Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[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.

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

We were on child-minding duty recently. Young David had a break from his online lessons and started to play one of his video games. It seems that he has had rather too much practice and he moved through the game too rapidly for me to follow. However, I did catch sight of a dialogue box with a message that started a chain of thought.

Achievements cannot be credited in this world.

From what I understood, it seemed that the accumulated achievements of one phase of the game would open a way to access another higher level but, having done that, the player started the next phase with no extra benefits. Is there a parallel with those who hope their achievements in this life will give them access to heaven?

The story is told of a man who approached the gate of Heaven with two heavy suitcases. “You can’t bring them in here” said the gatekeeper. The man replied “But they represent my life’s achievements, they’re worth a fortune!” The gatekeeper opened the suitcases and saw that they were filled with gold bars. He turned to the man and asked “Why have you brought more paving slabs?”

Achievements cannot be credited in this world.

Is there any merit in amassing credits or storing up treasure if you are not going to be able to benefit from them? This does not mean that our achievements during our time in this world are worthless; rather that we cannot take them with us when we move on. Throughout history we can see people whose achievements have been of great benefit to those who followed them but, in a paraphrase of Job’s observation, they came into the world empty-handed and they left empty-handed.

The apostle Paul wrote to his protege Timothy:

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” [1 Timothy 6 v17-18 NIVUK]

Philanthropy depends on there being a surplus of income over expenditure but philanthropy itself is not a ticket to Heaven. Such blessings as we have have been lent to us by God and we do well to remember that, in his parables, Jesus addressed some of the harshest criticism to those who did nothing with the talents that had been entrusted to them.

This raises the question of “What motivates our achievements?” It is not good works that achieve eternal life but rather eternal life that promotes good works. A better answer comes from the grand master of motivational speaking, Jesus himself, in his Sermon on the Mount:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5 v16 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.