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SCRIPTURE READINGS

ISAIAH 43:16-21

PHILIPPIANS 3:4b-14

JOHN 12:1-8

REFLECTION

Building a new nation in Christ is the theme for our reflection. A nation is a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory. To build a new nation in Christ means that we are coming together as one people by virtue of our salvation in Christ. It is important to note that a nation in Christ already exists through Christendom and ecumenism (unity of Christian churches), however, building a new nation in Christ means Christians or believers must avail themselves to become the servants of God to reach out to the unsaved population in strengthening and expanding the territories of the already existing nation of Christ. To build a new nation in Christ, we shall consider the following two points

1. We must rely on the power and promises of God to make the impossible possible
2. We must understand our calling in Christ, what is essential for building a new nation and offer our bestj.nqm

Firstly, it is important to note that we cannot build a new nation in Christ without the power and promises of God. The first scripture reading from Isaiah 43: 16-21 is God’s promise to the exiled Israelites in Babylon who yearn to return home and rebuild their nation. The Lord said to them through Isaiah, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19). For us to be included in the new nation of Christ, we must be willing to let go of the former things and rely on the transformational power of God which is able to make the impossible possible. It is common knowledge that there are no broad ways in the wilderness nor are there rivers in the desert but it is an indication that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). Jesus captures the blessings and joy we have in His new nation when He said in Luke 4:18-19 that “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Dear friend, are you part of the new nation in Christ? Why don’t you let go of the former things and accept Jesus’ invitation to be part of His new nation built for believers and their salvation?

Secondly, we must understand our calling in Christ and what is essentially required of us as citizens of the new nation in Christ. Paul accepted the invitation to be part of the new nation in Christ and also became a workman or servant in building and expanding the territory of the new nation of Christ through evangelism and church planting. It was for this reason, Paul bore testimony to the Philippians in the second Scripture reading that “whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:7-9) In other words, Paul found fulfilment in his calling and essentially gave his life to Jesus counting everything that he had ever acquired in the world without Jesus, worthless. In building the new nation in Christ, nothing is more important than making Jesus your Lord and Saviour and availing yourself to serve him all the days of your life. There is joy in losing everything the world ever gave you and accepting Jesus as your true and eternal possession through faith. Jesus assures us in Matthew 6:33 that “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Become a citizen of Jesus’ new nation and all other things shall be given to you in the Lord, for “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:36-38). Again, in the third Scripture reading, we observe that Mary having experienced Jesus and found Him worthy, she gave Jesus her best and most expensive perfume and used her hair to clean His feet (John 12:1-8). Dear friend in the Lord, as we continue to be citizens of the new nation in Christ let us serve Him with our all, because nothing can be compared to the new life and salvation we have in Jesus. As we have already mentioned, one of the best ways to give your best is to support the mission to spread the Gospel so that lost souls shall be saved into the new nation in Christ. In which way can you support the Church or in which way can you personally take an initiative as the servant of God in ensuring that the Gospel reaches every corner of the world so that lost and wandering souls may also like Mary find comfort under the feet of Jesus? I encourage you to donate to evangelistic activities, support your pastor and evangelists in the preaching of the Gospel and the purchasing of equipment and logistics need to effectively spread the Gospel.

In summary beloved in the Lord, God is building a new nation in Christ for this reason, His desire is for us to be liberated and become citizens of the new nation in Christ so that we shall experience the transformational power and promises of God which is able to make the impossible possible. Again we must respond to the invitation to become cizitens and servants of Jesus by using our best to expand the territories of Christ’s new nation through evangelism and church growth. May the Holy Spirit continue to empower us to live a life worthy of our calling as citizens of the new nation in Christ. Amen.

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)