eDevs

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-28 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] Partners don't fear

The mission which God has called us to partner with Him is one with many challenges and dangers. These may include spiritual opposition, persecutions, internal doubts, external pressures, loneliness and many other issues. These challenges can easily lead one to be afraid of involving themselves in God's mission. Today's scripture is encouraging us as partners not to fear.

Isaiah 43:1, 2 is God's message of hope, redemption and His unwavering presence to comfort and assure the nation of Israel during their exile in Babylon, a time of judgement for their backsliding. God promised to protect them through their difficulties and reminded them of their identity, as a chosen people. He guaranteed them His personal care and presence through the hardship that they faced.

The imagery of waters and rivers symbolizes the emotional and physical challenges that threaten our peace and stability. These may include health and financial burdens. The reference to walking through fire and not being scorched indicates intense adversities that tests one's faith, resilience and spirituality. Fire often symbolizes purification and divine presence. To walk through and not be burned is to emerge from trials not only intact but refined: purified by challenges, David wrote in Psalm 23:4 "even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Even in the most frightening and darkest times of life, a person need not be afraid because God is with them, offering both protection and comfort.

Isaiah 43:1, 2 does not dismiss the reality of the hardships nor does it suggest that believers are spared from suffering. Instead it assures the believer that he is not alone in the hardship hence he must not be afraid. There is an affirmation that, Gods sustaining power does not only carry us through our trials, but fortifies us within them. Therefore dear partner do not fear or give up because God is with you and in His presence there is infinite strength to help you overcome, instead of being afraid, endure and emerge stronger. It is a call to be strong and courageous as we carry out Gods mission. (Joshua 1:5)
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Rev Judy C Mkandawire: Wife to Rev Thomson Mkandawire, mother to Tapiwa, Tionge, Themba and Mtende. Serving at Kanyama Congregation: Munali Presbytery: Lusaka, Zambia

Monday, October 27, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-27 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] Partners' Persecution

Partners' Persecution

We're entering our final week in our Month of Mission Series: "Partners in Mission." This week we look at the challenges and dangers of Partnering with God and each other in the Missio Dei....

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew5:11-12)

Throughout His ministry, Jesus had prepared His disciples and would-be disciples for the persecution that might come as they witness Christ to the world.

Out of His grace, God has invited us to join him in his mission. In the Matthian account, we are reminded in the Beatitudes passage that persecution is inevitable for those who pursue righteousness. This means partners in God's mission can be persecuted. But if we hold on to our faith, unwavering, then there is a blessed assurance for us that our reward is great in Heaven.

Throughout all generations, believers have faced challenges and dangers. Prophets were persecuted for being the mouthpiece of God. Apostles were persecuted and killed, but the mission of God did not stop.

Even today, as partners in mission, we still face challenges and dangers. Lack of resources, infiltration of false teachings, leadership crisis etc. But in the midst of all difficult circumstances, we are not alone. We have God who affirms on Matthew 5:12 that "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in Heaven."

In His divine power, our sovereign God has perfect knowledge of the heavens, and that which He has prepared for those who serve him faithfully in his mission. It is not our work. It is missio-Dei- the mission of God. Like our logo, His church may burn but will never be consumed by the fire. The Holy Spirit will continue to empower us. As the old Hymn says, "Courage brother, do not stumble".

In conclusion brethren in Christ, we are saved by God's grace. He is calling us to be partners in mission even in the midst of challenges and dangers. Let us take heed of God's calling. Its not about us but him alone. Let's serve him in obedience and love. Let us not forget what Jehovah has done to humanity through Christ whom he did not spare, but gave to the world to be redeemed. Let us rejoice and be glad for our reward is great in heaven. AMEN!!
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Biggie Mususa, married to Tsitsi. We have 2 sons, Charisma and Kelvin. Serving at David Livingstone Memorial Schools and Ntabazinduna Congregation, Zimbabwe.

Friday, October 24, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-24 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] Nurturing One's Relationship with God

Nurturing One's Relationship with God

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew22:37-40)

As we continue reflecting on the question "How do we engage?", we are reminded that all meaningful engagement begins with our relationship with God. Before we can engage with our communities, our neighbours, or the challenges of our time, we must first be rooted in love --- the love that flows from knowing and walking with God. Jesus teaches us that the foundation of all engagement is love for God and love for others.

Our relationship with God is the heartbeat of our faith. When Jesus summarized the commandments as loving God and loving others, He revealed that genuine engagement with the world flows from a vibrant relationship with Him. To love God "with all your heart, soul, and mind" is to place Him at the centre of our lives --- to allow His love to shape our emotions, our identity, and our thoughts.

Nurturing this relationship takes time, intention, and care. Just as we cannot maintain a close friendship without communication, we cannot grow close to God without prayer, reflection, and obedience.

Through prayer, we share our hearts with Him and listen for His guidance.
Through Scripture, we come to know His character and promises.
Through worship, we express our gratitude and devotion.
Through obedience, we demonstrate that our love is genuine.

When our love for God deepens, it transforms how we see and treat others. The second commandment --- to love our neighbour as ourselves --- becomes the natural expression of the first. Our compassion, forgiveness, and acts of justice are not performed out of duty, but flow from a heart that has been touched by divine love.

In a world filled with noise and distractions, nurturing one's relationship with God requires a conscious choice. It means setting aside time to be still before Him, to listen, to reflect, and to grow. The more we nurture our relationship with God, the more we are equipped to engage with the world around us in truth, grace, and love. Deepening our relationship with Him is not a once-off event, but a daily journey of surrender, love, and growth. When we give God our heart, soul, and mind, we find strength to love others genuinely and to engage the world with compassion and purpose. A heart that is nurtured by God's presence becomes a heart that transforms the spaces it touches

Prayer: Loving God, draw me closer to You each day. Teach me to love You with all my heart, soul, and mind. Help me to nurture my relationship with You through prayer, worship, and obedience. May my engagement with others reflect Your love and truth. Let my life be a witness of Your grace in the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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Bukelwa Hans married to Howard and blessed with 4 children and 10 grandchildren. She is a Retired minister in the Central Cape Presbytery.

Thursday, October 23, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-23 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] Hearing the Whispers of God in the Marketplace.

Hearing the Whispers of God in the Marketplace.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (Colossians3:23)

Our society is full of socio-economic, health, and personal problems. It is a society that appears to be without hope and without answers. Hardship and hopelessness know no age, race or gender.

However, the Scriptures are full of such episodes of hopelessness, injustice and evil subduing the innocent, marginalized and at times, the entire nation. In every account, God reveals Himself as a God who is on the side of the oppressed. In His quest to intervene God looks for a man who can stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30). God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and usually escape our understanding.

For life to prevail, and seen to be in Christ Jesus, God calls us to die to self!
To be forgiven, God calls us to forgive!
To be blessed, we bless!
To receive, we are commanded to give!
Oh what a paradox!!!

No wonder we feel so helpless and weary. We pray for blessings, forgiveness, good and healthy life and so on, whilst there is a way which God has already prescribed.
In Colossians 3:23 Paul directs our actions, intentions and lifestyles towards God's service. This might appear demanding and at times heavy, especially to those who feel they have nothing to give, but everything to receive from God. This is Good News, no need to feel heavily-laden. Paul is reminding and showing us the way to receive the blessings, the peace, the life, and justice we are seeking.

Our intellect cannot comprehend death as a path to life. Hence, most of us within Christianity find this calling unattractive. It's a whisper our natural ears can't hear, and our natural minds can't process. The call is to give, and be given. Forgive, and be forgiven! A consumerist society like ours cannot accept these kinds of principle. Since our natural senses cannot comprehend this, a spiritual sense is needed to engage with the ways and voice of God.

It's a call to meditation, obedience and being Spirit led. It is a call to hear the whispers of God in the marketplace, where society least expects it, as we work with all our heart, not for human approval, but ultimately in serving and honoring the Lord.
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Nelson is married to Akile and is serving at the the St Peter's Uniting Presbyterian church Tembisa - Highveld Presbytery. A simple guy who loves Jesus and his people. In my private time, I do anything adventurous or in nature, and enjoy a cup coffee.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-22 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] The Role of the Church

The Role of the Church

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians3:7-11)

When Paul wrote these words, he was in prison, yet his heart overflowed with purpose and vision. He saw the Church not as an institution or a building, but as the living body through which God reveals His grace to the world. Though he called himself "less than the least of all the Lord's people," Paul knew that God's grace was enough to empower him to share the good news with all nations.

Paul's declaration that "through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known" reminds us of our sacred calling in every generation and place. The Church is God's chosen instrument to display His wisdom, mercy, and justice in a world that desperately needs them.

In our southern and central African context - across South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the DRC - this calling remains urgent. Our nations carry both beauty and brokenness: vibrant faith and community life alongside poverty, corruption, and division. Many long for hope, truth, and compassion in the face of hardship. In such times, the Church cannot remain silent or still. To be faithful is to embody God's wisdom in tangible ways: through reconciliation where there is mistrust, generosity where there is need, and courage where there is fear.

Each time a congregation or believer feeds the hungry, mentors the young, prays with the suffering, or speaks for peace and justice, God's grace becomes visible. The Church becomes a living sign that Christ's reconciling love is stronger than despair.

Our strength does not come from wealth, numbers, or influence, but from grace. We are co-workers with God in His mission of renewal. Through the Church - ordinary people empowered by extraordinary grace - God continues to reveal His love, His justice, and His hope to all creation.

May we, the Church across Africa, live out this calling with humility and courage. May our worship, witness, and service shine as a testimony that God's wisdom is still at work: healing divisions, lifting burdens, and transforming lives. And may those who see us also see in us the manifold wisdom of God revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Melanie Cook, loves coffee, her family and Jesus, but not in that order. Serving as minister at St Columba's Presbyterian Church, Parkview, JHB. She is also the Moderator-Elect of the General Assembly.

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-21 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] Reading God's Word and Meditating on its Truths

Reading God's Word and Meditating on its Truths

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalms119:105)

The Word of God is not merely a book among many --- it is the divine revelation of the eternal, unchanging truth of God. Psalm 119:105 reminds us that Scripture is both a lamp and a light. It illuminates our steps and directs our path. In a dark and morally confused world, God's Word provides clarity, conviction, and certainty. Nothing else can guide the human heart in righteousness because nothing else bears the authority of the living God.

To read the Word of God is to expose our minds and hearts to His truth. To meditate upon it is to allow that truth to take root and bear fruit. Reading alone informs; meditation transforms. The believer who merely skims Scripture will gain information, but the believer who lingers in it - who studies, soul travails, ponders, and applies it - will gain sanctification. True engagement with Scripture produces obedience. As James writes, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).

At the center of all Scripture stands the Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word. Every page of the Bible points to Him: His person, His work, His glory. The Old Testament anticipates His coming; the Gospels reveal His life and death; the Epistles unfold the implications of His redemption.

Jesus Himself declared, "The Scriptures... testify of Me" (John 5:39). Therefore, to read and meditate on Scripture apart from seeing Christ is to miss its ultimate purpose.

When the believer approaches the Word of God with a humble heart and a Christ-centered focus, the Spirit of God enlightens the mind, convicts the conscience, and renews the heart. The light of Scripture not only shows us the way to walk but exposes the sin that hinders our steps.

Engaging with God's Word, then, is not optional. It is essential. It is how we grow in holiness, discern truth from error, and walk faithfully with Christ in a dark world.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your perfect and sufficient Word. Teach me to love it, to meditate upon it, and to see Christ in every line. Let Your truth guide my steps and shape my life for Your glory. Amen.
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Rev. Chala Habasila is the minister in charge at St. Columba's Presbyterian Church in Lusaka, Zambia. He was ordained as minister in the UPCSA in 2004. He is the current Moderator for M'chinga Presbytery. He is married to Patricia and have three Sons: Steven, David and Daniel.

Monday, October 20, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-20 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] How Do We Engage? Prayer as Partnership in Mission

How Do We Engage? Prayer as Partnership in Mission

This week in our Month of Mission Devotions about being a "Partner in Mission" we are wrestling with the question: "How do we engage?"
We'll look at prayer, reading God's Word, being built up in the church, hearing the "whispers of God in the marketplace", and nurturing our relationship with God.

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"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." (Matthew6:5-13)

Matthew, a former tax collector and one of Jesus' twelve disciples, wrote this Gospel to a community of Jewish Christians living after the destruction of the Temple. In chapter 6, Jesus gives clear instruction on prayer: not as a public performance but as a sincere, private conversation with God.

In Jesus' day, many treated prayer as a tradition or show of piety. Some prayed loudly on street corners or in synagogues to impress others. Jesus challenged this, saying, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." Prayer, He teaches, is not about being seen but about being known - by the Father who sees the heart.

To engage in mission, we begin by engaging with God in prayer. When we withdraw into quiet places to speak honestly with God, we learn dependence, humility, and compassion. Private prayer strengthens public witness. Those who pray in secret are shaped for service in the open.

Jesus also warns against meaningless repetition. Like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:26, empty phrases do not move God. Our Father already knows what we need, yet invites us to ask. In African cultures, a child approaches a father respectfully and confidently, sometimes kneeling, to make a request. In the same way, we approach our heavenly Father in faith and trust.

Jesus then offers a model prayer (the Lord's Prayer) showing us what true engagement with God looks like. It begins with worship: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name." It moves to alignment: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done." It includes our needs, forgiveness, and protection. This prayer draws us into God's mission: seeking His will on earth, depending on His provision, practising forgiveness, and resisting evil.

When we pray like this, we are not spectators but partners in God's work. Prayer aligns our hearts with God's purposes and equips us to live out His love in the world. It transforms our minds, fuels our compassion, and gives us courage to act.

So how do we engage? We engage by praying - honestly, humbly, persistently - allowing God to shape our desires and actions. As we pray, God's wisdom and power flow through us into our families, communities, and nations. Prayer is the heartbeat of partnership in mission.
Amen.
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Olivia Nachengwa Mutandare is a student for the ministry from Trinity Presbyterian Gweru. Pursuing a Bachelor of Theology Honors Degree with Reformed Church University currently in her 2nd year. She is married to Mr B.S Matandare of Mkoba Gweru.

Friday, October 17, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-17 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] Bad Partner: He didn't care about them

Bad Partner: He didn't care about them

But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" (Jonah4:10-11)

As we page through the prophetic books of the Old Testament, we become accustomed that God calls a prophet to go and speak to His people. Normally their oracles are filled with symbolic actions and words, as they offer both warnings and hope. Paging to Jonah, we find a prophet called to go and speak to Israel's number one enemy - the Assyrians. Jonah is called to go to their capital city, Nineveh, with the message: "Repent."

Jonah wasn't happy about this call, because he knew God is merciful and loving. He knew that if the Assyrians repented, God would forgive.

Jonah tries to flee, but ends up going into the city after all, and states 'Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.' As Jonah feared, the people repented, and God showed mercy.
The prophet leaves the city, angry and disappointed. He sits down east of the city where God makes a vine grow to offer Jonah some shade. But then the vine dries up, making Jonah even more angry and disappointed in God. He feels God is a bad partner, who doesn't seem to care. A partner who seems to care more for the enemy. Jonah tells God he is angry enough to die.

The Lord tells Jonah, 'you are upset about this vine, yet you did not tend it, or make it grow. It came up overnight and died overnight.' In a similar way, Jonah also does not know the thousands of people who lived in Nineveh. He did not tend to them or care for them. They were not perfect people - they often did not know right from wrong. Yet God asks Jonah, 'Should I not be concerned about that great city?' With these words, the prophetic book ends.

This abrupt ending reveals Jonah as the bad partner whose heart God is lovingly trying to soften and maybe the fact that Jonah eventually tells his story in this self-deprecating way tells us that his heart eventually softened.

As believers, we encounter many imperfect people. People who are hurting, who need love, and who need to be shown the mercy of God, whether we believe they deserve it or not. The mission field is everywhere, and we have a role to play, as followers of God.

Our role is to show that God cares. He cares about the unlikely and those who are hurt. He cares about those who are struggling. He cares about the person sitting next to us in the taxi; or the co-worker who at times frustrates us. But, we must also remember, that God cares about us. Go today, and show God's care to those you meet, knowing God loves you too.
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Rev Christel Erasmus is a Minister of Word and Sacrament of the UPCSA who has served in the Port Alfred Congregation, of the Presbytery of the Central Cape, for the last 10 years.

Thursday, October 16, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-16 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] Blessed Partner

Blessed Partner

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
"I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you." (Genesis12:1-3)

History can imprison us. Our past mistakes or shame ("I am unworthy, unclean...") can make us feel unfit for God's call. Yet God sees beyond our failures and invites us into His future.

Abraham's story is one of decisive faith. Leaving home, family, and comfort to follow an unknown call is no small decision. It is a leap into the unseen, trusting that the One who calls will also guide.
Before his call, Abraham was not a spiritual giant. Scripture tells us his family worshipped other gods. He had weaknesses, told half-truths, and sometimes doubted. Like us, Abraham had a history. But God called him anyway. God's call was not based on Abraham's merit but on divine mercy. As Martin Luther noted, God's calling of Abraham, despite his idolatry, shows God's grace, not Abraham's perfection. God doesn't call perfect people - He perfects those He calls.

1. God the Caller
God chooses whom He wills for His mission. He does not consult us, nor is He limited by our past. When God called Abraham, He made a covenant with him - not to remind him of his failures, but to make him a channel of blessing. God's mission has always been outward-looking: "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you." The same God calls us today - flawed, forgiven, and commissioned - to carry His blessing to the world.

2. The Responder
Abraham's response was one of faith. He stepped out without knowing the destination, trusting God's promise. Who in their right mind would pack up everything and walk into the unknown? Yet faith often means trusting God's leading when the future is uncertain. Are you willing, like Abraham, to trust the Caller and take that first step?

3. God's Grace
Abraham's story reminds us that grace precedes obedience. God called an idolater and turned him into the father of faith. Even when Abraham stumbled - trying to "help" God through Hagar - God's grace remained. He forgave, restored, and fulfilled His promises. The God who blessed Abraham does not withdraw His grace when we falter.

4. Faith and Trust
Faith is not about having all the answers but trusting the One who does. Sometimes God asks us to leave our comfort zones and serve in unfamiliar places. His call always carries a promise: "I will bless you... and you will be a blessing."

Conclusion
God's call is gracious and sure. He does not look for perfection but perfects those He calls. Like Abraham, may we trust the Caller, leave the familiar, and step into God's mission: blessed to be a blessing wherever He sends us.
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Zwai Mtyhobile is the minister of St Andrews Pretoria and the General Assembly Ministry Secretary. He's married to Thandi and they have three children. He is passionate about developing our ministers in the UPCSA. He enjoys watching and playing sport.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

EmmDev 2025-10-15 [Partners in Mission (Month of Mission 2025)] A Partner in the Dough

A Partner in the Dough

He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. (Matthew13:33)

Jesus' parable of the leaven is brief but rich in meaning. He compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven that a woman hides in a large amount of flour until it permeates the whole batch. Though small and easily overlooked, that little bit of yeast changes everything it touches.

The parable is often understood to mean that the kingdom of heaven is like the yeast itself, quietly transformative, subtle yet effective & powerful. But there's another layer to consider: the kingdom is also like the entire process - the yeast being taken, mixed in, and allowed to work until the dough rises. The woman's hands-on action mirrors how God's kingdom engages the world. It is not static; it moves, enters, and transforms through interaction.

When Jesus spoke these words, His followers were few, and His mission seemed small. Yet He was revealing that God's reign begins humbly but grows steadily, working through people and places that may seem ordinary. The woman in the parable didn't sprinkle the yeast and walk away; she worked it into the dough until every part was changed. In the same way, God calls us to be mixed into the world, not by conforming to it, but by living faithfully within it, so that through our presence- words, character, and actions, His grace can touch and transform those around us.

To be a partner in the dough is to let God place us where His kingdom needs to rise. It means being willing to be "hidden" in workplaces, schools, families, or communities, trusting that the Spirit is working through us even when we can't see results. The yeast never boasts; it simply does what it was made to do. Likewise, God's people live out His love sometimes in small, faithful ways that quietly shape their surroundings.

Mission, then, is not something that happens somewhere else, it's everywhere God's people are. Every conversation, every act of kindness is part of the dough being transformed by divine hands.

Our call, then, is to live as God's active partners in the world- present but distinct, faithful in small things, and confident that His kingdom is rising all around us. Wherever we are, His mission is quietly at work through our lives.

Prayer:
Almighty God, thank You for inviting us to be partners in Your kingdom's work. As You mix us into the world, help us bring Your transforming love wherever we go. In Jesus name. Amen
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Allan Paskwababiri, husband to Tebogo. A history enthusiast. Serving at St Francis Waterkloof Pretoria