Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This mid-week devotional reflection was prepared for Horley Baptist Church, February 2021]

How was Valentine’s Day for you? Are you dripping with diamonds, resplendent with roses or simply choked with chocolate? More likely, it was just an ordinary day, another easily-forgotten step in the interminable search for a new normality.

Who was this Valentine guy anyway? The most credible records suggest that he was a Christian priest during the third century. He was caught marrying Christian couples illegally and otherwise assisting Christians who were being persecuted at that time. In due course, like the apostle Paul, he was brought before the Roman Emperor, to whom he witnessed to his faith in Jesus. In this case the emperor was Claudius II who ultimately ordered his execution on this date in 269. The practice of sending cards was allegedly inspired by the martyr’s last note, sent to a young lady and signed ‘from your Valentine’.

Paul also wrote extensively about love, both whilst in prison and whilst free. All his recorded letters contain teaching on the subject, whether human affection, wider relationships or God’s love for us. In one well-known passage he describes how to recognise love:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, 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.” [1 Corinthians 13 v4-7 NIVUK]

But perhaps you are one of those many people who were single on St Valentine’s Day and feel left out, unloved or neglected? God has not forgotten you, He has plans for you that only someone with your particular circumstances can undertake. Does that make you feel better? Probably not, but consider what Paul wrote to a man who, in different circumstances, was missing someone from his household:

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” [Philemon v7]

Perhaps therein lies the secret of making the most of Valentine’s Day and all the other days of the year as well – to concentrate not on our own feelings but the feelings of those around us, all within the context of that Love which will never forsake us.

The blind pastor George Matheson expressed the thought rather more eloquently when, in 1882, he wrote:

O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

For all of us, whatever our circumstances, life will be richer and fuller as we continue to appreciate, encourage and refresh each other as members of God’s family.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [1 John 4 v10-11 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.

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

Long before these words were made famous in the southern states of America an Englishman had penned them from his cell in Bedford jail. During the late 17th century England was uncompromisingly Anglican, with little tolerance for either Catholic or other dissenting views. The non-conformist preacher John Bunyan had been imprisoned for advocating the worship of God outside of the authorised Anglican church. After his release, his allegory of the Christian life was published as “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, with the opening words:

“While I slept, I dreamed about a man in ragged clothes who stood, with his face turned away from his own house and with a book in his hand, carrying a great burden on his back. I saw him read from the pages of the book, weeping and shaking in fear until eventually he cried out loudly, ‘What should I do?’” ^[1]

There are those who argue that “The Pilgrim’s Progress” should be required reading for all Christians and there is certainly merit in that. Why does this book have such high regard amongst Christians?

The central character is a man called Graceless who realises his sinfulness and the impending destruction of his city. He reads in a book that there is a way to obtain salvation and, having failed to persuade his family to go with him, he sets out to find the way to heaven. The story recounts his journey from the Narrow Gate to the Celestial City, the moments of joy and disappointment and the characters who help or hinder him. Along the way his name is changed to Christian, he loses the burden that he was carrying and in due course he arrives at his destination. Reading this book is an excellent help for clarifying our own thoughts and encouraging us through our experiences of growing in faith.

The patriarch Jacob also dreamt of a route to heaven. There is an account of it in Genesis chapter 28:

“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.’” [Genesis ch28 v12-13 NIVUK]

A friend of mine has recently published his study of the life of Jacob. In referring to this passage he says:

“God shows Himself to be the same God who blessed Abraham and Isaac. This may have been a confirmation to Jacob that, even though he had monumentally messed up, God still has mercy. Just as God was patient with the mistakes of Abraham and Isaac, God showed His patience with Jacob, despite the massive mistakes he had made.” ^[2]

Both Christian and Jacob made mistakes during their walk of faith, and we cannot expect to avoid doing the same. The psalmist David also had many difficulties but he was able to say:

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. [Psalm 9 v10 NKJV]

Can you echo his confidence?

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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 reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 07/Feb/2021]

This word of Wisdom is found in Proverbs 3:5-6. Let’s not miss the words at the beginning: ‘Trust (rely on, depend on) the Lord with all your heart‘. How apt this is right now! A few weeks ago, Martin explored the question ‘What is truth?’ Today, more than ever before, we cannot rest assured that anything we see or hear – especially on social media – is reliable. There is every imaginable slant on every issue.

‘The scientists can be trusted when they speak about Covid ‘. ‘Oh, no! They can’t even agree amongst themselves. And most of them are part of an evil worldwide conspiracy to scare all of us into complying with those in power.’

‘The American elections were conducted fairly’. ‘Oh, no! The people were duped by an evil secret plot to unseat God’s man and put in place a stooge who will drag us into socialism (or worse), and rob us of our basic freedoms!’

Even decent people don’t know what to believe any more. What can they ‘lean on’? The first 4 chapters of Proverbs are all about the incredible blessings awaiting those who trust God in the midst of confusion and anxiety.

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus puts his stamp on it: ‘Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow‘. [The Message]

I think, as children of a wise and loving Father, we CAN hear His voice. And it brings not confusion and fear, but peace and trust. We may be ridiculed for taking such a naive, child-like position but I’d rather put up with that than take sides on things I really don’t understand!
What about you?

[This is one in a series of mid-week Reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during February 2021]

I am a regular visitor to a group that meets on Sunday evenings, online via YouTube^[1]. The focus of the group is a ‘Virtual Service’ comprising hymn tunes presented by an accomplished British organist but the virtual congregation is world wide. As is common with physical congregations there is a lot of interaction between the members – a church organist in Oregon compares notes with one in England, choristers voice their preference for one hymn tune over another, people from a variety of denominations discuss their different ways of worship. As the congregation gets to know each other we can share on a wider range of topics: family events, recipes, pets, prayer requests.

It is an international congregation with people from each of the six habitable continents. In a way, it reminds me of the words of Jesus when he said:

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” [John 10 v16 NIVUK]

How are we to understand this verse? Most established Bible commentators fall into one of two camps. Some argue that Jesus was talking to Jews and referring to Gentiles, others prefer a time-based interpretation which assumes that he was thinking of future generations. Some people may be tempted to limit it to members of the same denomination who live in a different town or a different country. Others will think of people whose beliefs are similar to their own, but with a different understanding on certain important, but secondary, aspects whilst others will argue that it allows for a significant divergence in liturgy.

Whilst there might be some controversy over the meaning of sheepfold there can be no doubt as to those who are in the flock. In an earlier verse Jesus said “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”.

Do you know Jesus as your shepherd? Have you claimed your place in his flock? Jesus himself stated the process quite bluntly:

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. … Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” [John 3 v16, 18 NIVUK]

What is the future of this flock? In John 17 we have the opportunity to eavesdrop on Jesus as he prays to his Father.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” [John 17 v24 NIVUK]

Surely there is no better reason for following the voice of the shepherd.

[1] Virtual Church on YouTube, A programme of organ music and live chat with an international congregation.

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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 reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 31/Jan/2021]

It was probably just another day, a day like any other, at least that’s what Joseph must have felt that morning as he got ready to go and supervise things at Pharaoh’s grain market. He certainly wasn’t expecting to hear his native tongue being spoken and when he looked up, he certainly wasn’t expecting to see his brothers.

It was probably just another day, one like any other, when Moses led the sheep up the mountain, heard a crackling noise, looked and saw a bush on fire… except the bush didn’t burn down! He then heard a voice telling him he was standing on holy ground….. His life was never the same after that.

It was probably just another day, one like most others, when a young Hebrew girl, going about her business encountered an angel named Gabriel. Her life was never the same after that.

It was probably just another day, one like any other, when a young man named Saul started off on his way to round up more of the followers of this dead Rabbi. Then as he passed the sign saying ‘Damascus this way’, he wondered what that bright light that had suddenly appeared was…… His life was never the same after that.

For me, I can’t remember what I did that particular morning just over 30 years ago; you could say it was a day like any other, but I agreed to go to an evening church service I had been invited to. Odd, because at that time, I didn’t do church. I went, however, perhaps out of politeness, or perhaps because I was fed up of being asked so often and had run out of reasons not to go. I can’t remember what the sermon was, but after it was over, I walked up to the altar and said God, “If what you are offering is true, please show me and help me to follow you as I can’t do it in my own strength and I’m tired of running“. My life has never been the same since then.

I don’t know what you are going through (aside from a worldwide pandemic), don’t know what challenges you have, don’t know how tired you might feel, but one day, a day like any other, you might hear God’s call. On that day, rather than be speechless, you could paraphrase Samuel and say “Speak Lord, I’m listening”, and then trust Him as he takes you on life’s journey. Believe me, your life will never be the same after that. Remember, it is likely to start off as a day like any other day.

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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.