A Fruitful New Year!

As we worshipped and prayed together last night, amongst other encouraging words, reference was made to the fireworks lighting up the skies of the cities of the world over the New Year, to the frost melting under the sunlight of love, and the start of a new season.

Fireworks attract attention. There is something beautiful and awesome about them as they fill the dark sky with bright colour in choreographed fashion. Jesus refers to himself as the “light of the World” (John 8v12), but he also refers to us collectively as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5v14). How is our light choreographed? What does the light we display look like?

Frost makes the ground hard, but as it melts, the ground becomes workable. In what way are we, along with the Holy Spirit preparing the ground for the gospel through our acts of warmth and love?

These two were brought together in a reference to 2 Corinthians 4 where “God made his light shine in our hearts … we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” But that the “god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel.” This calls for prayer.

It’s the start of a new season. I am interested in seeing the lost rescued and the new believers discipled. Jesus described the harvest as plentiful (Luke 10v2), and called his disciples to pray, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Is this a harvest season? Are we the answer to our own prayers for people to prepare the ground and to harvest? – Immediately after telling them to pray, Jesus sends the disciples out! This is calls for prayer and action with our trust in God to work and bring fruit.

May God’s kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven in 2019 – in my life, in your life, in His church, in our community,

With love and blessing,

Roland