EmmDev 2024-10-15 [Stronger Together] The gift of brotherhood / sisterhood.

The gift of brotherhood / sisterhood.

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Friends love through all kinds of weather, And families stick together in all kinds of trouble. (MSG) A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. (NKJV) (Proverbs17:17)

We are living in times whereby friendship has developed into a stronger covenant in people's lives more than the brotherly love within families. A friend and a brother, are both essential persons needed in and around the life of an individual but the problem comes when we fail to differentiate the value of the two and where to place them.

Now from the above scripture, though a friend appears to be loyal it is very important to understand that a brother is born for a reason. That is to provide support and companionship during difficult times and this points to the familial bond that should exist between siblings.

Therefore, this also means that even if a friend can be true throughout, there are certain limitations or boundaries that he cannot cross. For example, each family here has its own pattern of life which is best understood by siblings and not friends, hence calls for a brother to address.

However, the realisation of the gift of brotherhood and sisterhood in families can only be achieved when we start to consider and value one another in a family set up as well as complimenting the similarities or differences each one has bearing in mind that what unites a family is greater than what divides it. The church, which is you and me has a mandate to strengthen this gift of brotherhood and sisterhood in families.

As I wrap up my dear brothers and sisters, while a friend's love can be readily available, remember a sister or brother is part of you, is born for you, there is a blood tie. Many people are replacing the gift of family because of wanting to belong somewhere or to have material things to suit a style.

But today as the Lord has given you and me the privilege to have this devotion in our ears. Let us learn something and stop looking down upon our brothers and sisters or replace them for any cause, it is indeed a gift to have that brother or sister on your side. Amen.
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Tariro Mupfururi: Wife to Regis, a mother to Munashe, Nokutenda, Anashe and Anotida.
Serving at Mufakose UPCSA in the Presbytery of Zimbabwe.

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EmmDev 2024-10-14 [Stronger Together] Care in the Christian Home

Care in the Christian Home

We move into week three of our Month of Mission. We're talking about "Unity in the Family" as we are "Stronger Together."

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1Timothy5:8)

According to Pope John XXIII, "The family is the first essential cell of human society, it is from the family that citizens come to birth and it is within the family that they find the first school of the social virtues that are the animating principle of the existence and development of society itself". One can tell from this quote how important and essential a family is. It comes as no surprise that Paul in his instruction to Timothy took time to address this important aspect of the community - the household.

Paul is writing to Timothy, a young pastor, instructing him on the proper care and oversight of the congregation. In this pastoral letter, Paul addresses various issues that includes the treatment of widows, the qualifications of elders, deacons and the character and conduct of church members. Our text falls within the context of the instruction on the care of widows. Paul shows Timothy what Christian life among the household of God should look like.

In this verse Paul emphasizes the importance of family by reminding believers of their obligation to take care of their households. For Paul believers have an obligation to take good care of their families and failing to care for one's family is a serious spiritual offense that is in parallel with the core Christian beliefs. Equating neglecting care of one's household to unbelief shows how deeply Paul views the importance of care in a Christian household.

Why is care in the Christian household important for us today? Children from households in which they are taken good care of can be agents of change and transformation on the society. Charity begins at home, it starts in the household and it cascades down into the society. The way they are cared for in their household is the same way they will care for others in the society. Christian care is built on the foundation of faith, hope and love. Our love, compassion and care comes from knowing Christ and the gift of grace, and our obligation to care for our households is rooted in this understanding.

For Paul in 1 Timothy 5, the household as a place of spiritual growth: Paul sees the household as a place where individuals can learn and grow spiritually and serve one another. In a world in which the understanding of household is now complex, Paul is reminding us the importance of care in the household. Our obligation to take care of our households should be rooted in the principles of family responsibility and mutual care and knowing that households are first essential cells of human society.
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Rev Tatenda Garande is married to Juliet, a father to Kyle and Kylie. He is currently serving at Trinity Presbyterian Church Gweru, in the Presbytery of Zimbabwe.

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EmmDev 2024-10-11 [Stronger Together] The Clothes of Unity

The Clothes of Unity

In that renewal, there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians3:11-14)

Unity in the Church is not merely an ideal; it is a reflection of Christ's love working through us. In Colossians 3, Paul reminds us that, in Christ, the divisions that once defined society no longer hold power. "There is no longer Greek and Jew, slave and free, but Christ is all and in all." This profound truth calls us to embrace a new way of being, where the clothes we wear reflect the character of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." These are the clothes we are expected to wear every day, not merely ideals to admire from a distance. Wearing these "clothes" and treating one other with the grace that Christ bestows upon us is how the Church stays united.

While unity requires us to put up with one another and forgive grievances the way the Lord pardoned us, it also requires more than outward acts. Since the Church is human, there will inevitably be disagreements, misunderstandings, and difficult moments. But it's also in these moments that we have the opportunity to extend mercy and allow forgiveness to restore and restore relationships.

Paul's most important instruction to us is to "clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." The final piece of clothing that keeps the fabric of oneness together is love. Love makes the space for kindness, forgiveness, and compassion to grow, and it makes the Church a place where everyone is accepted, respected, and loved.

As we consider the theme of unity in the Church this week, let us examine the clothes we wear in our interactions with one another. Are we clothing ourselves with Christ's love, compassion, and humility? Are we seeking to build unity by forgiving and bearing with each other?

May we choose, every day, to put on the clothes of unity---allowing Christ's love to bind us together in perfect harmony.

Loving God,
Clothe us in the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Teach us to forgive as you have forgiven us,
And above all, help us to wear the garment of love,
So that we may be united as one body in Christ.
Amen.
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Unathi Ntseke, an Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament within the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), serves the Bridgetown Presbyterian Church in Cape Town. Raised in Langa Township, with a proud heritage rooted in the Mzondi, Myirha, and Xhosa clan, I draw on my Christian upbringing instilled by our single mother. As a dedicated leader, motivator, and protector of the vulnerable, I Rev. Ntseke am committed to my ministry, which has exposed me to the harsh realities of abuse and poverty. I (Unathi) am also a loving single parent to her daughter, Olwesisa, who inspires and motivates me. In all, God remains the center of her universe, guiding me through life's challenges.

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EmmDev 2024-10-10 [Stronger Together] Jesus: Barrier-breaker and Peace-maker

Jesus: Barrier-breaker and Peace-maker

"For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians2:14)

As human beings, we often allow negative attitudes and behaviors into our lives that divide us - whether through race, color, culture, social standing, gender, or sexual orientation. These differences have become deep-rooted barriers, growing stronger each day, and we struggle to overcome them on our own. The world offers no lasting solution and often makes the problem worse. As long as we cling to these divisions, racial, social, cultural, and gender barriers will remain, leading to conflict and hostility. Unity and peace will continue to be beyond our reach.

To transcend these barriers, we need more than the power this world offers: we need heavenly intervention. The world's power structures have repeatedly failed and disappointed us. What we truly need is the power that comes from God. Through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has intervened to defeat the forces of evil and darkness that divide and destroy us. Jesus did not suffer or die in vain; His death and resurrection have transformed how we relate to one another. Through His blood, Jesus has broken down the walls of division - racial, social, religious, cultural, and gender barriers - destroying the hostility that once kept us apart. Our peace and unity are firmly grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Paul reminds us that we are no longer to regard anyone from a worldly perspective. If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation: reborn and transformed by the Holy Spirit. The old ways of division have passed away, and new life has come. Likewise, Galatians 3:26-28 tells us that in Christ, distinctions of race, gender, and social standing no longer matter. We are all one in Christ Jesus, with no one spiritually superior to another.

Jesus, during His earthly ministry, transcended racial, social, cultural, and gender barriers. He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, welcomed the touch of a sinful woman, and ate with tax collectors and sinners, despite the criticism of religious leaders. Jesus is the ultimate Barrier-Breaker and Peacemaker, and by uniting with Him through baptism, we are called to take on His character and values. We, too, are called to be barrier-breakers and peacemakers in a divided world.

The Church, as God's new creation, is central to His plan for salvation. It is through the Church that God brings light to darkness, healing to brokenness, and unity to division. However, if the Church remains divided by the same barriers as the world, how can it bring reconciliation to a divided world? Before we can heal others, we must first overcome the divisions within ourselves. Without transcending our barriers, we remain broken and unable to bring true healing to others.
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Rev Tieho Letsheleha, married to Eleanor Letsheleha, blessed with two beautiful daughters, Tlaleng and Mponeng and a grandson, Melokuhle Mahlalela. Currently serving at Moletsane Presbyterian Church, within the bounds of Egoli Presbytery.

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EmmDev 2024-10-09 [Stronger Together] Neither this nor that - just one in Christ

Neither this nor that - just one in Christ

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians3:28)

Paul writes to the Galatians when the early church faced challenges regarding the role of the Torah in the new faith community. The Torah, particularly circumcision, was a marker of belonging to God's people since Abraham. Aligning with its requirements was seen as the way to live righteously before God.

Paul had initially preached the gospel to the Galatians, and they received it well. However, over time, they began to follow a different message. Paul calls this a "different gospel," which was no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-7). Those advocating this message, often referred to as Judaizers, insisted that circumcision and the Law were prerequisites for following Christ, undermining Paul's authority.

In response, Paul emphasizes that salvation is based on the promise made to Abraham, fulfilled in Christ, not on the Law. Circumcision belonged to a particular time before Christ. Now, in Jesus, the promise to Abraham is fulfilled for all who believe---whether Jew or Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised.

Humanity is no longer divided into groups like Jew and Greek, male and female, because in Christ, these divisions are resolved. Christians are clothed in Christ, and being "Christ's" becomes the defining identity for all. Paul assures the Galatians that they, too, are Abraham's children and heirs of the promise, fully united in Christ.

In today's society, categorization---tribes, genders, social status---often leads to divisions, prejudice, and power imbalances. We see this in gender-based violence, as in the recent tragic murders in Limpopo. Such issues arise from seeing some people as insiders and others as outsiders.

For Paul, faith in Jesus Christ makes us sons and daughters of God. This requires shedding worldly categories and realizing that we are all one in Christ Jesus. The categories of Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, no longer define us. Instead, we are a family in Christ.

Amid the divisions in our world, we must remember Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." This truth should shape our families and our conduct, as we teach by word and example. Ephesians 5:21 reminds us: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

As the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Uniting Presbyterian Church, Rt. Rev. Lydia Neshangwe, says: we are "Stronger Together."

Let us demonstrate God's love for each other and the world as believers.
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Rev Lethabo Mabotja. An ordained minister of the Uniting Presbyterian Church, serving at Stuartville Presbyterian church in the Presbytery of Limpopo.

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EmmDev 2024-10-08 [Stronger Together] One Mind, One Voice

One Mind, One Voice

The Book of Romans, written by the Apostle Paul around AD 55-56, was addressed to the church in Rome. Paul wrote to convey the grand themes of God's grace and glory, which are central to the Gospel. His theology reflects God's deep love for us - a divine intimacy that calls us into understanding and oneness with Him. To be intimate with the God of glory means knowing His heart and aligning ourselves with His will. Paul's letter seeks to explain this profound message, clarify his mission, and show how it should shape the daily life and community of believers.

May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other, each with the attitude of Christ towards the other. And then all of us can praise the Lord together with one voice, giving glory to God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans15:5-6)

             
Paul is pleading with the Church in Rome as with us today, that God, the source of great endurance and comfort, may grace us with unity which flows from our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

In one mind, and one voice the believers shared their possessions. Love is the key, together we stand but divided we fall. A divided kingdom ends in ruin. A city or home divided against itself cannot stand. (Matthew 12v25).

All believers were one in heart and mind, no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. (Acts 4v32).

As believers and Christ followers we must live in harmony with each other, peace amongst us must be the core, by pursuing peace. A tree is identified by its fruit. 

As the disciples of Christ, people will know that we are His, if we love, care, encourage, help, advise and teach one another to obey His Commandments.

Paul encourages the us that, if our attitudes are as that of Christ, we can praise the Lord together with one voice.

May God almighty help us to be the doers of the Word and not only hearers and having the mind of Christ by not deceiving ourselves. 

John 8v12" When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
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Rev Themba Donald Nzama born in Benoni, Gauteng now serving UPCSA Midlands Congregation in Pietermaritzburg Drakensberg Presbytry KwaZulu-Natal.

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EmmDev 2024-10-07 [Stronger Together] Body and Parts

Body and Parts

Welcome to week two of our Month of Mission as we consider being "Stronger Together."
This week we will focus on unity in the Church.

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1Corinthians12:18-20)

As we celebrate the Month of Mission, we are given the text where Paul the apostle is writing to the Church in Corinth in order to identify problems in the congregation, to offer solutions and to teach the believer how to live for Christ in a corrupt society. In the Scripture Paul gives an illustration about the body, for the church to have an understanding of what it means to be a united church serving God with our given different gifts.

I am reminded of the book of Exodus chapter 17, where Moses appointed Joshua and other men to go down the mountain to fight against the Amalek. Moses had a rod that God was using through him. Whenever Moses lifted up the staff, the Israelites were defeating the Amalek, but whenever his hands got tired and he dropped the rod, the Israelites were defeated. Aron and Hur used their hands together to assist Moses, to lift the rod until the battle was over and the Israelites conquered. The victory belonged to all of them because they all participated differently just as the body functions differently with its different parts, Aron and Hur worked together to assist both Moses, Joshua and the men who were fighting, because they understood that the mission was not only given to Josua and the men down there, but they realised that the battle belonged to all of them.

That is what Paul the apostle is saying to us as the church today, that we are called together to participate in the Mission of God, using all the different talents and gifts He entrusted us with.

For us to carry the mission of God together, is to STOP competing amongst ourselves, and to work together as One body of Christ, Him being the head of the Church Our battle my not necessarily mean that we fight physical like the Israelites did with the Amalek, but ours is to fight the battle of bringing God's people back to him and making more disciples. In and outside the church of God.

May the Good Lord help us to carry and fulfil his Mission that He has trusted us with.
AMEN
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Rev Mary-Anne Molifi, the moderator of the Limpopo Presbytery. I am the minister in charge of Weirdale congregation, and the wife to Mr Clifford Molifi, and we are blessed with two baby girls.

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EmmDev 2024-10-04 [Stronger Together] Disunity solved by connection to God.

Disunity solved by connection to God.

When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David's two wives had been captured--Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. (1Samuel30:3-6)

As we read the Old Testament, we discover that life is full of conflict. When things get tough, people are often filled with fear. Instead of standing together in the face of danger, people under threat are easily divided. The strategy often becomes "each man for himself", and it becomes difficult to discern who is friend and who is foe.

We know David as the boy who courageously goes into battle against the giant Goliath, a Phillistine warrior, and kills him with just a sling and a stone.

Some years later, when King Saul pursues David and puts a price on his head, David retreats from Judah together with
600 men loyal to him and their families.

David finds refuge in the area ruled by King Achish of Gad. After David proves his loyalty to King Achish, he requests and is given the town of Ziklag. Here David, his family and his followers, together with their families, live in peace.

When King Achish is called upon to help in the fight against the Philistines, David and his men go with him. Their presence should be a big boost of confidence for everyone, but some of the followers of King Achish are dubious about David's loyalty.
The integrity of David and his men is questioned and they are sent back home.

They return to find that the Amalekites have raided Ziklag. The town is ravaged. Their wives and sons and daughters are taken captive. They have lost everything. This is a devastating blow for each one of them and for all of them.

David and his 600 men weep together until they can weep no more.

As their tears run dry, overwhelming sadness gives way to bitterness. Those in great pain, those who have lost much, look for someone to blame. The men once loyal to David turn against him.

As talk of stoning David soon spreads through the ranks, David is deeply distressed.

Put yourself in his place. What would you do?

It is so easy when we experience pain and loss, when we feel we have failed, to become destructive.
To take down those around us.
To hurt those dear to us.

Instead, David at his most vulnerable, in his weakness, finds strength in the Lord his God.
This strength enables David to lift those who have fallen.
Those who are raised up come together under David's leadership for the common good.
Together they go out to save their families.
Together they return to rebuild their homes and community.

In the same place that they wept until they could weep no more, the people God has restored now come together to rejoice.
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Shona van der Lingen is the mother of two amazing daughters and Aya of one delightful grand-daughter. Her garden is her happy place. Shona is serving at St Columba's Kokstad in the Presbytery of East Griqualand.

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EmmDev 2024-10-03 [Stronger Together] The Bond of Peace

The Bond of Peace

"I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called . . . making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians4:1-3)

Paul is sitting in jail. As always his heart is aflame with God but in that great heart Paul carries a deep pastoral passion for the spiritual well-being of God's people, many of whom he had lead to the Lord in Ephesus.

Sadly, in prison Paul is receiving reports of infighting among believers and he sends a letter "begging" them to get their act together. Begging suggests a measure of desperation and Paul would have been desperate. When Christians are constantly at loggerheads and churches begin to come apart at the seams the credibility of the Gospel is undermined. If we are not able to heal our divisions and brokenness why should anyone outside the church bother to listen to us? Surely, we have to practise what we preach.

Certainly! But where do we begin? It has to go deeper than 'Lets try and be nice to one another.'

Paul tells us that healing and unity are found and maintained "through the bond of peace", which is God's costly and reconciling commitment in Jesus towards you and I; towards your church and mine.

Jesus is our "bond of peace" and as we come to place our trust in Him, as we come into relationship with Him, a new reality takes hold of us and we become integral players in the unifying "bond of peace". We become part of Christ, part of His peace team to bring healing and unity to this broken world.

It's amazing when you think about it. But when that vision and reality fade we are left with dying congregations. Where we "make every effort" to maintain that vision, churches are resurrected and dry bones begin to live once more.

The bond of peace is not just a dry theological statement, it is the lively and reconciling energy that flows through our lives and our churches from the Cross of Jesus. It is maintained and renewed in regular participation with others in Holy Communion and especially in the practise of hospitality.

The path of peace is never easy. We have to "make every effort" to keep it alive. Sometimes it feels like a mountain we have to climb but we simply have to keep at it. But in so doing never forget that we are speaking here about the empowering presence of our ever-living Lord and Saviour. Jesus is our bond of peace, so do everything in your power to keep that relationship alive. There is much at stake.

"Blessed are the peacemakers," said Jesus to His followers of which you are one "for they shall be called sons and daughters of God." It is a high calling and it is little wonder therefore that Paul "begs" us, or implores us, to live lives worthy of that calling.

And God bless you.
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James Gray is a retired minister living in Hermanus. He plays golf and gives illustrated talks on a variety of subjects, the latest in preparation being 'A Broken Hallelujah: The Spiritual Vision of Vincent van Gogh.' James is happily married to Mariette.

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EmmDev 2024-10-02 [Stronger Together] Vine and Branches

Vine and Branches

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." (John15:1-5)

Yesterday, we were reminded that we are created in the image of God, a God who is a loving community---Father, Son, and Spirit.

Interestingly, one of humankind's earliest expressions of community was at the Tower of Babel, where people sought to compete with and "outgrow" God. In His wisdom, God confused their languages, preventing them from continuing a project that would lead them into self-destructive competition with their Creator.

We will never find true, meaningful community outside of our connection with God.

Some commentators suggest that Jesus and His disciples may have passed by a beautiful old vine growing on the city wall as they made their way to Gethsemane. Jesus uses the vine as an illustration. When we are connected to the vine, we are the (plural) branches, connected to one singular vine. (While we can't discern it in the English, in the Greek the pronouns for "you" are plural.)

We can only be "stronger together" when we are connected to Him: the One who is three but also one.

Our ability to have meaningful relationships with other branches stems directly from our connection to Him. His grace, love, and forgiveness flow through us, giving us the tools we lack when we try to "go it alone."

At Pentecost, God once again gave the gift of languages. But this time, the languages weren't meant to scatter humanity. Instead, they were used to draw people together: another branch, another soul, another community, all being brought to the One who died and rose to save us.

May we be "Stronger Together" because we are in Him.
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(Unfortunately the writer for today was unable to write their devotion and so this one was written by Theo Groeneveld.)

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