The True Gift of Christmas

 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)    
    Soon it will be Christmas morning and there will be something special that is stirring in the air. Families will gather, and children will be eagerly awaiting the opening of presents. Many people look forward to this one day more than any other, and each one for their own reasons. For some, it represents the happiness of their youth; back to a time when there were no cares or worries. For others, it is a chance to carry on and to give to their children and continue that tradition of generations passed. And, still for others, it can be a time of stress, anxiety, and worry, because there doesnt seem to be enough to share with others.
    
    I find as I get older, the hope of receiving Christmas gifts has long since been replaced with a heart to share a gift with others, and the true spirit of this special day continues to grow within me.
    
    In a way, I think that God feels this way too. You see, long before the world was even formed, He had everything planned perfectly. This included the preparing of a perfect gift that He was to give to us. And that gift was His son, Jesus. And although many people have refused to accept this gift, they will one day bow down and worship and acknowledge this mighty gift that was prepared before the foundation of the world. (See Rev 13:8)
    
    Weve picked this day in December to acknowledge the birth of a Savior, who was born in a stable, clothed with rags, and was laid in a feeding trough for animals. It doesnt sound like the proper setting for a king, much less the God of the universe. But such was the origin of the sacrificial life that Jesus was to live in Human form. And such was the love of the Father to offer the most sacrificial thing He possibly could have given; the life of His Son on that cross of Calvary for the sin of the world. 
    
    What strikes me deep within my heart is that He gave the sacrificial gift to us. Why did He do this for us? Its not because we deserved it, because the fact is, that we didnt. We were His enemies, because we were yet sinners.
    
    But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
    
    Christmas is a happy time, and it should be, but it isnt about the gifts that are under our trees, or even the lack of gifts. We shouldnt put so much value into these things because they are temporal, and they will all burn up one day anyways. All that will be left of that, which was given, is the love that we share with those who God has placed in our lives. And that means everyone! 
    
    And we cannot say that we love God, or that we love our neighbor, if we are not willing to offer them that same gift that was offered to us. And that is the Gift of Eternal Life. Its Gods gift to give, and it is ours to share with others. And it is for anyone who will receive it unto themselves. And like all the gifts under the tree, it will be of no value unless the person, to whom it was offered to, is willing to receive it.
    
     I pray a blessing of Gods Holy Spirit upon anyone who reads this writing, and is willing to allow God to use him or her. Lord, give each person who says, yes. to being used by You, a power and love that surpasses any fear, lack of ability, or doubt. Give them boldness to share Your gift with others about salvation and a relationship with You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name.
    
    Hey Christian, lets celebrate the gift of life with each other. The gift of eternal life, because this is the life that we are to be focusing on, not this temporal one here on earth. Lets share the gift of having a relationship with the God who made you. Now thats something that is worth celebrating&And the best part of all, especially in economic challenging times, is that it is 100% free.
    
    Here is how to receive the Gift. It is contained within the Word of God, and it is everything that you need to know to be saved. 
    
     For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
    
    Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (NIV)
    
    That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
    
    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
    
    STUDY QUESTION: What must we do to be saved according to Romans 10:9-10, and Acts 4:12? How have we been saved according to Ephesians 2:8-9, and why is it not from our works? Why did God give His only Son to die for us according to John 3:16?
    
    PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you accepted the free gift of Salvation? Are you willing to accept Gods written Word that Salvation is by Grace (Unmerited favor), and that it is simply by faith, according to Ephesians 2:9?
    
    APPLICATION: If you havent accepted this free gift as of yet, I would encourage you and invite you to receive it today. If you have, then share it with others.

Happy Birthday Jesus! What's it all about?

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. Luke 2:8-17 (NKJV)

I titled today's devotional, "Happy Birthday Jesus," but below the title I proposed a question that could just as well have been the title of the message.

Q:    What's It All About?

I say that sincerely because Christmas means different things to different people.  

Today, more than 160 countries celebrate Christmas.  Some will choose to follow the Julian calendar and celebrate on the 25th of December, while others use the Gregorian calendar and choose the 6th of January.  Most countries identify it as Christmas, while a few countries refer to it as "Family day."

Millions upon millions will send out Christmas cards - a tradition that started in Britain back in 1840 - back when the first penny postal deliveries had just begun.  Back then, the cards would traditionally show religious pictures of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus wrapped in His swaddling cloth - today they mostly are filled with jokes, pictures of Santa Claus, or some blissful scene representing a time gone past.

Some will choose to celebrate the true meaning of the birth of Jesus because they know who He is, and this day is taken as a chance to celebrate His birth - to say thank you to God for allowing the Savior to come to us.  

The Prophet Micah gave prophecy of Jesus 500-years before His birth:

 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

And the Prophet Isaiah gave prophecy of Him as well over 700-years prior to His birth:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)

And while many will celebrate the Birth of Christ this Christmas, there are many others who will not even consider the true meaning of Christmas.  They will not attend Christmas services or give any thought to the significance of what this Holiday represents.  To many of these people, it merely represents a time to race to the shopping malls to spend money on presents.  If someone were visiting from a pagan culture, they would simply view us and conclude that this was our festival to the "gods" of money and shopping.  

Here in America, there seems to be a controversy brewing between those who want nothing to do with God, and those that do, and this controversy has to do with how we should address this day.  Those who want to rid the world of God would rather combine the greeting of Christmas with New Years Day and say, would say, "Happy Holidays." While those who believe in God take offense at this, and would stand firm on "Merry Christmas."  The enemy must be having a field day at all the chaos that he is causing.

I personally like, "Merry Christmas," because it is a "Merry" or "Happy" day to me.  But might I throw in another suggestion?  As you prepare to entertain family, and friends - before the rustling of presents starts, or the breaking of bread - take time to stop and reflect of the best present you have ever been given - and share with those who are in company with you these words, "Happy Birthday Jesus."

Father, Thank You for sending Your Son to us as a gift and a sacrifice.  Thank You for allowing Him to be a way for us to be reconciled unto You.  Thank You for allowing Him to be our Savior.  He is my Lord, and I love Him.  In Jesus precious name, amen...

I want to say, "Merry Christmas" to you and your family today, and I would like you to join me in saying, "Happy Birthday Jesus."

Nelson Mandela and his faith

One of Nelson Mandela's famous quotes was also an expression of a deeply Christian idea - "until I changed myself, I could not change others". That expression of being born again, the need for internal revival before one can lead others to their own change, was just one of many expressions of faith Nelson Mandela shared throughout his life.

Although it is almost universally agreed that he was a Christian, his exact denominational allegiances remain a source of discussion. While some have suggested that he was a Jehovah's Witness, as his first wife, his sister, and many relatives around him identified as such, most believe he was a Methodist. He attended a Methodist church school growing up, and was baptised in a small Methodist stone church in the Eastern Cape village of Qunu.

In his autobiography, "The Long Walk to Freedom" he talked of his early experiences with Christianity, praising its engagements with the society around him: "The Church was as concerned with this world as the next: I saw that virtually all of the achievements of Africans seemed to have come about through the missionary work of the Church."

Consequently, while attending the University of Fort Hare, an elite black university in Alice, Eastern Cape, Mandela became a member of the Students Christian Association and taught Bible classes on Sundays in nearby villages.

Among other factors, it was Mandela's Christianity that steered him away from Communism and the class struggle that was spreading into South Africa in the 1940s. Despite befriending Gaur Redebe and Nat Bregman, prominent Xhosa and Jewish South African communists, he could not reconcile communism's atheistic attitudes with his Christian faith. Also, he felt that the idea of class struggle was misleading, and that South Africa's problems were primarily racial in origin. Although he was impressed that the local communist party saw Europeans, Africans, Indians, and those of mixed heritage all mixing equally, he clearly believed there was another way to go.

It is likely that Mandela's Christian faith influenced his strategy during the more militant portion of his protest against the government, when he co-founded the armed resistance group Umkhonto we Sizwe, or "Spear of the Nation" in English. The targets Mandela chose, and the way in which the group timed its attacks, was a clear message that he intended to target the government, not the civilians it claimed to serve.

Rather than bombing densely populated areas, Mandela instead chose to organise acts of sabotage, the first target being an electricity substation. Later attacks would focus on things like the burning of crops, destruction of government offices, damaging government owned factory machines, and blowing up telephone lines. All of this was done at night, so as to avoid civilian casualties. Although Mandela considered that terrorism might be necessary, he did not want to resort to it until other routes had failed.

During his imprisonment on Robben Island, he continued to attend Sunday services, but also took classes on Islam, in what he called "the University of Robben Island". Prisoners would lecture on their subjects of expertise, and Mandela frequently listened to what other students had to say about communism, Islam, and many other subjects. This led to many impassioned debates, but ultimately they equipped him with a greater level of understanding. He also learned to speak Afrikaans in the hope that he could reach out to the guards and convert them to his cause.

At the moment of his release, Mandela once again remembered the importance of internal renewal ahead of external change. "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison."

Upon his liberation, Mandela took opportunities to speak at substantial Christian events. Two of these were the Zionist Christian Church's Easter Conferences, once in 1992 and again in 1994. In the latter of these conferences he shared the following:

"The Good News borne by our risen Messiah who chose not one race, who chose not one country, who chose not one language, who chose not one tribe, who chose all of humankind!

"Each Easter marks the rebirth of our faith. It marks the victory of our risen Saviour over the torture of the cross and the grave.

"Our Messiah, who came to us in the form of a mortal man, but who by his suffering and crucifixion attained immortality.

"Our Messiah, born like an outcast in a stable, and executed like criminal on the cross.

"Our Messiah, whose life bears testimony to the truth that there is no shame in poverty: Those who should be ashamed are they who impoverish others.

"Whose life testifies to the truth that there is no shame in being persecuted: Those who should be ashamed are they who persecute others.

"Whose life proclaims the truth that there is no shame in being conquered: Those who should be ashamed are they who conquer others.

"Whose life testifies to the truth that there is no shame in being dispossessed: Those who should be ashamed are they who dispossess others.

"Whose life testifies to the truth that there is no shame in being oppressed: Those who should be ashamed are they who oppress others."

Although he clearly was a passionate believer, religion was not something he spoke about publically on many occasions. Given the situation, he was aware that speaking too zealously and too regularly about his religious beliefs could cause partisan division at a time when unity in South Africa was so important.

In his 1994 autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom", he said: "No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

He may not have put his faith into so many words, but this mattered little as it was his often simple and humble gestures that so powerfully and clearly conveyed what it was he believed. The words of Francis of Assisi come to mind: "Preach the Gospel and if necessary, use words."

(AP/Ross Setford)

South African rugby captain Francois Pienaar, right, receives the Rugby World Cup trophy from President Nelson Mandela, left, who wears a South African rugby shirt, after South Africa defeated New Zealand in Johannesburg, in this June 1995 photo.

An unforgettable witness to his message of reconciliation came in 1995, when Mandela rallied both blacks and whites to support the Springbok rugby team in the Rugby World Cup. The team had been such a strong symbol of white authority during the apartheid years and it was loathed by black South Africans, who would lend their support to the opposing team.

When the Springboks reached the finals against New Zealand, it was a heart stopping moment when Mandela walked onto the pitch wearing the green Springbok rugby shirt and cap, and shook the hands of the mostly white team.

In the end, it was a stunning victory for South Africa in more ways than winning the Cup. Barriers spanning decades were melted in an instant when black South Africans watching the game on TV heard the largely white crowd in the stadium shout "Nelson", "Nelson".

Not surprisingly, one of the most iconic images in South African and sporting history is that of Mandela presenting Springbok captain Francois Pienaar with the Cup.

Pienaar later recalled their exchange of words in that moment as follows: "He said to me 'Thank you for what you have done for South Africa. I said to him, 'No, Madiba, you've got it wrong. Thank you for what you've done for South Africa.' And I felt like hugging him."

It's clear from these very "human" moments he shared with others, that for Mandela, faith was very much a "doing word", with respect and a desire to always bridge the gap to the other at its heart.

On 10 May 1994, Mandela ended his inaugural presidential speech in Pretoria with "God bless Africa!".

While the words "God bless" are so often carelessly thrown around, it's different when they come from a man as deliberate with his words as Mandela, who had a genuine faith and was so careful to live out everything that he spoke.

As the people of South Africa learn to live without their beloved Madiba in their midst, may God indeed answer that call.

Speech by Nelson Mandela at the Zionist Christian Church Easter Conference

Speech by Nelson Mandela at the Zionist Christian Church Easter Conference

20 April 1992, Moria

Reading from the "Lamentations of Jeremiah", Chapter 5

Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us:
consider, and behold our reproach,
Our land is turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners,
We are orphans and fatherless, our Mothers are as widows,
We have to pay for our water; and our wood is sold unto us,
Our necks are under the yoke of oppression, we labour, and we have no rest."

Khotsong Masione! Peace unto you! Uxolo Mazayoni !

Your Grace Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, head of the great Zionist Christian Church;
Reverend Gentlemen, Members of the ministers` council and Elders of the ZCC;
President F W de Klerk;
Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi;
Congregants, Fellow worshippers and friends;

Permit me, Your Grace, to thank you for your kind invitation to attend your Easter Conference here at the holy city of Moria. Moria, a tabernacle erected by the Zionist Christian Church as a site of annual pilgrimage and renewal! I am honoured that you have invited me on this occasion to pay my respects to the leadership and the members of this mighty church on the sub-continent. Since my release from prison, I have attempted to find a time suitable to both myself and His Grace, Bishop Lekganyane, so that we could confer about our common aspirations and the challenges facing our nation in these trying times.

My coming here today is a long-awaited moment. I come to the Holy City of Moria as a pilgrim, with other pilgrims, senior members of the African National Congress as a mark of respect and as an act of communion.

I present Cyril Ramaphosa, Secretary-General of the ANC; Thomas Nkobi, our Treasurer- General; Joe Nhlanhla, a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC, and others.

We bring to your gathering heartfelt greetings from the entire membership of the ANC. Khotso e be le lena! May Peace be With You!

We have joined you this Easter in an act of solidarity, and in an act of worship. We have come, like all the other pilgrims, to join in an act of renewal and rededication. The festival of Easter, which is so closely linked with the festival of the Passover, marks the rebirth of the resurrected Messiah,

who without arms,
without soldiers,
without police and covert special forces,
without hit squads or bands of vigilantes,
overcame the mightiest state during his time.

This great festival of rejoicing marks the victory of the forces of life over death of hope over despair.

As we bow our heads in prayerful worship this day, our minds cannot but dwell on the evil of violence that today stalks our land. We cannot but call to mind the cries of mothers violated, brutalised and outraged by armed foreign mercenaries and killers in our midst.

As we lower our heads in supplication to the Lord of Hosts, the blood-curdling battle cries of armed men, sweeping through a township like a swarm of locusts in a maize field, ring in our ears, and we know that in some home, this night shall be night for mourning.

We pray with you for the blessings of peace! We pray with you for the blessings of love! We pray with you for the blessings of freedom! We pray with you for the blessings of reconciliation among all the people of South Africa!

Khotso e be le lena! May peace be with you!

When Bishop Engenas Lekganyane founded this church in 1910, that occasion represented an important act of the oppressed to resist the theology of submission. It was an act of self-assertion on the part of a people who were expected to remain unheard and unseen while they ministered t the needs of others.

In its own way, the Zionist Christian Church was expressing what we of the ANC, two years later, tried to assert and have fought to entrench, as the basis of the politics of our country. That principle so eloquently simple but yet so profound, has moved thousands through the ages to strive for a better world. We restate it today for emphasis: - The brother and sisterhood of all human beings, and the common fatherhood of God Almighty!

It is that simple truth we have inscribed in our political programme, the Freedom Charter, that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white!

It because of our devotion to, our fervent belief in, and our tenacious refusal to give up that principle, that many of us have suffered persecution.

It is because we stood firm that we have been compelled to go into exile.

It is because we would not bend in the face of state intimidation that we have been condemned to banishment; to torture; to imprisonment; and even to the gallows.

Yes! We affirm it and we shall proclaim it from the mountaintops, that all people - be they black or white, be they brown or yellow, be they rich or poor, be they wise or fools, are created in the image of the Creator and are his children! Those who dare to cast out from the human family people of a darker hue with their racism !

Those who exclude from the sight of God`s grace, people who profess another faith with their religious intolerance!

Those who wish to keep their fellow countrymen away from God`s bounty with forced removals!

Those who have driven away from the altar of God people whom He has chosen to make different, commit an ugly sin! The sin called APARTHEID.

We of the African National Congress: its leadership and its membership, shall sooner break the laws and defy the fanciful wishes of mortal men when we know that in so doing We are being obedient to God. And in obedience to God we declare that all South Africans - be they Christians, Muslims, Jews Hindus, Buddhists - have an equal and untrammelled right to worship God as they see fit. No government should have the right to prescribe religious observance for the citizens of this country.

The ZCC is part of that rich tapestry of experience, culture and life style that make up all our people today. Both as a church and as individual members, you have lent your efforts to bring justice to our land. We applaud in particular your role in the trade union movement in pursuance of workers` rights. The struggles of our people for land and against apartheid-inspired land robbery - the forced removals - would be poorer were it not for the contribution of congregants of this church. We acclaim also the role played by ZCC businesspeople, Who in the teeth of the discriminatory policies of the Pretoria government ran successful enterprises providing jobs and trade in far-flung villages.

The bond between you and the ANC is even clearer, when we consider that many members of our organisation belong to the Zionist Christian Church. Among them, Peter Mokaba and Ngoako Ramatlhodi who are with us today, grew up and have become what they are in the struggle in great measure inspired by your teachings. Many others have fallen in struggle. Many have been subjected to terms in jail. But their spirit remains with the people.

Khotsong Masione! Peace be with you!

This great institution, the ZCC, owes much to the person of Bishop Edward Lekganyane whose tireless efforts have made it the largest church on the southern African sub-continent. We also salute you, Your Grace, for further strengthening the church and maintaining its commitment to the oppressed and the poor.

Those who are denied their just claims to the land of their birth, come to you for solace!

Those condemned to the low wages and denied their rights as the creators of wealth, look to you for spiritual leadership.

Those cast out into the darkness and bitter loneliness of poverty and depravation, lean on you for sustenance.

Those whose homes and families have been destroyed so that the ugly designs of racial oppression maybe realised, have come to you for comfort.

Those who are denied a voice in governing of their country because they are black, turn to you for inspiration.

You have engendered high standards of morality and discipline in an era characterised by racism, poverty and imposed powerlessness. It is because of these qualities, embodied in this mighty church, that year after year millions gather at Moria for this act of spiritual renewal.

On behalf of the African National Congress, we have come here in all humility to break bread and worship with you. To join you in this sacrament of spiritual rejuvenation.

Khotso e be le lena! May Peace be with You!

Since 1986 the ANC took it upon itself to search for a path to peace in our troubled land. From jail, from exile, from the underground hideouts inside South Africa, we extended a hand of peace to the South African government. For four long years, like Pharaoh of old, the South African government spurned it and refused to listen to the plea:

"Let my people go"

In spite of this. In spite of the continuing arrest, detention, torture, imprisonment, shooting, killing and execution of those who opposed apartheid, we would not give up. We continued to press forward. We kept up the pressure for peace, - through struggles, through sanctions, through boycotts - through every means we could muster until we have now reached a stage where we can all say there is a real possibility to solve our problems by negotiations.

The convening of CODESA was like the parting of the waters, opening the way to the promised land of freedom beyond. It was a great victory for the people of South Africa, Black and White. We hope that the waters will not return before we have crossed to the promised land of democracy.

Progress in these talks shall depend on the willingness of those in power to share it during the transition to democracy. We must move as speedily as possible to an elected Constituent Assembly which can draw up a new constitution which all South Africans can be proud of. Our brothers and sisters, deprived of South African citizenship because of apartheid, must have it restored forthwith!

These and many other principles can be agreed upon without further delay, provided there is willingness on the part of those who hold power to reach a speedy conclusion.

The role your church can play is more crucial in these difficult times. The violence that is wrecking our country; tearing our communities apart from places far and wide, is a scourge that must be ended now! On the Witwatersrand, in Natal, in the eastern Transvaal we have been driven from our homes.

In Cape Town, Grobbelarsdaal and other areas we have lost loved ones in senseless taxi wars. The murders, beatings, the shameful assaults on women and mayhem visited upon our people in Phola Park and other squatters camps fill our hearts with sorrow. On the trains, we lose lives everyday at the hands of merciless killers who attack with no motive and melt away, immune from arrest and prosecution. The Trust Feed incident, now before the courts, where the police murdered mothers and babies in their sleep, demonstrates the depravity country could descend.

This violence robs us all of our humanity. It is the main obstacle to a truly democratic South Africa. We appeal to you all, to pray and work for peace. The violence must be ended and those who fuel it must be brought to justice. We cannot afford to fail! For success Lue ask you all to remember us in your prayers.

Uxolo Mazayoni! Khotsong Masione! May Peace be with You!

Your Grace,

Reverend Gentlemen, Ministers and Elders of the Zionist Christian Church,

I wish to close on a note of hope. May this Easter bring with it the blessings of the our risen Messiah and may His love shine upon you all. May the Almighty grant Your Grace the wisdom to continue in your great work of spiritual guidance. You shall remain in our prayers as we shall be in yours.

Thank You.

Christian Leaders Pay Tribute to Nelson Mandela:'The World Has Lost a Great Leader'

Christian leaders have expressed their sentiments of remembrance and sorrow at the news of the death of South African human rights activist and racial pioneer Nelson Mandela.

Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, secretary-general of the World Evangelical Alliance, said in a statement that "the world has lost a great leader."

"Nelson Mandela was a model of courage, vision and personal sacrifice. Today more than ever we need this kind of leadership," said Tunnicliffe.

"May the memory of Nelson Mandela inspire a new generation of such leaders around the world."

The Rev. Aiah Foday-Khabenje, the general secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa stated condolences for Mandela, also known by his clan name, Madiba.

"The life of Madiba is yet another proof and reminder about the origin, nature and commonality of the human species; created in the image of God with ability to reflect some of God's attributes though vainly because of finitude, fallenness with feet of clay; regardless of race or geographical location," said Foday-Khabenje.

"Heartfelt condolences to immediate family members and the people of South Africa. May his exemplary leadership inspire African leaders."

Born during World War I, Mandela grew up to become a human rights activist strongly opposed to the racial caste system of Apartheid South Africa.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison for his efforts, yet became a powerful symbol for racial equality. In 1990 he was released, and in 1993 he earned the Nobel Peace Prize. Mandela served as the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

"President Nelson Mandela paid a heavy price to stand against apartheid while campaigning for human justice and human dignity. His message still resonates though his weary, battle worn body has gone the way of those gone before him," stated Alveda King, niece of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Long may we remember his courage, his fortitude and his gentle smile; none of which were ever tarnished during the years of his battles, oppression, incarceration, and the restorative years following his release."

Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) said in a statement that "Mandela's life embodied the idea of prophetic activism with an unquenchable thirst for justice."

"His struggle for equality brought down one of the final strongholds of segregation and subsequently empowered an entire continent to overcome by doing justice and loving mercy," continued Rodriguez.

"His life inspired us while his humble demeanor will continue to move us toward a more just and loving world."

The Tenth Leper

Bible Reading: Luke 17:11-19

"He fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done.". - Luke 17:16.

He's one of the nameless people in the Bible, one of ten lepers who saw Jesus at a distance and cried, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He's the one who went back to thank Jesus. Wouldn't it be cool to travel back in time and talk to that leper?
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"Yeah," he might say, if he could talk to us, "it was something, all right!

Jesus said to show ourselves to the priests. So, even though we didn't feel any different, we started heading that way. All of a sudden I noticed my hand-it wasn't white anymore! The leprosy had disappeared! And then I pinched it-and it hurt! My hand was no longer numb. That was sweet, the sweetest pain I ever felt."
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The old man leans forward to hear your next question. "Well, I stopped right then and there. I didn't need any priest to tell me I was healed; I knew it! 

There was no doubt. One minute I was a leper, and the next minute, I wasn't." He snaps his fingers. "Just like that!"
.
He pokes a stubby finger behind one ear and scratches. "That's when I turned back to find Jesus. I ran back toward the village, and there he was, almost in the same place he was in before. I just pushed my way through the crowd and dropped at his feet. I could hardly speak, I was so happy, but I had to say thank you!"
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He shakes his head. "I thought the others would be close behind me," he says. "I didn't know I was the only one until Jesus looked around and said, 'Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?' That was the first I knew that none of the others had come. But that didn't bother me. I mean, no matter what the others did, I just had to say thank you after what he'd done for me, you know? I mean, wouldn't you have done the same?"
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Ah, that's a pretty good question, isn't it? After all, think of all the Lord has done for you; hasn't he given you many blessings? Hasn't he been good to you in a hundred-a thousand—different ways? No matter what others may do, such a good God deserves your thanks and your praise-don't you think so?
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REFLECT: Whom have you been more like in the past: the tenth leper (who showed his gratitude to Jesus) or the other nine (who didn't thank him at all)? If you were to thank the Lord for all the good things he's done for you, how long do you think it would take you? How can you be more like the tenth leper from now on?
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ACT: Take a single sheet of notebook paper. List at least three or four things you thank God for today. Add three or four things to your list every day, until every white space on the sheet is covered with thanks to God.
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PRAYER:"Our Loving Father in in Heaven, you have done so much for me and given so much to me. I especially thank you today for ____________."
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

Forgiveness: The Power That Heals

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." - James 5:16 (NLT).

In response to a recent post on the relation between confession and healing I received the following email from a man I will call John:
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"Dear in Christ, I am a pastor of 39 years of age and have found what you said about confession and physical healing to be absolutely true. It has happened to me.
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"This occurred after I confessed guilt regarding holding onto bitterness against a person who hurt me when I was a child. Even though I had often said that I had let the hurt and the bitterness go, I hadn't.
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"But God showed me I needed to confess and repent of my bitterness and I heeded His voice this time. And so I told this person's marriage partner, who is a dear friend of mine, that I needed forgiveness for having borne that grudge for so many years. I received it--with love and affirmation--and since I confessed my guilt I have lost a severe backache which had afflicted me for 17 years (and for which I had many medical sessions of manipulation, etc). You see, the root of my problem had actually been a spiritual [as well as an emotional] issue and not merely a medical / physical one.
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"So, thank you for your insightful and thoroughly Biblical spiritual ministry."
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God has given us directives and / or principles that cover every area of life and death. The smartest thing we can do is to adhere to and follow these.
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Prayer: "Our Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that contains directives and principles for healing, wholeness and happiness. Give me the hunger to learn these, the wisdom to understand them, and the good sense to apply and follow them. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

Strong Faith

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12 (NKJV)
    
Every Christian at some point within their walk will face the challenge to remain strong in their faith and the sharing of their personal testimony when facing persecution for their beliefs.  It can be someone mocking or insulting us, and even discriminating against us because we have professed our faith in Jesus Christ.  As a result of this persecution, some can choose to back-down in their Christian convictions rather than stand fast in "Strong faith."

The Lord knew that this test would happen within the lives of every person who'd refer to himself or herself as a "Christian." The persecution that some will face can range far beyond the verbal or embarrassing and sometimes confrontational exchange of conversation too - it can mean physical confrontation or possibly even death for some.  And yet, Jesus still encouraged His disciples (followers) to stand fast against this persecution, and to "Abide" in Him - promising that He would then Abide in us as a result (Jn. 15:4-7).  He them gave us clear commandments as how we were to respond to persecution.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

I would never diminish any persecution suffered by anyone regardless of how minimal others might think it, because God honors all persecution.  But I would like to share the persecution that was endured by the Apostles of Jesus Christ with you.  I wanted to do this to show you what the men who walked with Jesus were willing to endure and suffer - and to show how their "Strong faith" came from spending time with our Lord.  

1.    Matthew:  Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.

2.    Mark:  Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.

3.    Luke:  Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.

4.    John:  Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.

5.    Peter:  He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

6.    James:  The leader of the church in Jerusalem was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.  * This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

7.    James the Great: Son of Zebedee was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader 
of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at  Jerusalem . The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

8.    Bartholomew:  Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

9.    Andrew:  Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: "I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it." He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.

10.    Thomas:  Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the sub-continent.

11.    Jude:  Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

12.    Matthias:  The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot was stoned and then beheaded.

13.    Paul:  Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.

Hey Christian, Let's make sure we spend time with the Lord every day, because if we could know Him like the Apostles did, I can't imagine what we would accomplish in our lives.

STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn about persecution from the Scriptures contained within this devotional?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to face persecution for your faith in Jesus?

APPLICATION: You don't have to go out and make a spectacle of yourself to show that you love Jesus, or forward every email to prove it either - just be willing to share the gospel with whomever the Lord prompts you to share with, and live your life in the way Christ would have lived.