. We do not approach God through the intercession of angels, saints, or Mary. Only through “the man Christ Jesus” can men draw near to God. Hebrews 8:6 calls Him “the mediator of a better covenant,” while Hebrews 9:15 and 12:24 describe Him as the mediator of the New Covenant. All men who come to God must come through Him.”

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). Alone with God (140–141). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

And the thing is if we are to learn anything from history and the wise men of old then we need to accept the fact that “all the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43) or maybe we have just lost sight of the fact that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Check out the other doctrines of The Salvation Army by clicking on the following link to the What we Believe section or alternatively check out the links on The Gospel Message page to get a better understanding of what this faith thing is all about…

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