Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during January 2022]

What are we to make of 25th January? It seems to be one of those days in the middle of a bland month with nothing much to recommend it. All the new-year resolutions have gone out of the window, the bills incurred last month are now flocking in and, to make matters worse, there is no anticipation of imminent holidays to alleviate the weather. Certainly, if you have a birthday or anniversary, or some other event, then congratulations or commiserations are appropriate, but otherwise it can be a dull day.

For me, the 25th January represents the anniversary of my first day of paid employment, 51 years ago. It was a wintry day in south Wales, standing on the edge of Barry docks, measuring up the site of a new office for an Antarctic research team. Alongside was one of their ice breakers and the wind felt as if it had come directly from the south Atlantic glaciers. I cannot say that I suddenly developed nostalgic memories of school but certainly the prospect of 40 years holding the zero-end of a tape measure did not seem very inviting either.

When we are faced with sudden cultural shock or lifestyle changes we can have a variety of reactions. The Israelites fleeing Egypt decided that life there had not been so bad and tried to return. In Babylon the Israelite exiles were told to settle down and make the most of it. After the shock of Christ’s death Peter went back to what he had been doing before but it was no longer successful. By contrast, Paul wholeheartedly adopted his new circumstances after his encounter on the Damascus road.

Sometimes, trying to get back to the way we were is the correct course of action; on other occasions, the better option is to learn the lessons, file the memories and move on with our lives.

Can you recall when you first met Jesus Christ? For some of us he is a person that we have known about all our lives; we cannot recall many details of the transition from ‘knowing about’ to ‘trusting in’ but we are confident that our relationship is secure. Others of us will have been introduced to him through a faithful intermediary and our relationship has grown from that. Others will have had their own ‘Damascus road’ experience, resulting in an abrupt but effective start to their new relationship.

For those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ there is more to this relationship than a ticket to heaven; eternal life has already started. Our confidence is reinforced by the words of Jesus as recorded in John 3 v16. It is important that you allow this life to grow, to cultivate it. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to achieve the fullness of God’s plan for you.

There is, of course, another group: those who have yet to start a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus has some words for them too:

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 v18 NIVUK]

When will you get the message?

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