Windows On The Soul

In this past week, we have heard the trumpet call to remembrance of the Armistice and of the men and women who gave their lives in the defense of our country. Trumpets played a prominent role in Old Testament life. In rural civil life, it sounded the alarm of impending attack, calling the people together to close ranks, with a common purpose of defense. In religious life, the silver trumpet (shofar) announced special assemblies, feasts and holy days. Then in the month of ‘Tishri’ (October), a rams horn ‘shofar’ was blown to announce the ‘new year’ and to summon the nation to a week of spiritual preparation for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The ram’s horn was a reminder of God’s provision of the substitutionary lamb for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac ( Gen.22 ). The week of preparation involves self-examination, repentance and putting-right, but it is God who provides “atonement” (wiping out of the debt). In the New Testament, the trumpet is rarely mentioned. T...

"I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him" - Forrest Gump Jesus said, " Blessed are those who know their need of God (the poor in spirit) for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" . Our directives are to first seek the Kingdom of God, to make disciples (students, learners), to be open to receive the Holy Spirit. I pray that this New Year will be a year for us individually and as a Church, to be true "seekers after God". And that our witness to the community will be to awaken people to realise that the "hole" in their life is "God shaped", and to discover their need for Him. ----xxxXxxx---- Deu.4:29 "If you seek the Lord your God, you shall find Him" 2Chr.7:14 " If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face..." Prov.8:17 "Those that seek me early shall find me" Lk.11:9 "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and...

We often speak of the principal roles of Jesus in His worldly ministry as those of "Prophet, Priest and King".  But Jesus never used these words directly. In His wonderful way with words, Jesus described His roles in active form.  He said, "I am the way (priest), the truth (prophet) and life (king)". The only way to eternal life, is through Christ's priestly work of intercession and the sin-offering of His life. As prophet he came to teach, to proclaim God's word, to lead us into all truth. In His resurrected kingly splendour, he is the first-fruit, the guarantee of our hope of eternal life, and sustainer of all life. In this season remembering His incarnation, meditate on these reasons for His coming. ----xxxXxxx---- Jn.14:6 "I am the way the truth and life: no-one comes to the father but by me" Jn.8:2 "All the people gathered round Him and He sat down to teach them" Jn.1:1 "Before the world was created, ...