Thank God

•July 10, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Saying thank you is such a simple thing to do, but so meaningful.  It shows a real appreciation of something or someone. Without it someone can feel insignificant, as if their gifts don’t matter.  With it they can walk taller and feel like they’ve made a difference.

Colossians 1:1-14

1 From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.

2 To God’s people who live in Colossae and are faithful followers of Christ.

I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

A Prayer of Thanks

3 Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all of God’s people, 5 because what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You first heard about this hope when you believed the true message, which is the good news.

6 The good news is spreading all over the world with great success. It has spread in that same way among you, ever since the first day you learned the truth about God’s wonderful kindness 7 from our good friend Epaphras. He works together with us for Christ and is a faithful worker for you. 8 He is also the one who told us about the love that God’s Spirit has given you.

The Person and Work of Christ

9 We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. 10 Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better. 11 His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.

12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. 13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who forgives our sins and sets us free.

Here Paul tells the Colossians that he thanks God for them.  What an encouragement to them.  He thanks God because of their faith and their love.

I wonder how often we thank God for other people.  And if we tell them about it and why?

It can be easy to feel we are plodding along and no one is noticing or appreciating what we are doing.  How helpful it is to know that it is appreciated – not because we need thanks, but because sometimes we need encouragement.

But Paul doesn’t just give thanks for them, he continues to pray for them:

that they will continue to know what God is asking of them, that they will honour him and come to know God better.  That they will know his patience and strength.

Paul wants them to know the depths of God’s life and prays for what they need to fulfil it.

So, do we notice our fellow Christians?  What they are doing, what support and encouragement they need? Do we pray for them?  For their need, their faith?  Today, now, take some time.  Think through those you know.  The blessing that they are, the struggles you know they have, the places their lives take them, their faith – and lets pray for one another.  And perhaps we might like to tell them we’ve done so – to encourage and bless them.

Lord,
I thank you for those I know
who encourage me,
enrich my life,
show me more of you
and your ways.

I pray for them.
May you strengthen them,
enrich them,
empower them
in their walk with you.

Posted in bible, faith, God, Lectionary, Religion, Thanksgiving, theology
Tags: , , ,

Teach Me Your Ways

•July 9, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Psalm 25:1-10

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection

25 To you, O Lord, I offer my prayer;
2     in you, my God, I trust.
Save me from the shame of defeat;
    don’t let my enemies gloat over me!
3 Defeat does not come to those who trust in you,
    but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

4 Teach me your ways, O Lord;
    make them known to me.
5 Teach me to live according to your truth,
    for you are my God, who saves me.
    I always trust in you.

6 Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love
    which you have shown from long ago.
7 Forgive the sins and errors of my youth.
In your constant love and goodness,
    remember me, Lord!

8 Because the Lord is righteous and good,
    he teaches sinners the path they should follow.
9 He leads the humble in the right way
    and teaches them his will.
10 With faithfulness and love he leads
    all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

Posted in bible, faith, God, Lectionary, Religion, theology
Tags: , , ,

Cause and Effect?

•July 8, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Cause and effect – that understanding that what we do has certain results.  Actions lead to consequences.

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

9 The Lord will make you prosperous in all that you do; you will have many children and a lot of livestock, and your fields will produce abundant crops. He will be as glad to make you prosperous as he was to make your ancestors prosperous, 10 but you will have to obey him and keep all his laws that are written in this book of his teachings. You will have to turn to him with all your heart.

11 “The command that I am giving you today is not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in the sky. You do not have to ask, ‘Who will go up and bring it down for us, so that we can hear it and obey it?’ 13 Nor is it on the other side of the ocean. You do not have to ask, ‘Who will go across the ocean and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?’ 14 No, it is here with you. You know it and can quote it, so now obey it.

Here we have a classic example of the prevailing world view that the Old Testament was written in – do good and you’ll do well; and its opposite number by definition is if something goes horribly wrong, you must have done something to cause it…

But Moses brings the challenge – to obey God’s laws and keep his demands.  Not because of what we may gain – but because of who God is.  We turn to God, not just by doing the right thing, but by having the right heart.

An impossible task?  That we could ever be good enough, do what God requires of us?

It is a choice, a definite choice, but not an impossible one.  God does not put up barriers to stop us reaching him, but does everything he can to make it possible.  God’s commands are not invisible or out of reach – but here among us – and that was even before Jesus made it all the more accessible.  God longs for us to know and love him. It’s not difficult – but it does demand a decision.

God invites us to come to him, to live our life in the way he desires – and what abundance we will receive in him when we do.

Lord,
Thank you that you are accessible,
not aloof,
longing to give me so much.
But I know I have a choice to make –
to follow your ways or not.
Not to make life easier,
not to receive more or better things,
but to know you,
and the depths of your love.

Posted in bible, faith, God, Lectionary, Religion, theology
Tags: , , ,

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »