Thought for the Week
September 2008
All Grown Up?
( Exodus 2 v 11, Ephesians 4 v 15, Hebrews 11 v 27 )
Moses was grown up at last.
A mature man, with all the training of Pharoah's court
He was, after all, "The son of Pharaoh's daughter".
He responded in a critical moment
As someone "grown up"
Killing the enemy
And burying the evidence.
The world cries "bravo Moses!"
But our warfare is not against flesh and blood.
And God sent Moses away…for 40 years.
The legacy of being "the son of Pharaoh's daughter" had to be put to death.
He had to grow up in a different way
The Ephesians 4 way
To become a man focussed on the deliverance of a nation
Not thrown this way and that, depending upon circumstance, but growing in his destiny as a man of God.
He learned well
And he got a different legacy
So much so, that he made it into the "hall of fame" in Hebrews 11, where it is recorded:
" By faith Moses, when he had grown up , refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter…"
Now that's maturity.
Here, but not really.
I am, literally, on a train.
And something caught my attention - out of the window.
Surrounded by a high fence, squeezed between the tracks and a field was a community.
Of "high quality" mobile homes.
With all the usual stuff.
Cars
People
Phone lines
Electricity
An entrance, an exit.
But
No foundations.
It looked, literally, as if it has been planted on the planet for a while, or was just passing through.
Then it would be gone.
Nothing to hold it down.
Un - gripped by earth.
If we are to be the agents of change that God intends, then
We need to hold things lightly
Loving the life he has given
Loving the people he brings us in contact with
But never allowing this world to hold us in it's grip.
Because "it is not foolishness to give up the things we cannot keep
In order to gain the things we cannot lose", as Jim Eliot said.
After all, we are here for just a little while.
August 2008
Take me to your leader
( Hebrews 13 v 17, Matt 20 v 25 & 26, John 17 v 26, Hebrews 8 v 11 )
It may just be me, but I think we get confused.
Because being in charge
Is not the same as
Leading.
"You know", Jesus said, "how the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them…but not so with you…."
If we are in charge, then we must be responsible for something.
And remind others of their responsibilities.
I think this is an odd concept in the Kingdom of God
I am a church pastor, but I am not in charge of anything.
Least of all people.
The prayer of Jesus is that we would have the same harmonious, loving, sacrificial attitude as he and his Father in heaven.
They almost seem to compete to promote each other, and the relationship is difficult to define in terms of "who's the boss"…
Because the model for us is servanthood.
The son of man humbled, wrapped in a towel, washing his disciples feet.
When we serve, we demonstrate Jesus.
Which leads people to Him.
Then they can be led again to be beside their own "green pastures" and "still waters"..
Where the great shepherd himself can restore their soul.
The walk of the child of God is one of a continual response to this outpoured love.
I can only respond to his matchless grace.
In charge?
I'm still struggling with that one!
Imminent Grace
(Genesis 24 v 15)
It was quite an adventure for Abraham's servant, and the gravity of his task had not escaped him.
Finding a wife for his master's son was a tall order.
But he did not go on the instruction alone, to "get a wife for my son Isaac" ( v 4 )
He prayed as well.
To the "God of my master Abraham…" ( V 12 )
So, it seems, there was no close relationship
But he had witnessed his master prosper under the gracious hand of this God whom he feared - enough to pray to.
And as he was laying out his terms for knowing if this was the right place, person etc
In fact "before he had finished praying" ( V 15 ) out she came.
Rebekah.
The gift was already being delivered even before the request was completed.
Do we know - really know that the grace of God is imminent?
In every situation
For every circumstance
That is, likely to occur at any moment?
There is another meaning to this word
That is to overhang or jut out towards…
Sometimes we just don't realise how close His matchless grace is.
How He "overhangs" us.
Not about the miracle
(John 11)
An Incredible Journey
(Genesis 22)
Keeping the faith
(Exodus 33 v 18)
Flint Knives
(Joshua 5 vs 2-8. Heb 4 vs 12 )
Blind But Not Really
(Mark 10 v 46, Isaiah 55 v 6)
What we long for
(1 Cor 2 v 11,Proverbs 19 v 22, Isaiah 54 v10)
Talking.
(Proverbs 22 v11, Colossians 4 v 6, Matt 12 v 33 - 37)
A Room Of Our Own
( John 14 v 2 )
Loaves and our hearts
(Mark 6 v 7 -13, 30 - 52)
Outside, In
(Luke 3 v 22 Mark 9 v 4 - 7 Matt 10 v 17 - 20)
Getting Pregnant
(Luke 1 v 38, James 1 v 21, Gal 4 v 19)