Affirmation in Rejoicing

14th day of Advent December 16th, 2017 Habakkuk 3:17-19

THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH AND REJOICING IN THE LORD

Habakkuk spoke to God for the people, while most prophets spoke to the people for God. Habakkuk lived in times where being faithful was very difficult; in times where God's ways were hard to understand and when God's wisdom seemed foolishness. Yet Habakkuk never doubted God's purpose - in the questions, confusion and contradictions there IS God's wisdom, love and protection.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation..."

We see a lesson in Habakkuk. We must see past the present to a purpose. We need to truly believe that if everything we relied on failed, if everything that gave stability to our life crumbled, God would still be faithful. We trust and obey Almighty God even in the storms and chaos.

Rick Ezell says "faith believes that God is too kind to be cruel. Faith believes that God is too wise to make a mistake. Faith believes that God knows best and does best in His time. Faith believes that God is in control, and therefore we can rest easy. Faith believes that when we cannot trace the hand of God, we must trust the heart of God." In order to stand firm especially in this season of Advent, a season that points us to the turmoil and chaos of the end times, we need to truly KNOW that God is at work in the world. We trust and humble ourselves and let God be God.

Let us be glad and rejoice because God is God above all gods, King above all kings and Lord above all lords. We are His people and through every moment and experience, He is transforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Let us have the steadfast faith of Habakkuk.

Let us rejoice in the coming of the Lord.

Amen.

Guest Blogger: Pastor Fred Peter, Kowak, Diocese of Rorya, Anglican Church of Tanzania, ACM Rorya. Rev. Fred is Associate Dean at St. Peter's Cathedral and Associate Professor of theological and biblical studies at Kowak Theological College. We thank God for calling Pastor Fred to this ministry.