Calvin Synod Herald, 2012 (113. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-05-01 / 5-6. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD IN CHRIST'S CHURCH MORE MIRACLES OF GOD The Festival of Pentecost concludes the celebrations of Eastertide, a “Week of Sundays” marking the greatest miracle of all, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! On the fiftieth day after Easter, God bestowed the gift of the Holy Spirit to give understanding to the knowledge of the facts the Apostles and disciples already had. They had lived with Jesus for his entire ministry across the land and in the towns and cities, learning from him daily, but without full comprehension of Jesus’ message. But the God of miracles was not finished doing them. The Almighty Father who created the universe out of nothing, and who revealed himself time and again by miracles in all the history of the Israelites, still was not finished when he raised his Son by another miracle. Jesus was seen by the disciples several times afterward, and finally ascending to heaven. Miracle of the Church The Father had blessed the people of Israel who kept His covenant - they would be His people and He would be their God. The Son would in a new covenant bless those who bound themselves to him - they would be his Church and he would be their Savior. This new bond would not be by ethnicity, but inclusive of all people who believe in Jesus’ gospel. Further demonstrating God’s own creation of the Church, the Apostles were given the power of miracles on several occasions to demonstrate they were sent by God, as told in the Acts of the Apostles. There, too, we find the amazing story of a devoted Jew named Saul of Tarsus, who was a stool pigeon for the Romans. In his hate for Jewish converts to Christ he identified the Christians for the Legions, who saw them as a threat to imperial power. On a trip to Damascus, to get authority to capture Jesus’ followers, God worked yet another miracle, and by a blinding vision revealed his Son Jesus to him. He was baptized soon afterward, and his named changed to Paul. More importantly, God changed his entire life. The persecutor, who had seen the suffering of his victims (he watched the heroism of Stephen when he was stoned to death for his faith), now joined with them. And when Christ’s call to conversion of the non-Jews in Greece and elsewhere came to him he willingly yielded. Miracle In Us Paul is a lot like us, who have never seen Jesus in the flesh, but we have seen him in the Church, through the devoted believers of the past and our own time, leaving an indelible impression upon us. And that same God is working a miracle in us — our salvation! Yes, and nothing less! As Paul, we are ingrafted into Jesus’ holy Church, his very own Body on earth, for the conversion of the world. The God of miracles continues his awesome works today. But just like Paul, it compels a whole new life for us. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ” (Col. 3:1) In the Letter to the Colossians, third chapter, we find it is necessary for the beneficiaries of the miracle to get our priorities straight. Foremost, we are compelled to set as our lifetime goal that we shall live again in heaven, and forego anything that stands in the way. The letter outlines plainly bad behavior that hinders life in Christ, and also the kind that reflects Jesus’ importance to us daily. We are, like Paul, to switch from the kind of friends who pull us down, and develop those new Christian friendships that help. And we are to build up one another in the Church, helping each other by our growth in the knowledge of our faith and through sharing in worship and praise of God. That same God of the ages, of Resurrection power, of the Church, will by His power raise you also from the dead. What does it take? Like Calvin, we must humbly say, “Jesus, I give you my heart.” Rev. Albert W. Kovács WHICH SHALL IT BE? (Mother's Day Poem) “Which shall it be? Which shall it be? ” I looked at John, John looked at me, -Dear patient John who loves me yet As well as though my locks were jet; And when I found that I must speak My voice seemed strangely low and weak: "Tell me again what Robert said;" And then I, listening, bent my head. “This is his letter: 7 will give A house and land while you shall live, If, in return, from out your seven, One child to me for aye is given. ’ ” I looked at John s old garments worn, I thought of all that John had borne Of poverty and work and care,— Which I, though willing, could not share, - Of seven hungry mouths to feed, Of seven little children ’s need, And then of this. “Come, John, ” said I; “ We ’ll choose among them as they lie Asleep. ” So, walking hand in hand, Dear John and I surveyed our band.
