What does it mean to be 'rich?'

What does it mean to be 'rich?' Ask a group of people and you will get a number of different answers, all of them holding some form of truth. I came across a prayer written by Paul Brand that challenged the way I answered this question. In reflecting on the parable of the Rich Young Ruler, he wrote:

Dear Lord,

I have been re-reading the record of the Rich Young Ruler and his obviously wrong choice. But it has got me thinking. No matter how much wealth he had, he could not - ride in a motor car, have any surgery, turn on a light, buy penicillin (or anti-biotics), hear a pipe organ, watch TV, wash dishes in running water, type a letter, (use a computer), mow a lawn, fly in an airplane, sleep on an innerspring mattress, or talk on the cell-phone….

If he was rich, then what am I?

P. Brand, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, p. 61.

Thought: Is it possible that what we consider now as 'normal', was once a great sign of wealth for previous generations? Has our access to all of these things made us any happier?

"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." - Luke 8:14

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Those who are weary

"He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." - Isaiah 40:28-31

I think that we all know what it feels like to be tired and weak. When we get to this point in our lives it is usually as a result of having expended too much emotional or physical energy. 

In today's well-known passage (from Isaiah 40:30) we note that Isaiah also uses the word 'weary.' At first glance we can be excused for thinking it is the same meaning as weakness or tiredness. However, it is a different word, with a different meaning. According to the commentator, Motyer, it means “exhaustion because of the hardness of life.” 

Can we relate to that in any way? Have you ever felt exhausted because of the hardness of life? What hope does God give to us?

Action: Read Matthew 11:28-30

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Why do they wait for the thermals?

A question for today: Why do eagles wait for the thermals in order to soar and fly?

Answer: They have been taught from a young age to conserve their energy and to know that they are created to use the winds to their great advantage. They are not designed to flap their wings all the time.

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind." - Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)

In the same way, I believe that God has designed us to rely on His Spirit, so that we may soar and live for his glory. Sadly, there are many times when I forget this and I flap my wings too much, trusting in my own perceived strength and less on God's gift to me.

Prayer thought: It is tempting to be 'busy' the whole time, believing that our work is for God's glory, but sometimes we need to WAIT for the right moment and the right thermal. Our waiting my seem frustrating, especially when we see others flying/flapping all around us, however if we want to reach Godly heights, we must wait for his Spirit.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

It is easy to complain

It is very easy to make complaints against other people, as well as against the Lord. The commentator (Wolf) remarks:  “How easy it is to believe in the infinite power of God and at the same time to feel that He is unable to meet our personal needs!” And I am sure there are a fair number of us who can relate to these words. 

In trying to remind the Israelites that Yahweh was still sovereign, Isaiah challenged them: "Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? (Isaiah 40:27)

He was imploring them to remember that God does still care for us. Although it may be easy to complain, let us hold onto all the promises that come to us from the Lord. Here is a powerful reminder of this truth. 

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Sometimes we just need to look up

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." - (Isaiah 40: 25-26)

It is very easy to become bogged down in the trials of this life and to become so focused on all that is going wrong, that we forget how Big God truly is. This is why I love to look up into the night sky and to be reminded how small I am, and how Mighty God really is.

“If you were to hold out a coin at arm's length, the coin would block out 15 million stars from your view, if your eyes could see with that power.” - Source Unknown.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Consultant or King?

"Most people want Jesus as a consultant rather than a King, and He does not come that way." - Tim Keller

I found these words very challenging indeed. Do I have Christ in my life as someone I can consult from time to time, but I still reserve the right to call all the shots? If this is the case, then Jesus is not my Lord, but he is rather my sounding-board or my consultant. 

What do you feel about this quote? How does it challenge you?

Revelation 19:16 - On his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: King of Kings. and Lord of Lords. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Having a purpose

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

The Austrian psychiatrist, Victor Frankl, has written on the relation of the meaning of life as related to the whole structure of our personality. 

It is his thinking "that the need to find meaning in our life is more basic to a human being than pleasure and power or anything else." The thing he keeps repeating is that if a person has a "why" to live, they can endure any "how." However, if "why" is lacking, then the persons whole life eventually collapses.

2 Corinthians 5:5 - Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

What do you think of this?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Make use of - do not abuse!

I have been reminded again of the call for believers to set the example in making use of what we have been given, but not to abuse this gift. The Lord gave us the privilege of taking care of his creation (Genesis 2:15), yet somehow, we have abused this gift, and we are facing the consequence of our actions.

John Wesley once wrote, “God has made man [humankind] as the steward of the earth, but not as the proprietor. We are to use it as entrusted to us, not to abuse it.”

Psalm 24:1 reminds us that the creation belongs to the Lord and not us:

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters."

What can we do to help?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Stay in love with Jesus

The final part of John Wesley's rule of life is summed up as: "Stay in love with God (Jesus)."

There is a simplicity in Wesley's rule that should make our faith easier to practice, but anyone who has been a believer for years will tell you that it has difficult moments. Kindling our relationship with Jesus is such an important part of being a Christ-follower - we surely can't be effective disciples if we aren't willing to nurture this love.  

I would argue that the first two actions of the Rule of Life (Do no harm and do good), should hopefully flow from our relationship with God.

Jude 1:21- "...keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

Reflection: What do you do in order to stay in love with Christ?  What have you found helpful in this regard? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Do Good

In trying to encourage believers to be witnesses of God's grace, John Wesley challenged people to 'Do good' to others. This was not an attempt to persuade a 'salvation by works' mentality, but rather to echo the approach of James - 'faith, without action is dead!'

Galatians 6:9-10 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 - And as for you, … never tire of doing what is good.

Question: How can we do good to others (for the sake of God's kingdom)?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Do no harm!

In reflecting on John Wesley's Rule of Life, we note his 3 major calls: "Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with Jesus." 

Tackling the first of these, what would this mean for us, on a daily basis? 

'Do no harm!'

The bible has a lot to say on this matter, and so I leave you with these texts and ask us all to make our own reflections on how we can live this out.

“By doing no harm; by avoiding evil of every kind.” – John Wesley

^“When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.” – Luke 9:54

·    Romans 13:10 - Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law.

1 Corinthians 11:17 - In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.

·     Revelation 7:3 - “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

I will not be afraid

"I will not be afraid!"

What a statement to make. Even in the midst of very difficult times, we are left with 2 choices: either we can allow our fear to overwhelm us or we can remember to trust in God's great promises. 

The writer of Psalm 118 confidently sings:

  “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” - v.6

Which one will you choose today?

Living in grace

D3LM3

Feed your faith

Max Lucado writes: “Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will starve.”

This is an interesting take on living as a follower of Jesus. What do you make of this? 

It makes sense in many ways, because if we allow our fears to run away with us, them they can cloud our view of Christ. In what ways do we allow our anxiety and fears to move us away from a deep faith in God's work in our lives?

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." - 1 John 4:18

Living in grace

D3LM3

Searching for God, or stopping to respond to his invitation?

"In fact, our search for God is only our response to his search for us. He knocks at our door, but for many people, their lives are too preoccupied for them to be able to hear." - Cardinal Basil Hume

There is so much truth in the words 'too preoccupied' - how many times have we felt so overwhelmed by all that we have to do, and all the noise that preoccupies our minds, that we can't hear the voice of God?

Instead of us trying to bash down imaginary doors to find out where God is hiding, why don't we pause for a while and listen where he is already knocking?

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." - Revelation 3:20

 Living in Grace

D3LM3

Wrestling with contentment

Charles Spurgeon once said: “You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”

These words hit home, as they remind us of how we mistakenly believe that 'more' will always make us feel better. More money. More 'friends on Facebook.' More possessions. More time. More 'likes' on our social media platforms.

The writer of Hebrews had these wise words to offer us: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Thought: In what area of contentment are you struggling with at the moment?

Living in Grace

D3LM3