Live in Love, John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13).

Over the next few weeks social media is going to be inundated with eulogies lamenting the loss of a great man. I ardently hope that these are posted with sincerity and lead those who know little of the man to read up on the transformative power of his passive resistance. The world I was born into was a world post-segregation, post-apartheid, post-women’s suffrage. This is only due to the work of countless men and women that laid their lives down that the future may be one of greater justice, peace and opportunity.

We must do more than recollect. We must be be willing to act and sacrifice for those around us, to illustrate true love which covers a multitude of sins (1Peter 4:8). Mandiba had a great calling on his life, people often note how long he spent in prison. But I don’t think we give the gravity of that sufficient consideration. He was separated from his wife for almost thirty years, he didn’t get to see his children grow up, his will for equality saw him isolated and continually threatened with death. It is unlikely that our lives will bring us into such similar predicaments, because our predecessors have paved the way. But do not make the mistake of lamenting the world’s loss and not being changed and empowered by it.

A common Christian prayer is for God to give us the ability to see people as He sees them. What greater contemporary example than the man we mourn tonight? After almost twenty seven years of imprisonment, he looked his persecutors in the face and forgave them with a sincere heart. He saw them for members of the same human race and appealed to shared interests, love and humanity. May we strive to follow the evident example of a life lived in applied scripture.

In Mandiba, in the members of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in the suffragettes we have seen what it is to love through sacrifice; to face persecution and give up comforts that others may flourish. This may manifest itself in a number of ways in your life, please do not shy away from it. We are called to live in love. Always be willing to stand for what is right, to listen to the will of your Father and love with your whole heart.

God bless and keep you always and we just pray for comfort for the many families around the world dealing with loss at this time x

The Word, 2Timothy 2:9

“And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.” (2Tim 2:9)

The second epistle to Timothy is thought to be the last one ever written by Paul as he faced execution. Written to a dear follower with whom he held a close father-son relationship, it is full of tenderness and the wisdom of someone who had lived a long and purposeful life.

Paul was not being melodramatic, he had experienced multiple arrests, persecution and criticism for his teaching of the Good News. Having gone from a position of power, preaching had signed the certificate of execution that was to see Paul beheaded under Emperor Nero. Think about the prison system today, not a pleasant place but they have access to running water, toilets and food, do you think this is how a thorn in the side of the Jewish leaders and Roman Emperor was going to be treated? But look at that second sentence!

No matter what they were going to do to Paul, or Philemon, to John, James, Stephen “the word of God CANNOT be chained”! God is the Truth, the Almighty, the Creator. The history of Christianity is littered with men persecuted for their faith, but it is a continued history; men experiencing revelations of God’s grace, mercy, love were, and are, compelled to spread His teachings regardless of what they may face. “He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News” (1:10). In Turkey, in China, in Vietnam, the Middle East, you have people lovingly distributing bibles, putting on bible study classes for anyone who wants to know who Jesus is. They could suffer like Paul, who knew he was suffering like Jesus, because death no longer contained any power. If you know that persecution or threats on your life for truthfully preaching the Gospel will only take you to live in the Father and Son’s glory, it’s hardly something that would put you off of evangelising.

The Word compels us to go that extra mile for others because that is exactly what Jesus did for us. Our futures contained only death but in His perfect sacrifice we are given a completely new, joyful, holy life after physical death! The Word of God cannot and should not be chained because of all that it contains. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (3:16-17).

Three closing points:

Firstly, your actions can lead people to know the Word of God. People are sceptical, but when you reflect God’s mercy, peace and joy, it opens up channels for people to get to know how the Good News has changed your life. No one’s expecting you to recite the Word of God in its entirety.

Second, scripture is about and inspired by God! It’s not homework, it’s an opportunity for us to know God better and help others to do the same, our home is with Him, our spirits feel at rest in His presence, and getting to grips with the Bible is a great way to come into that. As Christians we recognise God as this awesome being, but can then be picky with following particular teachings. Cut it out. Look at everything in its proper context, that you may understand it better, not because of the warning that Paul gives two chapters later. “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear” (4:3). Sound familiar?

Thirdly, God does not need you to do an ad campaign for the Word or for His Son. Now I don’t mean this literally, things like Alpha are changing people’s lives because they catch their attention on trains and buses. What I mean is that you don’t have to tell people the nice bits of the Bible, or butter them up so people will like what they’re hearing. It’s the Truth not the Pep Talk. “God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone” (2:19). The Word of God is that, it is God’s guidance to His chosen, not there to be adapted or watered down but to be understood and instructive.

God bless and keep you always x

Stick At It, James 1:12

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
(James 1:12)

The first time we looked at James we looked at the notion of faith and asking for things like wisdom with certainty because God wants you to come to Him, and He wants to give you such gifts (re: 8th Aug, James 1:5-6). But in the same chapter James also discusses endurance. The term “carrying the cross” doesn’t mean easing Jesus’ burden, but in following Him you take up one of your own. The path of the Christian is one of challenge, persecution and judgement. You are challenged by friends, bosses, family; made out to look foolish in classes or even over dinner; and you are judged sardonically by non-believers…sounds appealing right?

But the Bible says blessed are those who “persevere” through all of this for they will receive “the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him”. Or as Romans 8:17 puts it “if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory”. We are not promised a life of ease but one of the greatest reward imaginable when we have poured out our lives in service on this planet. Paul and James noted (as Jesus repeatedly told the disciples) that inevitably following The Way would lead to a number of struggles and challenging experiences. But as co-heirs of Christ, in sharing in His suffering, in suffering in His name, we would also jointly inherit His glory.

This isn’t like the employer who still owes you a couple weeks pay, God’s good for His promise and His promise is the crown of life ! (For those of us who’ve forgotten our rightful inheritance is death, this is a serious change of events !!) We aren’t toiling for nothing and at times when we may feel fed up it’s well worth reminding ourselves why we do. Or perhaps more importantly what it is that we are toiling for.

I brought this up for another reason. A lot of young Christians struggle between discerning what is testing and what is temptation. As Christians put on this earth for but a season we expect to be tested by God, but how do we know what are lessons and what aren’t?

James straight up rules out a link between God and tempting (1:13-18). Instead he says when we are tempted it is because of our own base desires, which lead us into a horrific downward spiral should we appease them. In contrast, God is “good and perfect”, He would not bring things of a tempting nature about even to give our spiritual maturity a check-up.

“Bad company corrupts good morals” (1Cor 15:33). As you grow in your walk you will inevitably come into interaction with people acting in a more worldly way than you would envision for yourself. Take stock of this and remember this verse. Meeting such a person is not God trying to see if you start mimicking their sin too. Think about the nature of God. With the best intentions in the world we can still mess up, so it can be sensible to try to offset our chances. In such a scenario, God may watch the way in which you do or don’t compromise but never would He act with the intent of let’s see if he/she falls to temptation ! Such behaviour is not of The Lord Our God. Paul knew it, James knew it and you need to know it.

God bless and keep you always x

Repentance, Restoration and Purpose, Jeremiah 1:1-19

(Jeremiah 1:1-19)

If you were somehow unaware of my attachment to the Book of Jeremiah, by the end of this you ought not be. Seeing as I harp on about it, I thought I ought to minister through it today. Jeremiah had a harsh time, he had God-given messages that the Israelites were not going to be happy about (invasion, destruction and captivity are quite hard to dress up by any standard) and a God who threatened him to not be afraid of them “or I will make you look foolish in front of them” (1:17). Peak.

But through Jeremiah we can learn the importance of three key things to the Christian: repentance, restoration and purpose. The book of Jeremiah details the prophet’s attempts to forewarn the idolatrous Israelites before God would have to bring in the big guns. They didn’t listen. Instead they treated him with disdain and persecuted him. Through the book we see the importance of repenting and turning to God, we can seize this gift at any time, no matter how often we mess up; it isn’t something to be sneered at but seized immediately !

Even in the face of destruction and exile God is still preparing to restore the Israelites. He will never abandon His people. His anger is righteous and always out of love and reformation rather than sadism, after all He intended you, you’re here for a reason, and He wants you to respond to His love with the same love He has for you.

In the first chapter of Jeremiah, God tells him “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (1:4-5). This amazing facet applies to all of us! Even before we were conceived God knew us, He planned us, formed us right down to our specific characters and genetics so that we may live out the purpose He has in mind for us. We aren’t reliant on prophets anymore, God communicates through all of us. As Christians our verbal and non verbal actions are being assessed by the rest of the world, whether you’re comfy with it or not you are a spokesperson of the Holy Spirit who lives in you (swag).

Like many of us when placed in positions of responsibility, we second guess ourself. God told Jeremiah he was to be His “spokesman to the world”, that’s a lot of pressure! Jeremiah stressed his age and inexperience but God told him to be unafraid “for I will be with you and take care of you” (1:8). Sometimes it can feel like God is asking us to take a risk. Maybe just bringing up your faith amongst friends or asking a friend to evaluate how Christ-like their behaviour is, feels like something that could be tense and awkward, or like you’d be out of your depth. But God says “nope. I’m right here, I’ll hold your hand whilst you demonstrate the strength and courage I’ve given you and see the fruits of your act”.

God didn’t stop there, He touched Jeremiah’s mouth “and said, “See, I have put my words in your mouth !” (1:10). God didn’t just stand there willing Jeremiah on nor did He simply prepare Jeremiah and go off for a cuppa and a magazine; He gave Jeremiah the very words he was to speak. Sometimes you’ll be tired or worried in a situation that asks for more from you, lean on Him, pray for His Holy Spirit to be displayed through you and it does not matter how knackered or shy you are the recipient of that talk will note that they experienced more than just someone talking at them. Believe me.

Don’t be scared to put yourself out there, to take risks for and in the name of God the Father. He’ll be with you every step of the way. We belong to the living God, He hears our cries and worries and He replies ! Thanks be to the God of Jeremiah, the God who knew us before we were born, intended us even when our parents may not have and is going to use us to make a serious impact in this world.

God bless and keep you always x