January 13
"They have reached the land of Israel, and are descending the Mount of Olives, with Jerusalem in sight, when, lo, the star that has guided them all the weary way rests above the temple, and after a season fades from their view. With eager steps they press onward, confidently expecting the Messiah's birth to be the joyful burden of every tongue. But their enquiries are in vain. Entering the holy city, they repair to the temple. To their amazement they find none who seem to have a knowledge of the new-born king. Their questions call forth no expressions of joy, but rather of surprise and fear, not unmingled with contempt."
Desire of Ages, page 60 from the chapter, 'We have seen His star'
What would you think and feel
if some travel-stained, weary, foreign travellers walked up to you in church and asked you where the new-born king of Nottingham was?
Give the people of Jerusalem a little of the benefit of the doubt. There were no newspapers, the birth actually happened in Bethlehem (which was more than a single bus journey away) and the travellers were from a foreign land – and foreigners brought trouble. Besides, their spiritual leaders hadn’t told them anything so it is no wonder that the news of Messiah's birth was not the joyful burden of every tongue. Don’t forget that the great news had not been brought to the temple and the High Priest, but to smelly shepherds in a field.
We are told that the fields were ready for harvest in the time of Jesus. The fields are still ready for harvest. What would you say if people come to you and ask, “We’ve heard that you have hope for us”? Would you be as cautious as the people of Jerusalem? Would you be honestly able to say, “I know nothing” as you spread your arms apart in an honest gesture?
Sorry, no excuse these days. We live in a cosmopolitan world. You are just as likely to meet a man from Poland walking his dog as you are to have a new neighbour move in who is German. Over the road it is likely that a Samoan heads off to work every morning while a Lithuanian couple live over the road. If that is the situation in a small isolated village then think of the people who live around you. These days xenophobia is no excuse for the Christian.
Neither can you say that your Pastor has misled you. You cannot say that your Elders have said nothing. You can’t blame lack of knowledge for your silence – because the Sabbath School lessons give you plenty of information, these blogs offer hope – and the Holy Spirit is there waiting to bring to your remembrance whatever information you need in a tight, or even an easy, spot.
Perhaps the last few words of the reading are telling? “Their questions call forth no expressions of joy, but rather of surprise and fear, not unmingled with contempt.”
Do you love people? Have you found it in your heart to love the people you pray for? Add that need to your prayers today please, “Father, as I pray this morning, help me love the people on my prayer list. Help Your love in me make a difference.” Then you might read Romans 5:5 and know that your prayer makes a difference in your life.
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Housekeeping details for you
The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.
A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here
