Why?

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2024]

Why do bad things happen to good people?

This question was prompted by the news that two former members of HBC, both of whom played significant roles in the life of the church in times past, are now facing serious health issues. In this week’s ‘Yours’ Chris alludes to a similar circumstance. The question is not new, it is one that has been asked by many people over a long period of time. Solomon contributed to the debate with his assertion:

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. Ecclesiastes 8 v14 [NIVUK]

In attempting to answer this question, it might be easier to address the parallel question first. Why do good things happen to bad people? Why is so much ‘good luck’ being wasted on those that do not deserve it? Why are we having to struggle when ‘sinners’ seem to have an easy life?

Job had some similar questions: “Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?” “Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know him look in vain for such days?”[1]

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus spoke about God the Father, saying: “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”[2] But this description of God’s impartiality does not answer the “Why?”

The apostle Paul offered an answer: “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance”.[3] But does it? We take God’s blessings for granted so often that he has to try another approach. That brings us back to the original question.

Are there times when you feel tempted to ask “Lord, whose side are you on?”. Certainly king Hezekiah must have felt like that as he saw the army of Sennacherib king of Assyria advancing on Jerusalem, He had already unsuccessfully tried appeasement so he resorted to more desperate measures. He went to the Temple and appealed for God’s help. Surely he should have done that first; certainly it is an example that we should follow more often.

Can we echo the Psalmist’s words?

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Psalm 119 v71-72 [ESVUK]

Does that suggest an answer for us? Could it be that the adversities that we experience are intended to bring us closer to God?

Chris concluded her thoughts with some other well-known words from Paul. It is appropriate to repeat them here:

We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan Romans 8 v28 [NLV]

References:
[1] Job 21 v7, Job 24 v1
[2] Matthew 5 v45
[3] Romans 2 v4

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Last week’s reflection: Let Lying Dogs Sleep
 

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Trust

[This reflection by Chris Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 17/Mar/2024]

In returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30 v15 [NKJV]

After spending 6 months trying to fathom out what on earth is going on with my body, fighting illness and not being able to fully participate in all sorts of activities that I’m used to, I have come to the conclusion that I really do need to trust Jesus more.

I can glibly say, I trust Jesus, but to be totally honest, if I’m truthful, it’s not that easy. Or it is easy when I’m feeling well and sickness hasn’t presented its head that day. So my attitude has become, Lord I really don’t understand what’s going on right now but I give it all to you, show me Lord how to handle the present circumstances over to you.

Even though it all looks like nothing seems to be going forward – it’s amazing when I cry out to you and ask for help and really surrender, God seems to break through with simple answers and doors open that no man can shut.

So as I move forward in the days ahead in whatever life style and activities God has for me, I’m learning to take one step at a time. I really don’t like cancelling plans and letting people down but in the process God seems to be bringing me face to face with new opportunities to have contact with folk that I would never have come close to before.

Romans 8 v28 has come to the forefront of my thinking again.

All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.

So you could say, where I was floundering, I’m trying to leave all things in God’s hands.

Resources:
[1]

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Last week’s reflection: Freedom From Fear Of People by Helen Ruffhead
 

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Contributor: Chris Ginter
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Let Lying Dogs Sleep

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2024]

Sleeping Dog

On a recent visit to a grocery shop I saw a dog lying adjacent to the doorway. He was not aggressive and was no doubt tired after spending the night conversing with his neighbours. As each person entered the shop he raised his head and opened his eyes with an expression that seemed to say “Please, let a lying dog sleep”.

There may well have been people were deterred from entering the shop because the dog was there. They did not know his character but they had heard that some dogs are far from welcoming. There may well be people who are wary of coming to church because they are unsure of the welcome that they might receive.

Last week, in Birmingham, the Kennel Club held its annual dog show with some 18,000 canine competitors. The dogs were judged by a number of criteria including appearance, ability and achievement. The Bible does not have much to say about dogs and much of what it does say is not complimentary. However, if your community of faith were to be compared with one of those classes of dog, how would it compare?

Guard dogs are large and impressive, their primary purpose is to protect those who have been accepted as insiders and keep outsiders at bay. They may have a savage appearance and a loud bark but once you have gained their acceptance they can be loyal. Does you welcome people or do they feel safer at a distance.

Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; Psalm 22 v16 [NIVUK]

Hunting dogs range from those used for running down foxes and hares to those used for searching for truffles in French forests. They are always looking for something to their advantage and are liable to cause collateral damage whilst pursuing their target. How do you treat those who get in the way of your objectives?

My enemies would hound me all day, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High. Psalm 56 v2 [NKJV]

Lap-dogs spend their time in idle comfort. They are jealous of their privileged status and do not take kindly to anyone attempting to disturb them. One of the churches in Revelation was rebuked for having the characteristics of a lap-dog. Are you sitting comfortably?

You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” Revelation 3 v17a [NIVUK]

Working dogs are prepared to use their skills to help others. Their deportment and training mean that they can be relied upon in times of trouble. Gideon used a comparison with dogs when selecting his soldiers to rout the army of Midian.[1] Job spoke about his sheep dogs, considering them to be more worthy of respect than some of the people around him.[2] Jesus described how even dogs can share the blessings intended for others.[3] Do you have a reputation for being helpful and sharing?

At the end of the show the judges’ verdicts were announced and the rewards distributed. As with dogs, some churches can become good companions for life; others can surely only be loved by their devotees. What would be your Judge’s verdict?

References:
[1] Judges 7 v6 [NIVUK]
[2] Job 30 v1 [NIVUK]
[3] Mark 7 v27-28 [NIVUK]

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Last week’s reflection: Keep Calm and …
 

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Freedom From Fear Of People

[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 10/Mar/2024]

Recently on Connect in Faith we have been looking at how Jesus sets us free from various forms of slavery, one of which is fear of people. This fear takes two forms: fear of what people can do to us and fear of what they think of us.

As a teenager both these fears paralysed me, probably as a result of being persistently bullied throughout my childhood. Hebrews 13 v 6 says: “The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Unfortunately there are many things people can do to us. They can rob us of all our possessions, wound us emotionally and hurt us physically, even torturing us to death. Fear of being tortured for my faith made me hold back from full commitment to Christ and even now I doubt if I could withstand a moment of torture. All I can do is trust that God is in control, that he loves me and will not test me beyond what I can bear, as promised in 1 Corinthians 10 v 13.

The fear of what people think of me dominated my younger years. When you can’t read faces or body language, it is hard to know what people are thinking and all too easy to assume the worst. Adopting two boys with Down’s syndrome, who think I am wonderful, helped me to worry less about what other people think, but for many years I remained frightened of teenagers, as it is an age when people tend to be most critical and least accepting of those who are different. Doing maths tutoring with teenagers helped me to see that they weren’t so terrifying, but it was when God called me to host homeless teenagers in my home that I finally faced and overcame that fear.

When waiting for the first young person to arrive, it suddenly hit me that it didn’t matter a bit what they thought of me, all that mattered was that they knew I cared about them. That thought was so liberating and I was able to care for them without fear, either for my physical safety or of what they thought of me. As with so many fears, facing up to them brings freedom.

The best cure for worrying about what people think of us is to know how God sees us, as his chosen people, holy and dearly loved. (Colossians 3 v 12).

Resources:

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Last week’s reflection: A Seismic-Shift in History by Dazz Jones
 

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Contributor: Helen Ruffhead
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Keep Calm and …

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2024]

In one of last week’s readings[1] a sentence caught my attention. Matthew, Mark and Luke all include accounts of Jesus calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee but Mark includes an additional detail. It could almost be a throw-away line but since generations of scribes and typists have been inspired to include it then it must have some relevance.

And other little boats were also with Him. Mark 4 v36 [NKJV]

Did they too experience the storm? Were they too threatened by the wind and rough sea? Did they too hear the disciples’ cries of fear and their appeal to Jesus? The answer to all three questions is almost certainly ‘yes’. Those who were in the other boats would surely have experienced the calm that followed after Jesus commanded the waves to be still.

Do we recognise that our prayers for ourselves can affect those around us? Should that have an effect on how we pray? Do we make a positive effort to share with them the blessings that we receive?

Some of these disciples were experienced fishermen, fully familiar with the hazards of embarking on an evening voyage across the sea. Despite knowing the risks, they set out, following the instruction that Jesus had given them.

Do you ever find yourself in the same boat as the disciples? Not literally of course, but metaphorically speaking. Does the course that you are following seem likely to end in disaster? To what extent are you willing to accept the risks that come with obeying Jesus?

The disciples had not yet fully understood who Jesus was. Their question “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”[2] is one that we too should ask. With two thousand years of hindsight we ought to be able to provide an answer but is our answer adequate?

Some time later, Jesus tried to explain to the disciples who he was and why he had come. He spoke about his death and resurrection but the response of the disciples was predictable:

They did not understand what He said and were afraid to ask Him. Mark 9:32 [NLV]

There are times when, as we read the Bible or listen to God in prayer, we feel that he is trying to tell us something but we do not understand. As we take time to ponder on what we have read or heard we should not be afraid to ask for clarity. Gideon, David and Jehoshaphat[3] are just three examples of people asking for confirmation of God’s will. Our prayer should echo that of the Psalmist:

Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word. Psalm 119 v169 [NIVUK]

References:
[1] The Essential Jesus, day 57
[2] Mark 8 v41
[3] Judges 6 v39, 1 Samuel 23 v2, 2 Chronicles 18 v6

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Last week’s reflection: God has No Grandchildren
 

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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A Seismic-Shift in History

[This reflection by Dazz Jones was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 03/Mar/2024]

The Revolutionary way of Jesus: A Seismic-Shift in History

In the course of all human history, few people have left a mark as profoundly or with such an enduring nature as that of Jesus of Nazareth. His teachings, life events, and legacy sparked revolution in thought, culture, and spirituality and they continue to shape the world today. From His humble beginnings in a manger to the profound events of His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus instigated a paradigm shift that transcended His time (and in fact all time!) and continues to resonate with our species millennia later. This is a fact we gloss over in our minds every day.

Jesus was a master storyteller, He knew people so well and deeply that he could bottle the most complex of ‘kingdom truths’ into the most accessible of narrative tales. Fathers and sons, sheep and shepherds, farmers and farm hands. He took what people understood and used it to show them how God his Father loved them; He did it so profoundly that we can tell these stories today with the same (or very similar) effect. Wow!

The message of Jesus was to look up to heaven for hope, to invest in God’s kingdom and not get too distracted by the politics and materialism of daily life on earth. To experience the life God has in store for us, we must give ours away he said. Pick up our cross and follow in His example by serving all those around us tirelessly and with a smile on our face and joy in our hearts. This will only happen if we truly understand what he achieved on the cross and in rising again.

Martin asked a poignant question of us last week,[1] he asked if it is: “Better to be right, or better to be merciful?” and I think it was implied that to be merciful is the goal, above being right about something. This again is a really difficult balance to strike, but in the life of Christ we see Him show mercy to the woman caught in adultery, opening up a conversation with a sinful woman at a well and promising a dying, convicted and ‘confessed to be guilty’ criminal that he would be with him in paradise. Jesus Christ lived a life marked by Mercy and that was a game changer, let us be game changers too!

Resources:
[1] The Ninety #8: Mercy Amnesia, HBC, 25/Feb/2024

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Last week’s reflection: Modern Slavery by Michael Goble
 

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Contributor: Dazz Jones
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