Going my way?

•May 17, 2011 • Leave a Comment

Where we are going to stay on our holidays is out the back of beyond.  So we were intrigued when the directions came to try to place it exactly on a map.  We followed the suggested route along a map, and we are convinced that at one point where it says turn left, we need to actually turn right.  I suppose we’ll find out when we get there whether the directions are actually right or not – I’ll let you know!

Directions can at times be very confusing, but can also be vital if you’ve no idea where you’re going.

When Jesus began to speak of his ultimate destination, and said he would come back to take them, Thomas’ words were,

“Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”

Jesus reply was

“I am the way, the truth, and the life!”

Anyone who wants to go God’s way needs to follow Jesus.  He is the one who knows the way.  When we encounter him we are actually meeting God.  Knowing Jesus is knowing God.

And so Jesus leads the way.  We need to follow him.  If we have any questions, any confusion, he is the way.

Lord

in the confusion of life,

may I follow you;

When I don’t know which way to turn,

may I go your way;

When I want to see God,

may I look deep into you;

That my ways

may always be your ways

Posted in follow, Jesus, Lectionary
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Drink up!

•May 16, 2011 • Leave a Comment

When we were younger, our mum always made us drink a glass of milk every day.  It was

“Good for you!”

I’m not sure I enjoyed it, but I have to say, I do have incredibly strong bones, so it must have done me some good.

Peter tells those he is writing to, to “be like new-born babies, thirsty for the pure spiritual milk that will help you grow and be saved.”

We need the things that make us grow to be healthy and strong.  In our daily lives, however nice cakes and chips may be, we do need to maintain a diet of essential nutrients.  We need to feed our bodies well, and we need to feed our spiritual life well too.

If we were to eat a diet of only cake and chips, our skin would not look good, our bodies would not function well, we would not be able to maintain our health.  The same is true of our spiritual diet.

For good spiritual health we need to feed off God, his word and his life.  Other things may seem tempting and delicious – but are they keeping us healthy?

So in our spiritual life, is it going to be junk food – or God’s food?

Lord,

perhaps I need to look at my diet.

There are so many delicious thing I like,

but do they do me good,

are they bringing me closer to you?

Are they helping me grow in you?

Or just making my life unhealthy?

Lord,

I want to drink only from your pure spiritual drink,

that I may grow

in you.

Posted in God, Lectionary
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Living Together

•May 11, 2011 • 1 Comment

One of the best ways to get to know people is over food.  Sharing a meal together gives a relaxed setting to chat, to take time to listen.

In the life of the early church, in the time just after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples had to work out a new way of life. People were coming to faith in Jesus all the time, and needed to know what it meant for them, how they now should live.

And so they spent their time together.  No one was left to work it out alone, the lived it together.

They learnt from the apostles, those who had been with Jesus during his life on earth, who had walked with him, seen what he did, heard what he said.  They were the ones who were now key in passing on what they had discovered about God to others – and they in turn wanted to hear it and to learn.

But they didn’t just come and go in each others lives, they also shared meals together and they prayed together. As they learnt what was happening in each others lives, they were able to turn that to prayer – and also to practical help.

They shared what they had among themselves.  They supported each other.  They knew each other well enough to know what the needs of each were, and those needs were met collectively.

We have a great British reserve.  We don’t like to let others know if we are in need.  It is the ‘done thing’ to struggle on alone.  But how much easier would life be if we were able to share our needs, and let others help us meet them – be they practical, emotional or spiritual?  That is true sharing and living together in faith.  It blesses the ones that give and the ones that receive.

Reading this passage of how the early church lived makes me wonder what we’ve lost, and raises a lot of questions in my mind:

Are we willing to share what we know of God and his way with those who want to know?  Or do we like to hold our faith close to us and never share it with anyone?

Do we sit and learn together?  Will we listen to what others have discovered about God, and allow it to help us grow?

Can our fellowships become a safe place to share our needs, and know they will be met?

Will we spend time together praising God?

Is this still a realistic vision for the church today?  I think it can be, if we’re willing to make it.

What do you think?

Posted in church, faith, Lectionary
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