God of the one - by Christo Jovner

 

Ever felt lost? Nowhere to go, don’t know what to do? On the verge of giving up? Perhaps it is circumstances out of your control or your own doing that brought you to the place where you are now? No situation is too desperate for God to help you! 

It reminds me of the parable of the lost sheep that Jesus once told. He will leave the 99 to go after the one. Jesus said of Himself in John 10:11 that “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” 

Jesus fulfill the promise when he became the Shepherd that Matthew 2:6 quoted as a promise from Gen 49:10 “For out of you will come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel”. 

David also wrote in the well known Ps 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” The Amplified Bible has the following remark in brackets: (to feed, to guide and to shield). And this is what the Lord, the Good Shepherd, wants to be in our lives - He wants to provide (to feed) , He wants to give guidance (to guide) and He wants to protect us from harm (to shield). 

Will you give Him another chance? Never give up on Him, because He will never give up on you!

World events and God's plan by Christo Jovner

 

The history of our world is marked by events that shaped, formed and even changed the way we do things. 

Think of World War 1 and 2; the dark ages and the reformation; technological inventions like cars, planes, electricity and the cell phone; and pandemics like the Spanish flu and Covid19... 

Another significant event in the history of our world is a census by a Roman Ceaser or Political leader. Just before Jesus' birth, the Bible tells us about a *world event* in Luk 2:1: "that all the world should be registered" - yes, censuses even happened in Bible times! 

This caused Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem, the city of David, to be registered there, because Joseph was of the house and lineage of David and this was their town to go to and register.

And lo and behold, it was  this *world event* that caused Jesus to be born in Bethlehem and the promise was fulfilled from Mica 5:2 (NLT) in the old Testament. 

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf." This was God's promise of the exact town where his Son would be born. 

We can take comfort today that no matter what *world event* takes place, our footsteps are ordered by God. He can even use a world event to get you exactly where he wants you to be. He keeps us in the palm of His hands, and nothing can seperate us from His love. He is the one who will work all things for good for those who love him. Not even a world event can derail his plans for you! 

The Family promise - by Christo Jovner

 

Family. So important and sometimes so complicated. It reminds me of eating Smarties or M&M's, I do have my favourite colours which I eat first, but I eat all of them. We have our favourite family members, but we have to love them all. 

Do you come from a perfect family? Well, neither did Jesus. And Matthew does not spare to tell us just that in Jesus’ genealogy - he seems to highlight several rather shady characters in Matthew 1. But, none the less, through it all, a promise made by God, was still fulfilled - that Jesus would be a descendant from Abraham and from David (Matt 1:1). God made a promise to Abraham in Gen 12:3 “All the families on earth will be blessed through you” and John 7:42 says that “Christ comes from the seed of David” - the promise fulfilled. 

Today we can find comfort in the fact that God use imperfect people like you and me, to accomplish His purposes and plans.Your family, good or bad does not qualify or disqualify you from God's grace over the promises he gave you. 

To surrender to His will and plan for our lives is the best we can do to show that we trust him with his promises for us!

The Name promise - by Christo Jovner

Do you know what your name means?

Because every time your name is called, the meaning of it is announced over you. 

Even our Lord has a special earthly name: An angel appeared to Joseph (Matt 1:21) and to Mary (Luk 1:31), and to both he said what their boy's name should be *JESUS* ! This is a fulfilled promise. 

Jesus means Saviour, or Yahweh is Salvation. It reminds me of an old hymn that say "Salvation belongs to our God", because only He can save - Salvation originates from Him. 

We even get a clearer picture of what Jesus' name mean when we look at the Old Testament promise in Isa 9:6-7 

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: *Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.* "Isaiah 9:6 NLT 

His Name is above every other thing, whether it be an unfavourable situation, sickness, lack, mistrust, fear, anxiety or a broken relationship. 

Today, call the Name of Jesus over your situation! He wants to bring favour, health, abundance, trust, peace and wholeness in your life!

 

Fulfilled promises by Christo Jovner

Imagine being greeted by a stranger with the words:  “Hello, favourite one! The Lord is with you!” Would you perhaps feel confused or even disturbed, knowing your shortcomings, as to what this could mean?

This was exactly how Mary felt when she was greeted with these words by a messenger from God. Instead of bad news, good news followed: She would be the virgin-mother of the Saviour of the world.

 With these words, God set into motion a promise that He made through the prophet Isaiah in Isa 7:14 (NLT) ”The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

God fulfilled this promise many, many, years later when Jesus was born to Mary. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy.”  Luk 1:35 (NLT)

God is the same - yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

Today, God’s promises still stands! Even his promises to you. He wants you to know that you are His favourite one and that He is with you!