Making the journey together

A large part of the Christian experience can be nurtured privately, but it was never meant to be undertaken in isolation. We need each other as we make the journey of faith together. We need someone else to nudge us forward in encouragement, or to keep us accountable to our disciplines and to pray for us when we find prayer too difficult. 

2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

As we embark upon the spiritual journey of Lent this week, I invite you to commit to a practice that will nurture your relationship with God and others. If you don't have something to guide you and you would like something, please drop me a message and I will send you an invite to be a part of our community's 40 Days Together devotions. 

Helen Keller - Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.

Living in Grace

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What do you make of this story

I came across this very insightful observation from Leroy Eims. Read it and see what you think.

One spring our family was driving from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, Florida. As far as the eye could see, orange trees were loaded with fruit. When we stopped for breakfast, I ordered orange juice with my eggs. "I'm sorry," the waitress said. "I can't bring you orange juice. Our machine is broken." 

At first, I was dumbfounded. We were surrounded by millions of oranges, and I knew they had oranges in the kitchen--orange slices garnished our plates. What was the problem? No juice? Hardly. We were surrounded by thousands of gallons of juice. The problem was they had become dependent on a machine to get it. 

Christians are sometimes like that. They may be surrounded by Bibles in their homes, but if something should happen to the Sunday morning preaching service, they would have no nourishment for their souls. The problem is not a lack of spiritual food--but that many Christians haven't grown enough to know how to get it for themselves. - Leroy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciple Making.

1 Chronicles 22:19 - "Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God."

Questions:

1. Does this apply to us in any way?

2. How many Bibles do we have in our homes? Do we know how to read them?

3. How can we help others to 'squeeze the oranges to get out the juice?'

Living in Grace

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Christ shapes us through the lives of others

C.S. Lewis – “Christ works on us in all sorts of ways…but above all, He works on us through each other.”

These words from C.S. Lewis reminds us of the great importance of being together in fellowship with others that belong to the body of Christ. We may not always get along or agree on everything, but we are created to be in community.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25

Living in grace

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A Spiritual Stent

A Stent is a wire-mesh tube that is inserted into a blocked artery with the hope of assisting blood flow. This procedure is especially important for the arteries around the heart, and it can be a life-saving procedure. While this makes sense for physical blockages in our arteries, what can we do when our 'spiritual hearts' are in danger and there seem to blockages in our spiritual lives? 

Well, William Temple has this to say: “To worship is to open the heart to the love of God.”

So, he is suggesting that when we gather for worship, we intentionally open our hearts to the work of God's Spirit. This becomes a stent for the blockages in our hearts. What do you make of that?

Jude 1:2 (Message) - Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!

Living in grace

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Being a beginner

Somehow, we have picked up the notion that being a 'beginner' is a negative thing - but, if we stopped for a moment, we would realize that this is a stage we all need to start from. 

You can't walk, until you have begun to crawl; you can't speak a language fluently, until you have begun to learn some words; you can't pick up an instrument and suddenly have the skills to play it perfectly. We are all beginners at some point in our lives.

Perhaps this is what puts many people off from following Jesus. We assume we should be able to read and understand the scriptures immediately; we think we should be able to pray like the saints; we believe that our Christian faith is a failure if can't perform miracles. 

In some ways, I feel as if I am a 'Christian' beginner, on a daily basis. I know that I should be growing and maturing, but then I feel as if I have taken many steps backwards. 

Thought: What about you? In what ways do you still feel as if you are a beginner? 

Hebrews 5:14 - Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.

Living in Grace

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Planted or buried?

"Sometimes when you're in a dark place you think that you've been buried, but you've actually been planted." - Christine Cane

John 12:24 - "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

On our journey to the agony of the Cross, let us remember that Jesus's death and resurrection, changes the way we look at our troubles and losses. What may seem like a loss to us, could just be the foundation of something marvelous in the future. 

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal." - Eugene Peterson

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Committing to discipleship

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes: “The fellowship between Jesus and his disciples covered every aspect of their daily life. Within the fellowship of Christ’s disciples, the life of each individual was part of the life of the brotherhood (sic). This common life bears living testimony to the concrete humanity of the Son of God. ........ In the Christian life the individual disciple and the body of Jesus belongs inseparably together. (The Cost of Discipleship p.284).

The Church continues to struggle with the difference between discipleship and membership. Jesus was explicit in his call to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), but we have been discovering for centuries that this is much harder to put into practice. We have neat systems to build a membership base, but we keep wrestling with how to keep following Jesus, just as his disciples would.

John 6: 65- 68 - "He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Thought: What do you understand by the difference between a disciple and a church member?

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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Haste versus Hurry - is there a difference?

"Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry because I never undertake more work than I can go through with calmness of spirit." - John Wesley

I confess that Mr Wesley's words had me scurrying for the dictionary to try and see if there is a difference between 'haste' and 'hurry.' In most of the dictionaries there is very little difference between the two terms, although if I were to try unpack what John Wesley's intention, it could be something like this:

• To be in haste (urgency of movement) may relate to sharing the Gospel with those in need, fully aware of the time constraints and the urgency of this task. There is no time to waste.

Whereas, when my life is in a hurry, there is a sense of being out of control and perhaps being a little side-tracked by the myriad of tasks on my plate. To hurry is "to do things quicker than normal" - thus implying less focus.

What do you think? If you know a better definition, please let me know. Maybe there is no difference between the 2!?

Anyway .....

My point is this: "We should be in tune with the Holy Spirit as we go about our tasks. He will lead us and give us capacity to complete all the important things in our lives."

Psalm 38:21-22 - Don’t dump me, God; my God, don’t stand me up. Hurry and help me;

Living in Grace

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Planted in salty ground

The thought of planting something in soil that is not suitable for any growth, really seems ridiculous. Would you even think of wasting your hard earned money on buying plants, only to plant them in soil that is harmful for their growth? I don't think so!

This is the picture that Jeremiah is offering us today, when he suggests that when we put our trust in the strength of 'mortals', it is as if we are planting something on salty ground. 

"The Lord says, “I will condemn those who turn away from me
and put their trust in human beings, in the strength of mortals.
He is like a bush in the desert, which grows in the dry wasteland,
on salty ground where nothing else grows. Nothing good ever happens to him." - Jeremiah 17:5-6

As we reflect on this verse, we must ask ourselves what the alternative solution would be? Surely, it is plant ourselves in the fertile soil of the Almighty. And that as we remain rooted in his grace and forgiveness, so we grow into the people of God.

“Pray, and let God worry.” - Martin Luther

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Perfected through adversity

Dr. Robert Frost wrote a book entitled Our Heavenly Father. In this little gem he penned these words:

"There is nothing more precious to God than our praise during affliction... What He does not protect us from, He will perfect us through. There is indeed a special blessing for those who do not become offended in God during adversity."

The words I have highlight truly struck me as profound. We long for God to protect us from all trials and adversity, but this was never promised to us. What God does promise us, is that he will guide us through the troubles and we will be 'perfected' by what is revealed to us during these times. 

Paul used different language to express the same sentiment.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18

Living in Grace

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Back to school

The importance of learning is clear to all of us. For this reason we send our kids to an academic institution to further their studies and to gain valuable knowledge (and hopefully some wisdom). All of this involves numerous sacrifices on the behalf of the parents, as well as the students. Completing an academic milestone takes times, resources, effort and perseverance. 

As we send our kids 'back to school' this week, I am reminded of our call to keep studying the word of God and to keep growing in our faith. Learning to be a follower of Jesus will take our entire lifetime, but we need to be committed to the process.

So what are we doing to further our 'spiritual education?'

What tools help you to discover more about God and our journey of discipleship?

Psalm 111 - "Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got— Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. God’s works are so great, worth a lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! Splendour and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. His miracles are his memorial— This God of Grace, this God of Love."

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Many eggs in one basket

Last year taught us many valuable and harsh lessons. One of them could have been not to put our hope in only one thing, because that could be snatched from us at any time. The old saying goes something like this: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." This usually applies to financial decisions, but it can apply to a lot of other things too.

Coming back to the wisdom of Solomon in Ecclesiastes, we note a similar sentiment from him. 

"Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.
2 But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead." - Ecclesiastes 11:1

For me, these words of wisdom speak about a few key things:

1. We need to work hard and in time we will hopefully be rewarded.

2. Dividing your "investments" in a few options is very wise

3. Risks and uncertainty lie in the future

4. Security for the future relies of wise decisions in the present and the trust in God's provision for the present.

May God bless you with the wisdom of Solomon as you begin this new year.

Challenges lies ahead, but God is with us.

“Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.” - Zig Ziglar

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Growth or decline?

In reflecting on Jeff Manion's book The Land Between, he delves into the Israelites struggle to see God's plan as they travelled out of slavery into the new land. Sometimes we also struggle to see God's will and plan in the painful journey's we go through and I think that this season of Covid-19 is no exception. The real challenge for me lies in what we make of this time of transition. As Manion says:

“Our response to God while in the Land Between is what will determine whether our journey through this desert will result in deep, positive growth or spiritual decline.” – Jeff Manion

When we look back over this time of intense trial and difficulty what kind of things will we see in our spiritual lives? Will we recognise Spiritual growth or will we have to acknowledge that our faith has taken a huge step backwards?

Whatever the outcome of this 'Land Between' for us, we should never forget that God's desire is always to bring about a hope and future for each one of us.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Living in Grace

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Standing out

Imagine yourself walking in the bushveld somewhere. Everything is dry and brittle around you and then you stumble across an evergreen tree - you notice it immediately. It stands out from the rest of the environment. The LIFE in that bush or tree may startle us at first, but then it begins to make sense. There is something in it's DNA that allows it to stay green all year around.

Now this is exactly what David is hinting at in this verse for today.

 "They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time,
    and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." - Psalm 1:3

If we put down roots near the stream of God's goodness and mercy, then the Spirit of God will begin to change us. It will be like we are planted near a stream of water - the Grace of God will help us to grow and bear fruit in time.

This sounds like Good news to me. All I need to do is make sure I don't go and plant myself far away from the source of Life.

Living in Grace
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Rooted to grow

The other day we had to cut down a bush that had died in the garden. It seemed to have a problem with its root-system and so the rest of the bush whithered and turned brown. Sadly, it had to be uprooted and thrown away.

So, how deep are your spiritual roots at the moment? Are they providing enough nourishment for your growth? Will they sustain you through the tough situations in life? Paul encourages us to have our roots go deep down, so that they may be nurtured through love - in turn this will give us the power we need to live as Christ-followers.

 

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, 
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:17-19

Living in Grace
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Where are you planted?

For all you gardeners out there, you can remind us that planting seeds in the right place is crucial. There are some places where we know seeds won't grow at all. Hard soil, too much shade or even direct sunlight can kill any potential growth. We can safely say that "deciding where to plant a seed or tree is an important decision."

So, why do we not translate this mindset into our spiritual lives? The principle is exactly the same when it comes to 'planting' ourselves spiritually. If I plant myself away from the Life-giving Spirit of God, how can I expect to grow and survive? If I choose to try and root myself in 'hard soil' then my growth may be stunted. The following verse gives us an idea of where we can plant ourselves in order to thrive. See what you think:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought    and never fails to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

Where are you planted at the moment? 

Living in Grace
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Small grows to BIG

One of the hindrances in our spiritual growth is our frustration with the lack of progress we see. We feel we should be further along the Christian road, than we actually are and this demoralises us. God is not disappointed in our 'small' attempts to follow Christ, as long as we are deeply committed to His cause and willing to count the long-term cost of being a disciple.

Do you think that God despises the acorn because it looks so small and insignificant? Of course not. God knows that within that small seed lies massive potential. God sees the same in you. Don't be discouraged, keep your eyes on Jesus.


Ephesians 4:14 – “We are not meant to remain as children at the mercy of every chance wind of teaching...but we are meant to speak the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ, the head.”

We will see growth when we surrender our entire lives into his hands.

Living in Grace,
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