The message: God created humans so that they have free will in their lifetime. However, God wants them to live, this is why He said to them, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him” Deut 30:19-20a. In summary, happy are those who choose God as their part, because it is a guarantee for their very existence, as recalled by the following words of Jesus: “Because I live, you also will live” Jn 14:19b. The greatness and the perfection of God that he put in Christ His Son, and revealed through Him, are immeasurable and limitless, “For in
him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” Col 2:9. Thus, the Apostle John rightly writes: “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” Jn 1:16. The Apostle Paul also said about the gift of God: “He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?” Rom 8:32. It is because of this that the psalmist began to sing the following song: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you” Ps 73:25. The grace that God gives to all who receive Him, the « best part » of Him, is an eternal victory and an unlimited success. The Apostle Paul wrote: “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? » Rom 8:31, as well as « I can do all things through him who strengthens me » Phil 4:13. And this is what the martyrs testified when they left the following great message: « I discovered the Right path, and I am going there » [ intoned Rasalama, the first Malagasy Christian martyr, on the way to
her place of execution on August 14, 1837]. And this is what made a Malagasy hymn composer write the following verse: « Money and riches in abundance: many love that, But, for my part, it is sweet to say: Jesus is mine, and that’s enough for me” Malagasy Protestant Federation – FFPM Hymnbook #479:2. Yes, « The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot » Ps 16:5.
Monday, 01st: God is the best part ever.
“‘The Lord is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’” Lam Jer 3:24.
Reading 1: Lk 10:38-42. Reading 2: Lam Jer 3:18-26. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Lam Jer 3:24.
Introduction: God is indeed the best part there is. On this subject, the Psalmist says: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Ps 73:26. Jesus also said to Martha, when she wanted to draw Mary who was listening to the word of God at the feet of the Master, “Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” Lk 10:42b.To be near the Lord? “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” Ps 84:10a.
Tuesday, 02nd: Know Jesus, the part that God gives you.
“They have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me” Jn 17:8.
Reading 1: Acts 4:5-12. Reading 2: Jn 17:1-8. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 17:7-8.
Introduction: there is no other name for our salvation than that of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). The Father declares about him: “His is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” Mt 17:5. The Lord having asked his disciples, « And who do you say I am? “Simon Peter answered, « You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. » And Jesus answered him, « Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven” Mt 16:16-17.
Wednesday, 03rd: Christ, Priest / Sacrificer for us.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” Heb 4:15a.
Reading 1: Mt 9:9-13. Reading 2: Heb 4:14-16. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Heb 4:15.
Introduction: The Christ who loves us, we sinners, truly carried our weaknesses and offered his life as a sacrifice in order to save us. For it is written: » […] while we still were sinners Christ died for us » Rom 5:8. For indeed He loves us with an eternal love, and that is why He has granted us His mercy (Jer 31:3), namely additional days to repent in order to be forgiven and to believe in Him to be saved (Rom 16:26), for “the one who believes and is baptized will be saved” Mar 16:16a.
Thursday, 04th: The part of the children of God is to inherit eternal life.
“Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” Mt 25:34b.
Reading 1: Rev 22:12-16. Reading 2: Mt 25:31-34. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Mt 25:34.
Introduction: It is the child who lives in the house of his father and who serves him who inherits from him. For Jesus said, “The son has a place there forever” Jn 8:35b. The apostle Paul endorsed this when he wrote: “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him” Rom 8:17. He realizes it for all those who
honor him. Indeed, he says: “For those who honor me I will honor”1 Sam 2:30b.
Friday, 05th: Know Jesus, part of eternal salvation.
“For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost” Lk 19:10.
Reading 1: Acts 2:32-39. Reading 2: Lk 19:1-10. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Lk 19:10.
Introduction: God shows us through this pericope that salvation is achieved through his only Son, whom He offered for our salvation. He gave Him full authority over all flesh and all spirit and raised Him up, just like Moses who had raised the bronze serpent in the wilderness, in order to save all who watched him. Jesus said the following prayer: “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given Him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him” Jn 17:1-2.
Saturday, 06th: Jesus Christ, share of eternal life for the believer.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” Jn 3:36a.
Reading 1: Rom 1:8-17. Reading 2: Jn 3:30-36. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 3:35-36.
Introduction: Eternal life sums up the part that God gives to all believers. This is the life of God and His kingdom which He offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Indeed, Jesus declared: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life” Jn 3:16. These words sum up the whole Gospel for the salvation of all believers (Rom 1:16).
This pericope is published weekly in Malagasy, French, English, German and Spanish, and can be seen on www.hifi-madanet.org, on Facebook « HiFi-English », on Instagram (@hirasyfilazantsara) and on Twitter (@HFilazantsara). Listen to « hifiradio.org »: teachings, testimonies, songs … 24h / 7d. © Madanet