Dieu est prévoyant ~ God is prepared for everything

Christmas Eve

Luc 1. 67-79                           Luke 1.67-79                           

2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8-11, 16       2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8-11, 16

Psaumes 89. 2, 19-27             Psalm 89. 2, 19-27                 

Actes 13. 16-26                          Acts 13. 16-26                           

Lorsque Dieu voyait que son peuple était égalé, IL a passé le message à son prophète Malachie (livre Malachie 3)

« Voici, j’enverrai mon messager, il préparera le chemin devant moi, et le Seigneur entrera dans son temple, le Seigneur que vous cherchez, et le messager de l’alliance que vous désirez, voici, il vient. »

Selon le livre de Luc, chapitre 1 : 67-79

Qui étaient Zacharie et Élisabeth !

« Les deux étaient justes, aux yeux de Dieu, et observaient tous les commandements et toutes les lois de façon irréprochable. »

Quels bon choix qu’ils ont fait, Dieu les a bénis à cause de leurs bons œuvres, lorsque tu te mêles dans les choses de Dieu, Il se mêle aussi dans tes plans !

Élisabeth était stérile, et un jour que Zacharie assurait son service devant Dieu, l’ange Gabriel lui apparut et lui dit :

N’ayez pas peur Zacharie, car Dieu a entendu ta prière, Élisabeth te donnera un fils,

Tu l’appelleras Jean, le nom signifie : Dieu a pardonné !il sera grand devant le Seigneur, il sera rempli d’Esprit Saint dès le sein de sa mère, et il ramènera plusieurs des fils d’Israël au Seigneur !

 Seigneur a été bon pour Zacharie et Elizabeth, et a effacé ce qui faisait leur honte aux yeux de tous.

Luc chapitre 1 :26

L’ange Gabriel a apparu à Marie, et lui dit :

Réjouis toi à qui Dieu a accordé sa faveur «  le Seigneur est avec toi »

Tu mettras au monde un fils que tu donneras le nom de Jésus qui signifie : Sauveur, il sera grand, il sera appelé fis du très haut, il régnera éternellement !

Quelle bénédiction d’être avec le Seigneur !

Ne vous trompez pas, Dieu n’entre pas dans les cœurs impurs, il  a envoyé le Sauveur, pour nous sauver de nos péchés, mais nos caractères ne nous permettent d’accueillir le Sauveur, nos cœurs sont remplies des idoles de ce monde (argent, richesse, égoïsme etc. ….)

Préparons le chemin de l’Eternel, en lavant nos cœurs de toutes nos idoles !

Accueillons Jésus dans nos cœurs, demandons lui de nous purifie, et de diriger nos pas, nos pensées, enfin que l’amour règne dans la famille de Dieu !

Dieu est amour, ayons l’amour qui vient de notre Dieu très différent de l’amour des païens, ils aiment et ils haïssent, si tu fais les deux, tu n’es pas l’enfant de Dieu, puisque la parole de Dieu nous demande d’aimer même nos ennemis. AMEN

Frieda Mukanyangezi   

I will come

Malachi 3.1-4, 4.5-end       Malachi 3.1-4, 4.5-fin

Psalm 25.3-9                           Psaume 23.3-9

2 Peter 2.4-end                       2 Pierre 2.4-fin

Matthew 19.16-end               Matthieu 19.16- fin

So ends the last book of the Old Testament. The one we desire, delight in, dearly love, is coming!

But what is this: “I will come and strike the land with a curse”? Why such warnings: “Who will endure the day of his coming”? Why, in the last book of the New Testament too, such sadness: “all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him” (Rev 1:7)?

The context answers: it is because love is “preparing the way”, “turning the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers”, so that this curse of a self-obsessed society can be stopped and His beloved people can be refined like gold and silver. Then their life offerings will be acceptable, pleasing, a delight to his eyes.

When his name is hallowed, when hearts and societies are truly his (3:16), he promises to “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (3:10). “They will be mine,” he says, “my treasured possession” (3:17).

When his name is hallowed, the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in his wings, and all the terror, the dashed hopes, the helplessness, will melt away like the morning dew. Then his now so restrained people will suddenly “go out and leap like calves released from the stall” (4:2).

And his own words say it most clearly of all, for they speak most directly to the context. People will “faint from terror” because of all the terrible things happening on earth, but then they will see him coming “with power and great glory”. So “when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-27)

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” he says. “Trust in God, trust also in me.” “I am going to prepare a place for you… and I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am”. (John 14:1-3)

“I am coming soon,” he promises to the end. “Amen, come Lord Jesus!” is the reply (Rev 22:21).So ends the Bible. The one we so desire, so delight in, so dearly love, is coming!

James Pitts

Let God…

Psalm113                  Psaumes 113

1 Samuel 1.24-28     1 Samuel 1.24-28

2 Peter 1.16-2.3        2 Pierre 1.16-2.3

Luke 1.46-55              Luc 1.46-55 

 Psalm 113: 7-9, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people; he settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children”.

As I sit on my comfortable couch on a cold November evening, I correspond via online translators with a wonderful Syrian mother who I have developed the most unlikely friendship with this fall, as the tremors of the migration crisis reach Belgium’s borders.

“How can I help her? But, God, I only have one bed in my apartment! What if she needs to stay longer than just a few days?” These questions seem to swirl all around me. And suddenly, in the midst of the questions, fear and worry, I am embraced by a still small voice, whispering, “Bailey, I am still I am. I am still the first and the last, I am still Emmanuel!”

For as long as humans have walked this Earth, I know there have been those in need. But more importantly, as long as humans have walked this Earth, there has also been a God who cares, a God who does not merely watch us from afar, but a God who intervenes and intentionally acts to help His people!

I know I don’t know how to fix everything for my sweet Syrian friend, and Praise God for reminding us that we don’t have to, nor can we fix all of the problems of this world. I praise Him, our Emmanuel, that He is the one who raises, lifts and helps us in our time of need. Tonight, I will attempt to loosen my grasp for control and try to trust Him for the good, present, powerful God He is.

Bailey Douqué

THANKS!

Psalm 33                        Psaumes 33

Zephaniah 3.14 - 18    Sophonie   3.14 - 18

2 Peter 1.1-15               2 Pierre 1.1-15

Matthew 19.-12            Matthieu 19.1-13 

Rejoice! Thank God! Thank him that what he says is true. Thank God that we can count on him. Thank God that his will and plans will never change, they will become reality for all of us. We are waiting for him, we keep hoping, he will help and protect us. Our hearts leap for joy, because we trust him. Thank God!

Depending on the day, I might either agree with this thankful attitude or think that the psalmist is joyfully exaggerating. It all sounds all great, but is it really true? Is God really at work in our lives? And how to understand the cruelties that happen around us?

We struggle.

How do we react? What to say to ourselves and others when we sense fear? Where does our hope come from? Who do we trust? Is there a way to transform fear into gratitude? How does that work? The answer to this question will be a cure for many. What is it, God is doing?

Thanking God in all circumstances is an inspiring idea, but it seems to go beyond our capacities. We need help.

Perhaps we want to take up the challenge and reflect on what we are really grateful for? Or even create new habits of thanking and rejoicing. It might turn out be life changing.

Harm de Jonge

Anticipating Jesus

Sunday 20^th December  Fourth Sunday of Advent

Hebrews10.5-10                                Hébreux 10.5-10

Micah 5.2-5a                                          Michée 5.2-5a

Luke 1:46-55 (as canticile)               Luc 1:46-55 

Luke 1.39 - 45                                        Luc 1.39-45

Advent is both a season of anticipation and taking stock. A season to prepare celebrating Jesus’ first coming, while we reflect on our lives in the light of his return. Not an easy task with all the busyness swirling around us, pregnant with anticipation of other things, yet often short of reflection of any sort. 

It is wonderful to study the Scriptures this season to meditate how they anticipate Jesus. There is a clear sense that the whole of the Old Testament is anticipating Jesus as Christ (cf. Luke 24: 27 and 44!). In Hebrews 10:5-10, words from Psalm 40 penned down by King David, are applied to his greater son Jesus: ‘When Christ came into the world he said…’. What a profound reading! ‘…but a body have you prepared for me’ (vs. 5). ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book’ (vs. 7 and 9). 

If we feel any fear or trepidation thinking about Jesus’ return, we can be thankful that Jesus offered his body which 'was prepared for him' as a perfect sacrifice. Jesus lived the perfect life, died the perfect death, in order to live and rule forever. It is only because of that, that we can live lives that bring glory and joy to God: 'And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all' (vs. 10). Thank you Lord Jesus! Please come and take your place!

Paul Vrolijk

Hello Angel

Luke1.5-25                           Luc 1.5-25

Judges 13.2-7, 24-end        Juges 13.2-7, 24-fin 

Psalm 71.3-8                         Psaumes 71.3-8

Jude                                          Jude 

What would you do if you met an angel?  Would you say hello?  Would you believe it really was an angel?  I imagine that for most of us we would be like Zechariah, not believing, questioning.  For Zechariah, God was someone to be obeyed - he and Elizabeth were 'upright in the sight of God'.  I don’t suppose he ever imagined that God would speak to him directly or have a specific plan for him and his wife - a plan that seemed impossible.  But God had other ideas..  God ran counter-culturally to the human understanding and nature of God at the time and showed Zechariah, through the words of the angel Gabriel, that God had a specific role and purpose for Zechariah; to be the father of the great prophet John the Baptist.

God has a specific role and purpose in mind for all of us.  Zechariah was struck dumb with disbelief at the idea of it.  Perhaps we are not struck dumb but we can be dismissive of any sense of a calling or God-given purpose, believing we are not good enough, smart enough, holy enough.  Yet throughout the history of the Bible, and indeed, the history of humanity, God has used the most unusual people to carry out His will on earth.  Perhaps the most unusual was that little baby in a manger, the least of humanity, who became the saviour of the world.  Christ had a purpose - to live and teach among us as both God and man, dying as a sacrifice for us on the cross and reconciling us to God.  None of us can have such a purpose - but perhaps God is speaking to you this advent about some purpose in your life?  Perhaps you can be inspired to search for what God is calling you to as we celebrate advent and prepare for the coming of Christ.

Heather Roy

Marvellous Deeds

Psalm 72                     Psaumes 72

Jeremiah 23. 5-8        Jérémie 23.5-8

2 Thessalonians 3     2 Thessaloniciens 3

Matthew 1.18-24       Matthieu 1.18-24

This prayer for the king sounds familiar, doesn’t it? We still pray exactly the same for our leaders. Thousands of years after it was written, the need for them to be endowed with righteousness and justice is as immediate as ever. For me, this makes Psalm 72 a struggle to read. The needy, the afflicted, the weak remain in just as much need of deliverance now as then, and where are the “marvellous deeds” of our God?

Psalm 72 was written either by Solomon himself, or by David – towards the end of his life – for his son.  So it seems to me a call not only “outwards” to our leaders, or “upwards” to our God, the true king of righteousness and justice, but also “inwards” towards ourselves.  We are God’s people, and his marvellous deeds are revealed through ours. Our heart’s despair that this prayer still needs praying, is in his also.

May WE deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no-one to help.

And may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

Wij bidden nu zoals duizenden jaren geleden voor gerechtigheid, rechtvaardigheid en genade. Niet alleen onze leiders maar ook wij werken mee aan de wonderbaarlijke verlossing van God.

Jo Homberg

The scandal of Advent ~ What was Matthew thinking?

Matthew1.1-17           Matthieu 1.1-17

Genesis 49.2, 8-10        Genèse 49.2, 8-10

Psalm 72. 1-5, 18-19     Psaumes 72. 1-5, 18-19

2 Thessalonians 2          2 Thessaloniciens 2

Mark didn’t care about Jesus’ pedigree. John talks about Christ’s role before and in creation. Luke (3:23-38) links Jesus through a clean patrilineal succession to the Davidic dynasty, the tribe of Judah, the house of Jacob (Israel), and through Adam all the way to God. That’s as good a pedigree as you can get.

But what does Matthew do? He punctures Luke’s neat, all-male genealogy with four women from the Old Testament. And what kind of women!  Matthew refers his readers to a number of Biblical stories that have caused headaches for Sunday school teachers ever since.

First, Matthew refers to Tamar, whose story in Genesis 38 provides one of the most puzzling Biblical treatments of sexual, conjugal and family ethics. Then, he mentions the Canaanite prostitute Rahab (Joshua 2). Interpreters throughout the centuries have marvelled why the first Israelites entering the Promised Land went straight to a brothel. Ruth appears to be a more traditional role model in terms of “family values.” However, she was a Moabite. In the Hebrew tradition, the origin of Moab is linked to alcoholic excess and incest (Genesis 19).  In Ezra and Nehemiah, marriages to Moabite women are denounced as a sin against the God of Israel (Ezra 9-10).

Finally, Mathew refers to a mother whose name he feels needs no mention: “the wife of Uriah” (another foreigner: a Hittite.  Her son’s continued attraction to Hittite women is a cause of God’s wrath and the downfall of the Davidic dynasty (1 Kings 11). Bathsheba’s story is remembered as a dark stain on the reputation of King David, and a question mark over the legitimacy of his son Solomon.

So what is Matthew’s intention when he “peppers” Jesus’ genealogy with references to scandalous Biblical narratives that would seem to cause embarrassment rather than pride to the followers of this new king, the Christ? Why does Matthew put “scandal” at the beginning of his Advent story?

In all four gospels, Jesus is explicit about the scandal he is causing (e.g. Lk 7:23 or Jn 6:61). His gospel is and remains a slap in the face of the morally pure (the Pharisees and their followers), the ritually pure (the Sadducees and the other beneficiaries of the Temple economy), and the ethnically pure (the Zealots and their fellow nationalists). Paul takes this up and develops it almost into a “theology of scandal” (Rom 9:32ff; 1 Co 1:23; Gal 5:11). So does Peter (1 Pe 2:8).

For us, Matthew’s genealogy may serve as a healthy reminder that amidst all the candle-lit sweetness of our Advent traditions we do not lose sight of the scandal of the incarnation, the shocking ways by which God breaks into history and is present in the messiness of human life.                                  Anonymous 

Finding peace and respect

                  Tuesday 15^th December

1 Thessalonians 5.12-end   

             1 Thessaloniciens  5.12- fin

Zephaniah 3.1-2, 9-13    

              Sophonie 3.1-2, 9-13

Psalm 34.1-6, 21-22       

              Psaumes  34.1-6, 21-22

Matthew 21.28-32           

           Matthieu 21.28-32

This passage really struck me especially after the atrocities of the Paris attacks as it mentions not to get into revenge attacks and that we need to be kind and generous with everyone, not only Christians, but absolutely everyone. We also need to hold on to the good and not be swayed by the evil all around us. The Holy Spirit within us is like a pilot light, which must never be extinguished and will rub off on all the people around us. We need to never lose contact with God, but always stay strong in Him no matter how hard life around us is. There will always be a light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. In the end we will be grateful for the life God has put before us and the people we meet along the way. God will remove all the pollution from our life to make us pure again. Let’s strive to spread His great Word to everyone. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Jenny Freeman

What are the signs that Jesus is the Christ?

Luke 7.18b-23                          Luc 7.18b-23           Lukas 7.18b-23

Isaiah 45.6b-8, 18, 21b-end    Esaie  45.6b-8, 18, 21b-fin

Psalm 85. 7- end                         Psaumes 85. 7- fin

2 Thessalonians 1                      2 Thessaloniciens 1

 As I push forward to find my way

I invent myself, I fulfil my Self

But it’s not about that

As I tick off my list the things I’ve accomplished

Satisfaction grips me at last, at last!

But it’s not about that

It’s the small, it’s the weak

It’s the poor and the meek

Whoever seems beyond saving?

That’s where the Christ is found

As I scroll down that mighty screen

Successes of Others flash before my eyes

But it’s not about that

As we look for a King, a mighty ruler

We wait for the grand, we hope for the great

But it’s not about that

With the pathetic, with the lost

with the dying, the forgotten ones

That’s where our King is found

and where He hopes to find us

Wat zijn de tekenen dat Jezus de Christus is? Als Hij de verwachtingen van die tijd zou vervullen, zou Hij populair geweest zijn, machtig, invloedrijk, een grote Koning. In plaats daarvan zien we de sporen van de Christus bij de zwakken van de samenleving, aan wie hij medelijden, liefde en genezing brengt. Daar ligt Zijn hart, daar is het zwaartepunt van Zijn missie. Wij mogen hierin zijn voorbeeld volgen.

Sara Mäkipää

God’s power in us

Monday 14^th December

Numbers 24.2-7, 15-17

   Nombres 24.2-7, 15-17

Psalm 25.3-8     

    Psaumes 25.3-8

1 Thessalonians 5.1-11

   1 Thessaloniciens 5.1-11

Matthew 21.23-27

   Matthieu 21.23-27

Described as one of most remarkable parts of the Bible in my commentary, this passage from Numbers recounts the international pagan diviner Balaam's "conversion" through a manifestation of God's spirit.

Balaam was meant to be cursing Israel, but he can't help doing the opposite and instead blesses Israel as God's dwelling place.

His language is extravagant, as he is taken out of himself by a supernatural experience of God.

I am reminded of St Paul who does what he doesn't want to do, and doesn't do what he does want to do - although the tables are turned in the case of Balaam. While Paul is fighting the parts of himself that are ungodly, Balaam is welcoming his godly self to supersede his erstwhile pagan self.

The learning for us today is that God can surprise us with manifestations of the Holy Spirit in our lives in new ways not so far experienced. We should not be afraid of this, but welcome the experience as a fresh means of empowerment to do God's work and live in His strength.

L'exemple de Balaam, le devin païen devenu glorificateur de Dieu, nous montre la puissance surnaturel du saint esprit de changer une malédiction en bénédiction, et d'habiliter le chrétien dans le service de Dieu.

Sue Bird

Praise the Lord

Sunday 13^th December

Isaiah 12.2-end,  Zephaniah 3.14-end, Philippians 4.4-7,  Luke 3. 7-18

Esaie 12.2-fin,      Sophonie  3.14-fin,     Philippiens 4.4-7,  Luc 3.7-18

The Holy One is among you. The Lord is near. These words echo in each passage for today. In them, there is the fulfillment of many promises, promises going back to Abraham, and even to Adam, who walked in the garden in the cool of the evening with God. And now again, God is coming near, God is abiding with His people. This is the promise of Advent; this is miracle of Christmas: God came near and was among us. How should we react? How should we respond to the nearing presence of God?

Our readings suggest a few responses, each appropriate in the right context and for the right reasons: (1) we rejoice, that is, we praise God for His faithfulness, for the redemption the coming of God brings; (2) we acknowledge and abide in the peace of God that comes with the presence of God; and (3) we must change our ways to align with the character of God, who loves mercy and upholds justice.

As we think about our context, our situation in Brussels today, how are we being called to respond? How are you personally called to respond to the coming near of God, to the Lord being at hand? Is it rejoicing in the fact that the liberating love of God has set us free from sin and death? Is it abiding in the knowledge of peace and so being freed from anxiety and from fear that seems to plague modern society? Or you do also need to change some of attitudes and actions -- knowing that God is coming near, why do we participate in systems of greed and exploitation? How can we change?

May each of us this Advent know the coming near of God, the Holy One, who is to be praised, whose peace is to be present, and who calls us to be more like His Son, Christ Jesus. And may we respond with our whole selves: heart, mind, soul and strength.

Jeremy Heuslein

Catching -up

Saturday 12^th December            

1Thessalonians 4.13-end          1Thessaloniciens 4.13-fin

Psalm 80. 1-4, 18-19                        Psaumes 80. 1-4, 18-19

2 Kings 2.9-12                                   2 Rois 2.9-12

Matthew 17.10-13                            Matthieu 17.10-13

The apostle Paul speaks of the ‘catching up’ of the saints into the air, popularly called the Rapture (=seizing up) of the church. The Rapture is sometimes dismissed as a modern or extremist idea. But that is hardly so. Paul is one of many who testify to it. The Lord Jesus speaks of his elect being gathered ‘from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other’ (Matt. 24.31). The apostle John speaks of two witnesses being caught up to heaven in a cloud (Rev. 11.12). These witnesses, following Moses’ legislation that the testimony of two witnesses is reliable, represent the faithful witness of the church, or part of it. The Apocalypse of Ezra, dating from the late first century, says: ‘The men who have been caught up, who have not tasted death from their birth, shall appear. Then shall the heart of the inhabitants [of the world] be changed and converted to a different spirit’ (4 Ezra 6.26)

The same theme appears in Jewish documents written before the New Testament. The Wisdom of Solomon speaks of the righteous reappearing from heaven, which implies that they had first been caught up there (3.1–9). And the second book of the Sibylline Oracles says: ‘The catching-up is near when some deceivers, in place of prophets, approach, speaking on earth’ (2.165–66).

The theme can be traced back to the Old Testament. It is taught, by example, in the catching-up of Enoch and Elijah (Gen. 5.24; 2 Kgs 2.9–12). And it is spoken of by the Sons of Korah, who foresaw the resurrected dead being caught up: ‘God will redeem my soul from Sheol, for he will catch me up’ (Ps. 49.15; cf. 1 Thess. 4.16–17).

Therefore the Rapture of the church is not some new Pentecostal doctrine. It is a clearly- taught lesson of biblical prophecy. It will take place when the Lord returns (Matt. 24.31; 1 Thess. 4.16–17). Some of the above passages imply that there will be a period of time between the catching-up and the reappearing of the Lord with his holy ones in judgement.

David Mitchell