Imitating God by doing this one thing...

 

There are many books published on how we should imitate the ways of God. These can include things like, obeying the Commandments; or knowing the Beatitudes, or something similar. 

However, I came across this thought from the author Peter Scazzero recently - it is a brilliant take on following God's example.

"We imitate God by stopping our work and resting."

In light of the lectionary reading from 1 Kings 19 (last week), these words challenge us all, especially as we try to live in a fast-paced world. Elijah was forced to imitate God because of the state of his mind and heart. We shouldn't wait until we are forced into this habit!

Thought: How else can we imitate God's ways?

Living in Grace

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Holding my eyelids open

Have you ever been so tired that you started searching for matchsticks to try and keep your eyelids open? Well, then you can relate to the words of Asaph in Psalm 77. He speaks to the Lord, suggesting:

"You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!" (v.4)

However, in the words of Robert Alter, the original meaning is more like "you held open my eyelids." 

Personally, I don't believe God would do this, but the word-picture does help us to grasp the writer's distress. He is so tired and distressed that he can't sleep or pray. We can relate to this.

Thankfully, the Lord does come to his rescue and the mood of the Psalm changes. God will also come to our rescue, but we may hold on for a little longer. God promises that His eyes will never shut - He is always watching out for us.

Psalm 132:4 - I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber

Living in grace

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The hidden path

There are times when we come to the edge of uncertainty, and we don't know which way to turn. Picture the Israelites standing on the shores of the Red Sea. The pounding waves are throwing salty spray into their faces, while the blood-curdling screams of the Egyptians are getting closer and closer. Trapped in no man's land, they have only one hope - God. 

They look to Moses and in a moment of Divine Mystery, God opens a hidden path for them. Moses holds the staff high and a road they never knew existed, appears before them. They still need courage to walk on this path, but they step out in faith.

Psalm 77:19 - Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!

Prayer thought: Consider your present obstacles - trust that God will lead you through these trials on hidden paths of grace.

Living in Grace

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Two Ropes of Life

"Whatever happens, do not lose hold of the two main ropes of life - hope and faith." - Zig Ziglar

1 Peter 1:21 - "Because of this, your trust can be in God who raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. Now your faith and hope can rest in him alone."

Thought: The quote about the 2 ropes of life makes a lot of sense to me. What do you feel?

Living in Grace

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I have had enough!

"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said." - 1 Kings 19:3-4

These words of Elijah stopped me in my tracks this week. How often do we feel like Elijah felt on that day? We come to the end of our tether and there is so much going around us, that we just want to scream: I Have Had Enough!

Elijah's story was obviously very unique, but I think we get it! We can relate to his sense of desperation and despair. What do you do when you reach this stage in your life? Is crying out to God an option for you, or do you try and shoulder everything alone? 

Elijah realised that he had come to the end of his human strength and so he was forced to lie down and let God take over. And God lovingly restored him and nudged him back onto the path again.

2 Corinthians 4:8 - "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair..."

Living in Grace

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When things don't work out as you hoped!

There are not many people who remember the name of the disciple who was chosen to replace Judas (see the scripture below to note his name). There are even fewer people who can recollect the name of the disciple who lost out on being chosen to replace Judas. 

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven. (Acts 1)

We hear very little about these two men after this incident, but what I want to focus on is the attitude of Joseph (Justus). It seems that he didn't take the decision too personally and he carried on serving the early Church. He was someone who had walked with Jesus, as much as the others, and had witnessed many miraculous things. Although he wasn't an official member of the 12, he didn't become bitter and sulk off into the wilderness.

How do we respond to set-backs and disappointments? Isn't it hard not to become bitter and cynical? When things don't work out as you hoped, how do you cope?

Jacob Tanner wrote: "One of the most important things for us to remember as Christians in our effort to avoid cynicism is that our understanding of the world is not dictated by the news but by the Scriptures."

Proverbs 14:6 - Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep! (Eugene Peterson)

Living in Grace

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Keeping company with God

Prayer is fundamentally about a fostering a deep relationship with God. As Clement of Alexandria described it: "prayer is happy company with God.”

One of the greatest compliments we could ever be given is that we are people who keep company with God. Enoch was one of these people and it was mentioned that he walked faithfully with God.

Genesis 5:24 - "Enoch walked faithfully with God..."

Philip Yancey added another dimension to these powerful words by suggesting that 'prayer means keeping company with a God who is already present."

Action: How are you able to keep company with God today?

Living in Grace

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What to do when one feels spiritually and emotionally exhausted.

Hi there fellow pilgrim and friend. I am always skeptical of people who never seem to face difficulties in their lives. It just seems surreal to me. What I really relate to is when someone of deep faith is able to humbly admit that life doesn't always go according to plan. Honesty and authenticity immediately get my attention. 

In my experience, following Jesus has often been tough. Of course, there have been remarkable times of joy and victory, celebration and peace, but there have also been a fair share of the opposite. I am thankful that during these times I have been taught to cling to God and to hold onto Him for security and refuge. I have learnt that there is no shame in resting in the presence of One far greater than myself.

Listen to these words from Francois Fenelon, as he gives us a pattern for holding onto Christ.

"At times, everything in life seems to be a trial and suffering. Sometimes the cross is so heavy it can neither be carried nor dragged. Then you can only fall down beneath it, overwhelmed and exhausted."

The important thing is where we rest and that we remember to look up from where we find ourselves.

Psalm 62:8 - O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Living in Grace

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We don't know how to sit still

Blaise Pascal once remarked that 'most of our human problems come because we don't know how to sit still in our room for an hour.'

This is an interesting take on finding time to be silent before the Lord. Is it true that many of our troubles could stem from our desire to 'fix things' in our own way or time? 

What do you think of this? How often have we run ahead of God, without taking time to know his plan or purpose?

I think it is appropriate to reflect on this in light of the disciple's obedience in Acts 1:8. Jesus told them to 'wait for the gift', which was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We know that they did actually wait, and when the Spirit came it changed everything.

Exercise: Can you find 5 minutes to sit in silence? How would this feed your soul? 

Living in Grace

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The strength to live differently

Reflecting on Pentecost this past weekend, I was reminded of how we need the Spirit in order to live differently. What Jesus has called us to do, is not something that we can hope to achieve in our human strength or wisdom. It is extremely different and radical. 

If it were something that I could do with my own abilities I would be tempted to claim all the glory, but being a Christ-follower requires a supernatural element, that can only come from the Spirit.

Just take a look at the Beatitudes again and you will see what I mean (Matthew 5:3-10):

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If you would like to listen to our Pentecost message, please click onto the link and enjoy. 

Living in Grace

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A wonderful promise

Jesus promised his followers that he would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18), which may have seemed strange for them at the time. At this point in their discipleship journey they probably had very little idea of what was to come - they didn't yet understand the pain and heartache that lay in the future. However, I am sure that these words from Jesus (v.18) came back to them, as they grieved his death.

It is interesting that the Greek word 'orphanos' is used in this instance, which is easy for us to see how we come up with the English word 'orphan.' Most scholars believe that what Jesus was saying was deeper than, "I won't leave you without a Father," but that it could also mean, "I won't leave you without a teacher."

We should remember that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is that He is our teacher and He helps us to understand the words of Scripture. I love the fact that the person of the Holy Spirit is so multi-faceted, that He is hard to confine to a single definition.

Thought: In what way have you experienced the Spirit as a Father or as a teacher? 

Living in Grace

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The work of the Spirit

"The work of the Spirit is to impart life, to implant hope, to give liberty, to testify of Christ, to guide us into all truth, to teach us all things, to comfort the believer, and to convict the world of sin." - Dwight L. Moody

As we prepare ourselves for another massive week in the life of the Church, it is important to reflect on the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. He is not something to be used as a gimmick, or to tame, but rather to be worshipped and embraced. 

God's Spirit offers us all the freedom we could ever hope for.

John 20:22 - And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."

Living in Grace

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Don't fall into the trap

Many of us fall into the trap of trying to do things in our own strength. As followers of Jesus, we are equally tempted to do the same. Very slowly our pilgrimage of faith becomes an exercise in human achievement and effort, and we forget the power of God's Spirit. 

"Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you." - Corrie Ten Boom

Zechariah 4:6 - It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Response: Take a moment to ask God to grant you his strength for the tasks that lie ahead. 

Living in Grace

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Finding meaning in the tough times

Reading through these words from Ezra, I was struck by how he sought to find meaning, despite the trials and difficulties they were experiencing. There is some profound truth in his insight:

But now for a short time loving favour has been shown to us from the Lord our God. He has kept some of us alive to return to get a hold on His holy place, that our God may give light to our eyes, and give us some new life while we are under the power of Persia. For we are servants, but our God has not left us even while we are servants of another nation. He has shown us loving-kindness in the eyes of the kings of Persia. He has given us new life to set up the house of our God, to build again its parts that have been destroyed, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. (Ezra 9:8-9)

Viktor E. Frankl - For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment.

Living in Grace

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