A motivation to do your best

As some of you are aware, we have just come back from a working Mission trip to the Namaqualand circuit. We were asked to help with some repairs and maintenance at the old age home in Springbok, called Huis Harmonie. The experience involved a lot of hard work but was equally rewarding. 

One of the key scriptures we used to keep us motivated was from Colossians 3. When you read it from Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, it makes a lot of sense:

"And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work." - Colossians 3:23-25

Thought: How can we go about our daily tasks being motivated to serve the Lord?

Living in grace

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When the words can't be taken back.

Following on with our theme of gossip and slander, I came across this powerful story which highlights the impact of gossip. It certainly has made me stop and think more before I speak. Enjoy.

    "Yiddish folklore offers a telling tale about gossip-makers. One such man had told so many malicious     untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. 

"Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends." 

The rabbi sighed, "Take two pillows, go to the public square and there cut the pillows open. Wave them in the air. Then come back." 

The rumormonger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi's chambers. 

"I did just what you said, Rabbi!" 

"Good." The rabbi smiled. "Now, to realize how much harm is done by gossip, go back to the square..." 

"And?" 

"And collect all your feathers." 

    Colossians 3:8 - “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice,         slander, and filthy language…” 

Thought: I think the lesson in this story is obvious. Now, we are asked to put it into practice.

Living in Grace

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What is God really like?

What is God really like?

This question has been on the lips of millions of people over the millennia. And as much as we can delve deeper into this question, the answer is staggeringly simple. 

Jesus said: Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9). 

In other words, if we want to understand who God is, all we need to do is study Jesus. If we can comprehend the nature and 'person' of Jesus, then we will have a best foundation to understand Yahweh. The apostle Paul actually put it like this:

Colossians 1:15: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Hebrews 1:3: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

Thought: If you want to discover what God is really like, please don't look at other people (pastors included) - rather study the life and person of Jesus.

Living in Grace

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A human mouse?

A.W. Tozer once wrote, "The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels."

As we are reflecting on the Beatitudes at the moment, I have been challenged by the word 'meekness.' What does it truly mean to be 'meek?' 

Sadly, we have come to understand meekness as being passive or even downtrodden. But is this what Jesus is speaking about when he says: "Blessed are the meek?" Do we need to become like a 'human mouse' in order to please God? 

Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering."

Living in grace

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Tuesdays with Morrie

I have just finished re-reading Mitch Albom's classic, Tuesdays with Morrie. In this moving story, Mitch connects with his old University professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is slowly dying with Lou Gerig's disease. As they meet together for these remarkable conversations, Mitch discovers so much more about life, death and everything in-between. 

As one reads deeper into the book, you also begin to wrestle with the bigger questions of life and how one can live a meaningful life.

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” - Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

Colossians 1:10 - "so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."

Living in Grace

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What tests your patience?

What tests your patience?

Or should I rather ask: Who tests your patience? 

If I am honest, there are many things that seem to test my patience at times. But then I think of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) I realise that the Spirit has a long way to go before I am fully refined. It is humbling to contemplate that God must be tired of being patient with me :)

Paul encouraged the Church to live in the power of the Spirit in order that they may grow in endurance and patience. He writes:

"...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..." - Colossians 1:10-11

May God continue to be patient with us & may we be given the grace to be patient with others.

Living in Grace

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It doesn't happen automatically!

How can we prepare ourselves for growth in Christian faith? Can this even be achieved or measured? Regardless of our answers to these questions, the one thing I know is that 'growing in grace' doesn't happen by osmosis. We have to be intentional about it. Read the following words and see if this makes some sense:

“At the heart of it [John Wesley’s thoughts on Christian Perfection] was his conviction that growth in grace is not accidental or automatic. One does not wander or stumble into maturity…The key to Christian growth is not feeling but faithfulness.” – Dr Steve Harper

There is so much depth to this quote, but I am drawn to the part which insists that our growth doesn't come from something 'accidental' or 'automatic.'

Thought: What strikes you about the words from Dr Harper?

Colossians 1:10 - "so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."

Living in Grace

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Having Hope

“Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.” - John of the Cross

The first week of Advent invites us to focus on the word HOPE. It is remarkable that even though we have a working understanding of 'Hope', this can take on a deeper meaning when we reflect on what it truly means for us. 

Hope is what gets us up in the morning. 

Hope is what enables us to lift our heads, when all seems lost. 

Hope enables us to push our disappointments aside for a moment and to trust in something better. 

Hope teaches us to hold out our hands to Christ.

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the HOPE of glory.” – Colossians 1:27

Questions:

1. What does "Hope" mean for you this week?

2. Where does your Hope lie?

Living in Grace

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Your work IS important!

"Every occupation has its own honour before God. Ordinary work is a divine vocation or calling. In our daily work no matter how important or mundane we serve God by serving the neighbour and we also participate in God's on-going providence for the human race." - Martin Luther

These words remind us that, no matter what we do (work or serving), this is part of our higher calling. As you go about your tasks today, remember that you do it for the Lord and not for anyone else. 

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" - Colossians 3:23

Living in Grace

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Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” - Catherine of Siena 

There is much truth in coming to understand that perseverance is a great virtue. Too many people in our modern world expect to be granted success without much 'long-suffering' or tenacity. 

Paul wrote a lot about endurance and perseverance:

"Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses" - 2 Corinthians 6:4

"...being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience." - Colossians 1:11

As you continue to walk in the ways of Jesus, may you be blessed with great courage and endurance.

Living in Grace

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Prayer is hard - prayer is easy! Which one is it?

Katie Savage makes me feel a little more at ease when she shares this honest confession about her prayer life: 

"Prayer is easy; prayer is hard. It is both of these together. Sometimes words tumble out, one after another and on top of each other, and then sometimes prayers come only in groans and silence."

How is your prayer life at the moment? Easy - hard?

No matter how we feel our prayer life is going, we all need some encouragement to keep going. In my opinion, prayer is not something you ever get 'good' at, but rather we slowly learn to tune into the rhythm of the father's grace. Once this happens, so we are freer to express ourselves in prayer and communion with the Lord. Perhaps the correct word would be 'more natural!' - Prayer becomes more natural for us as we persevere in prayer. 

What are your thoughts on this?

Colossians 4:2 - Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God’s answers, and remember to be thankful when they come. (Living Bible) 

Living in Grace

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Acts of kindness never die

"Acts of kindness never die. They linger in the memory, giving life to other acts in return." - Jonathan Sacks

I have observed 2 things recently: 

1. Our world lacks a lot of kindness. Sure, there are some people who have the gift of pushing through the negativity, but we could all do with more kindness around us. 

2. Kindness stirs a response in us - it usually makes us want to also show kindness to others.

Romans 2:3-4 (The Message) - God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.

Colossians 3:12 - So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.

What is your response to this quote? 

Please drop me a line if you get a moment - I'd love to hear your thoughts and stories of kindness. 

Living in Grace

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What are we defined by?

Whether we like it or not, each one of us is defined by something. We can be defined by our upbringing, or our education. We can be defined by our faith or friendships. We can also be defined by our careers and the context in which we find ourselves. 

When Paul writes to the church in Colossae he has some words of encouragement for them and it may help us to understand his intention, especially in light of 'what defines us'.

"Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ." - Colossians 3: 11(The Message) 

Once we are "in Christ" this is what should be our defining criteria. 

What do you think?

Living in Grace

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Employed for you

When we say the Methodist Covenant Prayer, there are a few words that may have lost their original meaning over time. For example:

"Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you..."

Traditionally we could understand this to mean that regardless if we are employed/unemployed we would be content in God's will. However, there is a different perspective on this, that I feel draws all of us into God's greater work, regardless of our employment status. This difference also implies that every single believer has some work to do, in the Kingdom.

Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

If we note that God has given us all spiritual gifts and natural talents, then we need to offer these back to God and to apply ourselves to these tasks. Our 'work' for the Lord will be to live for Jesus. If God has called me to serve as an usher in church, or a children's church teacher, or a pastoral care assistant, or anything else, then I am 'employed' in serving God in the Church. 

What would this mean for you at the moment? 

What 'work' does God have for you to do at the moment?

Are you willing to pick up the mantle and serve Christ.

Have you considered that our work is a partnership with God's spirit? We work with God and not for God?!

Living in Grace

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Tree of Calvary

"O Tree of Calvary,
send they roots deep down into my heart.
Gather together the soil of my heart,
the sands of my fickleness,
the stones of my stubbornness,
the mud of my desires;
bind them all together,
O Tree of Calvary,
interlace them with thy strong roots,
entwine them with the network of thy love." - Chandran Devansen

Luke 23:33 - "And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left."

Colossians 2:22 - "...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ."

Living in Grace

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Let

"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." - Colossians 2:7

As we take a few moments to unpack this verse there are a few things worth noting. 

The word "let" implies that we must make a conscious choice to allow our 'roots' to grow down deep into the heart of God.

Then our lives must be "built" on the foundations of God and there is also the attitude of surrender - the word "let" appears again.

Once we allow this process to start, then our faith starts to take root and grows stronger and stronger.

It is interesting to note that the overflow of this decision is thankfulness.

What do you think?

Are you able to "let" God lead and guide you at the moment?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

No act of virtue

“No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.” - John Chrysostom

These quotes encapsulates the true perspective of Lent for us. We can't give up things and act like 'martyrs' for the Lord, unless we are willing to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

Question: How has our Lenten journey opened our hearts to God and others?

What do you think?

Colossians 3:14 - "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Living in Grace

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No more work!

I think that if we had to say to everyone in world, "you don't need to work anymore, but you will still get paid," most people would say, "Oh yes please!"

Of course this is never going to happen, but it does open up a question concerning how we view our work and how we spend our days.

• If you asked a teenager - they would prefer not to do any work.
• If you asked a busy person, they would argue that they work too hard. 
• And then there are the pensioners who would love to still be at work in some kind of way. 
• And of course, there are those who are struggling to find work - they would love to have a job.

Solomon's word to us today reminds me that we should be grateful for the work we have and that we should honour the Lord with the work of our hands.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Paul said something similar in Colossians 3:23: 

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters"

Sam Ewing wrote: "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."

Living in Grace

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Why do you work so hard?

Today's reading leaves me with a huge dilemma and it involves how hard we work. Let's see what it says first:

"Nothing that I had worked for and earned meant a thing to me, because I knew that I would have to leave it to my successor, and he might be wise, or he might be foolish—who knows? Yet he will own everything I have worked for, everything my wisdom has earned for me in this world. It is all useless. So I came to regret that I had worked so hard." - Ecclesiastes 2:18-20

At a glance we see that Solomon is concerned that his years of hard labour, grinding effort and sacrifices are going to be handed over to his children and he is not sure if they will appreciate those gifts. In the end, he has no control over how they will react when he has passed on, but I guess he does have another option. That option is to instruct his kids in the best way possible and to trust that they will appreciate his inheritance and the legacy he leaves. 

Of course there is no guarantee of this and history tells us that his son (and successor) Rehoboam wasn't well received by the people of Israel. In fact, 10 out of the 12 tribes refused to accept him as their king and so he only ruled over the Kingdom of Judah (or the Southern King). 

I am a little uncomfortable with the last part of today's reading where he says: "I came to regret that I had worked so hard." The reason I am uncomfortable is more along the lines of finding a balance. It is TRUE that we should never make work our Idol and pursue our careers at the cost of family and other important values. However, there is also merit in working our best/hardest, as if we are working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23). 

What do you think? Or am I perhaps just over-analysing Solomon's point?

Living in Grace

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A new perspective

I was bemoaning standing in a long queue this morning, as I waited to renew my car license, when suddenly I felt a little prompting to 'Be Thankful.' The more I thought about it, the more I realised that if I was able to renew a license that I was one of the fortunate folk who owns a car. That in itself makes me one of a small percentage of South Africans who have that privilege - about 30% of South African households own a vehichle between the members of that house. So, in the end, I waited out the rest of my 'penance' with a renewed peace and a spirit of thankfulness.  

Sometimes we just need a little prompting to change the way we see things. Perspective is a great way to change the way we see the world.

"So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective." - Colossians 3:12 (Message)

Living in Grace

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