A Minister of the Gospel

Hebrews 8:1
1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer a the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says,"See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain." 6 But now Jesus has obtained superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one. 8 But showing its fault, God says to them, "Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9"It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord. 10"For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people. Hebrews 11"And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying,'Know the Lord,'since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. 12"For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer."

Jesus is twice described as "a minister". Our modern world has used this word in a way never intended by the original text. Today it signifies a leadership position in the church, a position of esteem and honour and of respect. But when it was written it signified one who served. A better word today would be "servant" or "worker".

We who are ministers of the Gospel of Jesus ought to refer to ourselves as workers for Jesus. And then get on with the work expected of us. 

Ordinary 28 / Pentecost +21

50 A Friend of Souls

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), 304.

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

Sent via my BlackBerry

He loved him as his own soul....

1Samuel 18:1  When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2  Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4  Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5  David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.

David the shepherd reports his victory over Goliath to King Saul. At the same time he meets Saul’s son Jonathan. This is a passage about the friendship that springs up between these young men – “soul bound to soul”. Many have used this passage to illustrate the God-given gift of a rich and deep friendship. This is a friendship that leads to a commitment (covenant) to share life, armour and the approval of all the people.  Such friendships are to be treasured: and those of us who are privileged with this can be challenged to spend time and energy nurturing our friendships.  

Having said this, this is also a passage that can challenge perspective.... our perspectives as its reader. The beauty of the friendship between David and Jonathan can open up space to see a relationship blessed with the gift of romance and love. While many people will find it very difficult – or even blasphemous - to ascribe a romantic relationship to David and Jonathan, but this passage has also offered hope to those who have experienced the bitter rejection of Christians based on their sexual orientation. The story of the love between these two young soldiers can offer hope to people who find themselves attracted to people of the same gender.

Those who follow Jesus encourage couples to committed loving relationships. We can learn much from the example of David and Jonathan.         

Ordinary 28 / Pentecost +21

50 A Friend of Souls

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), 304.

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

Know the Lord

Jeremiah 31:23  Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its towns when I restore their fortunes: "The LORD bless you, O abode of righteousness, O holy hill!" 24  And Judah and all its towns shall live there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. 25  I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish. 26  Thereupon I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. 27  The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. 28  And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD. 29  In those days they shall no longer say: "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." 30  But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge. 31  The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32  It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt--a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34  No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah, God’s preacher to the Kingdom of Judah, has repeatedly warned them that there would be dire consequences for disobeying their Covenant relationship with God. The Kingdom was conquered and Jeremiah was carried off into exile to Babylon in 586BC. The above passage was probably written during this period.  

These are words of hope: Jeremiah says that the time is coming when the Covenant will be restored. But this “will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors”; instead it will be a covenant of relationship: the people will no longer be punished by exile for the sins of their parents. Instead they will have a personal knowledge/experience of God and will be forgiven.

Jesus followers are invited into a relational faith with the Divine: we accept responsibility for our actions, we apologise for our failures, and we celebrate new beginnings.

   

Ordinary 28 / Pentecost +21

50 A Friend of Souls

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), 304.

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

Veni, Vidi, Vici.

Exodus 3:7
The LORD said,"I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them. 10 So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."11 Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"12 He replied, "Surely I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God on this mountain."13 Moses said to God,"If I go to the Israelites and tell them,'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,'and they ask me,'What is his name? what should I say to them?"14 God said to Moses,"I AM that I AM." And he said,"You must say this to the Israelites,'I AM has sent me to you.'"15 God also said to Moses,"You must say this to the Israelites,'The LORD - the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob- has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.'16"Go and bring together the elders of Israel and tell them,'The LORD, the God of your fathers, appeared to me- the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- saying,"I have attended carefully to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I have promised a that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey."'18"The elders will listen to you, and then you and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt and tell him,'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, let us go three days'journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even under force. 20 So I will extend my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do among them, and after that he will release you. 21"I will grant this people favor with the Egyptians, so that when you depart you will not leave empty- handed.22 Every woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying in her house for items of silver and gold and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters- thus you will plunder Egypt!"

The essential nature of God is summed up in these words: "I have surely seen the affliction... I have heard their cry... I have come down to deliver them." The Divine Creator of 'all that is, seen and unseen', takes notice! This is not just seeing creation. No - this is seeing the marginalized and the outcast. Those who are afflicted are seen/heard by God - and a Divine response can be anticipated. Nobody is too beaten down to escape the loving protection of God. All are God's creation - and the Lord God loves them all.

Ordinary 28 / Pentecost +21

A Friend of Souls 50 

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), 304. .

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

Have Faith

 Luke 17:5  The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

Luk 17:6  The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7  "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 8  Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 9  Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10  So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

The invitation is clear: live a life that trusts God. But this is easier said than done. Here Jesus addresses two issues of faith: we do not have to have lots of faith; and we are not to be rewarded for trusting – because we are doing what is expected of us.   

Song

Simply trusting every day;
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

·         Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by,
Trusting Him, whate’er befall,
  Trusting Jesus, that is all

Words: Ed­gar P. Stites, 1876.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/569#ixzz2grVLAZzp

Ordinary 27 / Pentecost +20

49 Faithfulness

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), 298.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Do not fear.....

Revelation 2:8  "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life: 9  "I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11  Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.

Smyrna[1] - amongst the largest of the cities in the Mediterranean – was a beautiful port city with an estimated population approaching 200,000 people. Due to its defensible port and its good inland connections, Smyrna was became a wealthy city.  

It was also the city of Bishop Polycarp. In 155 AD he was asked to recant his faith or lose his life: “86 years have I served him” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” His subsequent execution makes the words of Revelation 2 vs 10 particularly poignant: “be faithful until death”.

Christians do not escape hardship, or struggle, or death. But Christ-followers can choose to escape fear through confronting the things that frighten us through our faithful courage.

Ordinary 27 / Pentecost +20

49 Faithfulness

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), 298.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

---

[1] An ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. It is now called Izmir. 

Let the Tough Get Going...

2Timothy 2:1  You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; 2  and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. 3  Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4  No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer. 5  And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. 6  It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7  Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. 8  Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David--that is my gospel, 9  for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11  The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12  if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13  if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.

I am constantly appalled at the way Christ-followers expect to be rewarded for choosing the way of Jesus. I hear promises made by preachers that following Jesus will lead to prosperity and blessings. I also hear Christians complaining when life is uncomfortable and difficult, demanding that God provide for their ease and comfort.  This is not Biblical. Today’s passage reminds us that we are to “Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus”.  We are to die...to endure... to deny ourselves... and to remain faithful.

Jesus-followers understand that ours is a life that asks us to give every ounce of strength without expectation of reward. This is a life that draws the best from me. And I find it insulting to hear some preachers suggesting that we should follow Jesus because we are rewarded with comfort and ease.  Christ-followers are tough and able to endure, without expectation that we should be coddled and cosseted.

Ordinary 27 / Pentecost +20

49 Faithfulness

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), 298.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.