In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose “- the more things change, the more they stay the same. In this month’s blog, I invite you to join me as we have some fun testing the truth about this saying. As an English speaker, I will have a conversation about the state of basic English Language today. How much has changed? How much remains the same? You be the judge.
The fun conversation is below.
“Hello “Are!” It’s been a while since I heard from you. Are you still there?”
“Yes, but quiet.”
” Alright, I’m checking in with you because I think you are being side-lined.”
“Why do you say so?”
“Well, I’ll tell you.”
At first, I thought it was just an oversight that you weren’t included in an email or invited to a conversation in which you should have been involved; but the evidence is mounting that you are not a part of the inner circle anymore. So, I believe it’s time to address the elephant in the room or the moose in the room as Atlantic Canadians would say.
“Are” you’re plural, but when I search for you, I can’t find you even when you should be there. Your singular brother “Is” has taken over and this bothers me. In virtually every sphere – in written or spoken conversations; on radio and television, on the Internet and across social media – “Is” is there. He’s masquerading everywhere whether he’s right or wrong; whether he’s correctly employed or not; at the wrong time and in the wrong tense. He relishes your position so much that he spends every waking moment contributing to the slow demise of our English language.
A few notable instances come to mind.
Firstly, I’m convinced that most of the television media have sidelined you. Journalists and television anchors have been caught saying things like “There “Is” many things to report today”. Even top, influential persons like ‘AC’ and ‘WB’ who once held your torch seem to have let you go for your partner “Is.” I know you should be there “Are” but alas desertion comes to mind.
Recently, I heard that many University professors, who for many years had your back, have also traded loyalties. Holders of Ph.Ds., Masters and, Bachelor’s degrees, no longer want to use you as part of their vocabulary. It seems like “Is” is reigning supreme. What’s even more egregious is that you have started to be replaced not only in speech but in written publications. Editors, once known as the gate keepers of our precious English language seem to have forgotten how to use you. It feels like the worst thing in the world, and it is, in a sense.
“Are”, I must also let you know that your absence has caused me some mental distress as well as health issues. “Is” has been so prevalent and annoying that I develop a serious earache every time it’s out of place, and that’s way too often. In my view, “Is” is also guilty of verbal harassment and should be charged for creating an English language crisis, and given a stiff fine. My constant fear now is that prolonged sidelining will play with my emotions and imagination and make me question my sanity and self-esteem.
“Are”, are you crying?” I know this is sad but this is no time for tears. “Is” must be stopped immediately, and I have some ideas about how to do that.
Together, we must protest and call “Is” out in every radio and television interview, in every newspaper article, in every op-ed, column, book and magazine. We must troll the Internet to point out every instance where they have wrongfully usurped your position. We must also enter every classroom where he first gets introduced, and every boardroom where they claim to practice inclusion and diversity and insist that you get re-instated to a place of honour around the table. As a necessity, and this may be critical, we must hold parenting classes to ensure the next generation gets it right.
“Are” I know you can still fit in and add value to our conversations. That’s why I’m appealing to every self-respecting English-speaking person who knows grammar: “Let’s put “Is” back in its rightful place and let’s reinstate “Are” to its rightful place in our language. If we don’t “Are” would be gone forever and that would be a very sad thing. There must be no delay or we’ll be sorry we didn’t take action sooner. The next generation must know you and your worth. We all must see to that. ©2024 Margarett Enniss-Trotman
Ever heard this? “Yeah, maybe you’ve got a little pride. Pride and haughtiness are characteristics that make someone unhappy, unfulfilled, and unaware. Just think about some of the arrogant world leaders and wealthy superstars in our world today. Worrying and dwelling too much on our achievements or how we appear to the world is dangerous. We get nothing but the constant fear of the image we project.
On the contrary, humility and meekness are virtues shared by kind and strong people. Above all, God loves the humble and the meek. He promises abundance for those who live in the spirit of humility (Proverbs 22:4), but it does not end there. The portrayal of humility and meekness in the Bible uncovers beautiful and moral-rich stories that we can daily apply to our lives; find inspiration; and learn important lessons about the character of God as He pursues prideful sinners to save them from eternal peril.
Here is one such story about Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (Daniel 4:28-37).
The Book of Daniel is an eye-opener depicting how humility in the Bible can be taught to all kinds of people. Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian king was wealthy and powerful leader, but he was known for being short-tempered and arrogant.
The Bible says, one night, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that made him fearful, terrified, and desperate to find out its meaning. He called all the wise men, enchanters, magicians, and astrologers from Babylon, but they could not interpret the dream. Then he called Daniel, whom he had named Belteshazzar, a prophet of God, who had the gift of interpretation of dreams, and who was spirit-filled, courageous, and humble, to interpret his dream.
Perplexed and apprehensive, but full of faith and confidence in God, Daniel revealed to Nebuchadnezzar that, his reign, pictured as an enormous tree with large strong branches that touched the sky, would be cut short, temporarily. Because of His pride, his rulership of Babylon will cease for seven years, and after that time, it will be restored to him.
This dream was a forewarning for him to humble himself before the Sovereign God of heaven and earth, and accompanying the alert, God gave Nebuchadnezzar twelve months to repent. No doubt, he probably forgot about the dream during that time, but God didn’t forget. All that time, he cherished pride in his heart, reaching a climax beyond which God could not suffer it to pass. The time had come for Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation
One year later, as Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his royal palace, his pride got hold of him, and he declared, “Is not this the great Babylon that I have built by my mighty power and the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:13-17, 28). Just as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven saying, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times [years] will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the “Most High is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms and gives them to anyone he wishes, and sets them over the lowliest of men.”
Immediately, Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was taken from him, and he was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. This lasted for seven years, and during that time, Nebuchadnezzar could not break free from his insanity, until God appointed the end of the time.
This happened seven years later, just as Daniel predicted, when Nebuchadnezzar, full of humility, lifted his eyes to heaven. He came to the realization that God will humble those who exalt themselves, and those who walk in pride he is able to put down.
The abiding lessons are plain: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). A proud look is number one on the list of God’s most hated sins in Proverbs 6:16-19). There are many who rise from humble beginnings to great glory, and then fall because of a lack of humility. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we should remember that God pursues us by correcting us.
People are ever ready to tell what god has done for them in the way of benefits and blessings, we ought to be no less ready to tell what God has done for us in the way of humiliation and chastisements. Nebuchadnezzar sets us a good example of this. He freely confessed the vanity and pride of his heart, and freely told the methods God used to humble him. He no longer claimed immutability for his own kingdom, but made a full surrender to God, acknowledging his kingdom alone to be everlasting, and His dominion from generation to generation.
We also see that God will glorify himself among the nations. His goal wasn’t necessarily to turn Nebuchadnezzar from a powerful man into an animal, but to bring him to his proper place before God, and among men. After his experience in the wild, he knew which God was the true God, and he was a true witness, giving testimony to God’s great works.
Though the affliction had its designed effect, it wasn’t just that which brought Nebuchadnezzar to his senses. It was the humility of receiving mercy from a compassionate God who cares for sinners and who loves and wants them. Sadly, the day is coming when the wicked will be cut down and left without hope. No mercy will be mingled with their punishment because they will be destroyed, both root and branch. In the end, all will fade away like chaff, and only the glory of God’s kingdom will remain.
Let us all remember that though we may never fully conquer pride, if we know what it looks like when it shows up, we can knock it back down before too much damage is done. It’s usually about the “I” in me. So, beware of the “I” in pride, and ask God to help you uproot it from your life. May God help us never to forgot to acknowledge Him always, should prosperity come our way.
What is the meaning of the word “Blessed” in Matthew 5:6?
Blessed is another word for happy, pleasant, or fortunate. Everyone is looking for happiness, a pleasant life, or good fortune. They pursue all kinds of things they think will make them happy, but they fail. It is like eating your favorite meal. You enjoy it and say, “I’m full. The yolk of an egg will burst me.!” However, in a few hours, however, you are in the pantry or fridge looking for something to eat, again.
Taking a closer look at the word “blessed”, I see other synonyms than happy like lauded, sanctified, consecrated, and holy. Substituting a few of these in the text, it would read like this: “Sanctified, consecrated, holy and lauded are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be filled.” Could it be this latter meaning that Jesus was getting at in the fourth Beatitude? A desire for all of us to be consecrated and sanctified?
What does it mean to “hunger and thirst after righteousness”?
If we must become holy, sanctified, and consecrated, Jesus says we must “hunger and thirst after righteousness….” Hunger is a sensation that stimulates a desire for food. Some people say they were born to eat because they are always hungry. I am not one of those people. Others were born hangry, but that’s a story for another time/blog!
Thirst, on the other hand, is a craving or desire to drink fluids. Everyone experiences hunger and thirst which must be satisfied because you can’t live without food and fluids.
“Righteousness” means right doing or uprightness. Jesus says, we must hunger and thirst after it. Yet, Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” What a conundrum! Or is it? No, it isn’t. You see, righteousness is an attribute of God which comes from Jesus that is both positional and practical.
While all have sinned, and there is none that’s righteous, believers have positional (imputed) righteousness because we are in Christ, our Saviour and He is in us. Romans 5:19 says. “… For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one many will be made righteous”. Because of Christ’s death, our legal standing changes from unrighteous to righteous and our names are written in heaven with the tag, “Price Paid in full.”.
Positional righteousness must also be accompanied by practical or behavioural righteousness. The latter is righteousness in our nature and it is imparted to us as we are sanctified through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. This sanctification happens over the course of our lives, and becomes evident in moral uprightness and the fruit of the Spirit.
Thus, when Jesus said, we must “hunger and thirst after righteousness”, He is saying we must develop an appetite, a craving and desire, for righteousness which He will give us, positionally and practically. In other words, just as God has built within us a continuous desire for food and fluids to support physical life and health, we must cultivate a craving for Jesus, our righteousness who foster our spiritual life and health.
The Filling
What happens when we hunger and thirst after righteousness? Jesus says, “…we will be filled.” Filling, in this context, speaks to satiety or satisfaction and indicates there is emptiness or a void that must be addressed. Notice, however, that Jesus does not say with what we will be filled, nor from what source we will be filled.
That said, we know that God loves to fill the empty. With Jesus’ first miracle, He turned water to wine by asking the guests to fill six empty water pots. The woman at the well came to Jesus with her life empty and He filled it by offering her living water. The multitudes were starving, and the disciples wanted to send them away, but Jesus fed them until they were filled, and they had leftovers!
From the foregoing, we can conclude that righteousness is activated first by a desire to know Jesus personally. Secondly, “The same Spirit that filled the Temple lives inside of you (1 Corinthians 6:19). This shows that the Holy Spirit is the One who fills us with the power and the enabling to live righteously in this world.
God has provided all that we need to satisfy our hunger and quench our thirst for righteousness. So, how can you be righteous? Believe on the Lord Jesus. How can you be filled? “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). For what are you hungry and thirsty? God wants to fill our lives with what is best. That’s Jesus.
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11- 12).
In English, a “sojourner” is a person who resides temporarily in a particular place or a sojourner is a person who lives as a foreigner temporarily in a place that is not his permanent home. Today, someone may go to a foreign country to live for a couple of years with the intent of returning home. This person is a sojourner. if the person does not intend to return home and becomes a citizen of the foreign country, s/he is not sojourning.
The Bible teaches that all people are sojourners here on earth, and believers in both the Old and New Testaments viewed themselves as pilgrims who were living as temporary guests on earth longing for their permanent and eternal home with God in heaven.
In Psalm 39:5, the psalmist David states,” Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!” A few verses later, he declares, “I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers” (Psalm 39:12).
To the New Testament believers, Peter wrote, “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul”(1 Peter 2:11).
In Philippians 3:20, we learn that “our citizenship is in heaven, and James 4:14 describes the temporary nature of our lives as “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
The author of Hebrews explained that those who trusted God in ancient times as recorded in the Old Testament “acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth who make it clear that they are seeking a homeland… and desire a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:13-16).
While people acknowledge the fleeting nature of life, believers understand themselves to be sojourners. Not only do we know this earthly life is temporary and that eternity with Christ awaits, we often feel like we are, indeed, strangers living in a strange land.
If you are a child of God, you too must be a sojourner since this world is not your home. As the common saying goes, we are in the world but not of the world” (John 17: 15 -21).
What do you need to know to travel well to that country called heaven. Here are four aspects of a Christian’s sojourning that it’s worthwhile to remember.
For instance, when God commanded Noah to build an ark because He was going to cause it to rain and destroy the earth, the request must have been perplexing because he did not know what rain was nor what it looked and felt like because it had never rained upon the earth. That said, Noah trusted God, obeyed and he and his family were saved.
Also, consider Daniel, a great prophet of God. When God gave him an end time prophesy to record for future generations, he obeyed though he did not understand the meaning nor when ye events he recorded would happen. Daniel said, “Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said,” My Lord what shall be the end of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel for the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.”” (Daniel, 12:8-9.
Both Noah and Daniel trusted the Lord. We must too and remain confident That God knows what Heis doing.
As an athlete must sacrifice to condition his body, we must also sacrifice to discipline ourselves to be faithful to our Lord. To this, Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24-26).
The journey may seem long and grueling at times, but God is faithful and He will take us to our heavenly home. So, keep walking, trusting, trying, and resisting. Do not lose heart. We are nearing home. Very soon, we are going to soar above the clouds straight into our promised abode. Let’s be faithful!
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This phrase is reminiscent of school recess when you didn’t want others to know how hurtful their words truly were. Words possess an energy that can heal, help, hurt, or destroy. A single word contains various hidden messages. It could leave us stunned for a moment or forever. No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
Scientific studies actually show that positive and negative words not only affect us on a deep psychological level, they also have a significant impact on the outcome of our lives. In their neuroscience experiment, “Do words hurt”, Maria Richter and collaborating scientists monitored subjects’ brain responses to auditory and imagined negative words. Their study found that negative words release stress and anxiety-inducing hormones in subjects. Words matter.
How many of us have thoughtful flashbacks over the negative words and taunts that were uttered to us in our lifetime? Why then as Christians, do we sometimes find humour in voicing negative words to someone else? Why is it so commonplace to insult someone and take no thought of what was said?
I remember, not too long after I met Roderick, I got mad one day and told somebody off. I did not use bad words. I don’t use them but my tone was measured and the pace of words so deliberate that the person knew not to mess with me again. I remember Roderick saying, “Yes, what you said was factual but you must always pass your words through three gates. Gate One:” Is it true? Gate Two: “Is it kind? Gate Three: “Is it necessary? I have never forgotten that counsel.
Every encounter we have with another human is an opportunity to witness about the goodness of God. You can do so with positive words. The words you speak can shift the atmosphere around someone’s day and possibly their life. Do you know you can compliment someone and change the trajectory of their day positively?
The Bible says in Proverbs 12:18 says, the words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Our words should bring healing to a soul in turmoil, to someone going through a tough time, to someone needing a friend. How about speaking positivity into those you meet everyday, and especially at Christmastime this year!
As the two-plus year pandemic wanes, many are wondering about getting back to normal. We look back on the past, what we once had or did with nostalgia and imagine it better than it actually was. So, we once again start to yearn for exotic places, long-haul flights, and place names that evoke romance and adventure. Others yearn to welcome back the familiarity of protests, riots, and poverty marches that give their lives a sense of purpose.
The newly freed Israelites also faced this longing for the familiar as they gathered around Mount Sinai, waiting for their beloved leader Moses to descend. Although the Lord had been revealing to Moses how Israel should worship, the Bible records a shameful story of worship gone amuck. As Moses was on Mt. Sinai for an extended time, the Israelites asked Aaron to “make gods” to lead them. Aaron complied with this request, gathering gold from the people and moulding a calf-like image, mounting it on an altar so the people could offer sacrifices and celebrate feasting, drinking, and “pagan revelry” (Exodus 32:1-6).
In violating the second commandment, the Israelites were re-shaping their relationship with God in light of that which was familiar to them, namely, idolatry and revelry. They wanted to worship the LORD through means of a visual symbol that might well have been used for worship in Egypt or other pagan nations in the Ancient Near East. This is why Aaron could describe their pagan celebration as “a festival to the LORD” (Exodus 32:5).
As I begin to reflect upon this sad story in Exodus 32, I find it easy to turn up my nose at the Israelites, thinking of them as idolatrous and even foolish. But then I think of how we often do the same thing in our walk of faith. The old life we left and its temptations lure us and invite us back and sometimes we succumb. We forget that the lure of the familiar is powerful, a deadly thief, robbing us of our new life in Christ of its grace, joy, and victory.
God’s people must not fall prey to the same thing. the same thing. Paul asks in Galatians 4:9, “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” Our answer must be that we won’t do that. We won’t go back and mix idolatry with the worship of the true God like Israel of old did. We must not go back to old religious views that say we can earn our salvation based on the righteous works that we do. Why, because “all our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).”
Very soon life as we know will become very unfamiliar for good. There will be strife, pestilences, persecution and a time of trouble such as never has been since there was a nation till that time” (Daniel 12:1). Nothing will be as we remember it to be. Are you ready for this time? As trouble approaches let’s get ready because it’s but a prelude to the future joy in heaven that is beyond our wildest imagination.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics just ended, and what glorious performances have we seen from the athletes of all countries! From Simone Biles fighting through mental health challenges to win bronze on the balance beam to Alicia Abrams of Guyana giving it all her might in the 400 meters semi-finals and Caeleb Dressel coming away with a 5-gold medal haul in swimming. These athletes all showed up and competed valiantly and, in a sense, ‘won’ because they focused on what they could do versus what they could not.
What about you and me? As we face life’s challenges, we too need to focus on what we could do rather than what we cannot. Nothing good comes from spending time on things you do not have. Say, you have to work at home because of the pandemic. You hate it. Rather than expending time and energy on what you dislike – the distractions, lack of concentration, and loneliness at times, think about all that’s good about being able to work from home – no travel time and traffic jams; gas savings which means money in your pocket; being able to take a nap during the day – and give thanks.
Similarly, the pandemic has resulted in many restrictions on normal life day-to-day but there is a lot we can do like learning a new language, converting a hobby into a business venture, or becoming a DIY-ER to finish a project at home.
So start now with what you can do. Empty your language of the things you cannot do, are not able to do, or would not be allowed to do. If you are going to put your energy into living life successfully, it is better to focus on what truly matters. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived agrees: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you” (Proverbs 4:25, NIV). If the heart represents the core of human desire, the eyes determine the direction and focus by which we pursue those desires. The Bible writer r appeals to us to keep our eyes on the path and not on the distractions that surround us. So Focus on what you can do and not on what you can’t.
As the COVID-19 virus rages across the globe bringing, pain, suffering and death in its wake, I thought I’d share this scripture alphabet with you to bring you the comfort and encouragement it brought me. This too shall pass.
A is for Assurance. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22). God gives his children assurance. It is a precious thing, a source of deep peace and consolation. During this pandemic, ask God for it. He wants you to have it.
B is for Bold. “Be bold. Be brave. Be courageous.” (Joshua 1:9). Although, we are isolated in our homes during this, there are times that we need to go out on errands. Be bold and courageous. You can do everything through Christ who gives strength.
C is for Consider. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2,3). As a child of God, you are challenged to label hardships as things over which you should rejoice. Count trials as deposits, not withdrawals.
D is for Don’t. “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches…” (Proverbs 23:4,5). This pandemic has led to big swings in investment markets, and investment losses that threaten to wear you out with anxiety. Instead, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath.
E is for Encourage. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Now that you’ve received encouragement, encouraged, return the favour. Encourage a brother or sister in Christ.
F is for Future. “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18).F is for Future. “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18). As Corrie ten Boom says “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/70125-never-be-afraid-to-trust-an-unknown-future-to-a
G is for Generous. “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9). During this pandemic, let’s remember to be generous toward God’s work by returning a faithful tithe and offering. Give also to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you, don’t turn away. As you give unsparingly, God will provide.
H is for Hope. “…Hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.” (Psalm 130:7). Rejoice in the hope you have in Christ. Hope does not disappoint. Hope abides. You have this blessed hope in your heart. Keep looking for it.
I is for the ‘I AM. “I am the God, the Lord of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). During your home isolation, draw nearer to Jesus, our Creator. Nothing is too hard for Him to do for you. He loves you. He is always present and in the present.
J is for Joyful. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12). The Lord can bring joy into your life this very day. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
K is for Kind. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another just as Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32). As families huddle together during this pandemic, it can so easy for someone to lose patience and hurt another. So, remember to be kind to each other.
L is for Lift. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1,2). God is your helper. Pray that His peace will lift away any fear and sadness in your hearts.
M is for Momentary. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). It may not appear so right now, but though we may think that COVID -19 is not light, it certainly is momentary. This too shall pass.
N is for Now. “Now I want you to know that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12). Could you echo Paul’s statement? Do you believe that these COVID-19 circumstances could turn out to be true? I do. Pray that they do.
O is for Ornament. “Whose adorning, let it not be an outward adorning… even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1 Peter 3:3,4). The internal grace of meekness, humility, and quietness, is a fruit of the Spirit, and is what is very ornamental to a believer. It is the clothing, your inward adorning that makes you lovely in the sight of God. Show off this ornament during COVID-19.
P is for Patience. “For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Hebrews: 10:36). Keep your hopes high during this pandemic. Clothe yourself with patience, it will help us stay calm and make the right decisions. Stockpile patience; not toilet paper.
Q is for Quicken. “Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word!”(Psalm 119:107). The Holy Spirit is the one who gives life (quickens). His instrument is the word of God. Take time during this pandemic to let the word of God quicken you; renew your love for Him; and increase your determination to please Him.
R if for Return. “Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.” (Zechariah 9:12). When this pandemic is all over, God promises to restore double from your former prosperity… double faith, double blessing, even double finances if that’s what we need.
S is for Seek. “Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11). Use the time you have during your self-quarantine or self-isolation, to seek out God in prayer. Seek out His word. Do it now. Do it often.
T is for Thanks. “…Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Though this pandemic brings with it a lot of inconvenience, pain and suffering, we have much for which to give thanks. Thanking the Lord in adversity turns burdens into blessings.
U is for Under. “Hide me under the shadow of your wings, from the shadow of the wicked that oppress me.” (Psalm 17:8). Unfortunately, during this pandemic, the wicked have chosen to harm and exploit others. Just think about this week in Nova Scotia. But remember, God’s wings are wings of mercy; wide-spreading; gentle. They will cover you.
V is for Victory. “… the Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.” (Psalm 20:6). Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, our Lord who loves us. This includes victory over death, a sad outcome of the COVID-19 virus. Victory in the face of this pandemic is assured. Claim it.
W is for Worry-free. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25-26). Stop worrying about COVID-19. Rest in Jesus. Trust Him, and be worry free.
X is for eXalt. “Exalt the lord our God and worship at his footstool. (Psalm 99:5). Alright, I know technically this verse does not begin with the letter X, but you get the point.Smile. Do what it says, Lift up the name of the Lord. Join the angels and worship him.
Y is for You. “Come to me …, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). King David recommends in Psalm 5:3 that you come in the morning, present your request and then wait expectantly for an answer. What a good idea! So, connect with God in the morning (and any other time); make your requests and He will hear you. That’s God’s promise to you.
Z is for Zion. “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.” (Psalm 50:2). Though you must ensure this pandemic, remember God has promised to take us to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion. Wait for it; because it will surely come to pass. See you in Zion.
My Prayer for You
Heavenly Father, please strengthen our hearts, and remind us to encourage one another with your word. Please guard our hearts from anxiety and give us the strength to rise up each day and fight against the struggles which seek to weigh us down. Amen
Christmas 2019 is just around the corner. Already, there are decorations; lights; trees; carols; shopping; presents; family; and somewhere in the midst of all that, the birth of Jesus. Over 2,000 years ago, although the exact year and day are uncertain, this Jesus was born of a virgin in a remote, humble stable in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the prophesied lineage and birthplace for the Messiah whose birth to Mary was signaled by a star in the heavens and incredible news that was proclaimed by the angels to shepherds:
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10 – 12).
Just then, a multitude of the heavenly host joined that first messenger, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke 2:13 -15).
Right now, he wants to make known to you this same good news. “Christ, the Saviour was born!”
Why did Jesus come to earth? This a very crucial question because a wrong understanding of why Jesus came will take us in all sorts of wrong directions. For instance, if we believe Jesus came to teach morals, then we might think his life was about ethics; if he came to fix the environment, then his life might be viewed as being about trees and plants, and greenhouse gases. If he came to model manners and good living, then we might think our Bible is like another one of those magazines that promote good manners.
We all know that was not why Jesus came to earth. The Bible tells us that He came to save his people from their sins (Mathew 1:21), and the wages of those sins – death (Romans 6:23). He came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). This is the reason for the season – to seek and to save the lost”. “The lost”, a term that means the same thing as “sinners”, are called many different things in the Bible.
In Romans 5, they are identified by several different words that all teach the same idea: ““For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die– but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us … More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5: 6 -8, 10)
On the cross, Jesus Christ provided the way of escape from death for people like Zacchaeus – a deceptive traitor and evil-doer; Saul – a Christian hater and murderer; John – a seeker of God; and YOU – in whatever category you fit; with whatever sins you have committed (past and present); in whatever shape you’re in; and with whatever baggage you’re carrying.
So, why won’t you ask Him to save you? Perhaps, you think you don’t need saving? Well, the Bible says the opposite – you do, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. However, you must act now. Right now. For God has appointed a day when His Son will come back to the earth, only, He will not return in the same fashion as His first coming.
This time, He will bring with Him all His glory; all His angels; all His power; in all His splendour and majesty. When He comes this second time, it will not be to call men to believe in Him for salvation. He is doing that work right now! No, when He comes this second time it will be for the purpose of judgment – to give to every man a reward.
Why don’t you turn to Him now? Repent now and be saved.
This month, 18 years on, the world will once again reflect on the September 11, 2001 bombings when Islamic terrorists used aircraft as deadly weapons to bomb the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States of America. Undeniably, evil was on show for all to see but the world rallied behind the US as it mourned the loss of thousands of its citizens.
Ten years later America responded. Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda leader and the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 bombings during an early morning raid on May 2, 2011 (approximately mid-afternoon on May 1 in the United States). Though debatable, many felt it was justifiable for the US government to seek vengeance for evil perpetuated against its citizens.
But what about Christians? Do we believe that we have to fight evil on its own playing field? I say ‘no’, although I realize the vigilante spirit is alive and well in the church. As a result of sin, we retaliate against those who mistreat us, at times sanctifying our anger as righteous indignation. We behave as if we are wired to repay others for what they have done to us – to ‘return to sender’ the evil that was done to us.
One of the more radical biblical teachings about this is found in Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Do we realize that by ‘doing good’, we are actually defeating evil? Yes. That’s because if we don’t follow Paul’s counsel, evil will spread. “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” When we do ‘good’ in the face of evil, it’s as if we are clearing a path to make redemption a possibility for someone else. Whether the person is changed or not is between them and God.
As Christians, our part is to never stop offering His goodness and kindness to our broken world. When we recognize how much the Devil wants us to play his game, we will also understand how acts of kindness and compassion throw a wrench into his most devious plans.
So how do we begin to overcome evil with good? What are some steps we could take?
First Step
I encourage everyone to think about the relevance of the Biblical teaching in Romans 12:21 in today’s world. Throughout the gospels, we are told that when Jesus saw the suffering of humanity, he was moved with compassion. While I am challenged by this, at times, I recognize that if I want to seek God’s Kingdom, then I must accept the values of His kingdom. One of these values is to overcome evil with good. Evil didn’t overcome Jesus, and if He is with us, we too will be over comers.
Next Steps
Having embraced Paul’s counsel, we need to seek guidance from God. This can be done through prayer, and Bible study. We need to get down on your knees and ask God for strength to follow His example. On the cross, He prayed for his enemies who persecuted him: “Father, for giver them for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Of our own, we can do nothing but we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Studying God’s word is also important as it allows us to benefit from the examples of those who went before us. In the book of Esther, for instance, Mordecai’s arch enemy Haman made gallows to hang him on, but through prayer and fasting and Esther’s bravery, Haman’s plan backfired. He died on his own gallows.
King Saul also relentlessly pursued David, his successor to kill him, and although David had several opportunities to get rid of Saul, he depended to God to thwart the plans of the soon to be ousted king.
When Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph and got him thrown into prison, he didn’t seek revenge. When His brothers’ sold him into Egyptian bondage, he didn’t leave them to starve to death but provided rations throughout the famine that raged the land. In the end he became second in command to Pharaoh and as he said, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20, N.K.J.V).
Now contrast David’s actions against Uriah when he rendered evil for evil. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and getting her pregnant, he tried to get Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba so he could pin the pregnancy on Uriah. When that failed, he had Uriah killed on the front lines. David’s household paid dearly for this treachery. His two oldest sons died violent deaths as a result. One of his grandchildren was raped, and 10 of his concubines were raped in broad daylight in front of the entire nation. His kingdom was taken from him by his own son who later died for his own treachery. In David’s case, his own son Solomon noted that when he repaid evil with evil, evil did not depart from his house (Proverbs 17:13).
Jesus reminded the Pharisees that Satan cannot drive out Satan (Matthew 12: 25-28). Likewise, evil cannot drive out evil. An evil response only doubles the evil. Best of all, Jesus Christ showed us that it is indeed possible to love our enemies. As his enemies beat him and spat upon him, drove nails into his hands and feet, and tore away his clothes, Jesus prayed that his father would forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. “
In the same manner, he taught that we should: “Love our enemies.” “Do good to them which hate you.” “Bless them which curse you”, and “Pray for those who despitefully use you.” This kind of love may only be attained to by those who have experienced the cleansing power of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. When a person has been cleansed from sin, s/he allows the power of the Holy Spirit of God to control their lives. Then and only then will s/he be able to truly love the bitterest enemy. While, we cannot stop people from doing evil, they cannot force us to participate with them. It takes no power, might, or wisdom to retaliate against evildoers, but returning good for evil is one of the greatest demonstrations of strength.
Jesus warned us that He was sending us as sheep among wolves. As such, we should not be surprised if we are treated wrongly or unjustly. Knowing that we are in a fallen world, it would be naïve to expect that we will be treated well. That said, we shouldn’t be discouraged from doing good to others for fear that we might be treated badly in return. We must keep on doing good to others as much as we can.
Jesus also knew we were going to feel overwhelmed by the brokenness around us, which is why He reminded us that He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Every time we confront evil with good, we are portraying a true picture of God’s character to the world. Until He returns, we must represent His kingdom and His ways on earth. Jesus fully understands what we feel, and knows how to comfort and encourage us to go on. Leave it up to God. He will fix it.
Here are a few promises to keep in mind when the going gets rough:
When someone does ‘good’ to us and for us, we need to do ‘good’ in return. One of the best ways to be certain to follow this rule is to be very grateful for whatever good comes your way. Thank God for what He has given you and thank others for what they do for you as well. Do all that you can to repay everyone who does ‘good’ to you in kind.