Wednesday 30th November

Revelation 21:1–8

Apocalypse 21: 1-8

Something new...

Quelque chose de novelle

We all know how we feel when we buy something new. Deep within, we feel pleased that we found exactly what we were looking for.

Take a coat for example. Sometimes we find it hard to part with a coat we've had for a long time. It's comfortable, familiar to us and most probably has a lot of memories to go along with it. Ultimately we know that we can't go on wearing a coat that has numerous holes, rips and falling apart at the seams. So we need to make the effort to search for a new one that will keep us warm and be exactly what we need. When we have found the perfect one, we feel fortunate and blessed and look forward to wearing it.
The theme throughout this first section in Revelation 21 is newness. John envisions a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. All the old things have passed away and God is making everything new. He wants us to be reassured that all His promises are true and trustworthy. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that if we are in Christ, we are a new creation and that the old has gone and the new has come.

We all look forward to acquiring something NEW in our day to day living. Therefore, so much more should we anticipate a newness within our own hearts. As the dictionary definition puts it, "a rejuvenation, changed for the better". May we all wait expectantly as we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Nativity at Christmas and be ready to receive the NEW that God has for us in our own lives.

Si quelqu'un est en Christ, il est une nouvelle créature. Les choses anciennes sont passées; voici, toutes choses sont devenues nouvelles.

Priscilla Stairs

Tuesday 29th November

Matthew 12

Mattieu 12

Think for a moment

Pensez pour un instant

When I read this text I can imagine Jesus’ exasperated thoughts towards his fellow, unthinking men. He has just done something so miraculous it should open people’s eyes to the Kingdom – he has restored both sight and voice to a man who had none. Rather than give thanks for this good act and turn to follow Jesus, the Pharisees shout this is further ‘proof’ that Jesus is working for Satan. To make matters worse, the Pharisees are also leaders in the community. Jesus responds by teaching the crowd but also pointing to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and warning them that with their words they are in spiritual danger – not of criticising Jesus as a man – but of criticising the Spirit of God.

This text reminded me how easy it is to criticise others by using words and spreading rumours in order to build up or justify ourselves, especially when we feel threatened. Instead, we should speak from the good in our heart and not out of fear of our status before speaking about other people.

Ce texte m'a rappelé combien il est facile de critiquer les autres en utilisant des mots et de répandre des rumeurs dans le but de construire ou de se justifier, surtout quand nous nous sentons menacés. Au lieu de cela, nous devrions parler de la bonne dans notre cœur et non pas par peur de notre statut avant de parler d'autres personnes.

Petra Zollner

Monday 28th November

Monday 28^th November

Psalm 50

Psaume 50

Bring your friends!

Amenez vos amis!

Often we humans act as if religion was a tool to nurture and keep alive our own personal god, as if He needed our gifts, our sacrifices, our works. After we have sacrificed to him, we think we obtain the right to call on Him in trouble, and his part of the transaction is to help us. Or so we think.

Psalm 50 is a powerful reminder that all the world and everything in it belongs to the Sovereign God. Whatever we try to bring to Him, belongs to Him anyway! So what is the point? “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honours me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” That salvation is Jesus, and His is the feast we start to prepare for. Bring your friends!

Celui qui offre pour sacrifice des actions de grâces me glorifie, Et à celui qui veille sur sa voie Je ferai voir le salut de Dieu. Psaumes 50: 23

Que le salut est Jésus, et Son est la fête nous commençons à préparer. Amenez vos amis!

Arttu Makipaa

Sunday 27th November

Isaiah 2: 1-5

Esaïe 2:1-5

Walk in the Light of God

Marche en la lumière du Dieu

Let us walk in the light of the Lord

Let us walk in the light

Let us walk with the Lord

Let us trust him

He has all prepared

Let there be light

Walk up to the mountain

Listen to his Word

All is prepared: peace, love and his kingdom

Let us trust him

All is prepared

Let us walk…. in the light of the Lord!

See, it is coming!

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Dans le texte du Prophète nous sommes invités à s’éveiller à l’œuvre de Dieu qui s’annonce entre autres en forme de lumière.

Dans ma méditation je témoigne qu’on s’ouvre à l’œuvre de Dieu tel que l’Isaïe l’annonce qui est en cours dans le monde et qui peut prendre forme en nous.

Birte Marianne Day