Dear Family
It is this time of the year.
We are listening to beautiful Advent music, attend Christmas concerts. Houses and shops are decorated. Children take part in nativity plays in nursery schools.
Daily feeds on the news are also the painful experience of desolated hopeless people – in war scenes, disasters from storms, earthquakes and social unrests. Homeless people.
This is the background when we reflect on the real nature of disciplemaking – serving God by serving people to come “home”.
The first Christmas eve happened during a travel” home” for Mary and Joseph – ended in a stable in Bethlehem. They were travelling because they had to reconnect with their roots.
In all cultures Christmas time motivates people to find, to connect with their roots. To spend time with their “bloodline”. Home is where the heart is. To travel “home” – whatever that entails – is an urge during Christmas. We want to be with loved ones.
The origin of the first Christmas was that Jesus left “home”/heaven for our “home”/earth. He came to make it possible…
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… day after day the indwelling Christ is building, constituting, a structure in us for Him to dwell in as His home”. (Ephesians 3:17 NIV).
He is in us and we are in Him.
“For in him we live and move and have our being’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring”. (Acts 17:28)
Jesus comes to us and makes his home with beautiful Christmas music enriching our souls, He comes in love we experience at family celebrations. He comes through nature that glorifies Him, the Creator.
He comes and makes his home when we discern and follow his voice.
Advent is the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ.
At the end of the year – stock taking of 2024 tells us where our home really is.
And then to approach every ordinary, everyday situation in 2025 from our real “home” – Christ in us – turning every situation to look like “home” – on earth as it is in heaven – every day of the New Year! This is the ultimate purpose of disciple-making – not primarily to get people in heaven – but to get them home – back to their roots. Humanity started in heaven – we are all an idea of God – heavenly creations – sent for an earthly experience – then to return home. May God use you for this in 2025!
May you experience joy peace, love and gratitude in abundance during this time.
All our love and many blessings to you – thanks so much for journeying with us in 2024.
On behalf of your fellow “homemakers” at KMC
Johann Theron