Monday, December 28, 2020

Oud en Nieuw

I'm in Germany with my parents for almost two weeks now. Due to the quarantine restrictions in most EU countries, my employer granted us to telework from our home countries for up to 10 days prior to the Christmas break. This was a nice gift of course, so I took advantage and came here earlier than I usually would have at this time. 

During my trip, my laptop was stolen. It happened while I was waiting for my connecting train at Cologne station. Although there is video footage of the theft, there is but little hope I will ever see it again. Of course that's quite annoying, especially as it wouldn't have happened if I had paid better attention. But the Lord has given me peace about the matter, and I'm thankful that my files are secure on OneDrive. 

The day after my arrival, the German government imposed a hard lockdown over the country. This has been another desperate attempt to finally achieve a decline in the infection numbers, which have been rising exponentially. So there is not much I can do here, with all non-essential stores closed, and of course also places like saunas and swimming pools. Christmas with family was a bit different than usual. We only met on Christmas Eve (not two or even three days in a row as usual), at my grandmother's house, with masks on and airing out the living room every 15 minutes or so (especially my mom and my aunt are rather concerned about the health of my dad and my grandmother). 

I've been running almost every day, which has been invigorating. On Christmas day, I twisted my ankle though while walking over a muddy grass patch. I was pretty upset, because now I won't be able to run any more while I'm here. But it turned out a blessing in disguise, as I now took up biking instead. So yesterday, I explored the nearby forest, which was a nice outing.

My Dutch teacher (I've been doing online classes offered at work) asked us before the break what we were doing for "oud en nieuw", which means translated New Year's Eve. If you translate it literally though, it means "old and new", and I think this encapsulates what we should be reflecting about at this time of the year: we should look back on the old year and see what the Lord has blessed us with and what we have learned. But at the same time, we should look ahead to the new year, not only coming up with resolutions that we may keep only for a couple of weeks, but really reflect how we can draw closer to God and be a blessing to the people around us. 

I found this beautiful text by Ellen G. White, in which she shares some thoughts for the New Year. The most important points I've gleaned from this writing, is that God has not changed. He is the Live-Giver and His mercies are numberless. But we are stewards of what He has entrusted us with, and it's up to us to return to Him what we have received. 

2020 has in many ways been different than I had expected, and if I were to summarize the year in a few words, I would say "blessings and trials". But I'm thankful that the Lord is still our Sustainer, our Mighty Counselor, and the King of the Universe. Let us embark into this new year with the confidence that we are getting yet closer to Jesus' return, and that there is nothing impossible for Him if we accept our role as collaborators in His work!

 

Some Thoughts for the New Year

By Ellen G. White

The old year, with its burden of record, is fast passing away. The new year, with all its possibilities, will soon be ushered in. What advancement have we made in the knowledge of Christ during the past year? Are we prepared to show, more decidedly than ever before, that we are on the Lord’s side? At this time, when the nations of the world are wavering between infidelity and idolatry, are we prepared to stand as faithful ambassadors for Christ? Shall we not, at the beginning of this new year, give ourselves and all we have to God? Shall we not listen to His voice, which calls us to a renewed contest, to a more thorough consecration of ourselves and our intrusted capabilities to His service?

To God we owe all we have and are. In Him we live and move and have our being. We have not been forgotten by Him. In His book each human being has a page, on which is recorded his whole history. Constantly and untiringly God is working for our happiness. The treasures which He has placed within our reach are numberless. “The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. The earth is full of His goodness. Creation proclaims, with myriad voice, the forbearance, love, and compassion of the Almighty.

Through all the ages God has manifested for the human race a love that is without a parallel. He so loved man that He bestowed on him a gift that defies computation. That the abundance of His grace might be revealed, He sent His only-begotten Son to our world, to live a man among men, to spend His life in the service of humanity. In our behalf the Son of the Infinite God was numbered with the transgressors. Christ was the channel through which the Father poured into the world the rich stream of His grace. God could not give less than the fulness, nor was it possible for Him to give more. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

God has made us His stewards. To every one He has given some talent, which is to be improved and returned to Him. Every one is the possessor of some trust. Time, intellect, reason, money, the tender ministry to which some are adapted,--these are the gifts of God. From the lowliest to the highest, all have been intrusted with the goods of heaven, and all are called upon to make a return to the Giver.

The first thing we are to do is to give ourselves to the Lord. Life, with its endowments and privileges, is God’s gift. Let us remember that it comes from God, and is to be wholly consecrated to Him. Let us say with Paul, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

When we have given ourselves to God, we shall be willing to give Him what He has given us. All we have and are is to be laid at Christ’s feet. We have been bought with a price which can not be estimated, and we should count it a privilege to co-operate with God by denying self, by giving of our earthly possessions to make it possible for those in the darkness of error to hear the truth. Each soul saved is worth more than a world; for he is saved unto eternal life. Those who invest their means in this work double their talents.

Whether or not we give mind, soul, and strength to God, it all belongs to Him. God speaks to each human being, saying: “I have a claim on you. Give me your zeal, your capabilities, your energy, your means.” He has a right to ask this; for we are His, redeemed by His boundless love and by the agony of the cross of Calvary from the service of sin. On no account are we to devote our powers to self-serving. Day by day we are to return to the Lord that which He has intrusted to us. And we are to ask Him, not only for temporal blessings, but for spiritual gifts. He who asks in faith, believing that God will fulfil His word, and who acts in accordance with His prayer, doing God’s will in all things, will receive rich blessings from on high. And as he receives, he is to impart to those who need help.

From Signs of the Times, January 2, 1901.

 

                               Nothing spectacular, but I really like the pine forest out here

                                               Christmas 2020 - different than usual