Holland Methodist Church

Month: February 2021

When Silence Is Golden

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Matt. 17:5)  

Jesus’ ministry was approaching a decisive period. Matthew, one of the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), tells us that Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, apart, by themselves (Matt. 17:1), and that he was transfigured and became radiant.  The “high mountain” is not identified, and Jesus did not disclose the purpose of the separation/isolation. 

This awesome occasion — Jesus praying (Luke 9:29), Jesus’ appearance with his clothes transformed (Luke 9:29), the appearance of Elijah and Moses (representatives of the O.T. Prophets and Law respectively) (Mark 9: 4), the conversation between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus (Matt. 17:4) — should have constrained the disciples to be silent, observant, attentive, and listening.

However, Peter could not be silent. He thought the moment was worth capturing and wanted to concretize it by erecting three dwellings: “one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matt. 17:4). Mark’s explanation is that Peter did not know what to say because he was frightened (Mark 9: 6), and Luke says he was drowsy (Luke 9:32). What happened next was, in human terms, as if God were saying, “Peter, shut up and listen!”

The text tells us that Peter’s speech and train of thought was rudely disrupted. “While he was still speaking … a voice said, “This is my Son … listen to him!” (Matt. 17:5; Luke 9:34). This was an occasion for God to speak. This was an occasion when silence was golden. The disciples must listen.

One of the important principles in life is to know when to speak and when to listen; when to be silent. Unfortunately, sometimes we are afraid of silence, or we are easily distracted in silence, or we are so overwhelmed by the moment that we feel we must find something to say, even if it is inappropriate.

Can you recall an occasion when you spoke, and on conclusion you wished you could have taken back every word? Or you felt diminished because what you said was inappropriate or ill-informed? Friends, a question can be bad, but pardonable. However, a statement embroidered and seasoned with self-confidence, pride, and arrogance can leave us devastated.

Prov. 10:19 says, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.” Yes! sometimes it is better not to say anything, but rather, to just listen.

Someone once said: “God gave us two ears and one mouth, which suggests we must listen twice as much as we speak.” That is valuable advice. It is not every time we see or encounter something that we must be quick to speak. If we are to speak, the right time to speak will come. Furthermore, sometimes we need to think long and hard before we speak. Sometimes we must be silent.

Let us cultivate the virtue of silence. It can be invaluable.

Thought:        Keeping one’s mouth shut is a great virtue.

Prayer Focus:  Ask God to help us to be more ready to listen than to speak.

Trusting God in Difficult Times

We have lived through the first month of the “New Year” so that 2021 looks now, like just another year to travel with God.

Now we travel through the liturgical period of “Ordinary time”- a break between Epiphany and Lent, a period which will continue after Pentecost. During the Season of Epiphany, we continue to reflect on the appearance of God in Jesus through such events as his baptism; his calling of and revelation to the disciples; his ministry of miraculous healings and deliverance from demons; and his transfiguration. When we resume ordinary time, we shall ponder again God’s activity in the ordinary things of life. But we shall take a break starting 17th of February, Ash Wednesday, the start of the Penitential Season of Lent, when we deliberately pay greater attention to practical spiritual disciplines such as fasting.

Last year, we covenanted to enter Lent with a period of fasting, with persons sharing in a Daniel Fast, as they are able. The idea is to take a break from some of the things like food that we ordinarily feast on, and rather to feast on God. This year, you will receive a prayer schedule, so that we can all be praying together with a common purpose.

Given our District theme Trusting God in Difficult Times: Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities’  there are two things that I invite you to put on your priority list for Lent, as we seek to trust God in giving and in sharing.

  1. One is Faith-sharing. In this time of uncertainly, one thing is certain. If we are anchored in God, we shall be sustained, and even triumph in the difficulties we face. How about sharing faith through inviting your friends and acquaintances to church? Their participation now is easier since they do not have to pay the transportation costs but can join in worship from home. Concerns about being dressed appropriately will not arise. This is the best time to invite others to worship. They have the option of leaving the gathering without any disruption should they choose to, so why not ask them to join. I ask you to invite others to the Dutch language services especially, as we can also reach those who prefer to worship in that language. Based on the response, we may be able to cater for a whole new online church that worships mainly in the Dutch language.
  • My second appeal to you is to consider tithing for Lent. “Give one tenth during Lent.” The church’s (MCCA) position on tithing is captured in a position paper posted on the website. Give tithing a try, and note the effect it has, not just on your wallet, but on your life; and then you can decide from there. We may just find that in a season of economic hardship, we begin to see God’s wonderful transformation of our financial situation. Let us resolve to trust God for this.

One more observance that falls in February is, as usual, MCCA Men’s Lord’s Day observed on the fourth Lord’s Day of February, every year. Let us show our support for the active men in our congregations, and let us also use the opportunity to invite the men who are not actively involved to participate in the life of the church. I invite each man to bring another and each class to bring an additional male. If we act on this together, there will be more men, and the truth is that we do need more males sharing in the service of the church.

Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV).

Hebrews was written to Christians who had undergone severe persecution and who were now threatened with even more suffering. They had remained steadfast before, but the author feared that they might now recant to avoid being further oppressed. These believers were encouraged to endure, warned not to abandon their faith in Jesus, and to hold steadfastly to their hope, because “he who promised is faithful”. 

For he who promised is faithful“. That’s the key. One of God’s attributes is God’s faithfulness. The Hebrew word that is translated as faithfulness means steadfastness, firmness, fidelity. The believers were being encouraged to hold unwaveringly to their hope in Jesus, confident that the one who promised was completely trustworthy and reliable.

Followers of Christ have suffered persecution throughout history. Stolen properties, victimization, discrimination, imprisonment, burning of churches and homes, beatings and martyrdom, have been the fate of countless followers of “The Way”. Those who have held steadfastly to their confidence in God have learned that there is nothing that God has promised that God cannot and will not deliver. God has the capacity, power, and ability, to deliver whatever God promises, even if God seems to be operating in slow motion. Seeing that a thousand years is like one day to God (see Ps. 90:4, 2 Pet. 3:8), God might appear slow, but God is faithful.

You and I may not be experiencing suffering and persecution to the same extent as the recipients of this epistle. However, we face various difficulties and challenges, and through all the changing scenes of life God remains faithful. Case in point are the debilitating effects on families, worship, individuals, Church activities, industry and economies, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet, God has remained faithful. God has inspired believers to be creative, imaginative, and determined to hold firmly to the promise that not even the gates of hell shall prevail against the things of God. God has enabled Bible studies, Pastoral Care, Counselling, Celebration of the Sacrament, Worship, and other Church business to continue, even if in formats that we never imagined. The people of God are now re-imagining Church because our faithful, creative God has proven again that God can do “exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). 

Hezekiah Walker wrote an inspiring song which says: “Faithful, faithful, faithful is our God”.  Inspired by Jeremiah’s affirmation, “Great is Thy faithfulness” (Lam. 3:23), Thomas Obediah Chishlom wrote:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Our God is faithful. Let nothing turn you around from believing in and trusting God to see you through. God can and will never fail.

Thought:   God will never let you down.  

Prayer Focus: Pray for those who are being persecuted, ridiculed, encountering difficulties at home or work, and are being tempted to recant.

From: Everald Galbraith