Trust, Believe, Obey

Genesis 41.46 - 42.5      Genèse 41.46- 42.5

Psalm 44            Galatians 4.8-20     John 5.19- 29
Psaumes 44        Galates  4.8-20       Jean 5.19- 29

In a stable, democratic country like Belgium we are encouraged to argue and debate our points of view to try and get our own opinions across. We often have difficulty in understanding the concept of God as an absolute Ruler.

Yet Joseph demonstrated his complete trust and faith in God. God’s plan for Joseph included years spent as a slave and a prisoner. During this time Joseph remained steadfast in his faith. He accepted God’s plan for his life - a plan that eventually resulted in him being given the highest position of power in ancient Egypt which enabled him to save his family.

We cannot argue or debate with God. If He truly is the Lord of our lives and we really want to be His disciples, we must say ‘Yes’ when He calls us to do something. Saying ‘No’ is not an option. When we want something, or when He wants us for a particular calling, we cannot argue or debate with Him. Sometimes, in His wisdom and supreme plan for us all, God’s answer to our prayers may be ‘No’ or ‘Not yet’. Like Joseph, our response must be to trust, believe and obey. God’s plan for us will always reveal His love and faithfulness for us.

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Pour embrasser la volonté et le maître-plan de Dieu.

Lin & Dave Harding

Unending Grace

Galatians 3.23–4.7      Galates  3.23–4.7

This excerpt from Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a reminder to us of God’s unending grace and the freedom our faith brings us from law and rules. Paul is quick to remind the Galatians in the preceding verses to this passage that the gift of Christ’s death and our own salvation does not oppose the law,
but that with faith and grace law can be approached from a different perspective.

When we live in Christ, we can recognise the freedom that comes from God’s grace. Paul tells the Galatians in 3.22 that “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners...locked up until faith should be revealed.”

The law served to lead us to Christ, he adds. This could be a reminder that if we don’t have faith, but live according to rules and commandments set out in the Bible and accepted by society today, such as “do to others as you would have them do to you,” we’re likely to be led closer and closer to Jesus, until a spark of faith perhaps encourages us to take a final step and bring us into relationship with God.

Once that step is taken, we are all equal and we are all free, to live as one in God, Paul says. In 3.25, Paul writes, “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” Instead, we are guided through grace, and that heavenly grace becomes our focal point - not the law.

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Grace à notre foi en Dieu, nous sommes libérés des règles et des lois. Nous sommes libres de vivre dans la grâce, avec Dieu.

Laurel Henning

Sunday 14th February, First Sunday in Lent

Luke 4.11-13      Luc 4.11-13 

What a hard lesson Jesus had to learn at the beginning of His public ministry. First He had to

What a hard lesson Jesus had to learn at the beginning of His public ministry. First He had to

submit to baptism by His cousin John (Luke 3:21), even though He had nothing wrong to repent

submit to baptism by His cousin John (Luke 3:21), even though He had nothing wrong to repent

of. St Matthew records that John actually protested that it would be

of. St Matthew records that John actually protested that it would be more appropriate for

Jesus to baptize him (Matthew 3:14/15). After the baptism and in front of a huge crowd He

Jesus to baptize him (Matthew 3:14/15). After the baptism and in front of a huge crowd He

gets the ringing endorsement from God the Father in a loud voice coming from the heavens

gets the ringing endorsement from God the Father in a loud voice coming from the heavens

‘You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well please

You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.’ Surely that would have been the

perfect moment, when He had everyone’s attention, to start His preaching ministry and how

perfect moment, when He had everyone’s attention, to start His preaching ministry and how

many thousands might have eagerly responded to His message all in one go. But no, what

many thousands might have eagerly responded to His message all in one go. But no, what

actually happens is that the Holy Spirit leads Him away from the Jordan and into the desert

an empty desert with nobody there – except the devil. The three sample temptations that are

recorded for us in the Gospels all revolve around things that He might use to enhance the

recorded for us in the Gospels all revolve around things that He might use to enhance the

credibility of His ministry. Did He want to become famous as a philanthropist turning stones

into bread, a potentate using political power to get a following or a celebrity gaining popularity

into bread, a potentate using political power to get a following or a celebrity gaining popularity

by jumping off a high tower and miraculously surviving? We see Jesus rejecting each of

by jumping off a high tower and miraculously surviving? We see Jesus rejecting each of these

temptations in turn using words of Scripture to confound the devil. Instead He had to become a

temptations in turn using words of Scripture to confound the devil. Instead He had to become a

servant leader. Later in His ministry He would wash His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper to tell

servant leader. Later in His ministry He would wash His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper to tell

them that they too should resist these temptations and follow His example of humble service

them that they too should resist these temptations and

(John 13:12-17).

Quelle dure leçon que Jésus avait à apprendre au début de son ministère public. Il avait d'abord

Quelle dure leçon que Jésus avait à apprendre au début de son ministère public. Il avait d'abord

se soumettre au baptême par son cousin John (Luc 03:21), bien qu'il ait rien de mal pour se

se soumettre au baptême par son cousin John (Luc 03:21), bien qu'il ait rien de mal pour se

repentir. St Matthieu rapporte que John effectivement protesté qu'il serait plus approprié pour

Matthieu rapporte que John effectivement protesté qu'il serait plus approprié pour

Jésus de le baptiser (Matthieu 3: 14/15). Après le baptême et devant une foule immense, il

Jésus de le baptiser (Matthieu 3: 14/15). Après le baptême et devant une foule immense, il

obtient l'approbation enthousiaste de Dieu le Père à haute voix venant des cieux : « Tu es mon

obtient l'approbation enthousiaste de Dieu le Père à haute voix venant des cieux

Fils bien-aimé, avec vous je suis bien heureux. »

aimé, avec vous je suis bien heureux. » Certes, cela aurait été le moment parfait,

quand il avait l'attention de tout le monde, à commencer son ministère de prédication et

quand il avait l'attention de tout le monde, à commencer son ministère de prédication et

combien de milliers auraient vivement répondu à son message en une seule fois. Mais non, ce

combien de milliers auraient vivement répondu à son message e

qui se passe réellement est que le Saint-Esprit le conduit loin de la Jordanie et vers le désert

un désert vide avec personne là - sauf le diable. Les trois tentations échantillons qui nous sont

rapportées dans les Évangiles tournent autour de choses qu'il pourrait utiliser pour renforcer la

crédibilité de son ministère. Voulait-il devenu célèbre comme un philanthrope en tournant les

pierres en pain, un potentat en utilisant le pouvoir politique pour obtenir une suite ou une

pierres en pain, un potentat en utilisant le pouvoir politique pour obtenir une suite ou une

célébrité gagne en popularité en sautant une haute tour et miraculeusement survivant? Nous

célébrité gagne en popularité en sautant une haute tour et miraculeusement survivant? Nous

voyons Jésus rejet de chacun de ces tentations à son tour en utilisant des mots de l'Écriture

voyons Jésus rejet de chacun de ces tentations à son tour en utilisant des mots de l'Écriture

pour confondre le diable. Au lieu de cela, il a dû devenir un leader serviteur. Plus tard dans son

pour confondre le diable. Au lieu de cela, il a dû devenir un leader s

ministère, il serait laver les pieds de ses disciples à la dernière Cène pour leur dire qu'ils doivent

ministère, il serait laver les pieds de ses disciples à la dernière Cène pour leur dire qu'ils doivent

aussi résister à ces tentations et de suivre son exemple d'humble service (Jean 13: 12

aussi résister à ces tentations et de suivre son exemple d'humble service (Jean 13: 12-17).

David Fieldsend

, First Sunday in Lent

CELEBRITY OR SERVICE?

CELEBRITY OR SERVICE?

ads Him away from the Jordan and into the desert –

except the devil. The three sample temptations that are

stry. Did He want to become famous as a philanthropist turning stones

sauf le diable. Les trois tentations échantillons qui nous sont

tournent autour de choses qu'il pourrait utiliser pour renforcer la

Esprit le conduit loin de la Jordanie et vers le désert -

il devenu célèbre comme un philanthrope en tournant les

Faith: with or without signs?

John 4;43- end    Jean 4.43 - fin,    Johannes 4. 43 - 54

Psalm 71          Genesis 41.1-24       Galatians 3. 15 - 24
Psaumes 71      Genèse   41. 1-24     Galates    3.15-  24

Many of the personal encounters people had with Jesus Christ during his active ministry were requests for him to do something. Starting with his own mother requesting more wine at a wedding and progressing all the way to raising someone from the dead, people asked Jesus to help them. Some who observed his miracles took them as signs of his personal power. Others realized the truth of his divinity. For many, their faith grew only because of his “signs”.  Jesus clearly wanted faith to be based on more than the visible. He wanted faith to be an integral part of our relationship with God.

When a royal official in Galilee heard that Jesus was in the area, he begged him to heal his dying son in Capernaum. Jesus said “Your son will live.” As this was spoken, the son became better. As a result, the official and all his household believed.

Do we look for signs before we have faith?  Could it not be enough for us to just believe and trust that God has a plan for us? In Lent we reflect on many things, both positive and negative. Faith in God, be it easy or complicated, is what Christ most wants for us. With or without signs, faith will bring us home.

Christus roept ons op om geloof te hebben, met of zonder wonderen.

Laura Buckner

Morning Mercy

Friday 12th February

Psalm 3      Psaumes 3

Genesis 40       Galatians 3. 1-14     John 4. 27-42
Genèse 40        Galates    3. 1-14     Jean 4. 27- 42 

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.” Psalm 3:5
<<Je me couche et m'endors l'esprit serin; je me réveille en pax car l'Eternal est mon soutien.>> Psaumes 3. 6

Morning Mercy

A friendly elderly man stepped into my taxi, about ten years ago in Holland. We had a long conversation during the ride, most of which has settled itself in the unretrievable depths of memory. However, one thing he said stood out and I still remember it now. He said, “Your generation is very different from mine. What we have been through, during the war, you cannot comprehend. You young people have all the comforts you need and will never feel what it is like to live in real hunger and fear, as we did, on this very soil.” He said these things kindly, without any bitterness. This thought, of what horrors took place in my own country not all that long ago, has become something I carry with me. And sometimes it hits me: I am alive! My loved ones are alive. I lay down last night to submit myself to dark unconsciousness for another night, and yet here I am again, awake, alive and well. This is pure grace. He who set my heart to the beat of his love keeps it beating. And beating and beating and beating. Every day that we live in safety, every day that is added unto our lives, whether young or old, is pure blessing. Let’s stop and thank the Giver of life for this great mercy. 

Morning mercy.

Sara Mäkipää

Hope in the Lord

Psalm 77 

Psaumes 77

Genesis 39, Galatians 2.11- end, John 4.1-26
Genèse 39   Galates 2.11- fin, Jean 4.1-26

If you have ever felt desperate or hopeless, and have struggled to find the Lord there, verses 1 to 9 may feel very familiar to you. During these times, trusting in God and his deliverance can be extremely difficult. It is a spiritual movement that simply requires great effort: “my spirit made
a diligent search” (v6).

Faith is a spiritual movement that is asked of all Christians. It is hard and there is no getting around it. In the same way that running can only be achieved by running; faith can only be achieved by faith. However, just as running can be helped by remembering the good reasons for doing it – so can faith be helped.

The Psalmist resolves to have faith for these reasons: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord(v11)... Your way, O God, is Holy (v13)... You are the God who works wonders (v14)... When the waters saw you they were afraid; indeed the deep trembled (v16)... you led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (v20)

Our Father delivered Israel from Egypt. Our Father raised Jesus from the dead. In short: He is completely good and completely powerful.... which is an utterly formidable combination.

Notre espoir est dans la bonté et la puissance de notre Pere.

Jonathan de Leyser

Ash Wednesday ~ Time for a change of heart

Joel 2.1-2,12-17; Psalm 51.1-18

If you go to a church service today you will be invited to the observance of a

holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-
denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word. That might sound

a bit daunting, but the idea is that we take to heart the call to repentance and

the assurance of forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and so grow in faith

and in devotion to our Lord.

In the book of Joel, God had declared to his people that they should return to

him with all their heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Joel called

on them to rend their hearts and not their garments.

We may choose to give something up for Lent, or take on something new or

extra, which is great. But the most important thing is what happens in our

hearts. God wants us to return to him and we can do so without fear because

he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

With the psalmist we can pray - create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew

a steadfast spirit within me.

« Déchirez vos cœurs et non vos vêtements, et revenez à l’Eternel, votre Dieu;

car il est compatissant et miséricordieux, lent à la colère et riche en bonté. »

Par le carême Dieu nous appelle à un renouvellement de cœur, pas

seulement un changement d’activités. Il nous donne sa miséricorde pour nous

assurer de son accueil.

Avec le psalmiste nous pouvons prier - O Dieu ! Crée en moi un cœur pur,

renouvelle en moi un esprit bien disposé.

Susie Wilkinson

Time for a change of heart