Coming to our senses

Even though Hezekiah's reign was deemed successful, his son, Manasseh made a real hash of the succession plan. Manasseh did evil in the eyes of the Lord and undid much of what his father had put in place. He even spilt much innocent blood (2 Kings 21) and rebuilt altars to Baal. 

I keep thinking to myself, how is possible that he was an ancestor of Jesus?! But his name is recorded in Matthew's Genealogy, and we can't erase that. However, it would be remiss of me to only tell half of his story. Manasseh does eventually come to his senses. He has his own moment of conversion, and he turns back to God. 

"But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So, the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! - 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

The story of Manasseh is a vital reminder that God can change the hearts of anyone willing to admit their need of God. The story of Christ's birth grabs our attention, teaching us again that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Thought: Never give up praying for those friends and family who seem far away from the Lord. This is the season of miracles!

Living in Grace

D3LM3 

Staying close to the Shepherd

 

As we reflect on the beautiful image of the Good Shepherd this week, I invite you to meditate on these quotes and verses. Enjoy and may you know the comfort of the True Shepherd, Jesus.

"I am like the sick sheep that strays from the rest of the flock. Unless the Good Shepherd takes me on His shoulders and carries me back to His fold, my steps will falter, and in the very effort of rising, my feet will give way." - St. Jerome

"Christ's flock is made up of sheep that not only listen to their shepherd, but are also able to recognize his voice, to follow him, faithfully and with full awareness, on the pastures of eternal life." - Pope John XXIII

"The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same." -Stendhal

John 10:11 (LB) - “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  A hired man will run when he sees a wolf coming and will leave the sheep, for they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Searchlight

"The Lord's searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive." - Proverbs 20:27

What image comes to your mind when you think of a searchlight? 

I have in my mind a massive bright light, scanning the surrounding countryside, revealing anything that may be hidden in the darkness. I guess a Lighthouse is a kind of searchlight, except it's function is mainly to reveal itself and thus warn ships of where the coastline is. A searchlight has a different function - it is to reveal and find.

Now, I want to ask us: what emotion comes to your mind when you think about a searchlight? 

Yes, it is a strange question perhaps, but let me expand. When the writer of Proverbs suggests that the Spirit acts like a searchlight for our hearts, this picture can do one of two things. It can either fill you with anxiety - oh man, what is God going to find in my heart? 

OR

It can fill you with relief and hope. Many of our hearts are feeling the weight and strain of Covid-19, and some of us are feeling lost. Our emotions are like a frightened animal hiding in the shadows, afraid of what is out there. The searchlight of God's spirit FINDS us again and reminds us that we are God's chosen and beloved. 

The Father sends the Spirit to bring comfort to the lost and bewildered.

Let God's promises shine on your problems. ~Corrie Ten Boom

Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message. ~Malcolm Muggeridge

Living in Grace

D3LM3

When all is lost

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote: “Oft hope is born when all is forlorn.” 

This simple quote brings together the hope of each one of us. When all seems lost and forlorn, that is when we are ready to receive the hope that comes from Jesus. 

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?" - Romans 8:24

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Remember how it felt?

When we were a lot younger, Kim and I enjoyed a season of travelling overseas. Our adventures took us to many foreign countries and on the odd occasion we found ourselves LOST in a strange land. These were in the days before cell-phones and Google-maps, so if we couldn't rely on a printed map, we had to ask a "human-being" for directions. It was always such a relief to find our way again and end up at our destination.

Can you remember a time when you have been lost? It doesn't feel good does it?
I feel that as Christ-followers we tend to forget what it feels like being lost. We may have been in the church for so long that we literally can't remember how it feels anymore.

As we commit to follow Jesus let us also be on the look out for those who may have found themselves lost along the way.

Luke 19:10 - The Son of God came to seek and save the Lost.

Jesus seeks out the lost.
Jesus helps us find our way home.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Shepherds beware! - Ezekiel 34

Ever wondered where the image of the Good Shepherd came from?
Sure, we  have heard Jesus speak about this in John 10, and the image of the Shepherd is well-known in Psalm 23, but Ezekiel's words are the basis of Jesus' heart for the lost sheep. Read these words and see the correlation with the words of Christ:

¹¹ “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. ¹² I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. ¹³ I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. ¹⁴ Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. ¹⁵ I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. ¹⁶ I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice! (Ezekiel 34)

What is startling is that these words come in response to the lack of leadership and care shown by the 'spiritual shepherds' in Ezekiel's time. These shepherds were more interested in lining their pockets and winning public praise. The warning and rebuke in this chapter is reserved entirely for these negligent leaders. God will hold them to an account. 

 ⁷ “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ⁸ As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve. ⁹ Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. ¹⁰ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, and I will stop them from feeding themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey.

As a 'shepherd' myself I take these words seriously and realise that there will be a time when I will need to give account for my role as a pastor. I also believe that there are many 'shepherds' who are in danger of feeling the wrath of God for some of their actions. Shepherds also need to beware! 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Lost in translation

One of the most humbling conversations a Pastor can have is around the Sunday sermon - and in particular what a person has "heard" from the message. It is quite a test to see if what you preached got across to the hearers in the way you intended. It can either be a "good" conversation or a "distressing" one, especially if the message gets LOST in translation.

But, I guess, it is not just Pastors who experience this anxiety? Employers wonder if their workers have actually listened to the crucial instructions. Teachers hope their pupils are listening to the classes and lectures. Parents pray that their kids get the right message. Sadly, too many messages get lost along the way and end up causing confusion.

What message do we need to listen to today? How can we prevent it getting lost along the way?

"But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it." - Matthew 13:23

Living in Grace
D3LM3