Quarterly Journals - Shiloh Baptist Church

QUARTERLY JOURNAL

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Consecration: Being 100% Committed

Posted on Jan 20, 2020 in Quarterly Journal | 2490

What does the Bible say about consecration? Plenty. 1 Chronicles 29:5 KJV says, “The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?” Romans 12:1 KJV makes it plain, “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Proverbs 23:26 KJV says, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” St. Mark 12:30 KJV says, “And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” You get the picture.

Consecration doesn’t come cheaply. Sacrifice is involved. Consecration means being 100% committed to God, 99 and a half won’t do. That means we can’t be a sometime Christian. Just showing up on Sunday morning and serving on a couple of committees probably doesn’t impress God. It’s a start, but much more is required. How are you living Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday? The saying is trite, but actions really do speak loudly than words. You profess to love God, but how is it manifested 24/7 in your life? There are examples of consecration that should inspire us to try harder.

Genesis 4:4 KJV says, “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.” Abel didn’t hold back, he gave fully to the Lord. Exodus 13:2 KJV says, “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man of beast: it is mine.” The key word is all. Genesis 22:9-11 KJV, offers more. “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham; and he said, Here am I.”

Consecration is a challenge. I don’t know about you, but I struggle daily. It’s not easy to walk the Christian walk when temptation is around every corner, and distractions wear you out. But it’s time out for excuses. God calls us to be better, to be our best. How can we say no to the one who made the ultimate sacrifice?

Submitted By Deaconess Sheryl Nance-Nash

Dec '19

God’s Message Goes Beyond Christmas

Posted on Dec 28, 2019 in Quarterly Journal | 2890

Dec '19

“For there is one God and One Mediator who can Reconcile God and Humanity – Christ Jesus…” – 1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT

Once again Christmas has come and gone and we find ourselves already in a new find ourselves already in a new year. Centuries have come and gone, and the world still can’t get together on who Christ is, or why He came – forget the fact that he’s coming again, and I wonder if I’m becoming a spiritual snob. Just days after Christmas, back at work, my Jewish co-workers were happy about having had the time off. Since they do not celebrate Christmas, they had spent Christmas Day ordering Chinese Take-Out and going to the movies. They had enjoyed that the streets were quiet, that there were no crowds, and traffic was a breeze.

The whole world shuts down one day a year to celebrate a day that split history into AD and BC. God came to Earth and invaded human history, and not even at Christmastime can the world come together around this one thing, and I wonder if I am becoming a spiritual snob – because I don’t understand that they don’t get it. I know that diversity rules the world, and there are many opinions about many things but it boggles my mind that not everyone gets God – How can Christmas Day be just another day off? Albeit, there are those of us, Christians, who do not unnecessarily buy into the whole economics thing – spending money lavish gifts, but we agree that for the One we celebrate at Christmas – there is only one message and it’s a message for everyone.

Pastor has said it many times – we were not created just to live 80 or 90 years on Earth and then die. You are far more valuable to God than that. He has made some long-range plans for you. He made you to live forever, and He wants to spend eternity with you. That’s what Christmas is about. God took on human flesh and came to Earth as a baby, and one day He died for your sins and mine. But not everybody believes that, and we know that Christmas without the cross is irrelevant. Without the cross, there is no reason to spend an entire month getting ready for the celebration of Christ’s birth. No need for lights, cards, or gifts. There is a place for everyone in God’s forever family. This offer is available for everyone, and for someone to take the free gift of salvation and treat it like a dirty rag is an insult to God, and to those of us who believe.

Pastor often says that confession is good for the soul, and bad for the reputation, and I was really bothered that someone who so adamantly does not believe in Christ gets to benefit from what I consider a most holy day. I have tried several times to share the good news of Christmas, and beyond, but no matter how I’ve tried, there is no acceptance of Jesus Christ, as Messiah, or that Messiah has come. So, what do you do with someone who does not believe in God’s greatest sacrifice; sending His Son to die for someone ungrateful? The Bible says, “…for there is one God and one mediator who can reconcile God and humanity -the man Christ. He gave his lie to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT) and I guess regardless of whether you believe in Christ or not, God’s Message is the same: There is a place for everyone in God’s Family. It’s an open invitation – and free.

Submitted by Deaconess Irene Gardon

Dec '19

Ponder This

Posted on Dec 23, 2019 in Quarterly Journal | 2092

Dec '19

Especially at this time of the year, our lives are so bombarded by things that are glittery attention-getters that the subtleties of life often pass us by. We’re busy in this season with gift-giving; gift-wrapping, and over-spending, sometimes to impress others. It’s all about the tress, the lights, and the lists. It’s all about the food, the mood, and the masks.

But the Savior of the world was born on a quiet night. There were no fireworks around him.

There was no processional of kins, queens or heads of state. There was no fancy layette, or cotton pajamas for the Messiah. There were no invitations to the baby-shower, no gift-registries. While almost everything we do these days, from kiddie birthday parties, to retirement celebrations is done with great fanfare, and no amount of expense is spared, the most powerful and meaningful event in the world was missed by most of the world.

The Christmas season is a magnificent time of the year. It’s an opportunity to re-focus, and rethink how we celebrate, and more importantly, why we celebrate.

What are we missing today because we seek the profound in places that are not quiet and simple? How many blessings have we overlook because we are too busy trying to be “connected” with the “right people?”

How many times has Jesus been in our midst, yet we missed Him because we were looking beyond His presence for bells and whistles, and bows, wrappings, instead of listening for His still small voice?

Don’t let the voice of noise of the times steal the joys of this season away from you.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

“For Unto Us a Child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6

Submitted by Deaconess Irene Gardon