I read my newspapers to see what men are doing; and read my Bible to see what men ought to do – a Saint of yore.
This week, a football legend died. Edson Arantes dos Nascienmento a.k.a Pele was the King of Football across the world. Yes there other contenders to the throne. But only one reigned supreme in the minds of those who love the beautiful game. Here’s a sample, capturing beautifully a moment in time, written by a New York Times correspondent, of why Pele was regarded as the greatest:
NEW YORK TIMES – RORY SMITH
Carlos Alberto Goal 1970 World Cup Final
Of all the myriad things Pelé did — the thousand-plus goals he scored and the array of records he set and the innumerable, immeasurable moments of wonder he conjured — the one that is the most famous, the most familiar, may also have been the most ordinary, the most mundane.
Pelé’s crowning glory was a pass, one played with a nonchalant ease in the fading minutes of the World Cup final in 1970, a moment of glorious, acoustic simplicity from a player whose name had been made and whose legend had been burnished because of his mastery of the impossibly complex.
The pass itself was not easy because of Pelé’s quick, brilliant mind, or because of his flawless technique, or because of the economy of his movement. It was not a pass that he made look easy. It was, by the standards of those who can breathe in the rarefied air of a World Cup final, a pass that was easy.
Standing a few yards outside Italy’s penalty area, he receives the ball from Jairzinho, darting in from the left. Pelé takes one touch to control it, a second to confirm receipt. He takes a third, idly, as he ponders his next move. At no point does he indicate he is in a hurry. He is essentially stationary throughout.
And then, out of the corner of his eye, he sees Carlos Alberto, his captain, charging forward to his right, a single blast of motion in a world of stillness. He waits a beat. Then he plays the pass, almost with a shrug, gently guiding the ball to the exact spot where Carlos Alberto requires it to be so that he can meet it, at full speed, without breaking stride.
That goal did more than seal Brazil’s victory over Italy in the hot, thin air of Mexico City. It did more than make Pelé the only player in history to win three World Cups. It was the ultimate expression of “o jogo bonito,” the beautiful game, soccer not as sport but as art. It was the goal that, forever more, would make Brazil Brazil.
And yet, other than perhaps his poise and arguably his vision, the pass does not display any of the traits that made Pelé Pelé. It does not showcase what The Times of London once referred to as his “feline” movement. It does not prove the assessment of Bobby Moore, the World Cup-winning England captain, that Pelé had “two good feet, [was] magic in the air, quick, powerful, could beat people with skill, could outrun people.” It does not explain why Franz Beckenbauer regarded him as “the most complete player I ever saw,” or convinced Michel Platini that “to play like Pelé is to play like God.”
THE BIBLE
But as good as Pele was, he was not, never was, and never will be my King. Only one person occupies that spot in my life. Jesus Christ and him crucified for my many sins. And Raised from the dead for my justification – as if I never sinned. And not just for me, but for the whole world. Praise God. It is in this context then that I was led to send emails to my church this week. Inspired by Christ the King, my everything, I give my love to thee.
SUNDAY – MERRY CHRISTMAS
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people; and hath raised up for us, a Mighty Salvation:
This is a morning, more than any other morning – Good Friday, “It is finished,” and Easter, “ He is Risen” call for different songs – for us to sing with Zechariah the father of John the Baptist, the majestic opening lines of The Benedictus.
And as we do so, note that Jesus came to visit, and not to stay. Yes, He lives within us by the power of the Holy Spirit, and Emmanuel, God with us,” will be with us until the end of the ages”, but His physical Presence is no longer with us as He was with John the Baptist and the Apostles. And so we walk by faith and not by sight of the God-Man. And more, for as God inspired Zechariah to charge his son, John the Baptist:
“ And thou child shall be called the Prophet of the Highest”, we who are adopted as sons and daughters of God in Christ, by the Mighty Salvation, are equally “ called out” to “ Give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”:
…we too are called to share and manifest the same message of the Mighty Salvation in this corrupt generation.
Merry Christmas.
In obedience to the God-Man, Jesus who visited at Christmas, and redeemed his people on Calvary. Raised from the dead on Easter. Ascended into heaven. And will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. And reign forever!
The crib, the Cross and the Crown all coming together as One – Father Mike, last night at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church in South Florida. May we all fall on our knees, and surrender our lives completely to this God. Our Savior and our King!
LWJ
MONDAY – PRODUCE FRUITS OF REPENTANCE
His Birth in Me. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that “Christ is formed” in me. And once “Christ is formed” in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me.
Last night, after spending time on Christmas Day, on The Rock ( Jamaica) with my brother and sister’s family, my daughter and her family and linking my son and his family in Miami, before retiring to bed after a long day, I encountered a message from Oswald Chambers; and an extract of which is above.
What’s the key message of Christmas? And of life with a Creator God! That Christ may be formed in me, and you, and all children of God, in every denomination and in every nation.
Which is the same message from Hark the Heralds sing,the strains of which song entered my heart of raising this morning:
……Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more shall die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth. Charles Wesley
And then I recalled how a hymn we sang at church touched my soul, challenged my soul, and gave birth to a prayer, “that Christ might be formed in me”.
Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown
When thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For thy holy Nativity:
Refrain:
O come to my heart Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for thee.
A song which inspired us to invite Jesus to come into out heart. And which prayer ought to be our Daily Bread! That Christ may be formed in me.
In this context, the fourth verse, is very instructive as to why it should be our burning desire, our daily prayer, our minutely plea ” I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee, O bless me now my Savior I come to thee.
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word
That should set thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and a crown of thorn,
They bore thee to Calvary
R.
O come to my heart Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for thee.
The challenge for the church in this hour, on this day after Christmas Day, in this age, is that all the troubles, all the trials this nation and every nation faces, are a direct result of rejecting the gift of The Prince of Peace. Rejecting the Living Word, ”that should set thy people free”. In short with great sophistry, and with a veneer of Christianity being practiced in the Western World, including Jamaica and probably reaching the heights of hypocrisy in the USA, and with open hostility, “ But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn”, Christ is still being carried to Calvary. Rejected and crucified!
The challenge for us, adopted into the family of God, by second birth gifted by grace and by faith to those who humble themselves before this Mighty Savior, is to remain faithful to this God, and with Christ being formed in us daily, like Billy Graham “ bring Christ to the Nations”.
Declare the Gospel, the Truth of God, like John the Baptist, to power, “ to produce fruits of repentance”. Produce Justice in the land. Put an end to corruption. Manifest the Righteousness of God in Governance, in the Business arena, in the Music and the Culture, in the Schools, in the Community and in the Homes where children grow and learn, and in the Church of a Holy God, if we really wish for The Eternal Father to Bless this land: and Guide us with Thy Mighty Hand. Otherwise we are fooling ourselves and definitely not God who knows our hearts, and the secrets of our desires.
Many years ago at my Church, a very discerning preacher posed this question on Easter Sunday. What do we as a church do next? And his answer was most instructive! Go back to Good Friday. In other words, make the Cross the center, the epicenter of our lives. In this context then, Christmas is only the entry point of the Salvation “ the sweet Salvation according to my Pentecostal patient”, Story. And what this nation needs is a Church that points the way to Calvary, and says to a Nation that would call upon the Name of The Living God, “ God Bless Jamaica”, and “ Eternal Father Bless our Land”, in the Parliament, in the Courts, in the Business Place, in the Schools, in the Community, in the homes, and especially in God’s House, to “ produce fruits of repentance”.
This as the late Garnet Silk, a conscious reggae artist, said famously “ God a God”. And this God who offers the gift of Salvation, beginning at Christmas, declared long ago to a King, through an early version of John the Baptist, Samuel, and an early version of the Judaeo -Christian Church, that “ disobedience is worst than divination”.
We have become a Popcaan “ unruly “ nation whose slave forebears ( the greater part of the “ out of many one people”) revered the Living God, and knew Him as Puppa Jesus and Maasa God. Gave Him honor and glory in how they lived, and passed on this obedience to their children, who like the children of Israel have forsake the Lord. And built for themselves a society, a cistern, a “ broken cistern that can hold no water “ ( Jeremiah, and like him we weep for this nation).
Christmas is a time to “ Think on these things….the Anglican program on RJR on a Sunday evening…..and repent of our madness in forsaking the Living God, and placing “ flesh and blood”, no matter how smart they are, and how talented, and how powerful, and how rich they are, ” first in our hearts, and in our homes and in our social arrangements and in our governance structures. And then produce fruits of repentance acceptable to God whose Word declares that Righteousness and Justice “kiss each other”.
Shalom and in obedience to the Living God.
LWJ
Lord we beseech thee to renew thy church with the power of the Holy Spirit, that Christ may be formed in us more and more each day, so that the church may renew the nation(s) so that people who live in darkness, according to Bob Marley “ you think you are in heaven but you living in hell”, may be called to repentance, accept Christ and sing with the remnant, “ Hark the Herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King”. And produce fruits, that will last, of repentance.
https://youtu.be/meKhfr_CjQ0. Bob Marley

TUESDAY – DANGER AHEAD
His Birth in Me. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that “Christ is formed” in me. And once “Christ is formed” in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me.
Last night, after spending time on Christmas Day, on The Rock ( Jamaica) with my brother and sister’s family, my daughter and her family and linking my son and his family in Miami, before retiring to bed after a long day, I encountered a message from Oswald Chambers; and an extract of which is above.
What’s the key message of Christmas? And of life with a Creator God! That Christ may be formed in me, and you, and all children of God, in every denomination and in every nation.
Which is the same message from Hark the Heralds sing,the strains of which song entered my heart of raising this morning:
……Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more shall die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth. Charles Wesley
And then I recalled how a hymn we sang at church touched my soul, challenged my soul, and gave birth to a prayer, “that Christ might be formed in me”.
Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown
When thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For thy holy Nativity:
Refrain:
O come to my heart Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for thee.
A song which inspired us to invite Jesus to come into out heart. And which prayer ought to be our Daily Bread! That Christ may be formed in me.
In this context, the fourth verse, is very instructive as to why it should be our burning desire, our daily prayer, our minutely plea ” I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee, O bless me now my Savior I come to thee.
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word
That should set thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and a crown of thorn,
They bore thee to Calvary
R.
O come to my heart Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for thee.
The challenge for the church in this hour, on this day after Christmas Day, in this age, is that all the troubles, all the trials this nation and every nation faces, are a direct result of rejecting the gift of The Prince of Peace. Rejecting the Living Word, ”that should set thy people free”. In short with great sophistry, and with a veneer of Christianity being practiced in the Western World, including Jamaica and probably reaching the heights of hypocrisy in the USA, and with open hostility, “ But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn”, Christ is still being carried to Calvary. Rejected and crucified!
The challenge for us, adopted into the family of God, by second birth gifted by grace and by faith to those who humble themselves before this Mighty Savior, is to remain faithful to this God, and with Christ being formed in us daily, like Billy Graham “ bring Christ to the Nations”.
Declare the Gospel, the Truth of God, like John the Baptist, to power, “ to produce fruits of repentance”. Produce Justice in the land. Put an end to corruption. Manifest the Righteousness of God in Governance, in the Business arena, in the Music and the Culture, in the Schools, in the Community and in the Homes where children grow and learn, and in the Church of a Holy God, if we really wish for The Eternal Father to Bless this land: and Guide us with Thy Mighty Hand. Otherwise we are fooling ourselves and definitely not God who knows our hearts, and the secrets of our desires.
Many years ago at my Church, a very discerning preacher posed this question on Easter Sunday. What do we as a church do next? And his answer was most instructive! Go back to Good Friday. In other words, make the Cross the center, the epicenter of our lives. In this context then, Christmas is only the entry point of the Salvation “ the sweet Salvation according to my Pentecostal patient”, Story. And what this nation needs is a Church that points the way to Calvary, and says to a Nation that would call upon the Name of The Living God, “ God Bless Jamaica”, and “ Eternal Father Bless our Land”, in the Parliament, in the Courts, in the Business Place, in the Schools, in the Community, in the homes, and especially in God’s House, to “ produce fruits of repentance”.
This as the late Garnet Silk, a conscious reggae artist, said famously “ God a God”. And this God who offers the gift of Salvation, beginning at Christmas, declared long ago to a King, through an early version of John the Baptist, Samuel, and an early version of the Judaeo -Christian Church, that “ disobedience is worst than divination”.
We have become a Popcaan “ unruly “ nation whose slave forebears ( the greater part of the “ out of many one people”) revered the Living God, and knew Him as Puppa Jesus and Maasa God. Gave Him honor and glory in how they lived, and passed on this obedience to their children, who like the children of Israel have forsake the Lord. And built for themselves a society, a cistern, a “ broken cistern that can hold no water “ ( Jeremiah, and like him we weep for this nation).
Christmas is a time to “ Think on these things….the Anglican program on RJR on a Sunday evening…..and repent of our madness in forsaking the Living God, and placing “ flesh and blood”, no matter how smart they are, and how talented, and how powerful, and how rich they are, ” first in our hearts, and in our homes and in our social arrangements and in our governance structures. And then produce fruits of repentance acceptable to God whose Word declares that Righteousness and Justice “kiss each other”.
Shalom and in obedience to the Living God.
LWJ
Lord we beseech thee to renew thy church with the power of the Holy Spirit, that Christ may be formed in us more and more each day, so that the church may renew the nation(s) so that people who live in darkness, according to Bob Marley “ you think you are in heaven but you living in hell”, may be called to repentance, accept Christ and sing with the remnant, “ Hark the Herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King”. And produce fruits, that will last, of repentance.
https://youtu.be/meKhfr_CjQ0. Bob Marley


WEDNESDAY – SIMON I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU – JESUS
“When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.”
Luke 7:39-43 NIV
Led to begin my early morning devotions, again, with the majestic opening lines of the Benedictus:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel : for he hath visited and redeemed his people:
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us: in the house of his servant David”.
Even before reading the next line, I pondered on the significance of, ” in the house of his servant David”. Then it came to me that God is a promise keeper indeed. For this mighty salvation had been promised a long time ago.
And then my mind went to one of Jesus’ teachings. About the Sower of the Seed….and in particular “ producing good fruit”, which was the message from yesterday’s reflection.
And as I “ traveled “ through Luke looking for the parable, many other truths presented themselves. Including one of my favorite Bible stories highlighted above.
The key question is “ which one will love Jesus more, for canceling the debts of the two men”.? This as neither of them could pay back the debt they owed Him. And the answer that Jesus gave, in essence that those who know that they have sinned greatly, are the ones who, when them come to know that their sins are forgiven on Calvary, are the ones who will love Jesus more than those whose only think they only have a little sin. The significance of this is profound, but in order to appreciate the true nature of what Jesus is saying, you have to read the earlier part of the story as told by Luke:
“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.””
Luke 7:36-39 NIV
It’s the weeping that really touched my heart. But it’s the question “ Simon I have something to tell you” which has grabbed my attention over the years. This as the Risen Christ, in and through The Holy Spirit of Truth and power and love, always has something to tell us if we would spend the time listening.
This morning’s message then is tied to the Sower of the Seeds in this sense. That if we accept the conviction of Sin by the Holy Spirit, humble ourselves and cry out for mercy, and the and love Jesus, with all our hearts, because we know that we can never repay the debt that we owe Him for the suffering and shedding of His Blood on Calvary for us, “no weapon formed against us will prosper”. Whether Satan trying to snatch the Word of Truth from our hearts, whether the trials and times of testing, or whether life’s worries, riches or pleasures! Nothing will be able to separate a humble heart full of love for Jesus, from the Savior. Nothing! And it is this humble heart, filled with gratitude for the forgiveness of our many, many sins ( Jesus washed them all away…and in the name of Jesus we shall have the victory) that seeks to know and to love Jesus with all our heart, that will bear much fruit in this corrupt and unbelieving generation.
In obedience. Shalom.
LWJ.
Lord we beseech thee, to renew thy church with the remnant who listen to you without ceasing so that a renewed church may always have something to say to a confused world, with authority: “ I have something to tell you”.
Repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus crucified for your sins and raised from the dead for your justification – as if you had never sinned. And to give you new and abundant life!

THURSDAY – HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST
The New Testament
Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death–
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
One of two readings appointed for New Year’s Day, this Sunday, as highlighted above, is extremely challenging. For the laity, and even more so for the ordained. We need to pray for both. Ourselves and the priests. For the gift of humility! The essence of the Word about the Mind of Christ. Why?
Think about it carefully in this context.
All baptized persons who are faithful to the Living God, if we willingly suffer with Christ, we will become “ heirs and co-heirs with Christ” in the Kingdom of God.
All baptized persons who are faithful to the Living God, in them, “ you are the temple of God”. Therefore you are no longer your own, but have been bought by the price of the Blood of Jesus.
This is staggering truth! Especially when you recall the grand opening lines of the psalm appointed for Sunday:
The Psalm
Psalm 8
Domine, Dominus noster
1 O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
2 Out of the mouths of infants and children *
your majesty is praised above the heavens.
The Bible nowhere says that we are equal with God, but the promise of being co-heir with Christ, and that God lives in us by the power of the Holy Spirit, is just simply awesome. And if we are not careful, in how we treat each other, at different levels of the Church, we can succumb to the awful temptation of become haughty and “ exalted in our own minds”. And worse, in how we treat with “ sinners”, those who are not yet baptized, some of whom are causing untold mayhem in the land, pride and a sense of accomplishment – where none exists, as grace has attended us and not any works of our own -are forever knocking on our doorstep. Mercy Lord, mercy!
We need to really grasp the fullness of this mind of Christ, and “ empty ourselves” , humble ourselves and become obedient to the Word of God, and the Truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit. Not to the point of death. No! As that victory has already been achieved for us by the shed Blood of Christ. But certainly to the point of “ death to the old self”, and to allow “ In Christ all things are made new” to be manifest in our lives. In how we treat with each other first. “ See how those Christians love each other”. And then “ to rescue the perishing, and seek the lost, care for the dying and bind up the wounded. #Ezekiel In #wrongaddresses and everywhere those made in the image and likeness of God dwell. Even the vilest offenders.
A line from a well known hymn provides a fitting bookend for this message. Just came into my head. No! Not from nowhere or out of the blue. But from the Living God.
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free
While God is marching on
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
From: Mine Eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. Christ has died. Christ is Risen. Christ will come again – not to save this time but to judge. Therefore we have work to do as people possessing the mind of Christ. The One who humbled Himself and died to save all mankind.
In obedience.
Shalom.
LWJ
Lord we pray thee to place within us by the power of the Holy Spirit, according to your promise, the mind of your Son Christ and Him crucified. Not for our glory Lord, but for your glory. So that in and through us, people living in this and every nation may hear the Words our Blessed Savior:
1. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11.
In this SOE country. In this Sting gone mad country. In this crazy driving country. In this toxic masculinity country. In this morally adrift country …not bankrupt…. But seriously adrift. In both State and in some measure, talk the truth, Church also.

FRIDAY – PEE WAS NO KING, BUT A SINNER IN NEEED OF SALVATION
“And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
And holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
From generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm;
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
And exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen his servant Israel,
In remembrance of his mercy;
As he spake to our fathers,
To Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”
Luke 1:46-55 KJV
This morning as I began reading the Gospel appointed for Sunday, New Year’s Day:
The Gospel
Luke 2:15-21
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb:
The Magnificat by Mary, who had pondered these things in her heart, came to mind. And so I was led to ponder these things in my heart also. The things that Mary highlighted in this famous song!
And was led also to read The Benedictus, just a few verses down from The Magnificat.
I’m sure we all encountered in high school the task of “ compare and contrast”. Well this time as led by the Spirit, this foundation Bible Truth stayed with me. Truth that emerges from both songs.
That:
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
And exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
That:
“As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,
which have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies,
and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,
And to remember his holy covenant;
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
That he would grant unto us,
that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies
Might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”
Luke 1:70-75 KJV
And as we ponder these things in our heart, God Himself will “ provide the explanation”. We don’t need to try and explain these things on our own. So into my mind came the full explanation which we all need to ponder on in the New Year. And forever!
““To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen,
the faithful and true witness,
the ruler of God’s creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”
Revelation 3:14-18 NIV
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked…….says it all. The most dangerous state for a Christian, and anyone else in the world, to be in. Shotgun 2 which I watched with my family, Kimare and her family, last night is a wonderfully entertaining movie. But that’s not reality in the eyes of God. For He indeed “ hath put down the mighty from their seat”.
That’s why we ought to sing without ceasing Amazing Grace and ponder on these things:
…..that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I am found. Was blind but now I see. Praise God. Thank God for Jesus.
In that context Pele was no King, no royalty. A wonderful footballer and shining example of why we love the beautiful game, yes. But that’s it. Otherwise a sinner like you and I, in need of salvation. I pray God that he made peace with God before he died. This as the rich and famous and powerful are in terrible danger of “ losing their minds”, and believing that wealth and fame and powerful and the “lettered”, can save them at the time of judgment. That’s not what the Bible teaches. That’s not what we learn from Mary. Nor from Zechariah. But rather that:
That he would grant unto us,
that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies
Might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”
Our country Jamaica is in trouble. And so too the USA! Why? Because we have too many powerful people who believe that they have no need of God, and do not realize that they are :
“But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
The role of those who ponder these things in our hearts, the church, is to speak Truth to those who believe that they do not need God, that they are “ sitting in darkness and living in the shadow of death”, and need to believe the gospel and repent,before Jesus comes again to judge the world. For there are only three seasons that matter after the first Christmas when “ a great Light came into the world”.
Christ has died. Christ is Risen. Christ will come again. Two are gone and only one is left. We do well to be obedient and warn people to escape from this “ corrupt generation”. They and their children! Which was final message of Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost.
In obedience.
Shalom.
LWJ
Lord Jesus Christ Son of the Living God, we beseech thee to renew your church in holiness and righteousness, so that a renewed church may renew the nation(s) people are living in great danger, in darkness and in the shadow of death. Mercy Lord. Mercy!


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danielgodsurelywilldeliver 