Month: March 2021

Titus 1.1-4

Each year I grow courgettes from seed.  Most people think courgettes are about 10 or 15cm in length, mine usually go wild and end up 30cm monster marrows.  This year during lock down with garden centres closed, new packets of seed were not available.  I searched the cupboards and found a packet of opened, old, out of date seeds.  I only wanted two or three plants so I chose the six fattest seeds to plant in pots thinking with luck two or three would germinate.  A week or so later five small plants popped their heads out.  As every (well almost every) school child knows, for a seed to grow into a plant you have to do more than choose it.  You have to provide water, warmth, food and light in a host environment.

Paul was God’s gardener.  Paul opens his letter as a servant or slave of God.  It is the only time he uses that term, usually preferring to be known as a servant of Jesus.  By identifying himself as a servant of God he was also directly connecting himself to Old Testament greats also known as servants of God, Moses, David and the prophets.  Why was this?  Perhaps because the root of much of the false teaching in the church of Cyprus was coming from Jewish breakaway groups such as the circumcision party.  He also calls himself an apostle of Jesus. An apostle is one who is sent, however in the New Testament it also referred to eye witnesses of Jesus’ ministry who were given authority by Jesus himself.  Paul did not fit that description but he had met Jesus personally on the Damascus Road and in subsequent visions, Jesus had chosen and sent him to be an apostle to Gentiles.  Paul then uses a term that has divided the Christian church over generations, he was an apostle, ‘for the sake of the elect.’ ^v1 Elsewhere the New Testament uses the term chosen.

Many have taken a strict interpretation of the term and pushed the meaning to the extent that the elect will come to faith regardless of their own will or the actions of others.  God will enforce his will.  It then becomes a recipe for complacency and inaction both on the part of the believer and the church.  However later in Titus, Paul writes, ‘the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,’ ^v2.11 and in 1 Timothy 2.3-4 ‘It is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.’

The notion of being chosen in the New Testament is much more nuanced than a coach picking a team and simply leaving everyone else out.  Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last (converts) and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’ ^{John 15.16} Paul knew he was chosen to go to all with the gospel and nurture faith until it produced righteous lives that then went on to repeat the process with others.  We are part of that apostolic tradition.

May the Peoples Praise you – Keith and Kristyn Getty

Psalm 41.1-3

Poverty just loves to destroy lives. It breaks families apart, isolates people from friends and family, shatters confidence and drives many to think that suicide is the only way out.
UK poverty is real, with millions locked in its miserable grip. We’re not prepared to sit back and let it wreak havoc across our nation. In a just and compassionate society, no one should be trapped in their home, afraid to open the door or answer the phone. No one should wake up wondering where they’ll find the money to feed their children or heat their home. No one should have to be alone, especially when times are tough. (Christians Against Poverty website)

BMS works among some of the most marginalised and least evangelised people, in some of the most fragile places on earth. We aim to bring life in all its fullness through seven key ministries: church, development, education, health, justice, leadership and relief. (BMS website)Locally or world-wide poverty is an ever present reality. We are now living in the largest collapse of the global economy since the second world war. Those who suffer the most are the ones who are already the poorest. The BMS mission statement gives a clear modern understanding of poverty that it is far more multifaceted than simply lack of money. Poverty is a major issue wherever we live but is it the churches’ issue? How much prayer, time, energy, money, effort and sacrifice of the church should it consume? How big a priority should it be for the church? How reasonable are the arguments that reflect these types of thoughts?

Preaching the word of God has to be our main focus, we cannot afford to do both.
We are struggling ourselves to meet our costs and cannot afford to do things.
We are only a few, we have to be careful about what we do.

There is a welfare state now it is no longer as important as it used to be.
Mostly it is the fault of the poor that they are in the situation that they are.
In some way their presence corrupts the house of God.How can these apparent conflicts be resolved? A disciple of Jesus would answer, by obedience to the bible, Jesus’ example and his teaching. We then find there is no conflict, the gospel is communicated through care for the poor, even becoming poor oneself as Jesus has already laid down his life for us. Biblical evidence is overwhelming and coherent. The gospel is not simply the message, it is a gospel life. As David says, ‘Blessed is the one who considers the poor.’ ^v1 The promise of God is that consideration or care for the poor, (ESV) or alternatively as the NIV translates it, the weak, is followed by blessing to the carer. He promises protection and sustenance. ^vv2,3 As an alternative to a song I would ask you to listen to what the bible says about poverty through children’s voices on the ‘Compassion International’ website.
https://www.compassion.com/poverty/what-the-bible-says-about-poverty.htm
You may not wish to respond to Compassion specifically, but it is worth asking what should I and my church do?

Psalm 40.1-10

It is our first day of a new job.  We spent the last week or so worrying about what the dress code is, who we will meet, are we really up to this new challenge, will we make friends, what time do I have to leave home to get there on time and how fulfilled will we be?  At the same time, we were probably worrying about the impact the job will have on family and other aspects of our life.

Fresh starts bring a surge of emotions.  Some of us grasp them with both hands and go forward boldly while others are more cautious and focus more on the uncertainties.  Probably most people experience a mixture of emotions.  We may also look back at what we have left behind, possibly with relief and perhaps with regret. New jobs are of course just one example of new beginnings. Spiritually committing our life to following Christ is the biggest step and it is so dramatic that Jesus terms it being born again.

David, in Psalm 40, has just reached the point of a new beginning.  He has kept his earlier advice and waited on the Lord. ^{Ps37.7 38.15} The waiting period can be a time of great uncertainty and stress, I think of refugees who are granted the right to stay in the country but then have to begin the process of building an entirely new life, but there are many other examples. David’s first emotion is one of relief and thanksgiving for the new opportunity. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.’ ^vv1,2 David may have been recalling Joseph’s experience of being placed by his brothers in a pit as they initially plotted to kill him.  Later in Judah’s history Jeremiah was literally condemned to a slimy pit.  As we progress through our Christian life we can look back and identify our own ‘slimy pits,’ and understand God’s grace even though it was difficult to do so at the time.

Now with his feet set firmly on rock David pauses to praise God.  This is such a necessary step it builds the relationship with God.  It puts one’s experience in context and refocuses our eyes and direction.  The most natural thing for the saved is to celebrate with song. ^v3 Part of our witness to the community in which we live is to praise God for his work in our lives and there will be those who see and understand that we have trusted in the Lord. ‘Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.’ ^v3

David goes on to make clear how to continue life in new circumstances.  In verse 4 he sets out what to root our life in and that is trust in the Lord.  He recognizes that the surrounding world tempts us to trust in many other people and things but he urges us to not turn aside to false gods.  To pray for clarity in our lives as to what false gods might grow in our hearts is part of the discipleship path.  David also returns to a frequent theme of psalms, to remember all that God has already done as evidence of God’s purposes for us in the future.  It leads him to declare, ‘None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.’ ^v5

David then addresses the issue of the heart.  The sacrifice that God requires of us is primarily willing obedience.  ‘I desire to do thy will, my God; your law is within my heart.’ ^v8 Paul described this process as being, ‘transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.’ ^Romans12.2

To continue with the fresh start and new song David declares it is a public thing.  He needs to spend time in the company of the Lord’s people where God’s righteousness, faithfulness, love and saving activity is jointly celebrated. ^Vv9,10 It is not God’s plan that his people should be lone disciples.  We are part of one body and need each other.  This is not weakness but strength.

When I was lost – Geraldine Latty

Psalm 39

In the rhythm of life there can be times of calm and times of turmoil.  Turmoil often raises questions and doubts about how one should tackle those problems including what to say or not say.  In the middle of one specific issue it is easy to lose the perspective of the big picture and what remain the important issues.  In the short series of psalms 37,38 and 39 David has echoed wisdom books in the bible.  In Psalm 37 passages were similar to proverbs, in Psalm 38 it was more like Job and here in Psalm 39 much of it accords with Ecclesiastes.

David is not specific about what his problems are but he does attribute some of it to his own sin ^v8 and God’s discipline. ^vv9-11 His troubles are compounded by his feelings of alienation with those around him.  David’s initial response is to keep quiet, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.’ ^vv1,2  Why is David not wanting to talk about things?  There could be a number of reasons, he perhaps doesn’t want to appear a fool or disgrace himself.  He maybe does not want to bring disgrace to God in front of nonbelievers.  He might simply be unsure of the best thing to do.  Whatever the reason his anxiety increased, ‘But my anguish increased; my heart grew hot within me.  While I meditated, the fire burned.’ ^vv2,3  In the end he had to speak but not to those around who he did not trust but to the Lord.

David asked God to give him a perspective on his life compared with the eternal nature of the Lord.  He asks God to show him how fleeting life is and concludes, ‘You have made my days a few hand-breadths; and my lifetime is as nothing before you.’ ^v5 This he realizes is true of everybody not just him however secure people might feel.  It is almost as if a penny has dropped, however desperate I might be feeling right now, in truth my objective situation is not fundamentally different to everybody else whatever they might think. This leads him on to grasping that the rush for wealth and by implication other things the surrounding world might bestow on him is simply vanity and worthless.  Jesus repeats this teaching in the parable of the rich fool, Luke 12.16-21.

David turns again to the Lord, realizing that his purpose and life is to be found in him. ‘But now Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.’ ^v7 It is a simple statement but profound.  He realizes that he is naturally a sinner and constantly needs the Lord’s help to overcome sin and be forgiven. ^v12 The sense of being a stranger in the world will not go away but he has the presence of the Lord with him as his inheritance, ‘I will dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were.’ ^v12 At the same time he finds it difficult to be constantly in the presence of God, as did Job. Job 7.17-21.

My hope is built on nothing less

Psalm 38

There is a difference between self-loathing arising from a distorted self-image and carrying the burden of knowing the unresolved harm one has done.  It is possible to feel deep guilt when there is no guilt.  There are however times when one can have done things that we have refused or failed to address.  This can then build up In our mind and become, ‘a burden too heavy to bear.’ ^v4  It can feel that the more we suppress it the more it affects us, impacting our mood and personality, relationships and functioning, in everyday life.

We see in Psalm 38 that for David consciousness of his sin has not just impacted his relationships with people around him but with the Lord as well.  David is a man who essentially both fears and worships God but he has here committed sin that deeply grieves God and himself.  We can helpfully read this psalm as if it is the experience of someone who has previously not trusted in God but is now burdened down by the weight of his own sense of guilt, convinced by God of his guilt, he is now seeking forgiveness and a relationship with God.  We can do this because much of the language fits that situation but it was not David’s true position.

David experiences God piercing his conscience ^v2 and this has translated itself into physical and mental symptoms. ^vv3,8 He concludes this section with, ‘I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.’ ^v8 At this point he has stopped fighting and admits his situation before the Lord. ‘All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.’ ^v9 There are those who treat the confession of sin as a superficial thing, a quick fix and move on.  David here shows that it can take time for a truly repentant spirit to work through their situation.  His sin has caused a rift between him and his neighbours and friends. ^v11 He has created opportunities for his enemies to gain advantage. ^v12 In his prayer life he has found he cannot find words and simply has to be in the presence of God. ‘I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.  Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.’ ^vv14,15

David remains worried that he has enemies that he does not deserve and he reverts to previous complaints to God that people who he has been good to are now falsely blaming him. ^vv19,20 This reminds us that simply confessing sin and being forgiven by God does not remove all troubles from life.  David is aware of his continuing need to be close to God in his prayer, ‘Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.  Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Saviour.’ ^vv21,22

Let us learn to rest in the grace of Christ.  To quote Philip Yancey, ‘Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more . . . and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.’ (What’s so amazing about grace.)

Broken vessels – Hillsong W-orship