John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Love, Courage and Wisdom
Love without courage and wisdom is sentimentality, as with the ordinary church member. Courage without love and wisdom is foolhardiness, as with the ordinary soldier. Wisdom without love and courage is cowardice, as with the ordinary intellectual. But the one who has love, courage and wisdom moves the world.
Ammon Hennacy (Catholic activist 1893-1970)
Ammon Hennacy (Catholic activist 1893-1970)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Talking About Love
There are many ways that we, as Christians, show the world that we belong to God. t'shirts, music, going to church, preaching on street corners, concerts, giving out tracts... the list probably goes on. However, there's an interesting verse in John 13 where Jesus talks about this.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35
We're told that we can show the world that we are Jesus' disciples by our love for each other. But the danger of this is that we apply the worldly, Hollywoody version of love to this verse and miss the point completely. The world tells us that love is a feeling that comes and goes as our mood changes. However, the bible shows us that love is a commitment that goes further than how we feel.
The first clue as to how we should love each other is in the second sentence. Jesus tells us that we should love on another 'as I (Jesus) have loved you'. Think about that for a second. That's some pretty heavy stuff right there! In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matt 26:39) Jesus' feeling was that he wanted God to release him from having to go to the cross, but his commitment was such that he still went through with the single greatest act of love in history. He died a sinner's death for us so that we wouldn't have to face the ultimate consequence of our sin, death and separation from God. But how do we do anything like this for each other?! Well, the bible also says this...
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'
We're told that we can show the world that we are Jesus' disciples by our love for each other. But the danger of this is that we apply the worldly, Hollywoody version of love to this verse and miss the point completely. The world tells us that love is a feeling that comes and goes as our mood changes. However, the bible shows us that love is a commitment that goes further than how we feel.
The first clue as to how we should love each other is in the second sentence. Jesus tells us that we should love on another 'as I (Jesus) have loved you'. Think about that for a second. That's some pretty heavy stuff right there! In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matt 26:39) Jesus' feeling was that he wanted God to release him from having to go to the cross, but his commitment was such that he still went through with the single greatest act of love in history. He died a sinner's death for us so that we wouldn't have to face the ultimate consequence of our sin, death and separation from God. But how do we do anything like this for each other?! Well, the bible also says this...
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'
John 15:13
That is a real challenge of commitment rather than feeling. I'm sure we can all think of situations where it's just easier not to love our friends and lay down our lives for them. But we ought to think differently. Give our lives for them. Let them make our lives awkward.
The second aspect of love is to look at what love really is. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that without love, everything we do is empty and pointless. Then it goes on to list what love is.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Can we love each other with this kind of love and commitment? I pray that this valentines day (or friends day, I know!) God will help us not just to know it or even say it, but to live it. Then people really will know that we belong to Him.
That is a real challenge of commitment rather than feeling. I'm sure we can all think of situations where it's just easier not to love our friends and lay down our lives for them. But we ought to think differently. Give our lives for them. Let them make our lives awkward.
The second aspect of love is to look at what love really is. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that without love, everything we do is empty and pointless. Then it goes on to list what love is.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Can we love each other with this kind of love and commitment? I pray that this valentines day (or friends day, I know!) God will help us not just to know it or even say it, but to live it. Then people really will know that we belong to Him.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Blessings
Monday and Tuesday of this week were very interesting and I have begun to understand a bit more about the way the Lord provides for us.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
The story of the widow is an amazing one, albeit very short. But I think that there is so much we can learn from it. The main part of the story is obvious, but we very often forget it. When we give, how often do we only give what we don't want? Like giving away the tins of food that have been in the kitchen for 3 years and we realise we are never going to use. Or how often do we give away what we don't need, like the leftovers from a party or some spare money after a particularly good month? These are both good things to do, but how about giving away what we need to those who need it? Like giving away our lunch to a homeless person without a backup plan. Or giving our money when we know it will make things really uncomfortable. Having re-read this scripture recently, I've come to the conclusion that there's a lot of the story we aren't told. There would have been a decision made by this widow to give everything for God and the church. But God will also have provided for her once she left the place where Jesus was.
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44
The story of the widow is an amazing one, albeit very short. But I think that there is so much we can learn from it. The main part of the story is obvious, but we very often forget it. When we give, how often do we only give what we don't want? Like giving away the tins of food that have been in the kitchen for 3 years and we realise we are never going to use. Or how often do we give away what we don't need, like the leftovers from a party or some spare money after a particularly good month? These are both good things to do, but how about giving away what we need to those who need it? Like giving away our lunch to a homeless person without a backup plan. Or giving our money when we know it will make things really uncomfortable. Having re-read this scripture recently, I've come to the conclusion that there's a lot of the story we aren't told. There would have been a decision made by this widow to give everything for God and the church. But God will also have provided for her once she left the place where Jesus was.
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33
The widow's first thought was for God's kingdom, not for her own needs. As she sought God first he promised to provide for her needs. So when God asks us to give everything, we must obey Him, because he can provide for us in ways we couldn't even dream of. I have seen and experienced God's provision this week, both for me and others, and it's definitely the perfect plan.
The challenge for all of us is to give even when it hurts. Not only when it's easy and doesn't really cost us anything, but when God asks us to. Everything we have comes from Him anyway so we shouldn't worry that he can't provide for us again.
The challenge for all of us is to give even when it hurts. Not only when it's easy and doesn't really cost us anything, but when God asks us to. Everything we have comes from Him anyway so we shouldn't worry that he can't provide for us again.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:33-36
Snow
Before I came to Estonia I knew what snow was. We get some pretty serious snowfall in the UK from time to time, so I'm familiar with it. Snow sticks to things, it forms balls when you press it together in your hands and it needs to be scraped from your car. However, since being in Estonia I've found out that I didn't know the whole truth...In Estonia this winter, the snow is like powder. It drifts like icing sugar being sprinkled on a cake. It swirls from under passing cars like mist. And the best way to get it of your windscreen is with a brush. It's like dusting, but outside.
The problem with my definition of snow was that it was shaped only by my experience, and my experience was limited. I knew some of the truth about it, but not the whole truth. And what I knew before had caused me assume what the snow was going to be like here.
You see, humans are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with information. We are already full of stuff, and some of it is junk. This is not news to God, and way before this had been formed into educational theory (read about Jean Piaget), He knew all about it, and wrote it down for us in the bible.
The bible does give us information to absorb, and expands our view of God and the world. However, God does much more than that. Not only does He fill us up and show us more, but He renews us from the inside. He deals with our problems instead of just pouring new stuff on top of them. 'THE OLD HAS GONE, the new has come!' (2Cor 5:17) He heals us. He renews our minds.
We need to be careful that we don't become so arrogant that we think we know it all. We need to study God's word and seek His heart. We need to be prepared to learn new things, but we also need to be prepared to unlearn old things. What we think is right might not be right and we need to be humble enough to be corrected, in whatever way God chooses. 'Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.' (Prov 12:1)
I thought I knew what snow was, but I soon learned that my view was limited.
I think I know God, but I pray that God will show me just how little I know Him and compel me to desire to know Him more.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Don't Get Married!
Lauri put me onto this yesterday.
http://www.newspring.cc/series/dontgetmarried-1
It's very hard hitting and controversial, but I'm fed up of messing about. It's time to man up, men! Women, don't settle! We can be better, so expect better!
I haven't watched them all so I can't say they're great, but I like what I see so far.
http://www.newspring.cc/series/dontgetmarried-1
It's very hard hitting and controversial, but I'm fed up of messing about. It's time to man up, men! Women, don't settle! We can be better, so expect better!
I haven't watched them all so I can't say they're great, but I like what I see so far.
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