Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 28/Mar/2021]

I have asked myself a few questions recently (you know how it is when you have time on your hands). One of them was “Have you thought about what you would like your legacy to be?” Some of you will have had occasion to think about this more than others. Another way of putting it is “what will people say about you when you’ve gone?”

I was listening to the short reflections on the fruit of the Spirit which people from Spurgeon’s college have kindly recorded. In one of them, Joshua Searle talks about Bede the historian having to grudgingly accept that Aidan, who brought Christ’s message to most of England, was “a man who loved God and lived generously”. It struck me then that the chances are that what people will remember, when you’re gone, is what you did while you were around.

The question should therefore perhaps not be ‘what will people say about you when you’ve left?’, but rather, ‘what do people say about you while you’re here?’

Another question – When you meet people, what impression do you make on them? I’m sure it’s one that we’ve thought of, for instance, just after you walk out of an interview. I have realised though, that if what you want to do is impress people, you’re in for a hard time. You’ll end up often putting on a mask and being literally, a hypocrite. Much better to be yourself, but what if that’s the problem? What if you’re not particularly pleased with yourself?

Well, if that’s the case, you’re not alone. The sermon this week was by Tobi Stathers, from the charity Compassion UK. He quoted from Luke 18, where Jesus told the rich young ruler “Why do you call me good?”……“No one is good – except God alone.” Paul later reminds us why when he says “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Trying to be a good person in your own strength is not only difficult, it is in truth, impossible. To paraphrase what Paul says, “the more I try to do what’s good, the less I succeed in doing it”. Later on in the passage in Luke, Jesus explains that “What is impossible with man is possible with God”.

So, back to the revised version of my first question “what do people say about you while you’re here?”.
I would want them to say of me, that ‘he modelled love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’.

Yes, I would like them to say that I manifested the fruit of the Spirit, and by God’s grace, with the help of His Spirit, this is possible. It would be a legacy worth leaving.

And ultimately, my prayer is to hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant…”. I pray this not just for myself, but for all who read this.
Have a blessed week.

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.

[This is one in a series of mid-week Reflections published by Horley Baptist Church during April 2021]

In our final reflection for 2020 we spoke of two characters – one fictional, one real – who were resurrected. The initial reports of their demise had been premature, but in due course they both died again.

♰

My hero has been resurrected: A friend reported seeing him in a garden early one misty morning; they exchanged a few words and then he disappeared again. She claimed to have recognised his voice, but was she mistaken?

My hero has been resurrected: A couple of friends were making their way home from a visit to the big city when a stranger suddenly struck up a conversation with them. He seemed to know a lot about their nation’s history. They were so engrossed in his remarks that they invited him to join them for a meal. He accepted but then disappeared shortly afterwards.

My hero has been resurrected: A group of tired fishermen were slowly drifting home after a long night toiling with their nets but with nothing to show for it. Suddenly they caught the whiff of fresh fish cooking over a charcoal fire. A man standing beside the fire invited them to have breakfast.

My hero has been resurrected: A group of his best friends were meeting together, talking about him when suddenly he appeared amongst them. He had a bite to eat and then explained to them why he had gone and what he needed to do next.

My hero has been resurrected: There was a period of 40 days when more people reported seeing him. He talked with them and ate with them. The evidence that he was alive was irrefutable.

My hero has been resurrected: An aggressive representative of the religious leaders was travelling to a provincial city with a group of soldiers when he was stopped in his tracks. He spent the rest of his life talking about that encounter.

My hero has been resurrected: Someone who had been close to him in the early days wrote about an encounter with him many years later. He looked regal and spoke with authority, and even dictated some messages to be passed on.

My hero has been resurrected – is he your resurrected hero too?

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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.

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2021]

Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. Genesis 8 v8-9 [NIVUK]

In 1769 a London newspaper linked the concept of April Fools’ errands with the actions of Noah, in that he sent the dove out from the ark prematurely, before the waters had subsided and that her mission was pointless. The article claimed that the event took place on the first of April, a claim which does somewhat undermine the credibility of the story. But enough of foolery!

In Christian denominations that follow the Anglo-Catholic traditions today is celebrated as Maundy Thursday, often regarded as one of the holy days of Easter. Eastern Orthodox churches use a different calendar which usually recognises an alternative date and so some of us get to celebrate Eastern twice each year.

So, what is the significance of Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is a celebration of the events recorded in the Gospels, when Jesus held his last supper with his disciples prior to his crucifixion. In the account that John gives of that event, he describes how Jesus took a bowl of water and proceeded to wash the disciples’ feet. It was an act that normally performed by a servant but Jesus used it to demonstrated his humility and willingness to serve his disciples.

Some denominations continue to replicate the washing of feet as part of the preparations for Easter. Often this is performed by the bishops of the denomination washing the feet of a representative selection of parishioners. Elsewhere, the washing of feet is offered in conjunction with the observance of Holy Communion.

Perhaps this is a suitable moment to pause to remember and thank those who perform essential services such as washing the feet of people who are unable to do it for themselves. Not a pleasant task but an excellent opportunity to follow our Lord’s example.

The washing of feet was a prelude to the Passover Supper which Jesus and his disciples celebrated together. It is interesting that the Old Testament instructions for the Passover indicated that it should be a family event – was Jesus reinforcing his earlier observation that his disciples were now his family? It was during this meal that Jesus took some bread and some wine and instituted the celebration of Holy Communion, an act of remembrance which will continue until Jesus returns.

It is significant that the gospel writers tells us that Judas Iscariot was present at that meal but yet he proceeded with his plan to betray Jesus. This demonstrates that is not sufficient to merely participate in the rituals of faith; a change of heart is required.

In some places Maundy Thursday is recognised as an opportunity to give alms or special gifts to the poor; this practice itself is derived from the command that Jesus gave to his disciples:

A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
[John 13 v34-35 NIVUK]

Given that it is All Fools’ day, perhaps it is appropriate to end with a quote from a more recent disciple who was martyred whilst obeying that command:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot, 1927–1956

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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.

[This is one in a series of mid-week devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2021]

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father’s throne make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
[William Walford, 1845]

It is often the case that history is written by the victors. That applies not only to the records of what they have achieved but it also sets the scene for what might follow. It has been suggested that heavy-handed treatment of the losers at the end of the first world war sowed the seeds of the second. Perhaps that is why Jesus recommended that we should feed our enemies.

In the American civil war, history tells us that the Union side (the eventual victors) were the ‘goodies’ and the Confederates were the ‘baddies’. It can come as a surprise that there are Godly men amongst the forces that are fighting for what we might consider to be the wrong side.

Edward Bounds was a chaplain on the Confederate side. He was also a man who believed passionately in the necessity and power of prayer, and wrote extensively on the subject. He advanced the idea that God is powerless without the prayers of His people; it is our prayers that permit or even instruct God to act.

Do we agree? If so, are we guilty of restricting God because our prayers are too infrequent, too insincere, too unimaginative? Perhaps it is the very powerfulness of prayer that makes us uncomfortable and hesitant to explore its potential. Like a bonfire, we want to keep it small and under control, but bonfires like that tend to generate more smoke than heat.

In another parallel with a bonfire, even a single ember can keep it alight and offer the potential for re-ignition but once the fire has gone out it is much more difficult to restart. So it is with prayer, once we cease to maintain the practice then it becomes more difficult to re-establish it.

In a time of restricted movements and church at a distance one of the casualties has been collective prayer. At the same time, many of us have had to set aside some of those activities that previously occupied us. How are you making use of the time that was spent commuting, at the gym or developing your hobbies? Those of us who are time-rich could use this time pray for those who find themselves busier or in more difficult circumstances than before. Indeed, maybe the reason why so many saintly Christians live beyond their ‘three-score and ten’ is so that they can pray for their fellow pilgrims.

The apostle Paul offered this advice:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” [1 Thessalonians 5 v16-18 NKJV]

Prayer is the way in which we can access God’s resources but, according to Edward Bounds, it works the other way round too.

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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.