A Prosperous New Year
2008
Word became Flesh and dwelt among us!
When God created everything in this Universe, He made the earth as a dwelling place just for us (Psalms 115:16). He created it with beauty, carefully taking care of every little detail and given it to our first parents, Adam and Eve to enjoy. His Words had such a creative power that He brought everything into existence just by His Words (Genesis 1). Every creation would respond to His powerful Words (Psalms 29:4-9), yet to Adam and Eve He made it a point to visit them daily in the Garden of Eden and talk to them personally, because they are not just His special creation but they are His children! He made them in His own image. He loved them so much that He spent time with them. What a wonderful relationship, the Creator Himself visited them daily! This was a beautiful intimate Father Children relationship till sin came in-between separating them. Devil the old serpent by his cunning device made the first couple to disobey God?s command and destroyed that beautiful relationship between Father God and His Children. As a result though God had to send them away from His presence, He was constantly communicating with them through His Words. He talked to those who would listen and respond, and through these prophets and priests; He was passing His messages and instructions to every generation. His commands were protecting those who would obey. He instructed the plan of Sacrifice by teaching that we could go to His presence only through blood. When the appointed time had come God who was talking to the human race only by His Words wanted to came personally and live with them. He wanted to reveal Himself who He really is; as many were imagining that He is a fearsome God and if approached this God, they would die. But God's heart longed for the same fellowship with us that He once had in the Garden of Eden with His children. He wanted to reveal His heart; so He sent His only begotten Son Jesus.
The Word of God became Flesh and dwelt among us and that is -
JESUS!
This flesh or the body of Jesus was created to be broken as a pleasing sacrifice to God for our sake. Jesus was born to die for us. The Blood that was poured from His body brings Salvation to everyone who believes. His death had opened an easily accessible door through which we could reach out to Father God at anytime. Once anyone accepts that I am a sinner and believe that Jesus died for my sin, their dead spirit gets resurrected by the Resurrection power of Jesus. Then the communication and the intimate relationship with Father God gets restored once again (John 1:12). The Word of God is the bread for a resurrected soul. Communion is nothing but coming into union with His Word. Communion is nothing but communication restored to our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. Breaking bread and drinking wine as a remembrance of Jesus means daily we remember to read and meditate the Word of God. The more we do this, the more we become strong in our relationship with Father God through His Son Jesus. If we love Him we would spend time with His Words and do what the Word says!
As Jesus' return for His Bride is quite near, we need to be strong enough to fight the battle against the devil, not only in our lives but also in others. If we do so, then we can also gain others for His Kingdom. Jesus said, Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4:35). Proverb 10:5 says, He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. Let us bring joy to our Father's heart in this season of Christmas by spreading the Good News that He had sent His Son Jesus to restore our relationship back to Him. Let the Holy Spirit give us the wisdom and strategy to do this in the specific way that He has called us to do in this time of our lives!
May God bless you all!
Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008
from Shanthi Samuel, Clement and all IPFA family