Words by our Priest-in-Charge:
The Great Privilege
To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”Isaiah 61:3
Our God whom we worship is a missionary God. He had on His own initiative reached out to mankind while we were still far off from Him. He did not wait for us to seek Him, but He came seeking for us. Such a great privilege! To be wanted, loved and treasured by our Father God!
We as the Church are called, mandated and commissioned to make known this wonderful God to the world around us. Part of the gospel imperative, which defines the mission of Jesus is described in Isaiah 61:3. Jesus came so that we could be consoled, comforted, set free and established. He came to transform our lives and perform a Divine Exchange by giving us beauty in place of ashes, joy in place of mourning, garment of praise in place of spirit of heaviness. He took away the curses of sin meant for us and gives us life abundant. All these for free!
As we enter into the Mission month of our Church and as we approach Christmas, we remember that the disciples of Jesus are also called to be “missionaries” to the world in which we live, work and move about today. Just like Jesus came to do all these for us, we are called to be like Christ to the broken hearted, those who mourn and those who are burdened under bondages. For our message to be authentic, we need to first and foremost, encounter this living Christ, and receive from Him beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, garment of praise for spirit of heaviness. If we have not encountered Jesus in a real way, it is never too late to ask of Him.
Seek Him with all your heart, desire healing and freedom, and you will surely receive it from your Heavenly Father. Then, share it with another. Determine to be established in life and be strengthened in the Lord. So that we might make known His love and power to glorify His Name!