Tag Archives: Doing

Shining Brightly 2

bible, faith, God, Lectionary, Religion, theology, , , ,
After focussing on the central dot. A green dot emerges at the revolving gap. Later the magenta coloured dots disappear completely.

This is an optical illusion.  Sometimes our eyes see what they think they see.  Equally our ears can hear what they think they heard.  Often because that is what we are expecting, or because our focus is gone.  I really struggle, because often my sight is blurry – especially if I’m tired.  I have to really focus to grasp what an image is.  Sight and hearing are things we take for granted – but don’t always use to their best.

We continue with the theme of Moses’ shining face:

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

12 This wonderful hope makes us feel like speaking freely. 13 We are not like Moses. His face was shining, but he covered it to keep the people of Israel from seeing the brightness fade away. 14 The people were stubborn, and something still keeps them from seeing the truth when the Law is read. Only Christ can take away the covering that keeps them from seeing.

15 When the Law of Moses is read, they have their minds covered over 16 with a covering that is removed only for those who turn to the Lord. 17 The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and the Lord’s Spirit sets us free. 18 So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord’s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.

Treasure in Clay Jars

4 God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. That’s why we never give up. 2 We don’t do shameful things that must be kept secret. And we don’t try to fool anyone or twist God’s message around. God is our witness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure that we can be trusted.

Wow!  God has trusted us with his work.  Wow!  Nothing scary then?!

But if we are going to be part of God’s work, we have got to listen to what he is saying and see what he is doing.  Are we failing to see what God is doing?   Or are our minds covered and closed?  Seeing only what we want to see?  Hearing what we want to hear?  Or are we opening up to becoming more like God and his ways?

There seem to be more questions there than answers.  But sometimes that’s how it is.  We need to ask ourselves these questions, and hear the answers honestly.  And then we ask the same questions of God – what is his response to where we are?  What is he saying to us?  Asking of us?  Where is he guiding us?

What work is he asking you to do?  Me to do?

Open my heart Lord,

open my mind.

Help me to hear with clarity,

see what is there;

that I may hear you,

know what work you are trusting me with,

and be equipped to go and do it

Get on with it!

calling, God,

There are many stages in the process of getting something from its raw state to something of use.

If we think of biscuits (something I often do!!), there are the farmers, who plant the crops, to grow wheat, sugar and cocoa; the people who harvest those crops; those who process the raw materials; those who dream up the recipes; the people who mix it together; the bakers; the packers; the fork lift truck drivers; the delivery people; the warehouse staff; the shelf stackers; the check out staff – which one of them is more important?

No one person or stage is any more important, they are all a part of the process, and all need to play their role.

Having made a choice to go God’s way rather than our own way, we have to get on with it.

The choices we make should be visible in our lives – and not just by us talking about them.

Paul gets very frustrated with the Corinthian church.

They claim to have chosen God’s ways, yet are behaving in a very childish way.  They are more concerned about whose “gang” they are in, than they are about God who is behind it all.    It matters not whether the people came to faith through Paul or Apollos – it is the God in whom that faith is in that is important.  Paul and Apollos might have planted the seeds, but it is the plants that are growing that matter.

Each one does the work God gives them to do.  It doesn’t matter what part of the work it is.

Petty squabbles have a habit of taking us away from the real purpose.  We can focus on the nitty-gritty, not on the reason for what’s being done.

Unfortunately, in the church petty squabbles and jealousies take us away from doing what God asks of us.  We’re focusing on ourselves, and not on him.  We are partners together working in God’s field, whichever bit of it he has asked us to do – let’s just get on with it.

 

Thank you God

that you invite us to take any part in your work.

Help us not to be looking over our shoulder

at what others are doing,

but doing what you’ve asked us to do

with care.

Thank you that it is all your work.

Help us to play the part you ask of us

and get on with it!

In your name.