Friends of God

Another concept that some Christians fail to embrace, is that we are friends with God. Through the life and actions of Jesus, we are restored into this amazing friendship. Read what Paul has to say on this matter:

"For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." - Romans 5:11

In my personal opinion, coming to this realization should completely change our relationship with God. Just has we would love and respect our best friends, so we should do the same with Jesus. Likewise, we can also know that he will treat us as a genuine friend.

John 15:15 - I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Thought: Is this easy for you to accept? What makes you struggle to see yourself as a friend of God?

Living in Grace

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Making Peace - being at Peace

When Paul wrote these words, we know that they come from his own personal experience: 

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” – Romans 5:1

It seems that one of the things that alludes many faith seekers is a genuine Peace with God. We try our best to please God with all kinds of religious practices and rituals, but these don't always give us peace. 

I guess that Paul could speak from both perspectives - from being zealous and obeying all religious laws, to really knowing authentic PEACE with God.

"So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah." - Complete Jewish Bible

So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." - The Living Bible

Prayer: Ask God to give you his genuine peace, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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God's grace helps us when we are in need

"Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I am not so sure if I could be like Paul and 'boast' in my weaknesses, or even 'take pleasure' in them, but I think I understand his point. 

Paul reminds us that when we are in difficult circumstances, we are a lot more inclined to reach out to God, and to remember that our weakness is a chance for God's Grace to work in our lives.

Are you going through a tough time at the moment? 

If you are, then lean on God's grace and allow His strength to get you through this valley of difficulty.

Living in Grace

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Practice what you preach

There are countless examples of people who have preached a good life but have not actually followed through with their words. Putting faith into practice, is a sure way of showing others the authenticity of being a follower of Christ. 

In his final charge to Timothy, Paul reveals how his life is a testimony to his words. 

"Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them." - 2 Timothy 3:10-11

Thought: How closely do we live up to the words we preach?

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Unexpected Grace

N.T. Wright writes: "God never wastes anything—not even our mistakes. Saul’s violent past would become a testimony of transforming grace."

As we reflect on the remarkable story of Saul/Paul (Acts 9) it always serves as a reminder to me of God's unexpected grace. We could have imagined any number of punishments for Saul, especially when he was murdering Christians, yet God had other ideas. 

The Lord's way of dealing with an angry zealot was to change his heart and give him new spiritual insight. In time, Paul would become one of the greatest ambassadors for Jesus. 

“He is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings...” (Acts 9:15)

Thought: Who are we eager to write-off at times? Is it possible to imagine their lives changed for the Gospel?

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Being watchful

To be 'watchful' is to be alert and vigilant. 

And this is what Jesus was challenging his followers to do, while they were praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke records: 

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22)

Jesus was not only questioning why they were sleeping in that moment but imploring them to wake up and be aware what was to come. And after the disciples managed to get this right, the early Church also lived with a strong sense of watchfulness. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:6:

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”

So, what does this mean for us? Could being watchful mean that we are to be present to God, present to our neighbor, and present to our own hearts? 

What do you think?

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Holding you in my heart

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me." - Philippians 1:7

Paul certainly had a way with words. I can picture the early Christian community gathering together in a small room to worship, excitedly waiting for the elders to read the letter from Paul. And what a joy it must have been to hear these words: "...I have you in my heart!"

These words transcend boundaries, geography and perhaps even logic. They speak to us of having a connection with someone special, even though we are not physically in the same space as that person. 

For Paul, it was knowing that he still loved and prayed for the Christians in Philippi despite him being captive in prison. For you and me it could be holding a loved one in our hearts, even though we don't see them any longer or may not see them for years to come. The unique bond we have with these people is kept sacred in our hearts.

Mary's response to the prophecy of Jesus' birth was similar in some ways. She pondered the words of the angel in her heart, keeping them safe until Jesus had been born (Luke 2:19).

Thought: Who do you hold in your heart at the moment?

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Robert Falcon Scott and the Apostle Paul

On this day (12th November) 1912, the diary and body of Robert Falcon Scott were found in Antartica. He had been dead for 8 months already, but no one could retrieve his body because of the extreme weather conditions. 

One of the intriguing things about Scott is how he faced his last few days on earth with fortitude and bravery. There was a certain peace in his heart about the inevitability of death. These are some of his last words, as longed for his loved ones to be taken care of:

"We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker of course and the end cannot be far. It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more. For God's sake, look after our people."

His words remind me a little of the writings of St. Paul. Even when Paul was in prison, he wrote letters filled with hope and always thought of others. Take for example these words from the first chapter of Philippians.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

Thought: Do you find it easy to pray for others even when you are going through tough times yourself?

Living in Grace

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P.S. Just out of interest, you may like to know that my maternal grandfather's name is also Robert Scott. Perhaps that helps explain why I am interested in this bit of historical trivia today :) 

Pushed to my knees!

When Paul proclaimed that he was okay about his weaknesses, because they allowed God's strength to be revealed (2 Corinthians 12), I wondered how I could get to that same place. To be content in all situations is a hard journey to take.

However, as I re-read these words, from Eugene Peterson's paraphrase (The Message), I began to understand more of what this would require from me. And in truth, it is the simple knowledge, that when I am pushed down by my weaknesses and struggles, then I am moved into the best pose for honest prayer!

^7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first, I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:1-12

Action: If you would like to listen to my 20-minute podcast reflection on this passage, you are welcome to follow this link. 

Living in Grace

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P.S. Please let me know if the link works for the podcast. Thanks so much 

Always?

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

As Paul ends off his letter to the church in Thessalonika, he urges them to hold JOY as their life-breath, PRAYER as their divine connection with God, and GRATITUDE as a daily practice. 

His words are equally inspiring for all of us, despite the challenge of trying to put these ideals into practice.

What do you think?

"Always be joyful.
Always keep on praying.
No matter what happens, always be thankful," - Living Bible

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Do not worry

I find the following words of Paul quite disturbing. 

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." - Philippians 4:6

They disturb me because of the many times I easily slip into worry mode. Afterall, I know this scripture - and you know this scripture, yet how many times do we still worry. It seems that worry becomes a default setting for many of us. 

This verse does however remind us of the gift of prayer. We are instructed not to worry, because we can make our requests to God. I suppose, it simply invites us to ask God to do the 'worrying' for us. 

What do you make of this verse? Do you also sometimes slip into worry-mode?

"And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?" - Luke 12:26

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Suffering is not optional

“Dear Child of God, I am sorry to say that suffering is not optional.” - Desmond Tutu

We started our preaching series on the book of Job this weekend and the quote from Desmond Tutu (above) has lived with me throughout this week. For a long time, I believed that when I experienced some kind of suffering, that it was because of something I had done wrong, and that God was punishing me. 

Thankfully, I see God in a different light now, but there are still many people who think (mistakenly) that their suffering is caused by some defect in their spiritual lives. I feel this is not what God wants from us - this is dangerous theology. Suffering is universal and it is God who helps us get through these moments of pain and trial. 

Paul says something interesting in Philippians. He states: "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (3:10-11)

What would this mean for us? Let me know what you are thinking, please. 

As we continue through this preaching series, I am sure I will share a few more thoughts on Job and suffering. Remember, that if you would like to listen to the sermon, you can click on this link.

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Children of God - we are no longer slaves, but family!

One of the most profound statements made in the New Testament is that all people can become the children of God. Paul writes this in Romans 8...

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." - Romans 8:14-17

In modern times these words don't seem to have the same impact as they would have had on the first hearers of the Good News. In a time when only people of Jewish descent were seen as the children of God (sons and daughters of Abraham), Paul invited all people to open their hearts to the Spirit and to become heirs of God.

May you be encouraged by these words today - we are children of the living God.

Living in Grace

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Father's Day 2023

Hi everyone - I just wanted to let you know that we are alive and well after our Camino adventures. I am busy trying to sort through thousands of photos (and that's not an exaggeration) and process all that we experienced. Once I have done that, I will share some posts about our fantastic pilgrimage and try and put our thoughts into something coherent and meaningful. 

In the meantime, I also just wanted to make mention of Father's Day and especially to offer thanks to our Lord, who treats us all as a perfect Father would. Of course, we can't limit God to our human understanding of fatherhood (or parenthood, if you prefer), but there are many striking characteristics of God that speak to our hearts today. 

In a world that lacks many 'father-figures', perhaps we should remind ourselves of the true gift that God is to every person. 

Paul wrote to the Galatians reminding them of this:

"And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, so now we can rightly speak of God as our dear Father" - Galatians 4:6

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Paul's prayer as an inspiration for All Saints Day?

When Paul shared his prayer with the church in Ephesus, it soon became a blueprint for similar prayers in the future. As many churches mark All Saints Day on the 1st of November, we thank God for all who have gone before us and for their Godly witness. Their inspiration drives us onwards in our faith journey. 

"I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,  and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 

God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." - Ephesians 1:15-23

Thought: Pause to give thanks for those believers who have inspired you to follow Christ.

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Start by listening to the stories of others

When Paul spoke to the learned people in Athens, he noted that they had built a statue “to an unknown God!” (Acts 17:23). They had done this as a safety measure,  just in case they had missed out on one of the many gods – they wanted to cover all their bases. 

What I like about Paul's response to this statue is that he didn't dismiss their religious efforts outright, but rather used it as a bridge to the gospel of Jesus. We would be wise to use this approach even in our own lives as people are still seeking God today. Sadly they are not looking for God in the church, as the church may have failed a lot of people over the years. 

However, it is good to remember that we are not offering them the church (per se), we are offering them Jesus.

Philip Moore offers us this advice: “Luke tells us to stop dismissing people’s stories and instead use them to point people towards Jesus. When we listen for ways to build bridges and point out Jesus where people have missed him, opportunities to call people to repentance are never far away. God is looking for tour guides – ordinary people like you and me.”

What do you make of this? 

Whose story do you need to listen to today? 

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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?

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Freedom?

Is there a difference between these two kinds of Freedom?

2 Corinthians - 3:17 - "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom."

"Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your FREEDOM to choose how you will respond to the situation." - Victor Frankl

What do these 2 thoughts mean for you today? 

Can the 'freedom' that Christ offers us impact the way we respond to the situations that happen all around us? 

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Galatians 5:13 - For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Limitations

"If God limited his work to people who were talented, capable or credentialed, there would be no mystery to God's accomplishments, and little glory to his account." - Chuck Smith

This quote reminded me of the many characters in the bible who are 'ordinary' people like us. This makes the mystery of God's work in their lives even more believable, because very little depended on their 'spiritual qualifications.'

If capable and talented people accomplish great things we don't always notice God's Spirit working in their lives, but when something amazing is done through a 'Joe Soap' or 'Mary Bloggs' we know that something supernatural had to have been involved.

Acts 19:11 - "God did extraordinary miracles through Paul..."

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What pleases God

Hidden away in a verse in Timothy we catch a glimpse of something interesting. Paul suggests that we can please God with the way we pray about issues and people. See what you think:

1 Timothy 2:1-3 – “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Saviour…”

The first thing I notice in these words is that we can present our requests to God in many different forms:

Petitions, Prayers, Intercession, Thanksgiving...

Which one of these types of prayer do you find the most difficult at the moment? 

"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." - Max Lucado

Then Paul says that we should pray for all in authority, as this can impact upon our own lives. We pray for those in authority so that we may live peaceful lives. Interesting, hey? What are your thoughts?

Living in Grace

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