Treat others as we would want to be treated

As South Africans wait for the 30th of June with great anxiety, it is important for followers of Jesus to remember the words of our Saviour: "Love your neighbour as yourself." (Luke 10). Elsewhere in Luke's gospel we read how Jesus said: "Do to others as you would like them to do to you" (Luke 6). 

So, if I was an illegal immigrant, or a legitimate refugee, how would I want others to treat me? If I was living in fear of my life or that of my family, what measures would I take, in order to care for them? These are such powerful questions to reflect on, and I am not sure I have a glib answer for them. 

Profoundly, I believe that Jesus stands with the most vulnerable and the desperate, because his lived reality included a time of being homeless and also living as a refugee. His family found hope in another land, cared for by foreigners, until they were able to safely return home. 

"Even if our own troubles are great, we should still serve. Jesus washed His disciples' feet on the way to the cross." - Tim Keller

"Jesus experienced homelessness at Christmas so that we could experience a love we could never lose."

Living in Grace

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He does not ask much of us

He does not ask much of us. 

Well, this is the opinion of Brother Lawrence, in his book Practising the Presence of God. He writes to all followers of Jesus:

“He (Jesus) does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”

I understand what Brother Lawrence is getting at - it doesn't take much for us to acknowledge Jesus in our daily lives - to honour him with every waking moment. Sadly, for some people, even this is too much.

1 John 5:2 - This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

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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Rejoicing in work

“O Lord, renew our spirits and draw our hearts to yourself,

That our work may not be to us a burden, but a delight.

Let us serve you with the spirit of bondage like slaves,

But with freedom and gladness,

Delighting in you and rejoicing in your work,

For Jesus Christ’s sake.” – Benjamin Jenks

When it comes to serving others, it makes a huge difference if we commit ourselves to the tasks out of love or out of bondage. A servant who does the minimum, just to avoid being scolded by their harsh master, is unlikely to go the extra mile for that same person. 

However, a servant who knows they are loved and respected by their Lord, will usually go beyond the required limit, just to be a delight to the one who employs them.When we serve Christ, which servant are we? Do we serve out of fear or because we delight in our Saviour?

Living in Grace

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Take Time

There is a sign on a wall in one of the Children's homes in Calcutta; this is what it says:

"Take time to think
Take time to pray
Take time to laugh.

It is the source of power
It is the greatest power on Earth
It is the music of the soul.

Take time to play
Take time to love and be loved
Take time to give.

It is the secret of perpetual youth
It is God's given privilege
It is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to read
Take time to be friendly
Take time to work.

It is the foundation of wisdom
It is the road to happiness
It is the price of success
Take time to do charity
It is the key to Heaven."

This poem is taken from A Simple Path, a book reflecting on the life and work of Mother Teresa.

May you enjoy reading it and pass on the blessing to others.

Living in Grace
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The Kitchen worker

Reflecting on the story of Stephen, in the book of Acts, one easily notices the dramatic event of his martyrdom (Acts 7), but we often forget that he was appointed as one of seven people to help sort out a problem in the early church (Acts 6). The problem was around the distribution of food and so in some senses, Stephen's ministry centred around a kitchen. I love this take on his work:

“Stephen, the kitchen worker, stands tall in the annals of faith as one of those men who did much for God’s Kingdom. Clearly, God doesn’t need everyone to be preachers and teachers; he just needs ordinary people who will learn from Him and be willing to be used in extraordinary circumstances.” – NLT Bible commentary

May we do all we can to serve Christ today.

Living in Grace

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Getting perspective

This morning we had the privilege of sharing in the work at Eden Kids. We were helping set up some gardens and clearing a few areas so that the kids can plant some veggies soon. It didn't take more than 2 hours, but the time was beneficial for all.

In fact, I often believe that we get more out of these 'mission trips' than the youngsters we are trying to help. It always reminds me of how blessed we truly are and consequently how much responsibility we have to help others.

It seems that people have been speaking about this for generations - it is just for us to listen and to give of ourselves:

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” - Mother Theresa

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

 “For it is in giving that we receive.” - Francis of Assisi

 “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”-Charles Dickens

Living in grace

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Serving others in our neighbourhood

There are so many people in our world in need. In Africa we can see the need all around us and sometimes various Churches heed the call and get involved in serving others. This can be by going on mission trips to other countries or even by serving the poor locally. This year our Church community desires to focus on the needs closer to home - the needs in our city. So, we have decided to narrow our focus a little and to get involved in a few projects closer to our doorstep. Sure, there is still merit in going abroad to do mission (and if this is your call, then do it), but sometimes we miss the needs near our own community.

Scot McKnight has an interesting take on this. Read what he says and let me know your comments:

“Why do so many today want to wander off to South Africa or Kenya or India or Russia or Honduras or Costa Rica or Peru to help with justice issues but not spend the same effort in their own neighborhood or community or state? Why do young suburbanites, say in Chicago, want to go to Kentucky or Tennessee to help people but not want to spend that same time to go to the inner city in their own area to help with justice issues? I asked this question to a mature student in my office one day, and he thought he had a partial explanation: 'Because my generation is searching for experiences, and the more exotic and extreme the better. Going down the street to help at a food shelter is good and it is just and some of us are doing that, but it's not an experience. We want experiences.”

Is our mission about an 'experience' or about serving Jesus and others?
Worth thinking about!

Living in Grace
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