Understanding our own hearts

I would never do that!

I am sure many of us proclaim these words loudly when we read through the Passion of Christ. The soldiers, the religious leaders, the crowds - they all seem so vulgar and unmoved by Jesus. How could they mock a man of peace, even if they didn't believe he was the Messiah? Surely, they saw some good in him.

And what a disgrace - to spit on another human being. How low can you go?

Isaiah 50:6 - "I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting."

Alexander Whyte challenges my thinking with his words, reminding me how close I am to be a soldier, a pharisee and a member of the crowd: 

"You will understand the spitting scene that night when God lets you see your own heart."

I may not physically spit on others, but perhaps my heart has wanted to.

Lord, in your mercy, change my heart.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Calls for our Allegiance

These words were written by my friend John van de Laar many years ago, but they are still relevant for this moment in our history. Palm Sunday is not just an event that happened for Jesus, but rather it is a reminder that we are bombarded with calls for our allegiance everyday Voices shout for us to bow the knee to this leader, this ideology, this rhetoric, this political affiliation. However, in the end, the thing that matters is how we will respond to the true Christ - the servant King?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

“Jesus Christ, whose greatest moments of triumph happen
on the back of a donkey’s foal
and nailed to a bloody cross,
We gather to prepare the way for you
in our lives and in our world.

There are so many people and things that call for our allegiance,
so many kings seeking to rule over us.
But, you ride into our experience as another kind of monarch
a serving, humble and challenging leader
who calls us not to slavery, but friendship.

There are so many things that seek our energy and resources for their own sakes
so many empires seeking our souls for their own glory.
But, you ride into our experience heralding another kind of reign
a realm where the least are the greatest,
where the meek inherit the earth
and where children are the best example of citizenship.
a domain which seeks to bring life, not drain it.

There are so many things that draw our attention.
So many realities that seek our faith and assent.
But, you ride into our experience revealing another kind of reality
a reality where death does not have the last word.
a reality where pride, selfishness and evil are defeated
by love and self-giving.
a reality which does not parade itself for all to see,
but fills every moment, every situation and everything with life,
while waiting for us to discover it.

And so, we cry, from our hearts
Hosanna, save us.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God.
Amen.”

John can de Laar (www.sacredise.com)

 

A Prayer in preparation for Holy Week

Here is a challenging prayer from Ignatius of Loyola. I trust it may guide you in your reflections and preparations for Holy Week. 

"Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from Thee.
From the wicked foe defend me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee For ever and ever. Amen."

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Being Grateful

“Being grateful does not mean that everything is necessarily good. It just means that you can accept it as a gift.” - Roy T. Bennett

There doesn't seem to be a lot of good going on in the world at the moment. It is hard to wade through all the muck, trying to find things to be grateful for. However, this week I am grateful for God's guidance through stormy waters and for the Lord's ability to make something meaningful from a potential mess.

Six years ago, our world erupted into chaos with the arrival of the Covid pandemic. Fear, mistrust, anger and uncertainty seemed to be the order of the day. As a Christian community, we all had to fly by the seat of our pants - we didn't know what to do or even how to do it :)

Anyway, we quickly transitioned into the online world of sermons and worship services. The learning was steep and the mistakes were many, but we somehow managed to put content out on a weekly basis. And this past week has marked the 6th year of sharing our weekly messages. And for this, I am deeply grateful.

I am grateful to the Lord who has sustained us. I am grateful to all who have made this possible - especially Ken who faithfully films the preacher every week and does the editing of each message. To Gudrun and her team who upload the messages to our website. And many others, who work behind the scenes. I am grateful.

Being grateful doesn't mean that life is always good, but that we can see God's hand is still with us, never letting us go.

If you would like to watch the message from last weekend, we make a special mention of our 6-year anniversary on this episode. 

1 Timothy 1:12 - I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me.

Living in grace

D3LM3

When trying too hard doesn't get the desired result

There is an old saying that states: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again" (William Edward Hickson). 

While this may be appropriate in certain fields, it is not the correct approach in all matters. Take for example, the Israelites. See what Paul writes about their efforts to try and try again.

"But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.  Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.  God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,

“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.” - Romans 9:31-34

Thought: Lent should remind us that we are saved through the grace of Christ, not through our merits. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Send your Spirit

"Decayed Churches can most certainly be revived by the preaching of the Word, accompanied by the coming of the heavenly ‘breath’ from the four winds. O Lord, send us such revivals now, for many of thy Churches need them.” - Charles Spurgeon

These are the words that Spurgeon wrote after reflecting on Ezekiel 37. I would agree with him but also add that it is not just churches who need to be revived, but rather the people that make up the churches. It is people who make up the body of Christ, and when we allow God's breath (Spirit) to change us, then we will start to see changes all around us.

"Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army." - v.9-10

Living in Grace

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It never comes to an end!

When you saw the title of today's post what came to your mind? What feels as if it never comes to an end for you? Is it one of these: 

War? Hatred? Corruption? Trouble? Suffering? Crises? 

Well, the answer I wanted to offer us today is very different. I will let Jeremiah tell you:

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!” - Lamentations 3:22-23

Eugene Peterson puts a slightly different slant on it, when he writes:

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
    He’s all I’ve got left.

Living in Grace

D3LM3