Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, February 2017]

The last time I wrote one of these articles, it was titled ‘Perspective’. With all that is happening in the world – natural disasters, surprising changes on the political landscape, challenges the internet brings to raising our young ones…, it is understandable that one might feel uncertain at times of what to think and what to do.

Perhaps again, it is a question of approaching things from what we could term a Christian perspective. Andrae Crouch, renowned Gospel singer’s song ‘It won’t be long’ has these lyrics:

It won’t be long, when we’ll be leaving here,
It won’t be long, we’ll be going home,
Count the years as months, count the months as weeks,
And count the weeks as days, cause any day now,
We’ll be going home.

When Jesus was asked about the end-times, He talked about turmoil, chaos and anguish, but then told those listening to “Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life” (Luke 21:34).

We’ll soon be going home, but what should our thoughts and actions be while we’re still here? With regard to our thoughts, the Apostle Paul has some advice for us: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” Philippians 4:8. So, as you go out into the week ahead, rather than worry about things, guard your thoughts, and choose to think on the things Paul recommends.

With regards to what we should be doing, Christ told us to go and make disciples of all men. Andrae Crouch has a few more words from one of his songs about a practical way to do this:

“Tell them, even if they don’t believe you
Just tell them, even if they don’t receive you
Oh, tell them for me, please, tell them for me
That I love them, and I came to let them know”

For the people that you will meet in the workplace, in the shops, on your travels, if – with all that’s going on – like you they feel uncertain about things, ask God for His grace to help you to tell them about Christ, that He loves them and that He came to let them know.

Lastly, for yourself, remember the words of Paul from the letter to the Philippians:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4: 4-7.

Have a blessed week!

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