Servant Leadership

Luke 22:24  A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25  But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26  But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Jesus lived in a world where the Kings/Emperors/Governors were served by the people. Power was attained by force, and maintained by keeping people subservient. Herod stayed King of the Jews because he had Roman support. Caesar Augustus exerted far reaching power through conquest, and derived great wealth from the spoils of conquered peoples. In addition many slaves were acquired during the military conquests that benefitted the wealthy people of Rome. These are “the kings of the Gentiles” referred to by Jesus, who saw power as a means to living a privileged life, served by others.

Jesus offers an alternative understanding of leaders: he invites leaders to see themselves as being raised up by God to serve humanity. Jesus teaches that the greater the leader, the greater the responsibility to be of service. This is a lesson that applies to every generation, for it seems that human beings are always tempted to see power as access to privilege – rather than opportunity to serve. Be challenged to today to use your power to benefit someone other than yourself.

For reflection:

Will you let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace
To let me be your servant too

We are pilgrims on the journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

(Richard Gillard)

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

10 “The Authority of God’s Word”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 71.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.     

the apron of humility

1Peter 5:1  Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2  to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it--not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3  Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4  And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. 5  In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7  Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8  Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9  Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10  And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11  To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

In 1 Peter 5:5 we read the encouragement to be clothed with humility. Here this letter borrows an image from the home: the exhortation is “to put on” - Egkomboomai) – verb more commonly used to describe the act of tying an apron around your waist. The reader is asked to tie humility around your waist as you would an apron. Humility has to do with aprons. And aprons have to do with service. And service has to do with one person offering help to another.  And at this point our South African context kicks in because history has seen some being forced to become the servants of others. Black people became the servants of white people; poor people became the servants of the wealthy; the uneducated became the servants of the educated; the weak become the servants of the strong.  And we now live in a newly liberated country where no one wants to be called the servant of another....except for those who follow in the tradition of Jesus.

Jesus speaks of being amongst us as one who serves. He then continues, reminding those who follow him that we are to take the lead in offering service to humanity (Luke 22:25-27).  This is the way of a Jesus follower. For this reason St Paul insists that “all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another” (1 Peter 5:5 TEV).

Prayer: Lord: may I have opportunities to be of service – that I might become more like Jesus. Amen.

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

10 “The Authority of God’s Word”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 71.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

The Privilege of Suffering

Philippians 1:21  For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23  I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24  but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25  Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26  so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 27  Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28  and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. 29  For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well-- 30  since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Paul is in a reflective mood. He writes of living in the space between life and death, and of how each is an option for him. He does not cling to either, and lives content that everything “is God’s doing” (Phil 1:28). Then he makes the startling assertion that God graciously grants the privilege of suffering.

But: Nobody wants to suffer – in fact we human beings do everything we can to avoid suffering!  Deep in our human psyche is the knowledge that we ought also to alleviate suffering in other people. No human being should suffer, as suffering debilitates the soul. So is Paul suggesting that God sends suffering? Not at all.  Paul is not suggesting that suffering is God’s will. Instead he says that if someone suffers for their faith they can choose to embrace their suffering as part of being a disciple. It is at this point that all of us who follow the way of Jesus are challenged. We can spend our time and energy complaining about the difficulties of being a Christian; or we can walk in the footsteps of the martyrs and get on with the business of living a life worthy of Jesus – who suffered, and died for the truth.

Prayer: Lord, set me free from my fear of suffering and death, so that I might live life to my fullest potential. Amen    

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

10 “The Authority of God’s Word”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 71.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

I will follow

1Kings 19:19  So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. 20  He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" 21  He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

The Prophet Elijah invites Elisha son of Shaphat to be his student. Elisha’s response is one of total commitment. He says goodbye to his parents, slaughters his oxen, and burns his wooden yoke. Elisha has, in effect, told his parents that he will not fulfil his duty to care for them, and he abandons his farm. There is no going back. This is radical discipleship.

This is the classic model of discipleship that is recorded over the many centuries of the Bible. Whether it is the story of Abraham, or Moses, or Peter James and John, each is asked to give up their familiar life and follow a new, unknown course in life. Let us take note of the things (and ideas) we cling to so tightly – they might just prevent us from the opportunity of learning new spiritual truths that bring us closer to God.     

Prayer: Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
O'er the world's tempestuous sea;
Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
For we have no help but thee; 

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

10 “The Authority of God’s Word”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 71.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

Words

Gen 1:1  In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,2  the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3  Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4  And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5  God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6  And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."

Genesis Chapter One has a rhythm to its words – a rhythm that is built around the opening declaration “And God said” and the closing affirmation “and it was so”. This writing introduces us to the Creator God, an All-powerful Being who brings life into existence by speaking a word. This chapter seeks to remind readers of the power of the spoken word of God.

However, we have discovered that all words have power, not just the words of God. When human beings speak we can change our lives. Sadly, not all of our words change our lives for the better. Unlike God, whose words bring life, some of our words can bring death. When we speak with bitterness and anger to another person we crush the life out of them. When we slander the character of another person we bring words of destruction and not creation.

Make it your resolution for today to walk in the footsteps of our creator God – and only speak words that are life-giving.....word of love, and encouragement, and peace

Prayer: O Creator God: grant me the discernment to use my words wisely, that they may bring life into this world. Amen        

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

10 “The Authority of God’s Word”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 71.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

Following the Example

 John 13:4 (Jesus) got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

John 13:12  After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13  You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. 14  So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15  For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16  Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Today passage builds on the thought of yesterday. There are two ways of being a leader: one way is to tell people what they ought to do; the other is to show people what you mean by doing it. Jesus’ leadership was the latter. He taught about being of service by serving.  He then explains to his students “For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

My invitation this weekend is for us to talk less about what is Jesus-pleasing behaviour, and just get on with being faithful followers of Jesus’ example. 

For thought:

- "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means."

(Albert Einstein)

Third Sunday after Epiphany

9. “The Call to Ministry”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 65.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

Do not Lose Heart

2Corinthians 4:1  Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2  We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. 3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5  For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. 6  For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7  But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10  always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.

St Paul had a difficult relationship with the Corinthian Christians. By the time he wrote this, he had visited them twice, and in 2 Corinthians indicates that he intends visiting them a third time. He has had to defend his character against misunderstanding and criticism. Some have questioned his authority to teach, while others did not like the way he speaks and writes. He freely admits his own imperfections, suggesting that he is only a “clay jar” holding the treasure of God. His task is to point beyond himself: “we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake” (2 Cor 4:5) 

Subsequent history of our faith has seen people in Christian leadership criticized, attacked and vilified. So if we who follow Jesus today find ourselves criticized and unappreciated by church people, we are in good company! Paul was clear – renounce shameful things; proclaim Jesus, and do not give up.   Do not be put off by the criticism of other Christians, but rather allow the love of Jesus to shine through our daily actions.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to resist the temptation to attack those who criticize me. Instead may I step back and allow you to shine through my words and actions. Amen.

Third Sunday after Epiphany

9. “The Call to Ministry”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 65.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.     

Christian Bragging

1Corinthians 1:26  Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28  God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29  so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30  He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31  in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Paul writes this letter to a church he initiated in Corinth, the capital city of the Roman province of Achaia.  This city had originally been Greek, but was destroyed by Roman soldiers in 146BC. Julius Caesar then re-populated it with a variety of people from all over the world. This was a city port made up of ex-soldiers, slaves, merchants, sailors, prostitutes and fortune seekers. Paul points out the obvious when he notes that “not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”    

What is emerging however, is a community where people were beginning to compete for status. All too often people who have little social status attempt to remedy this by making others feel inferior. People of one cultural group claim superiority over other cultures. Strong personalities seek to overpower those who are weaker; Paul writes to the Christ-followers in Corinth to urge them to abandon their desire for superiority and to remember that the only status of value is that of a follower of Jesus.

Sadly this is also often true of Christian communities today. Let us re-read the words of Paul for our own time – and be reminded that our status, our life, our wisdom, and our goodness are rooted in Jesus. If we are to claim status about anything, the only thing we cling to is that we know Jesus.  

Prayer: Lord God of All Creation: thank you for my life. May I always remember that all I have comes from you, so that I might not be distracted by my own self-importance. Amen

Third Sunday after Epiphany

9. “The Call to Ministry”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 65.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

      

A Damascus Road Experience

Act 9:1  Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2  and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3  Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5  He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6  But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

Act 9:17  So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19  and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20  and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

This is the story of two people whose lives are radically altered: Saul turns from a persecutor of Christ-followers to become a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus. Ananias moves from fearful avoidance of Saul, to become Saul’s pastor. Both are a kairos moment: the intervention of God into history.

This story has since become part of the language of our modern society. A “Damascus Road experience” refers to a profound, life-changing experience that alters the direction and thinking of an individual.  For some, like Saul, this might be a moment of self-knowledge that leads you to commit your life to following Jesus. For others, this might be an “aha” moment when you gain a new perspective that marks a new direction in life. We cannot engineer these moments. They are gifts of God. We can choose to ignore them, and so lose the opportunity for a God-given correction of our course in life.

Prayer: Lord: thank you for the moments of divine intervention in our lives. Please would you stop me in my tracks when I am getting lost. At such moments I trust you to you turn me around and put me on the right path. Amen

Third Sunday after Epiphany

9. “The Call to Ministry”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 65.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.     

Left ... and Followed

.Luke 5:1  Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2  he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4  When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5  Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." 6  When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" 9  For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." 11  When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Luke locates this story at the lake of Gennesaret , which is also known as the Sea of Galilee. This fresh water lake contained a great variety of fish, which provided the staple food for the region and provided work for the local population. The point made by Luke is that Jesus did not act like a normal rabbi. He did not go to the temple in Jerusalem to collect the best and the brightest as his students. Instead he went to rural Galilee, where he collected local fishermen as his followers. These were largely uneducated labourers, who would have been called the am ha’aretz  - the unwashed proletariat / the working classes / or, as Peter rightly recognises in Luke 5:8 the “sinners” - by the religiously educated classes of Jerusalem.

The criterion for following Jesus is not education, or goodness, or social connection. Jesus invites anyone who will hear him. Though the past two thousand years people have heard the call to follow Jesus. This call has ignored social class, education and cultural background. Perhaps today is the day when you and I hear anew the call to leave everything and follow Jesus.

Prayer: Lord: receive my life today, that I may follow you. And when I go to sleep tonight, receive my life, that I might rest with you. Amen

Third Sunday after Epiphany

9. “The Call to Ministry”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 65.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

Who will go?

Isaiah 6:1  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2  Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.3  And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4  The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5  And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" 6  Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7  The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 8  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

The King is dead. Uzziah was sixteen when he became king of Judah and reigned to fifty two years. (2 Kings 15:2), and now there is a power vacuum. It is safe to assume that the people of Judah felt uneasy as they buried their king. A lifetime of stable rule had come to an end, and the prospect of a power struggle loomed large in their future. It is at this moment that Isaiah encounters God. This is an encounter that holds all his senses – hearing the voice of God, smelling the smoke of the incense, feeling the building shake, and tasting the heat of the burning coal on his lips – and Isaiah’s life is changed. An encounter with God evokes his response “Send Me”.

We continue to live in uncertainty. Even though we have presidents, and captains of industry, and leaders of people, they prove themselves unable to stabilize our country. The poorest of the poor burn tyres in protest, and the richest of the rich quietly sent their money offshore. And most of us are like the proverbial “jam in the sandwich” as we battle to make ends meet. We might even whisper to ourselves “I wish that the old president / great person / people’s leader was back – because life was stable then.”  This is the moment for us to learn from Isaiah: he tells us that this is exactly the moment that God becomes visible: Let us, like Isaiah, pay attention to our senses and discover that God is all around us. As we do so, we too might hear the invitation of to join God in the work of creating a world of justice, love and peace.

Prayer: O Lord: open my eyes that I might see you; open my ears that I might hear your invitation; open my mouth that I might taste how sweet your words are; and open my will, that I might work in partnership with you. Amen. 

Third Sunday after Epiphany

9. “The Call to Ministry”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 65.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

Sell your possessions....

Matthew 19:16  Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 17  And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18  He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19  Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20  The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" 21  Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22  When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 23  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 25  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, "Then who can be saved?" 26  But Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible."

Many of us who follow Jesus lift his teachings off the pages of scripture and apply then to our own lives. In fact we often want to universalize the words of Jesus as if they applied to all people everywhere for all time. Except for this passage from Matthew! Suddenly the commentaries and expositions agree that this was a word for a particular man at a particular time, and does not apply to anyone else! This is so because this is because this is one of those passages in the Bible that is easy to understand, but difficult to follow!

Jesus says: “If you wish to enter into life then keep the rules and let go of your possessions”. And suddenly this becomes difficult – because, like the man who asked Jesus the question, we have many possessions and find it hard to let go of them. In fact we find it so hard that we want to strip this passage of its meaning by spiritualizing its meaning into nothingness. Many commentaries and expositions of this passage argue that Jesus does not expect us to give our stuff away. Some commentaries will admit that perhaps some people are called to do this as a sign of their faith in God, but hasten to add that this is not for everyone. Others suggest that Jesus was exposing this man’s failure to be perfect – and then add that giving away possessions is not a sign of perfection.

Why is it so hard about hearing Jesus say that we must share our possessions? He certainly said this on more than one occasion: it was Jesus who suggested that if we have two coats we could give one away (Luke 3:11); Jesus reproved those who wanted bigger store rooms to store their possessions (Luke 12:17-21); and Jesus encouraged us to trust God instead of our possessions (Matt 6:25-34). Perhaps this year we might take the teaching of Jesus more literally, and practice generosity towards those who struggle to survive life. We who are blessed are called by Jesus to become a blessing to others.

Prayer: O Lord: soften my heart that I might be less greedy and become more generous. For the sake of those who struggle. Amen.

Second Sunday after Epiphany

8. “Come follow me”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 59.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

God’s Preferential Option for the Little Ones.

Matthew 11:25  At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26  yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27  All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28  "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

The world of Jesus was divided into two: there were those who thought themselves acceptable in the sight of God, and those who believed that they were hated by God. The “beloved of God” were those who had paid their temple taxes, had learned The Law, and had ensured that they had made the necessary sacrifices. These were “the wise”. Then there were the rest: these were the people who had not paid what they should (often because they were too poor), and had not learned the religious rules (often because they were not educated) and who had not made the necessary sacrifices (because of poverty, or because they were ill and therefore not allowed into the temple). They were known as the am ha’aretz  - the rabble, or the “little ones” who had not yet attained spiritual maturity.   

Jesus challenges the idea that only a special few have knowledge and experience of God. Instead, he turns this idea on its head by insisting that God takes a preferential option for the weakest, and the least and the most vulnerable.  The good news that has been handed down through the generations of our faith is that is that when we are at our most fragile, we can call to God, who offers to share the weight of our burden - "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”. The challenge of our faith is that we who are religious need to unlearn our contempt for the “irreligious rabble”, and discover the deep love of the Father for those who struggle the most in life – whether this struggle is poverty, illness, or simply the inability to believe.

Prayer: O God of love: may I be able to show the same patience and compassion towards the weaknesses in other people that you have shown to me. Amen

Second Sunday after Epiphany

8. “Come follow me”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 59.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.     

Whoever will – may come.

Matthew 10:32  "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33  but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. 34  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36  and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38  and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 40  "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41  Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42  and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Jesus lived in a world where some were thought to be more holy than others. People were declared “unclean’ because of physical or mental illness, and were thought to be less loved by God than those who were “clean”. In the above passage from Matthew 10 we find Jesus opposing this idea. He uses the word "whoever" (Greek: hostis) as a recurring idea throughout this passage. It makes the statement comprehensive - to embrace both the bearers and the hearers of the message. The effect of this is to “level the playing fields”. There are none who are exempt – neither the preacher or the hearer, neither the righteous nor the unrighteous, neither the rich nor the poor. And just in case someone still thinks that s/he is too good/too holy/too righteous, Jesus deliberately includes an act of inclusive compassion towards the “little ones”.

Through the years religious people have been tempted to create classes or categories of people. This normally sounds like this: those who believe like us are therefore loved by God, and those who do not see life as we do are not loved by God. Let us build a new generation that is willing to discover that everyone (hostis) is within the love of the Creator.

Prayer: God of all creation: Thank you for loving me. Open my eyes that I may see your embrace for the other people in my world. Amen.

Second Sunday after Epiphany

8. “Come follow me”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 59.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

Deny yourself ....Follow Me

Luke 9:23-27  Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

Luke 9:57-62  As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

The verses above are often used to encourage people to follow Jesus. Just as often these verses are quoted without a context, which strips them of their meaning. Note that verse 23 begins with “then”, implying that this connects with what has occurred immediately prior to this. Verse 22 speaks of the Son of Man who must face “great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed”.  Jesus has left rural Judea and is heading for Jerusalem. The ultimate end to his journey will become Golgotha’s suffering and death. Then Jesus said to those who are listening “If anyone desires to come after me.....” I suspect that the initial response was less than enthusiastic. Luke 9:45 tells us that “they were afraid to ask him about this saying”. Following Jesus is difficult, dangerous and may cause your death!

This then becomes the challenge to each succeeding generation of Jesus-followers: to “deny themselves and take up their cross daily” (Luke 9:23) But as I peer into my own motives and attitudes I see little desire for suffering. If I am honest I prefer a quiet life, sustained by supportive friends and a loving family. Yet there is this inner voice that continually prods me out of my place of comfort: a voice that asks me to welcome those who live on the margins of society; a voice that urges me to plough a furrow where none exists; a voice that asks me to set everything else aside for this One Great Love.  Each morning I hear that voice saying “Come, follow Me”, and I have to decide what I will do with my day.

Prayer: Gracious God: you have given me life. Help me to pay attention to you call on my life today – so that I may follow where you lead me. Amen.

Second Sunday after Epiphany

8. “Come follow me”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 59.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

A Willing Heart

Matthew 4:17  From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 18  As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 19  And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20  Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21  As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22  Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus invites four fishermen from the Sea of Galilee to join him as his students. These are fishers who would have caught fish to trade, to pay their taxes and to eat.  James and John  are sons of Zebedee, a net fisher who not only had his sons working for him but also hired men to assist him in his boat (Mark 1: 19-20). The other two are lower in the economic scale, resorting to a cast net to catch fish from the shore. 

While it was expected that a Jewish rabbi would have students, it was entirely unexpected that a rabbi would call such people. Jewish rabbinical teaching required the best and brightest “school leavers”, students who were capable of the intricate theological discussions that this religious tradition demanded. Jesus turned this on its head by suggesting that the only qualification required was a willing heart. This seems to be the consistent threat of the history of our Christian faith: God has called a surprising array of people drawn from a variety of backgrounds. The only qualification needed is the desire to follow. It would seem that for those who are Jesus-followers, the one question that returns again and again is whether we continue to be willing to “leave the boat and their father and follow”.  

Pause for a moment and ask yourself if there is anything that is distracting you from wholeheartedly following the call, teachings and example of Jesus.

Prayer: O God: you call me to life each morning. May I use this day in a way that honours that call. And when I give my life back to you tonight, may I do so in the knowledge that I was faithful to your call.  Amen

Second Sunday after Epiphany

8. “Come follow me”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 59.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

And so it goes with God

John 1:43  The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46  Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47  When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48  Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49  Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50  Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51  And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Piscine Patel, the Indian boy in Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi, tells his imaginative story of the sinking of the Japanese cargo ship, and his subsequent survival at sea with a tiger. The two officials from the Japanese Ministry of Transport are sceptical of his tale, and so he tells them another story – one that is far less happy. He then asks them which story they prefer, and they admit to choosing the first story. Pi thanks them and says “and so it goes with God”.  I use this as a way of pointing to John’s description of Jesus calling disciples.

John tells an entirely different story to the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). These Gospels describe Jesus calling the following disciples - in order - as Peter, Andrew, James and John. But John’s Gospel tells of Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael. And quite frankly (like the Japanese officials in Pi) I will exercise a choice of one particular version. I like the Gospel of John because it recognises space for doubt, and scepticism, in being a Jesus-follower.  Jesus welcomes Nathanael, not because of his faith, but in spite of his doubts. All too often we who follow Jesus, deny our doubts – as if this will make them go away. Be comforted in the knowledge that God welcomes us, questions and all: “and so it goes with God”.     

Second Sunday after Epiphany

8. “Come follow me”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 59.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.    

Loving Difficult People.

1 John Chapter 4  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.  Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.   Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

The readers of this letter were struggling to discern false teaching from truth.  It would seem that this community had split over differences of opinion on doctrine, and a group had gone off and formed a new church (1 John 2: 18-19). This breakaway group was attempting to lead more people away from the original community.  The author of this letter now writes to reassure the original members, and to urge them to remain faithful to the truth - which is defined as being “perfected in love”. A truthful faith teaches and practices love. A love for God is shown in love for brothers or sisters. Being filled with the Spirit of God is validated by a demonstration of love to the community.    

Sadly, the experience of the community addressed in 1 John has been replicated through each succeeding generation since then. Communities continually struggle to discern the truth. Instead of learning to love one other despite differences of opinion, we have allowed our differences to divide us.  Make it your new year’s resolution to learn how to continue to walk with a brother or sister who disagrees with you – rather than rejecting them. “for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen” (1 Jn 4:20).  

Prayer: “O God of Love and Grace: teach me how to love someone who is disagreeable and obstinate. May I not give up in this quest, for I know that you have not yet given up on me. For Jesus sake: Amen.   

The first Sunday after Epiphany

7. The Son of God

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 52.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day

Honest to God

Hebrews 1:1  Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2  but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3  He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4  having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5  For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? 6  And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7  Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." 8  But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. 9  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." 10  And, "In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; 12  like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end."

While Hebrews does not identify its author, or the intended readers, we do know that its recipients have been persecuted in the past (Heb 10:32-34) and continue to be persecuted (Heb 12:3-13).  This letter encourages its recipients to remain faithful to the way of Jesus, even when tempted to turn back to their former beliefs.

Hebrews 1: 1-12 teaches that Jesus reflects the glory of God, and having purified humanity from sin, he sat at God’s right hand, becoming superior to the angels. This is an affirmation of the Christian credal statements since the earliest times. What is awkward is that it uses Psalm 45:6-7 as evidence. However this psalm is a love song for the marriage of King David to a foreign princess from Tyre in Phoenicia. This is a “bending” of the text to support a teaching - Oops! It seems that a Christian teacher has taken a short cut with an earlier sacred writing.

This is not new – and far too many preachers and teachers continue to do this today. Let us as Christ-followers commit ourselves to a rigorous reading of our Bible, rather than lifting “proof texts” to bolster our opinions. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are seated at the right hand of the Father: lead us in truthful ways today. May your Spirit help us to read our Scriptures with honesty, so that we may become people of the Truth. Amen. 

The first Sunday after Epiphany

7. The Son of God

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 52.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.