These reflections on what to do when we have too low a view of ourselves are based on Exodus 3:1–20.
‘But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ (v11)
While we shouldn’t rely on ourselves, that does not mean that we should put ourselves down. Each one of us has unique talents that God has lavished upon us, and longs for us to use rather than hide (see Matthew 25). The good news is that, even if we think we are nobodies, the Bible shows us that God has a habit of using nobodies!
GOD’S VIEW IS THE MOST ACCURATE
Our reading focuses on just one chapter of Moses meeting God. In it, Moses responds to God’s commissioning with a host of questions and arguments. He finally admits the reason why he does not want to be God’s spokesperson: ‘I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ (Exodus 4:10). God was extremely patient with him, but didn’t allow Moses’ calling to be halted by the low view Moses had of himself. The same is true of Gideon. God used him mightily despite his plea: ‘how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ (Judges 6:15).
We need to remind ourselves that God’s view of us is much more accurate than our own, which will be coloured by past experiences and the opinions of those around us.
GOD HAS PURPOSES TO WORK OUT…THROUGH YOU
However we view ourselves, God is at work in us and reveals His glory through us. Meditate on this promise today: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).
If you know you struggle with feeling worthy enough to be used by God, here is some optional further reading: Exodus 4, Matthew 25:14–30, Judges 6–7, 2 Corinthians 12:1–10. And here is another blog post you might want to read.
It is my pleasure to introduce Tony Horsfall to my blog today. Tony is a wonderful, wise writer. This year has been particularly difficult for him, and yet he has shared with such honesty not only here, but in his new book (pictured above).
During 2020 the experience of lockdown has impacted all we do, and in particular caring for loved ones who are terminally ill, and grieving those who have passed away.
My wife Evelyn had been struggling with a recurrence of breast cancer for over four years when she was eventually told in February that her condition was terminal, with just months to live. The cancer had spread to her spine and she quickly deteriorated. We tried to care for her at home, but it became increasingly difficult, so she went into the local hospice. Because of visiting restrictions, I was allowed to go and stay with her. After a week she had improved sufficiently to be transferred to a local care home. Again, I decided to go with her – Evelyn in nursing care and myself as a resident – otherwise I would not have been able to see her.
DEALING WITH THE UNEXPECTED
The transition to a care home was a huge shock to the system. It was hot, noisy and full of hustle and bustle. It took us time to adjust, but gradually we got into a routine and had six good weeks together. Evelyn’s condition was deteriorating daily, and it was painful to watch. She needed a hoist to get her out of bed, and was slowly losing control of her bodily functions, which was a huge loss of dignity. We were aware of the risk of coronavirus in such a setting, but it was a risk we had to take.However, we both caught the virus. Surprisingly Evelyn recovered fairly quickly, but my condition worsened and I ended up in intensive care.
As I fought for my life, I thought I would never see Evelyn again. Intensive care was a lonely and frightening place. No visitors allowed; you were on your own. Across the room from me two other patients were on ventilators. I cried to God, ‘Lord, don’t let me have to go on a ventilator.’ A stream of prayer was going up for us, and with this and the medical care, I began to recover and after two weeks was allowed to return home, but not to the care home.
THE PAIN OF SEPARATION
I was physically very weak but what hurt the most was that I could no longer be with Evelyn. We had an occasional phone call, which was far from satisfactory, and soon she began to be confused. One afternoon the home called me because Evelyn was disturbed and wanted to come home. They asked me to reassure her that she was in the right place. Patiently, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I explained to her why we had taken the decision for her to be in care, and she calmed and seemed to understand. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
I began to feel guilty that I was at home and recovering while Evelyn was still in the care home and struggling by herself. I could be with our family, and see the grandchildren, but she was denied that pleasure. I felt I had let her down, that I had failed, since my aim had been to be with her to the end. Fortunately, God spoke a word to me: ‘She was mine long before she was yours and I won’t abandon her now’, he said. That lifted my despair, and I began to entrust her to the care of her heavenly Father.
SAYING GOODBYE
After a month of separation, we were allowed into the care home to see her as she neared the end. It was a healing time, even if a painful one. I was able to sit with her, hold her hand, feed her sips of water, give her a little food to eat and pray with her. Slowly she slipped away. Her lasts words were, ‘Thank you Jesus, you led me all the way.’
We held a Thanksgiving for her life over Zoom, which was strange but enabled people from all over the world to take part and mourn her passing. Then we had a service at the graveside, where about 70 attended, socially distanced. It was a moving tribute to her life, which was lived for Christ from a young age.
ADJUSTING TO LIFE ALONE
Grieving has not been easy during lockdown. I have missed seeing friends, being hugged, having the chance to share memories of Evelyn. Just when you most need your friends, they are not able to visit you. I have had to learn how to cook for myself and manage the house and garden. I have found eating alone especially difficult as I adjust to being single.
Looking back, although it was a traumatic time, I can see how much God helped us. Our story is a story of love, the love we had for each other after 46 years of marriage. But also, the story of God’s love, from which nothing can separate us. Time and again he comforted me through Scripture, worship songs, acts of kindness and amazing provision. It is a story of the love of friends – those who prayed in tears, sent cards and flowers, wrote letters of encouragement, shared our journey. It is also a story of the love of strangers, of those health service professionals who cared for us, showed us kindness, went beyond the call of duty.
Perhaps this is the great gift to the world from the pandemic – the reminder that love is the most important thing of all.
Tony Horsfall is a retreat leader, author and mentor. Finding Refuge tells this story more fully, and is available from the author at tonyhorsfall@uwclub.net
These reflections on relying on ourselves are based on Galatians 3:1–14.
‘After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?’ (v3)
Paul wrote to the Galatian church because he could see how they were being seduced by false teachers. The main thrust of the Judaisers’ teaching was that Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved. But Paul was at great pains (in vv6–9) to remind them that it is faith that saves. He used the example of Abraham and his children to do this. He then explored how those who rely on the law to save them end up being condemned.
WORKING HARD FOR A FREE GIFT!
This passage highlights a trait that can still be found among Christians today. We accept Jesus’ salvation through the gift of faith (given to us by the Holy Spirit), but then work hard for that very same salvation through what we do for God after we are saved.
It’s as if we originally believed Jesus saved us, but have since fallen back to relying on ourselves. We need to be aware of this trap, as it is one that can be dangled in front of us. And somehow it looks so respectable and plausible. Yes, it is important that we read God’s Word and talk to Him daily. But, while those habits help us to grow in our understanding of God and also in the process of becoming more holy, they are not the means of our salvation. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction, rather than our own efforts – as we are so less reliable!
It is actually really freeing to know that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. We can learn to bask in the amazing transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the reminder not to rely on myself. I admit that I am unreliable compared to You. Please Holy Spirit guide me today. Amen.
I am delighted to welcome Pen Wilcock to my blog today. Her latest book, Into the Heart of Advent, welcomes the reader to join her as she chats to Jesus about all sorts of subjects that perplex her, including homelessness and hospitality, mental health and the challenges of neuro-diversity, as well as poverty. Here she shares with us the first conversation from that book.
I stand in the shop looking indecisively at the cards on display, slowly twirling the revolving rack. I’ve chosen the ones I like, with deer and robins and snow, but I think in all truth I ought to pick out at least a few showing the infant Jesus and his mother. Because that’s what Christmas is all about, right? The nativity, and at the heart of it the Holy Family. The problem is, I don’t like them. Mary looks either demure or mournful, and the baby Jesus stares out reproachfully at our fallen world, raising two fingers in blessing like a miniature boy scout or the youngest member of an extremely secret society.
Someone is standing next to me. I glance over my shoulder not wanting to put pressure upon the patience of another customer ticking off Christmas obligations early. And then I do a double take — “Jesus! Where did you come from? I mean…Hello.” And just like that, there he is again. Himself, who I haven’t seen in ages.
“Stick with the robins,” he suggests. “Those are awful.”
“But, shouldn’t I have at least some nativity ones? Christmas — it’s all about family, isn’t it? Especially your family.”
“My family…” says Jesus: “Look, shall we get out of this shop?”
I pay for the few packs I’m sure I want, shove them into my bag with the TV guide and the oranges, and hurry outside to find him. Then, just like old times, we stroll along the seafront in the wind.
“This unbreakable connection between family and Christmas comes back to haunt me every year,” I tell him. “I’m divorced, I have a difficult relationship with my step family, and my family of origin — ha! Don’t even go there! There’s nothing like Christmas to rub it all in, that all too familiar ambiance of utter despair. And there are the cards with you as a baby, cradled in Mary’s arms while Joseph stands protectingly beside her.”
Jesus says nothing for a moment, and I glance at him to see his reaction. He grins at me. “Are you even thinking what you’re saying? My mother… reckless prophetess writing protest songs and trying to steer me into her idea of who I should be. My mother conscripting my brothers into getting me sectioned. Joseph thinking best to divorce her before they even began, and introducing his betrothed to his relatives on the night she was due to drop an embarrassingly early baby. Awkward.”
I consider this in silence.
“If there’s one useful take-away from looking at my family,” he adds, “it’s that you just get the hand life deals you. It’s the part you can’t plan, even if you try. Joseph chose cautiously, carefully; he well knew how important it is to find a good wife. He was after a godly woman. But then he got a really godly woman, and that shook his world! Dreams and visions, angels and journeys, soldiers with swords in their hands. He had no idea what he was taking on when he asked Mary to be his wife.”
I stop, turn to face him, pulling my coat closer around me because the wind is so cold. “Then, what — if you could pick out one thing — what would you say Christmas is all about?”
“Me? My point of view?” He looks at me. “I’d say Christmas is about saying ‘yes’. That’s the one thing Mary and Joseph and I all had in common. Mary said ‘yes’ to the angel, and Joseph — against his own inclination — said ‘yes’ to marrying Mary after all, and I said ‘yes’ to… well, to everything it meant as things unfolded. ‘Yes’ to being here, ‘yes’ to pouring out all my strength to bring healing and hope, ‘yes’ to offering a template for living that’s actually going to work. We said ‘yes’, and that was the thing that brought us together.”
I nod, slowly, taking this in. “That’s what made you family — saying ‘yes’.”
Jesus is never impatient, but I do detect just a tad of frustration in the movement of his hand. “Can we get something clear?” he says. “My family is everyone who says ‘yes’ to life and love. My family isn’t frozen in time back in Nazareth. Anyone who wants can join my family. You are my family, if you want to be. Just bear in mind, when you trace the way things went for Mary and Joseph and me, there is a cost. But isn’t there always, to loving?”
Pen Wilcock writes Christian theology both in the form of fiction and non-fiction. She has worked in hospice, school and prison chaplaincy contexts, and pastored a number of congregations. Her particular focus is Gospel simplicity. She lives very quietly and reclusively in Hastings on England’s south coast. She blogs at Kindred of the Quiet Way.
These reflections, on recognising the ugly trait of self-righteousness in ourselves, are based on Matthew 23: 1–12.
‘Everything they do is done for people to see’ (v5)
Jesus exposed the self-righteousness of the religious leaders of His day. In that culture, such leaders were extremely respected and powerful. Sadly, it seems such power had gone to their heads and made them blind to their own faults.
HEARTS FAR FROM GOD
Interestingly, Jesus wasn’t suggesting that people should ignore what the religious leaders were telling them to do. However, he did explain how the leaders’ own lives differed from the standards they set for others. They obeyed the letter of the law in order to look good, but their hearts were far from God.
Later on in the chapter Jesus spoke directly to them: ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness’ (vv27–8).
CHOOSING HUMILITY
As we looked at in last week’s devotional, it can be hard to see the faults in ourselves. Jesus reminds us how vital it is to deal with them first, otherwise we can act like hypocrites. ‘You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’ (Matt. 7:5)
The key is in us being humble enough to admit that we all sin – and that, when we do, we can sometimes try to explain it away rather than confess the truth. Much of that is down to not wanting to look bad in front of others. When you consider that makes us like the Pharisees, self-righteousness is definitely something to fling off!
Prayer: Lord help me to recognise when I am falling into the trap of self-righteousness. I want to be humble enough to admit when I make mistakes. Amen.
These reflections on learning to recognise self-centredness in our own behaviour are based on Romans 2:1–11.
‘But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.’ (v8)
Here we have a very stark warning to the self-centred and self-seeking: they will incur God’s wrath and anger.
This passage from Romans invites reflection. It was written to the church in Rome and, in the previous chapter, Paul described the practises of sinful people. The church might have been feeling smug at this point. In chapter 2, however, he told them not to judge others, as it is only through Jesus’ sacrifice that we can be made right before God. The good news is that by choosing to accept Jesus as Lord we no longer ‘reject the truth’. We still can, of course, have a tendency to slip back into our old ways. That is why we need to learn to be more self-aware.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HONESTY
One of our elders recently mentioned in a preach that God has been teaching him how self-centred he can be. I think it was so brave but hugely beneficial for the congregation to hear him be so honest, as we can have a tendency to hide our faults from others. But God wants us to live together in community, encouraging one another towards holiness. Part of that is through being honest about our struggles (and yes that includes our struggles with self-centredness!).
BEING OPEN TO BEING CHALLENGED
Often it is as we draw closer to God that He begins to point out those things that He wants to change in our character. It is really helpful to ask God, and close friends too, to point out anything they feel could be a blind spot in our lives. This helps us to become more aware of the state of our souls.
Self-centredness is often applauded in our culture. Advertising, for example, is full of messages telling us to do what we want, when we want – and that we are worth it! However, God’s way of living is the complete opposite to that. Recognising the selfish traits we have is the first step to doing something about them.
Reflection: 1 Corinthians 13 paints a wonderful picture of selflessness. It points out how love is not self-seeking. Read and reflect on it, then turn to prayer.
These reflections on how to get rid of selfishness and learn to value others are based on Philippians 2:1–11.
‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit’ (v3).
One of the characteristics of our earthly nature is selfishness. I love this quote by Jerry Bridges,* as it recognises that selfishness is our default setting, but also that we can learn to put off such habits:
‘It is our habit to live for ourselves and not for God. When we become Christians, we do not drop all this overnight. In fact, we will spend the rest of our lives putting off these habits and putting on habits of holiness.’
I find that encouraging, as it reminds us that we are all on a journey, and that it takes time – we need to remember not to condemn ourselves when we don’t always get things right.
It can be really difficult, if we are honest, to value others above ourselves and to look out for their needs more than our own. That’s almost an upside-down way of living isn’t it – but often that is what God’s ‘kingdom living’ is like. It is also how we can learn to be more united, and isn’t that what we desperately need right now?
LOOKING TO JESUS
In those moments when we feel the demands are too high, we are told to look to Jesus’ example. Verses 6–11 focus on His selflessness while here on earth – and how God rewarded Him.
Verse 6 is particularly challenging. If we feel trying to be less selfish is beyond us, let’s remember that Jesus ‘did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage’. If the one who was truly equal with God was willing to humble Himself and be obedient, shouldn’t that be enough of a motivation for us to follow suit?
LOOKING OUT FOR WAYS TO SERVE OTHERS
It can be quite hard in our current situation to practically show others how much we value them. We need to try and think outside the box (perhaps looking to try out some of the ideas I shared previously). Let’s ask God to help us learn to lay down our rights in order to serve others.
Yes, this can be a battle every day – particularly when we are facing intense difficulties ourselves. However, when we reach out to others, we often get the connection we need too.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am humbled once more when I think about how You laid down Your rights and were willing to sacrifice Yourself – for me. Help me to learn to put aside selfishness and reach out to others. Amen.
* Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, (Cumbria: Alpha, 1999 – first published 1978).
These reflections, based on Colossians 3:1–14, look at how we are to take off our old, sinful self and put on the new self we have in Christ.
‘since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self’ (vv9–10)
In recent devotional posts we have focused on the fact that we are new creations in Christ and, as such, can find our identity in Him. We can rest assured that we are accepted and loved by God as His children. However, this passage instructs us that, because we have now been ‘raised with Christ’ we need to ‘Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things’ (v3).
STARTING THE PROCESS
There is a process in our journey with God. We need to learn to ‘take off’ our old, sinful self, and ‘put on’ the new self we have in Christ. I love how direct these verses (in a similar passage) in Ephesians are about this: ‘You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.’ (Eph. 4:22–24).
The rest of this devotional series will look at what we need to take off, and then what attributes we are to clothe ourselves in.
CLOTHING OURSELVES WELL
I find the active imagery in Colossians 3 extremely useful. While we know we are new creations in Christ, we can have a tendency to slip the clothing from our old nature back on. Here we are being reminded to purposefully clothe ourselves with the virtues of our new nature.
God once told our church to stop putting our old, filthy rags back on. He reminded us that He has provided each one of us with a dazzling white garment. While we may find that old clothing comfortable and ‘easy’ to wear, it is dirty and unhealthy for us.
It is really challenging to think about these characteristics as if they are clothing. I am sure you take time to decide what to wear each day. Do you take the same amount of care over clothing yourself in kindness, gentleness and patience?
Prayer I am sorry Lord when I choose to wear clothing from my old nature. Teach me how to actively put on my new self daily. Amen.
I am thrilled to welcome Lauren H. Brandenburg to my blog today. Her latest book, The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson, has recently been published by Lion Hudson and I am part of the blog tour she is doing. Here she shares very honestly about the difficulties she has faced with her family over the years – and what she has learned about the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness.
It amazes me how, when a new hardship arises in my life, I suddenly forget the multitude of answered prayers that blanket my days. Maybe it’s because the answered prayers have become my new normal, a part of my routine. Maybe it’s because I’ve settled into that peace of God’s that surpasses all comprehension.
‘And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:7 (NASB)
Or maybe it’s because remembering the source of that answered prayer brings back memories of pain, frustration, anger, and loss…instead of the blessings, the victories, and the string of joys that came out of it all. It seems a difficult balance for me not to dwell on the hardships of my past, exchanging it for the faithfulness of God. When people ask me to share my ‘story’ – those defining hardships that have brought me to where I am – I suddenly delve back into the darkness, the culmination of three separate events that fight to define me.
THE PAIN THAT BROUGHT A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE
We have been through a lot as a family. This section of my ‘story’ begins in 2008 when the US economy was leaving people unemployed and homeless. As my husband’s career had him heavily invested in real estate, we became a quick but temporary causality – losing our car, home, and way of life. Within a few months our life of ease was replaced by donated clothes and free food from our church, while I retreated to my closet and cried out to the Lord – “We need a miracle! Please don’t let us lose our home!”
I prayed for my husband’s broken spirit. I prayed for money. I prayed life would return to normal. I prayed the Lord would take us far away onto the mission field – Nicaragua would work, maybe Mexico – so we could start over away from those who were watching our fall.
Months went by and our normal began to emerge into something new. Instead of shipping ourselves off to a third world country to hide in the name of service to the Lord, we served locally, establishing community dinners for those less fortunate than us, eating alongside them, praying with and for them. We were able to see true poverty, both physical and spiritual.
We began to change, to see the world a bit differently. It was our miracle, our answered prayer, our return to a new normal that not only changed us socially but spiritually.
And then we moved. Not out of the country, but out of state. It was unexpected but necessary. A chance for what we felt like was the fresh start we had prayed for. But that following spring my father was killed in a bicycling accident on his way home from work. And in my new life, my prayers shifted to prayers for my mother’s pain, for what life would be like now that she was on her own and three hours from our new life.
The following fall [autumn], my daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor on the base of her cerebellum. Spinal fluid had been backing up on her brain causing excruciating headaches that had been falsely diagnosed by others in the medical profession. They said she may never walk. They said she may never feed herself. They said it could be cancer. I began to cry out: “God heal my girl! God please don’t take her from me!”
REMEMBERING TO DWELL ON THE RIGHT THINGS
Those are the sections of my life I so often seem to tell when people ask about my ‘story’, adding in the parts about how we served others during our time of need, how provision was provided over and over, how I watched my mother grow and devote herself to teaching the Bible in her home, and how people all over the world prayed for our girlie, and now she’s 17, drives, is on the volleyball team, and is currently trying to decide where she wants to go to university.
But when that new hardship arises, as it did last fall when I found myself in the darkness of a depression I could not justify or seem to find my way out of, I couldn’t see the truth or the loveliness in all that was going on around me. Instead, I was allowing comparison and lies to distract me from a life of fullness.
‘Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.’ Philippians 4:8
One word brought me out of my darkness and placed me back in the confidence of his care: Remember. I had to remember what was true about myself and the string of answered prayers that had led me to the life I was living. I had to remember to dwell on what was lovely – those things that brought me rest, joy, and allowed me to tap into the whimsical person I was created to be.
And I had to remember that he’s here, in the dark moments, the little moments, the ordinary moments, and in the new moments of my life that are writing the ‘story’ of the now. Every single one of my prayers were answered, not all in the way or in the timeliness that I would have liked. But God heard. And he answered. They were impactful times – the times where my faith was strongest. Yet, life gets mundane and sometimes the biggest concern I have for the day is finishing the laundry or turning in edits.
When I am outside a season of hardship, it is easy to forget what it was like to be in full dependence. Then, I remember – not my ‘story’ but his victory in both the difficult times in my life and the simple. I remember his story – a story of forgiveness, love, and his promise to go ahead of me. A promise to never fail me or forsake me – even when I forget, he remembers.
‘The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’ Deuteronomy 31:8
Lauren H. Brandenburg is a mentor, speaker, and author who happily blurs the lines between traditional genres. She is the author of The Death of Mungo Blackwell and The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson. As a former English teacher, and now homeschooling mum, Lauren combines her love of ‘the what if’ with her spirit of adventure and faith to delight and encourage readers young and old. She lives with her husband, Jamie, and two children in a lovely little town just south of Nashville, Tennessee where they laugh a lot.
We are the body of Christ and we need each other! These reflections on our need for unity and encouragement from one another are based on 1 Corinthians 12:12–27.
‘Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’ (v27)
While I originally wrote these notes some time ago, I don’t think it is a coincidence that we have arrived at this passage on the first day of England’s second lockdown. Now, more than ever, we need to remember that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We may have to wait to socialise with others for at least another month but we are still a part of God’s wider body – and we still need each other.
DO NOT DISQUALIFY YOURSELF
While we might be isolated from one another, we each play a vital role in God’s kingdom. Each one of us is significant in our own right, chosen and loved by God, but we should never compare ourselves to another person, and the role that they have, and think that we are less important as a result. I love the graphic picture Paul paints for us in this passage – imagine a foot saying that it can’t be part of the body because it isn’t a hand! And yet, so often, we can disqualify ourselves using the very same logic.
Remember: God never disqualifies us. I know that lockdown can cause some of us to feel that we aren’t needed – being on our own can cause those sorts of messages to fill our brains. We need to fight against them with the truth from this passage: each of us fulfils a particular purpose that God has created, and uniquely equipped, us for. Without us, the body would be lacking.
PRESERVE UNITY AT ALL COSTS
The text also talks about honour. We should never look down on anyone else because they are different from us, or because they have a role that we think is less than ours. We should go to great lengths in order to preserve the unity of the body of Christ.
Verse 13 says that we now ‘form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free’. That is certainly a truth that the world in 2020 needs to be reminded of. As does the Church. We have seen so much racial unrest, and awful acts of violence this year. It seems almost unthinkable that we have got to this place. Yet so many people have lived with the reality of being discriminated against simply by being born looking a particular way or into a certain set of circumstances.
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY
Church we need to do better! We need to focus on what it is that unites us: our faith in Jesus Christ. We should also celebrate the diversity that we find in the Church. I always wonder: where else could you find a group of like-minded yet so different people, of all ages and backgrounds, that, when interacting as they should, work together so well?
The Church is an amazing reflection of God’s grace and creativity. As individuals we should be proud and honoured to be part of God’s body. We should also actively cultivate ‘equal concern’ for those in the body that we interact with regularly. Can I challenge you to think honestly about how you respond to others in the church a) that are being honoured and b) are suffering?
LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS
One of the ways we can show our unity, particularly in this time of enforced separation, is by checking in on each other. Those within your church (and your local community) still need you in their lives. What that looks like needs to be a bit different right now. So who can you message/arrange to go on a walk with/set up a video call with/drop an unexpected gift to/ring? It’s time to ask God for some creativity. Hopefully you will be on the receiving end of some wonderful acts of care and concern too.
Prayer: Lord thank You that I am a vital part of Your body, the Church. Help me to set aside any feelings of jealousy or apathy towards others today. And help me to show those around me that I am still thinking of them. Amen.
