Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

These thoughts have been inspired by the Prayer and Fasting meditations that members of Horley Baptist Church considered during February 2020. Here, we look at the passage suggested for Thursday 13th February:
John 11:1-44

This passage had a particular poignancy as I anticipated the loss of a sibling in the near future. For us, the sisters’ lament “Lord, if you had been here …” did not apply as we had the assurance that the Lord was present and that He had control of the situation. Now, some weeks later, the circumstances have changed and facing the prospect of death has become a reality for many households worldwide. The Lord has not lost control; he can bring healing but maybe he has a better plan. Jesus allowed Lazarus to die in order that a great good might follow – “many of the Jews … who had seen what Jesus did, believed in him”. Was that just because of the raising of the dead or had the Bethany family already introduced Jesus to their neighbours?

Earlier in the passage we learnt that Jesus placed himself in great danger by going to visit the family in Bethany (v 7 & 8). Does that have a modern parallel? History records many occasions when Christians have reacted positively to adversity, often at great personal cost, demonstrating the love of God even when He seems to be absent. In 1665 the Derbyshire village of Eyam isolated itself completely and successfully prevented the spread of the bubonic plague to other communities.^[1]

In 1527 Martin Luther wrote: “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. … If my neighbour needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”^[2]
Those words are still relevant, some 500 years later.
 
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[1] Eyam reference, accessed 24/Apr/2020
[2] Luther reference, accessed 24/Apr/2020
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These thoughts have been inspired by the Prayer and Fasting meditations that members of Horley Baptist Church considered during February 2020. Here, we look at the passage suggested for Wednesday 12th February:
Matthew 1:18-2:12

Dreams – that time when you think you are asleep but your mind most definitely is not. Churning through disconnected and often obscure thoughts it constructs scenarios that can be either nightmares that we are pleased to escape from or pleasant stories that finish too soon. In this passage there are two dreams – one personal, one apparently collective; one saying “Do it” and the other saying “Don’t do it”. In yesterday’s passage from Judges, God spoke to Gideon through a dream and later in the week we will see how God spoke to Ananias in a similar way.

Does God still speak through dreams or is it a case of “any dream will do”? Some will argue that God no longer speaks through dreams. Certainly, of themselves, dreams constitute very unreliable guidance. Taking a wider definition of dreams, how do we know which of our plans, ambitions or desires are God-given? Is it a lack of faith if we, like Gideon and Ananias, ask for confirmation? God will not abandon us if we follow the wrong dream, but how do we know His will?

We have an advantage that was not available to those mentioned in our readings; namely the written word of God which reveals His character and records His dealings with His people. Do our ideas conform with what we see in the Bible? Of course we can find verses which, when taken out of context, seem to support our arguments but Proverbs shows us a better way: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” (Prov 16 v3)

The book of 1st Chronicles tells us how God inspired King David to make plans that he was not allowed to implement himself. In handing over to his successor, David advised him to seek the Lord. Therein lies the secret to achieving a favourable outcome.

Remember, the Wise Men came seeking the Lord; wise men still do.
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These thoughts have been inspired by the Prayer and Fasting meditations that members of Horley Baptist Church considered during February 2020. Here, we look at the passage suggested for Tuesday 11th Feb:
Judges 7:1-25

Yesterday’s reading mentioned Moses’s father-in-law Jethro as a priest of Midian. Today’s reading tells of a battle between the Israelites and the Midianites. Who or what was Midian? Who or what is our contemporary equivalent of Midian? Midian was one of the sons of Abraham, by his third wife Keturah; most likely one of those who were given gifts and sent away so that the focus of the family would remain with Isaac. As a tribe they became neighbours of the Israelites, co-operating on some things but often hostile as in the time of Gideon. How do our neighbours relate to us?

But to return to the main story. The Israelites had turned their back on God and He had allowed the Midianites to oppress them. Now it was time to restore Israel, and Gideon was God’s man of the moment.
Unlike Moses, whose arguments were aimed at avoiding God’s will, Gideon’s questions are intended to confirm that calling. In fact, he spent longer in checking beforehand than he did in actually completing the task. Is there a lesson there, or are do we prefer to ask God to lend His support to the plans that we have already made?

By following God’s instructions Gideon and his team achieved a miraculous victory over their enemies and the Israelites subsequently enjoyed a period of peace for 40 years. However, the following chapter records that Gideon did not maintain his close relationship with God and we see the nation once again turning away from the worship of the Lord. Walking with God is not a walk in the park; are you ready for a walk on the wild side?

Gideon was not perfect but he did receive a mention in the list of the faithful in Hebrews chapter 11 and it is difficult to think of a better epitaph than that.
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These thoughts have been inspired by the Prayer and Fasting meditations that members of Horley Baptist Church considered during February 2020. Here, we look at the passage suggested for Monday 10th Feb:
Exodus 3:1-4:17

In this passage, Moses engages in a lengthy argument with God, attempting to persuade God to give the challenge of liberating the Israelites to someone else. At one point in the discussion Moses is struck with leprosy. The Biblical word for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. Those suffering with it were forced into isolation, separated from social activities and risked premature death. Do you remember the scene from the film ‘Ben Hur’ which showed the horrific impact on family life and the despair felt by those who were afflicted? Social standing was no defence, as this passage from 2 Chronicles 26 shows:
King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house – leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord.
Does all this sound familiar? COVID19 is clinically very different but the impact on our lives certainly is very similar.

Moses had that experience of leprosy as a sign from God – did he remember that event when his sister Miriam also was struck with leprosy? One source[1] has suggested that Moses used his experience to encourage Miriam, describing it as a demonstration of God’s power not only to discipline but also to heal and restore.

The Bible contains many stories of involving those who were sick but Luke 4 v27 reminds us that not all were healed. We cannot assume that being a member of God’s family on earth gives us immunity from the troubles that surround us but we can echo David’s words with confidence:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
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[1] Wendy Zierler, https://www.thetorah.com/article/re-encountering-miriam, Accessed 12/Feb/2020.

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These thoughts have been inspired by the Prayer and Fasting meditations that members of Horley Baptist Church considered during February 2020. Beginning with Moses – which is itself a reminder of the Lord’s discussions with his followers on the road to Emmaus – we read through passages in the books of Exodus, Judges, Matthew, John and Acts.
This week’s Bible passages:
– Day 2: … Exodus 3:1-4:17
– Day 3: … Judges 7:1-25
– Day 4: … Matthew 1:18-2:12
– Day 5: … John 11:1-44
– Day 6: … Acts 7:57-8:3; 9:1-22

The original purpose of the Prayer and Fasting sessions was to help us to seek God’s will regarding the problem of inadequate capacity for the congregation during our worship services. That problem has been overtaken by circumstances in a way that nobody expected. Does that mean that the exercise was futile?

By no means! For those of us who were able to follow through the study programme, the process of reading and meditating on God’s word has brought us closer to Him. Reading God’s work has been likened to looking at a collection of diamonds lying on a dark cloth – every time you look you can see a different facet, the more you look the more marvellous the jewels become. Some jewels may be ready to adorn a king’s crown; others may require more work to reveal their full value.

God’s jewels are not limited to the actual words of Scripture. Malachi chapter 3 is often quoted as a rebuke to those who have neglected the worship of God but consider these words from the end of that chapter:
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another and the Lord listened and heard them so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”
– (Malachi 3, 16-17 NKJV)
Do you recognise yourself as one of God’s jewels?

So much for the preamble – what about the jewels in the study passages? Space constraints mean that they must follow later but in the meantime you can explore the facets in the passage quoted above.
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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 19/Apr/2020]

When I think back to the last item I wrote for Yours, it was all about being thankful, during the ensuing time there have been so many changes in or lives, the world even.

Who would have thought that we would not be meeting for our Easter service and around the world churches would be closed? Yet there are indeed things still to be thankful for. We have amazing technology and a skilled congregation that we can still connect and see and worship together despite our physical separation.

As the pandemic still rages and live are lost it can be a fearful time, worrying about health, loved ones, work or finances. However, as a believer of Jesus we can overcome that fear and worry with faith and prayer. God still loves us and wants to hear our prayers and worship during this time. It was not his desire that we would suffer, but because of that first sin His plan had to change and through Jesus’ sacrifice we have been given hope. Hope of better things to come, but before then we will be tested like the gold that needs refining. Are we seeing the growing pains of faith? Of minds turning, I pray it is so.

I heard a story this week, that resonated during this time and will try to do it justice. A man relayed a dream he had been having. Two dogs were fighting, there was no let up they were locked in battle with one another. One dog was good and named faith, the other was bad and named fear. This dream kept reoccurring, so he shared this dream with his friend, who asked, “which one wins?”, to which he replied “the one I feed”. Therefore, at this unprecedented time of lockdown, where fear and uncertainty can cloud our minds, we need to flood out those fears with faith, with daily worship and prayers, to be thankful for all we have – the NHS, homes, provisions, faith , to name but a few.

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will give us faith and growing confidence in you and your love and healing. I pray that you will watch over those I love and those working to save lives and stock shelves. Those who run the country and the services we depend on. I pray for those fighting the virus and those who have lost family and friends. Lord I pray that you will keep us strong in love for you and our neighbour. Help me and all of us to extend kindness and grace. I pray Lord, that you will restore this world and forgive us where we have put material things before you. Heal this land father, heal our hearts and heal our minds, help us in faith and love.
Amen.

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