“GOSPEL TRANSFORMATION”
We want to give our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ all the praise, for He has seen us through another week!
Yesterday was World AIDS Day (observed). The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world. From 1988 to 2004, the World AIDS Day was organized by UNAIDS. It is now controlled by various organzations. Each year, December 1st is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 39 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million lives last year alone, of which about 570,000 were children.
God said these things would come to pass and they are coming to pass. For many years, many religious leaders and churches didn’t want to address HIV/AIDS because they felt that it would send a message of condoning the lifestyles which produce it. AIDS education is very important because the disease certainly exists. The more information available, the more knowledge we all have. But Christian family, we must remember to set ourselves apart from the world within our thinking about AIDS. The world promotes prevention through various means; we should encourage CHRISTIANITY, ABSTINENCE, LOVE, and PRAYER. If we are striving to live a life that’s pleasing to God, there won’t be a lot of time left to get into things that would make us a victim to such an atrocity. Unfortunately, being a true believer doesn’t completely shield us from the virus (i.e. innocent babies born into the affliction, raped by an infected person, married to a ‘down-low’ or secretly promiscuous partner), but we must have faith in our Lord and trust that His will for our lives be done. Our focus should be on Him and not drugs or premarital sex. We must love our bodies as Christ loved the church…as a temple.
Wednesday’s Bible Study was awesome once again! The goals for the lesson were to understand and experience our adoption into God’s family; to see this adoption lead to personal delight in and love for others; to know that we are connected to others in this new family. From the incarnation-death-resurrection of Jesus flows our full salvation, including our justification, adoption, inheritance, and gift of the Spirit.
The word adoption signifies that The Father has taken us into his family and made us his own children. When we feel alone, alienated, or sinful, we need to remember that we have constant access to Him. There is glory in being a child of God. What a gift to receive! We no longer have to glorify ourselves or seek earthly recognition and we all have at some point…no need folks, because in Christ we have arrived! His approval is all that should matter to us.
The turn out on Wednesday was good; let’s make this coming Bible Study’s turn out great!
Tomorrow is the 1st Sunday. In addition to communion, we look forward to the Love Feast portion of the day where the Usher Board serves scrumptious home cooked meals. Unfortunately, the Love Feast will not be served tomorrow
. Be mindful that it’s the holiday season. So, Love Feast will resume the 1st Sunday in February.
You are smart,only smart person can do such a smart job.