In a recent Bible Society publication (Eternity, Spring, 2020, p10) a challenge was issued to use only five words to state why you are (still) a Christian. Those who responded submitted deeply thought-provoking responses guided by their own individual situation. Given the ‘sound bite’ world in which we live it got me thinking about how critical the words are that we use to discuss our faith, in such a crowded space.

How do we share the gospel when there are so many messages thrust at people every day, all competing for their attention? Research tells us that most people now only read the subject line of emails!  If you haven’t captured the person’s attention in a few words they will not read further.

This is not a new phenomenon, but it is certainly heightened living in the ‘information age’ where there is a danger of an information overload, leading us to disregard things that are important.

Apostle Paul encountered a city of distractions at Ephesus on his second mission journey. The trade city on the Western coast of Asia Minor had a 25,000-seat amphitheatre along with many gymnasiums, public baths, and other cultural distractions. There was also the Temple of Artemis (or Diana, her Roman name) ranked as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was in this environment that Paul taught in the synagogue (Acts Ch. 18) but by the time he left the city was in a state of confusion and did not know who to listen to (Acts Ch. 19).

The above text was written by Apostle Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome a number of years later. He wrote it as a circular epistle to the Ephesians and the Christians in Asia to encourage their ongoing commitment to answer the call the Lord had made to them through him. His confinement in Rome served to underline his message that those who hear and answer the call of Christ are free, regardless of their situation. Thirty-five times in the letter Paul reminds the believers of their newfound freedom from the price of sin by exhorting them to remain ‘in Christ’.

The five words to summarise the good news of Christ’s salvation;

SAVED by GRACE through FAITH.

Our passages come from the letter of St. Paul to a group of Christians in Ephesus. It shows the loving kindness and concern that Paul had for the new converted Christians and followers of Christ. In a way, the letter is also addressed to us, believers of Christ. Paul wants to talk about the day to day living of those Christians. We can notice that his ideas are very practical and down to earth, he uses words that are easy to understand. The Apostle also wrote about deep and difficult ideas, about lofty doctrines and sublime concept. But in these passages, he is more like a father teaching his children on how to live lives according to Christ’s example and His teaching.

Even in the time of Paul, people were living un-wholesome lives. All this was common, stealing, falsehood, anger, laziness and bad talk. Paul’s words are clear, the Christians must ‘PUT OFF’ all these evil ways and follow the way of the Holy Spirit. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit he says, for the Holy Spirit is the source of a new life. Through Him Christian life flows to men from Trinity, through Him the love of God enters our heart, in Him all are baptized as one body in Christ. The Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit, his lifestyle is a sign of the Spirit’s presence.

Paul is actually asking for a change of life, a conversion from sin to a newness of life, a decision to transform one’s old way of living into the Christian lifestyle. That is what Paul refers to when in the same letter he talks of the ‘NEW MEN’ or when he tells Titus that Christ saved us through the baptism of the new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:3-5.

Changing one’s life is not easy, the devil is always at work, and he must not be allowed to gain a foothold in our lives, not even in our day to day routine. Paul reminds us that all those who believe in Christ and follow him, carry the seal of the Spirit. Apostolic Christians are marked with this seal, in turn, their thoughts, words and deeds must correspond to this seal.

The choir sings a hymn asking the question, “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?” (Sankey 789). Given the world and times we live in, there always seems to be a storm occurring around us or even directly in our lives. To answer that question therefore, we need to identify what our anchor is during troubled times.

The Bible text above tells us, that hope can be an anchor to steady our soul as we look forward and plan our travel across the troubled sea of life to our destination. The hope described is in the promise of our Lord’s return and the subsequent salvation of believing souls. It steadies us during troubled times and also gives us confidence as we passed from this life through the veil. Verse 20 tells us that Jesus, as the forerunner, has already entered in and is waiting as our high priest to guide us.

Our hope as an anchor should always be tied to the eternal Rock of Jesus. “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness” is part of another choir hymn and confirms the stability provided by the love of Jesus.

Hope is an optimism for, and confidence of, a better future. We all vary in our inbuilt level of optimism and this can change as we journey through different times and events within our lives. Even the most optimistic person can find themselves seeing the glass as half empty.  It is during these times, that this hope, as an anchor becomes most valuable.

During these storms of doubt, we need to draw the anchor rope closer to its grounded and settled point. The letter to Colosse reminds us of this. Colossians 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” Bad news seems to travel much faster than good news. Let us play our part in making sure the gospel (good news) and the hope it provides is an anchor for our soul and for the souls of others.

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

A Christian life is lived in the triangle of: God, my neighbour, and myself.

The way the world lives in this regard is: I, and once again I, and then maybe God, and a slight possibility of my neighbour.

If our life is in order with God, it is then demonstrated in our relationship with our fellowman. In our text word, different facts are mentioned; those unwanted and undesired methods and ways of life and attitudes should be removed from our lives, if we wish to belong to Christ. An end must come to lying, for God is the truth; anger should be removed; stealing from my brother or sister, who by much effort obtained his possessions; no more corrupt communications should proceed from our mouths and all other evil deeds must disappear.

How will this all be made possible? By not fighting against each symptom individually, but by removing the root course of evil. Darkness can only be broken by a light that shines through it.

We are confronted daily to decide: shall I live my life in togetherness with my brother or sister, or shall I live alone? The answer is, let our feelings and our desires be led by the Spirit of Christ.

The Apostle does not only write how the communities should act, but also gives us positive directions: “and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.

The communities of Jesus Christ is not built by the breaking down of the negative attitudes of its members. Communities are built by a positive Spiritual life.

Negative Apostolicship (Christendom) – (we shall not be like this and shall remove the same from our lives completely), is no way of living. Positive Christianity and Apostolic life brings peace, happiness and rest by the Holy Spirit. We read in John 16:33 the word of Jesus: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Those that continue steadfastly are able to rejoice with the words: “My Saviour lives, and I with Him”.

No doubt we all recognize this as the tenth commandment given by God to Moses and the children of Israel. God’s commandments stand forever and it is appropriate that we spend some time in meditating on this commandment in view of what we see happening in the world today. A recent report released by Scotland Yard in U.K. shows that over 80% of crimes committed can be traced back to this commandment in the beginning.

This word covet, means to desire to have what is not one’s own and usually has its foundations in envy. If this is allowed to go unchecked, it usually leads to discontentment, which then branches out into many forms of lawlessness. We see so much vandalism today, caused by the thought, “If I can’t have it, no one should”. We see so much theft which arises from “Why should I not have it”. It can lead to “keeping up with the Jones” attitude, which leads many families into debt; which cause arguments and discontentment and can even lead to trusting in riches and the desire to gain more, and can lead to forgetting God as it turns to idolatry. We begin to see why it becomes a sin in our life, as explained in Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” In effect we are showing discontentment with the Lord, by not being grateful for His blessings given unto us, and by such we turn our back on Him.

Christ in Mark 7, explained that it is the things that proceed out of a man that defiles him, he listed those evil things that come from within, and one of them was covetousness, so we see how careful we must be in our ways not to break this commandment. Some of the most dangerous first signs that we often hear is when a person is introduced to another and often the comment is made, “Oh, you must be related to so and so.” Yes, can come the reply, “But they are the rich ones in the family.” Or, one often hears it said “Oh, it is alright for them, they have plenty.” or “Oh, they wouldn’t know what it was like.” All of these show the first dangerous signs of breaking this commandment and if continued, can very easily lead on to gross discontentment. Christ was very specific in his warning in Luke 12:15. “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

We all should be constantly alert to watch for this sin in our life, because of the warning given by the prophet in Jeremiah  6:13. “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness.”

If we can look to those things that our neighbour has and recognize that they are blessings from God and be thankful that the Lord has blessed them in that way, we will find that our lives will become much more contented and before long the words of that great hymn “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will ‘surprise you what the Lord has done’, will become part of our life and we will learn to respect other people’s property, as we will see them as God’s blessings, loaned to them by the same Lord who blesses us.

A time of expectation, for we are awaiting the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We do not know when this day will be, but we know our Lord said: “Watch and pray always lest this day come upon you unawares.”  In ancient days God promised His people a Saviour who would redeem them from their sins, who would be the anointed one of God. He would be sent down from Heaven, that God Himself could be manifested in flesh. When Jesus came into this world to commence His labour, the people heard the words of God which came through Jesus. Words of life that brought peace and contentment to the soul, for God promised an eternal life to the believer. Many people took heed to His word and were converted, for they saw in Him the fulfilment of the prophecies by the prophets concerning Him, which was that a Saviour would come into the world who would redeem them  from their sins. In Him was the stream of eternal life, words of life that were spoken by Him in humbleness and meekness, yet with authority.

Jesus taught, as we can read in St. John chapter 15:1-4 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bring forth fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” He said to His Apostles “I am the Vine, ye are the branches.  He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me, ye can do nothing.  If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be given unto you.”

Jesus told His disciples “I go away and come again unto you.  If ye love me, ye would rejoice because I said I go unto my Father.  For my Father is greater than I and now I have told you, before it come to pass, that when it comes to pass, ye might believe.”  He had told them of His death and Resurrection; that He would be absent from their presence for a time, that He would come again, which was that they saw Him and spoke to Him after He arose from the dead.  He said He would not leave them comfortless, but that He would send unto them the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, who would bring to their remembrance all things that He told them. He said to His Apostles “Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken.”  It is the word of God that cleanseth the soul from impurities. Within the word is the sacrifice our Lord Jesus made by offering His life as an atonement for sin which purifies and makes perfect the soul from unrighteousness.

We are living in hope and are waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promises, the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He will descend from Heaven majestically and gloriously, with all His Holy Angels, to gather together the elect out of every kindred, nation and tongue.  So it behoves us to always remember the virtues of faith, hope and charity, for charity which is love is the fulfilment of God’s law.  Where such virtues are manifest, our soul is clothed in the raiment of righteousness.

In the busy world we live in today, so often our text is forgotten, and we forget God’s blessings granted us. I read a report recently written by a Hospital Chaplain in England, which sums up our text. The report is as follows:

I used to be chaplain on the orthopaedic ward of our local hospital. All kinds of casualties ended up there. There were cases of window cleaners falling off ladders, lads tearing ligaments on football fields, farmers who’d been kicked by cows and revellers tripping over kerb stones after late-night parties. The ward was a cheerful place, full of jokes and laughter, because most of the men were not really ill. They were temporarily out of action and very bored. The nurses had a rough time of it, poor things, and were teased mercilessly by the men in plaster casts with nothing but six weeks of bed rest to look forward to.

One Monday morning, when I entered the ward, my eye was caught by the patient in the corner bed. He looked in a bad way. His legs were in traction, bandages covered his bare midriff, and his face was badly bruised. He must have been in a road accident, I thought. The patient was awake, so I started my ward chaplain routine. “You’ve been in the wars. How did it happen?” “I fell out of an aeroplane!” he said, with a faint grin. I admired his courage and decided to play along with the joke. “Heathrow or Gatwick?” I said. “None of the men in the ward believed me at first,” He sighed. “Even Casualty thought I was having them on. But I did, honestly. “Go on,” I said. “Tell me about it.” It was an incredible story, a miracle in fact. He’d been piloting a small aeroplane which was towing a glider. The glider tow rope had been released and he was bringing the plane around in readiness for landing. Just as he was on the point of touchdown a sudden, violent gust caused one of the wings to hit the grass landing strip. The entire plane rocketed forwards over the cliff edge and rolled upside down.

Quick as a flash, he released his seat belt, and seconds later he landed in a tree at the foot of the rocks, hitting his head, breaking a leg and wrist, and knocking himself unconscious. The next memory he had was of waking up in a hospital bed. “I must be the luckiest man in the world,” he said quietly, after finishing his story. Then he looked up. “There’s something you could do for me,” he said. “Would you say a thank you prayer for me?” So I pulled the curtains round the bed for privacy and said the Lord’s Prayer with him.

We often talk about “being lucky”. “I had a lucky escape,” we say, when somebody overtakes on a blind corner and we manage to avoid a collision by swerving at the last minute. Or “The little boy next door was lucky not to be run over.” And I’ve often heard people say, “Luckily I had a first-rate surgeon. He did a marvellous job on me.” Is it luck when things turn out well, or is it something more? Could it be that somebody is looking after us? I have a strong feeling that what we call luck is not luck at all, but God’s guiding hand watching over us. That’s why we should say a short prayer of thanks to God after a safe journey, or a successful operation, or a narrow escape and even more so when we fall out of an aeroplane and live to tell the tale!

It is hoped that this story will inspire us to remember that we should begin and finish every day in thanksgiving to the Lord, and especially remembering those added blessings granted to us.

Luke 2:10-14.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Can one, in one Christmas letter, write anything new what Christmas means to us?  Hasn’t everything been told? There is no other Christian Festival beloved as Christmas; it is filled with great Custom and Tradition united. Its origin we take out of the writings of History.

In the first 300 years the first Christians did not celebrate every year the Festival. It was in Rome in the first 400 years that man began to celebrate the birthday of Christ on the 25th of December.  At first it was called the Nativity. Christmas, the white night, from the German meaning, the 12 nights after the Winter Sun, celebrate the birth of Christ as Christians, and we speak of the Holy Night.  When we write of the Christmas Festival, we must remember that for us the Christmas Festival for us begins with what is written in the Bible in Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:26-38  and Luke 1:57-66; herein is what is written in the Bible concerning Jesus and His birth. I am sure that we all know the story told. Also, what we have learned as a child – Christmas tree, Charity, Christmas goose, Service and Christmas Carols; while in some homes there may be sadness, Christmas uplifts all.

Let us hear what the message says!  The first time the message was heard, we find God was given the praise and Glory. We find that today there should be no difference for those who hear the message of the Birth of our Lord and understand it; those who hear it aright should be thankful  in their hearts and get strength that Christ was born and brought Peace on earth, especially for man today; Peace between man and God. This applies for all generations.

The world has made great mistakes, and today we can look at the birth of our Lord and realize that today is the day that we can profit from our mistakes.

Christmas time makes us realize that there is only one God, and He loves all people; the Christ child is for us the Guarantee; and the Holy Ghost is the greatest Security that we can have; the door to the House of God stands open wide today. We all have the opportunity to come to God.