"The Daily Journey" (Philippians 4:4-9)

It’s 6 AM! The day is beginning.

Paul says here (Philippians 4:4) for us to, “Rejoice in the Lord”. Sometimes this is difficult, not just because it’s morning, but because of a variety of circumstances, some of them quite difficult. Life naturally brings all sorts of storms, pressures and trials. So to be in a position to “rejoice”, we sometimes need to gain some new perspective on our situation. We want to find some way of being able to start each day with a mind to “rejoice”. This might mean that we have to accept that life is fragile, and because of this, each and every one of us is vulnerable to whatever dangers and tragedies life throws at us.

Faith doesn’t mean we are exempt. A relationship with God, even a deep one, does not remove us from the frailty of a human body. Stuff just happens. There are risks and vulnerabilities in life. Faith is what happens in the midst of any such challenge. And dealing well with setbacks, hurt and disease, does allow for growth in our spiritual lives. Working creatively through challenges brings new possibilities … being wiser, better resourced, and more trusting of God. As we experience growth in our relationship with God, and in our effectiveness within God’s Kingdom, we can wake up rejoicing.

We don’t want to have to pretend. We should never feel we need to pretend. We should not promote any preference for people to have it all together, with their acceptance hanging on this … which means people tend to repress stuff or dress themselves with extra layers. In the church family we should be able to be real. So, when Paul says to “rejoice”, he means for us to openly follow the paths of healing … that ultimately allow for rejoicing. These paths will include receiving and giving forgiveness. This will likely mean allowing the Holy Spirit the space to complete the work of renewal in our lives. This will include getting counsel for those real trouble spots.

Paul suggests that a pointer towards our spiritual health, will be our ability to “rejoice in the Lord”. This doesn’t mean that we won’t have moments of doubt, or that some days will disappoint us, or that some illnesses will persist. It does mean that down deep we trust in God, and know that He has our best interests at heart. So if we start the day, and feel we can’t rejoice … the question would be – ‘How can I look at things differently, so I actually can rejoice in the Lord’? Here’s one answer: because God knows and loves us personally, and invites us into a relationship with Him, and Jesus has cleansed us, and the Holy Spirit is guiding us … we can “rejoice”! This sets us up well for the day, and we will likely be a good person for others to run into and connect with.

It’s 9 AM! I’m engaging with people.

As was just said, having started the day with a mind to “rejoice”, this may make a significant difference to how we are encountered by others. We may still have issues concerning us – but we can be encountered as grumpy and impatient, or rather, peaceful and considerate. Then of course, we may have started out with a rejoice-filled spirit, until something happened … some bad behaviour that impacted us and annoyed us. Annoyance and frustration is often just around the corner. Those tourists who don’t really care about this town can get right up our nose! How will we react?

Paul next talks about “gentleness” (Philippians 4:5) – a mind and spirit fully set on rejoicing in the Lord, can have this gentle appearance. This is to be open, welcoming, hospitable, kind, unruffled and self-controlled … even under duress. We, although still disappointed and concerned, are not personally disrupted by the bad behaviour of others. And, in conversation, we are relaxed enough to hear points of view that are different to ours, while still able to respectfully share our thoughts (according to our values). When we feel that we need to say what we think, or strongly advocate for a person or a cause, we do so in such a way that won’t inflame situations or unduly cause conflict.

There is here, a humble confidence and a settled spirit, on show to the world – some might even conclude, “The Lord is near”. This is like when the powers that be (in Acts 4:13), concluded that the disciples, Peter and John, were like they were … because they had been with Jesus … they were “recognised as companions of Jesus”. The Lord can be “near”, when we have been with Jesus sufficiently, to model his sort of life attitudes. That is why I am currently doing a verse by verse study of Mark’s Gospel – to try to get more inside the mind and heart of Jesus … as he interacted with community. Jesus was both gentle, and wholly committed to a cause.

We can actually be gentle, because the Lord is near. God is our witness – our life is hidden in God – God knows who we are in Christ. Our value and credibility rests in Jesus. God gives us the measure of strength we need. When we are weak, we can still be strong. It’s what the Lord has done in me. We don’t need human aggression or competitiveness or drive, or to exert ourselves over others; we just grow in the assurance that God is working in our lives (to His glory). That’s why a part of the prayer dynamic that follows later is “thanksgiving”. As we are thankful, we are acknowledging our trust in God’s wisdom – that God will never do anything adverse to our welfare (Matthew 7:7-11). This then helps puts worry aside. And this is good; and this is necessary!

It’s now 2 PM. A lot has happened!

I’m actually starting to worry about a few things! My mind is getting a little frayed! There are some relationship tensions in the air! Some days start out alright, but then certain things come to our mind or start to overwhelm us, or stress builds up, and we start to think negatively again. As normal as this may be, this is never going to help us! For Jesus said, “Who by worrying can add a single hour to your life” (Matthew 6:27)? The scriptures continually draw the worried person to prayer. God knows that our worries can involve deep concerns, so the Bible doesn’t say, ‘just get over it’; rather the Bible has a solution for worry, and that solution is to ‘pray’ (Philippians 4:6). And we should note that this prayer is not in a void or vacuum, but is firmly directed to God!

{The story is told of a woman who rushes to answer the home phone only to hear rustling noises at the other end. On returning to her desk where she started out, she found that she had accidently dialled her landline from her own mobile – she was calling herself. Sometimes we think we are praying to God, but we are only talking to ourselves. We haven’t fully focussed our prayer – “Our Father who art in heaven …”. Sometimes this might be because we just want a quick fix … we are not truly seeking out God, because we are not necessarily looking for answers different to the ones we want.}

We do have the promise, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8a). Prayer should be an open two-way conversation with God … our Creator and Saviour … who loves us immensely and is completely faithful. In prayer, we get to express verbally our concerns, and then let our faith, God’s Word, our encouraging brothers and sisters, and the presence of the Spirit, all do their work on us. We can then know the presence of God in all the situations for which we were worrying. We no longer need feel alone!

Thus, prayer is the antidote for worry! In “thanksgiving” we affirm that God listens to every word of our prayers (and our wordless groans as well), draws alongside, meets us in that place of need, acts on our behalf (and on behalf of the others that we have remembered before his throne). God’s answer … the right answer … is close! We can remain concerned, without worry, because we care; but the outcome IS in hand. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The weight of what we have been carrying has eased.

Worry would be such a negative distraction for us, especially because we tend to worry about the wrong things – sometimes our worry can be attached to our priorities being askew. Jesus also said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) i.e. get first things first. When we get things into the right priority, then life looks different. When we pray, having put aside worry, and give first thought for the growth of God’s Kingdom, then we can be more clear about our requests. And God already knows what we truly need. That text, “Seek first the Kingdom … and his righteousness”, goes on to say, “and all these things will be given to you as well”.

So, don’t worry; rather pray, and think Kingdom’!! Then we will experience “peace” … the “peace of God” … the “peace” that only God can give (Philippians 4:7). Our experience of salvation starts with God’s gracious invitation, then comes our repentance, God’s forgiveness, our commitment to follow Jesus through the Holy Spirit, then our participation in making disciples. In living this way we find a “peace” that is so reassuring, and such a blessing, that we can only describe it with a ‘wow’! Challenges might remain, but we just see them in a different light; and they don’t have the same power to make us anxious anymore! We have been with God, and God will keep us calm.

This “peace” is so protective (of our minds and hearts), that we would not want to move away from it (or move out of its realm). This peace is so radically good, because it means that we don’t have to strive for acceptance, or ever feel we aren’t clean enough, or have to work to make things up to God. God’s forgiveness means that we are no longer captive to guilt or shame or negativity or anyone’s else’s judgment. God (through Jesus) has set us free from all this; and replaced it all with His peace!! As we might cheer for our favourite sports team, except a whole lot more – God is cheering for us! When playing the game, if we happen to drop the ball under an opposition tackle, we can quickly rebound for the next contest.

It’s 8 PM now! I’m getting weary.

Towards the end of the day, we may get a little weary. We think we’ve done our bit, and we can let our resistances down. We may let our mind wander a bit. It doesn’t matter so much now … what we watch or read or do or say … or so we may think! This might be a time we consider more private. But Paul has other ideas; we might say … very high standards (Philippians 4:8). Yet, some things are always destructive or wasteful.

We are to limit our thoughts, or maybe better, continually lift our thoughts, to … whatever is true [contains truth and sheds light], honourable [builds respect in people], just [works towards fairness and integrity], pure [is untainted by corruption], pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise [things that work well for others and can be rightly and roundly applauded]. Quite a list!

How we think … what we think about … is very important, because our thinking, and our belief system, determines our actions. And it is our actions that describe our character. And it is our character that we have to live with. And it is our character, that others have to live with.

It’s 11 PM. Coming to the end of the day.

We get to the end of the day. We want to “rejoice again” next morning! As we go to sleep committed to another day of following Jesus, we will have that “peace” which will allow us to rest well. “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep”*.

Verse 9 begins, “Keep on doing …”, meaning … as one day follows another, this is our daily journey. “Keep on doing …” what? The Philippian congregation are here referred back to those things they have learned, received and heard from Paul, and seen Paul doing (Philippians 4:9). However we know that these very things are the things Paul is teaching and doing … as he seeks to emulate and point to … Jesus. Paul previously said to the Galatians, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). So it is, that we “keep on …” living for Jesus. Jesus is the One we seek to make known.

And God’s peace will roll on with us – “and the peace of God will be with you”. Thomas Kelly, the Quaker philosopher, talks about the quiet centre that each person can have inside them … that nothing can disturb. Christian mystics talk about the ‘throne of God’ existing in our innermost heart … which no storm nor temptation could disturb. This is our nightly prayer*. Amen! And in the morning, we will rise with the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice”! Off we go again!!

* Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
May angels watch me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.

The Good News

What is it that I actually believe? What is it that continues to change my life? Can I put this into a concise statement? I have read so many books, and I have heard so many sermons (most of them my own). I have been reading the Bible all my life, from the moment I could understand sentences. But what is it that really works for me? No doubt I would leave out stuff that other people think is important. But I'm no longer worried about that, because I have learnt that God introduces Jesus to people in different ways that intersect with their unique situations and backgrounds. There is no singular testimony to the truth of the Gospel. In fact, it is the combined testimonies (or witness) of millions of Jesus-followers that provides the full tapestry of God's dealings with humanity. God is so extraordinary, that we can all, with our immense diversity, be made in God's image.

So here goes. God created us in the image of the 'Divine Community', both in our personhood, and in our need for relationships - both relationships with other people (like with the 'Trinity'), and with Jesus as head of the new corporate reality we can be saved into. However, God also gave us freewill, for any relationship we are going to have with Jesus needs to be voluntary if it is going to be real, trust-based and growing. Freewill within a human community, which has already chosen badly generation after generation, almost inevitably means that we will choose badly, rebel from God's censure, and, to a greater or lesser degree, go from bad to worse. We might try to fix ourselves, but we just don't have the capacity. We are human, so satisfaction will never be achieved through effort, only through forgiveness.

From the 'beginning', God was preparing the way for the greatest demonstration of love ever imaginable. Human beings would be laden with guilt, shame, brokenness, addiction, fear, darkness and evil, and would need a way to freedom. The Hebrew Scriptures point to this gift of love in so many places, especially in light of the continual failure of God's people to walk in God's way. The call to love neighbour was so often ignored, leading to so much injustice and poverty. Then, in "the fullness of time", as Paul put it, Jesus appeared as this gift of love. Jesus is the 'Son of God' or 'God Incarnate' or 'Saviour Redeemer', however you want to describe this member of the 'Divine Community'. In awesome humility, Jesus brings God to humanity and humanity to God.

Jesus taught, healed and gained disciples for three years, fully demonstrating what God was like. Jesus engaged wholly as a human, enduring temptation, rejection and disappointment. At the same time, in the company of the Holy Spirit, Jesus remained unspoiled by the sinful worldly environment. Thus, Jesus could take upon himself the sin, guilt and burdens of all humankind - if you like, a pure and perfect sacrifice. This was a voluntary act of love based on an unrelenting commitment to you and me. This is all known as God's grace, as what we are experiencing is unearnable favour and acceptance. Jesus died for us. That this was a pure and perfect sacrifice is confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Forgiven we enter the new life of Jesus the Christ. That is, if we 'repent', meaning we make the determination to change direction.

The sincerely 'repentant' receive forgiveness and salvation. Then follows receiving the Holy Spirit through whom giftedness and fruitfulness emerges. This salvation cannot be confirmed through our words only, but more assuredly through that 'fruit' that a life (through the Spirit) produces. We cannot earn salvation, but we must witness to its reality in the way that we live. This is all about being a modern day Jesus-follower, a disciple of Jesus who responds to God's commission of 'making' more disciples. We are not 'saved' just for our own sake, but also to participate in God's mission in the world - making as many new disciples as possible. This is achieved through embracing the age-old co-commandments of loving God and loving neighbour.

Eternal life has already begun, as we are deemed to be 'children of God'. The whole creation is awaiting our redemptive activity (in the Spirit). But we are not individuals any longer. We are members of a 'body' with Jesus as the head. We are interrelated and interdependent, with all those gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used for the 'common good'. This is the great vision of the Church, and is represented in various unique ways by the local church. Yet, this is all part of the biggest vision of all that Jesus calls the 'Kingdom of God'. As this is not exactly a place, some prefer the translation 'Reign of God', because this all depends on a concerted engagement with God's will and purposes. We pray "God's Kingdom come; God's will be done, on earth as it (already) is in heaven. Then we become a partial answer to this prayer.

God launched a search and rescue mission for you and for me. I can say with surety, that I was lost and now I'm found. All that needs to be forgiven, has been. There are no longer any barriers between me and God. That God-shaped void in my life has been filled. I have a new life orientation based around the life of Jesus, publically acknowledged in the waters of baptism. I am now free to grow into the image of Jesus. My home is in heaven, my citizenship is with the 'Kingdom of God', and my reason for being is embracing God's will on earth.

"A Generous Spirit" (Proverbs 11:24-28; 2 Corinthians 8 & 9)

Introduction

One of the things we talked about last week was maintaining a “willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12). This is the sort of “spirit” that seeks to bring heaven to earth. This is to embrace God’s will and give it priority. We seek to attach ourselves to what God wants to do … in revealing his love for humankind. This is the prayer of the “willing spirit”: “Our Father in heaven, honoured be your name. Your kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. And, for the “willing spirit” … this is more than a prayer, it is more like a ‘mantra’ or a job description.

Application

One of the most telling and practical aspects of a “willing spirit” is generosity. Generosity originates in the heart of God, and has been seen in all the ways God has sought to connect with and bless humanity and all creation. This, despite what we have done … in rebellion against God, and in destruction of his creation. The greatest act of generosity had to be sending Jesus … from the magnificence of heaven into the chaos of earth, so that we might find relationship with God. For us to be able to move past our old transgressions, and be regarded a child of God … is a great act of generosity of God toward us.

So, the capacity to be generous … springs from an appreciation that all the good things in life come out of God’s heart of generosity, combined with an understanding … that there is great need and neglect around us. As I will mention later, there is also the great vision … that broad generosity leads to stronger community. Thus ‘generosity’ is included in the ‘fruit of the spirit’ narrated by Paul in Galatians chapter five. If we are to honour God, follow Jesus and embrace the Holy Spirit in our lives, then we need to express … a ‘generous spirit’.

Ancient Proverbs

Proverbs chapter 11 (especially verses 24 & 25) has things to say about this. As you dwell on these verses, and what it means to “give freely”, there are thoughts here about holding things loosely, so as necessary … they can be easily given away, or at least shared. There is a sense of giving away first, and weighing up the cost later (if at all). There is certainly a giving away of what we don’t need, and what others may need more. There seems to be a dark shadow hanging over any refusal to be generous; while generous activity is certainly a path to blessing in one way or another.

We shouldn’t over-store (or panic buy) to the detriment of others – tight-fistedness or selfishness shows, and is detrimental to the glory of God. The ‘back-story’ of verse 26, is that some food-producers of the day … would store their produce in an attempt to force up the price. This would also make supply short, and those least able to pay would potentially miss out. This is counter to generosity, and should be frowned upon. The blessing was for the ‘producer’ who would simply sell his product into the market … at a fair (and not inflated) price.

Verse 28 reminds us that “riches”, given too great a priority, tend to possess us. If we trust in material things to give us meaning, we WILL be disappointed. The most important parts of life, that happen outside the material, will have been neglected, and “wither”. The generous plant, however, will have “green leaves”. As a “new and right spirit” connects with a “willing spirit” (in Psalm 51:10,12), righteousness connects directly to generosity.

We need to put all things in life in the right priority. Verse 27, the second part, in the context of those verses around it, paints a problematical outcome for the one who restrains generosity – “evil rebounds upon the one who pursues it” (NIBC). Sometimes we only perceive “evil” in its most extreme form - but is not wastefulness, and a lack of generosity, “evil” in the sight of such a generous God.

An Example from Paul

There is an example of generosity … that Paul talks about in 2nd Corinthians chapters 8 & 9. As part of an acceptance of Paul’s expansive mission to Gentile peoples, the church in Jerusalem asked Paul to collect some money on his journeys for the poor of Jerusalem. To motivate the Corinthians, Paul uses the good example of the Macedonian community, who, irrespective of their own poverty, gave “even beyond their means” (8:3). The lesson here being … that if we wait until we think we can afford to be generous, then it will likely never happen! Apparently the Corinthian church had previously planned to contribute to Paul’s Jerusalem fund, but now were being challenged to act.

We know that the world does not really have a resource problem, but rather a distribution problem. Paul (in 2^nd Corinthians) talks about restoring a fair balance, with no one having either too much or too little (8:13-15). As humankind has been given responsibility for creation (Genesis 1), we are called to be good stewards of all God’s gifted resources. Yet, rather than call on a sense of obligation, Paul opts, for voluntary cheerful giving (9:7). This means that if we can’t be a cheerful giver … on the basis of God’s generosity, and in the face of great inequity and need – then we need to allow God to work some more on our spirit … to grow us some more!

Paul seems to understand and apply the ancient proverbs well, when he says, “the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (9:6). And this ‘reaping’ [rather than being material] is ultimately all about bringing honour and glory to God (9:10-12): Paul writes, “… for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God”.

Broad Generosity

This all shows that we cannot divorce our spirituality from economic need and poverty. Nor can we divorce our vertical relationship with God from our horizontal relationships with other people. And, this is NOT just about money (and assets)! What could generosity also involve???

Answers: time and talents and attitudes (and the use of any voice or influence we may have)!

How so? In what ways can we be broadly generous???

• Having a heart for Encouragement – giving ‘courage’ to others. This is where we want other people to flourish, and be the best they can be. Questions: what do you think first … criticism or encouragement? We can tear down or build up! Do we engage in problematical gossip, or rather, have a mind to protect reputations? We can assume the good in people, or focus on the negative. Do we easily fall into using popular (yet unfair) labels or stereotypes (against people)? Or, do we rather … apply grace through humble restraint and proper self-reflection? Is our generosity blocked by our own need to be noticed?! Lives, and communities, are built on encouragement – enabling people to go forward with more confidence and freedom.

• Acts of Practical Kindness, especially where we have particular abilities to share.

• Hospitality – allocating space in our lives for others, especially those who may be lacking welcome, or have suffered losses or dislocation from their own community network. This involves not drawing our boundaries too tight around our ourselves, our family, friends or current close church contacts – always looking for, and being open to, newcomers. Hospitality and welcome involves accepting difference and diversity, for we should not try to control our network too closely. On the other side, a lack of hospitality perhaps indicates that we haven’t understood the total inclusiveness of God’s love. This particular local community has a recent proud history of offering a new home to people displaced from another country. [RAR (the Rural Australians for Refugees movement) has designated April as the month for a North East region homestay weekend for asylum seekers.]

• Giving due Attention & Listening deeply – offering time to hear a person’s story, hurts and needs, especially those people lacking other avenues of support. This is the opposite of what Art Katz (in True Fellowship: Church as Community) calls … being “minimal” with each other. Being “minimal” or indifferent is the opposite of generosity. Part of being ‘generous’ … IS simply being a good listener – WITHOUT trying to fix anything, nor rescue or change anybody (which often makes it more about us than them … our needs, judgments and preferences). Generosity is often about the commodity we are most protective of … our time; and about something we can find very difficult … putting our own desires totally on hold for the sake of another.

• Advocacy – seeking to right any injustices that we come across, or improve communities for the common good; or being the voice for the voiceless, e.g. the ‘Alpine Independent Aged Care Advocacy Service Inc’ – where volunteers receive referrals from family and health care providers to provide information and advocacy support to aged people (living in their own home or aged care facility), including powers of attorney … assisting with understanding medical and financial documents. Time and effort given to such initiatives, for the sake of vulnerable others, are acts of generosity. Petitions, letter-writing, committee work, etc. take time and commitment, but show hearts extended outward.

The Church

Generosity has a community flavour. It can be about mutual givers and receivers. We are in it together. We give in one way and receive in another. That which we lack, and that which we have in abundance, is balanced out. Because we are part of a much bigger picture than just ourselves, our deficiencies and limitations become less (as they are compensated by the giftedness of others). We also find a context in which to share our life resources, no one ever feeling they have nothing to offer. There is a name attached to this grand vision.

This bigger picture, in God’s sight, is called the ‘Kingdom of God’; and as we gather, this ‘Kingdom’ is represented by the ‘church’ – and functionally speaking, by each ‘local church’. This is where people gather to worship, encourage one another, offer and gain support, learn together, grow in their Jesus-following lives, reach out to their neighbours in Jesus’ name … all with a shared commitment of being generous (Acts chapters 2 & 4). Being part of a church ‘body’ is to give up our individualism (and any self-containment), and be placed into a common pool, from which each derive a new and richer sense of being.

“Our Father in heaven, glorified be your name. Your kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.

Conclusion

Let me encourage you to find ways of interacting in the church with generosity in mind, and also taking that same life orientation out into the neighbourhood. Let’s not put up unnecessary barriers … due to fear or apathy or limiting the amazing things God can do. For generosity doesn’t stop where (finite) human resources stop (or run out).

God is involved, and where generosity becomes the (overarching) culture … where a ‘generous spirit’ is evident, God will begin to multiply the resources. After all, a relatively small, yet significant, donation of five loaves and two fish, put into the hands of Jesus, fed a large crowd of at least five thousand, with twelve basketfuls left over. May this be our experience too!

"The Journey Ahead" (Psalm 51:10-12)

Introduction

If we think back to one year ago … have we grown closer to God over the last 12 months … are we more obviously following Jesus now … are we more responsive to the Holy Spirit’s leading??? What if we think back five years … has there been progress since then?

Maybe there is something holding us back! Something might be continually getting in our way! This might be a particular negative habit, or something that is very close to an addiction. This may be a sense of guilt, or an inability to forgive yourself. This might be a particular perspective you have on your circumstances, that is not helping you. This may also be because you are trying to deal with something alone, when really you need help and support.

If we are aware of what is holding us back, are we actively seeking (in God’s strength) to deal with this, or are we continuing to ignore it? Or, if we are unaware of what is blocking us (in a ‘blind spot’), are we seeking some help with this?

What about motivation! Do we truly want to grow? Do we want to be healed? Or, do we want to be stuck where we are in another year’s time?

Or, if we feel we are going okay, and we are indeed growing – do we want to go further … and grab hold of some more maturity and blessing over the next 12 months? Are we really seeking to be fully built into the image of Jesus? Are we chasing down the best God has for us? Or, are we just a ‘get-by’ sort of person … where we are happy just to skid through on human ability?

Are we prepared to open ourselves to change? In Psalm 51, we have an example of someone with huge potential, significant responsibility, yet complete fallibility … which has led down a very slippery slope! Can they change and grow? How??

Background

The writer of Psalm 51 is David, words spoken after his biggest fall from grace. David lusted after a woman who was another man’s wife. He inappropriately used his power as king over her. When she became pregnant, and thus there was a big chance David would be found out, he launches a massive cover-up, attempting some gross manipulations, and ultimately committed what amounted to murder when he arranged for Uriah’s death (2 Samuel 11 & 12). An unrestrained moment (an idle and selfish thought acted upon), led down a very slippery slope of destructiveness. Things just went from bad to worse.

This sort of behaviour … going down all over God’s world, needs to be addressed … one life at a time. We see in this dark incident from David’s life, an idleness that led to selfishness, a lack of care leading to a ‘misuse’ of other people [Bathsheba & Joab the army commander], a callousness and shocking disloyalty [to Uriah] – all together … outrageous hypocrisy [for someone who was supposed to be God’s servant]. David had sunk to the lowest depths of lust, deception and violence.

A prophet by the name of Nathan calls David out on all this. Nathan was God’s voice to David … calling for change. After a period of reflection, David ultimately sees the error of his ways, repents, understands the need for deep transformation, and seeks God for mercy and forgiveness. This is what we have recorded in Psalm 51 verses 1-9. Whereas not all the negativity and repercussions David set in train could be arrested, most assuredly still … David receives God’s forgiveness.

Challenge

Mercy given, forgiveness received; but how does David avoid slipping backwards again? When we receive forgiveness, how do we avoid slipping straight back? Jesus’ resurrection is designed to draw us into new life where previous mistakes are left behind! How do we stop eventually making the same mistakes? After all, we are still mortal and vulnerable … as Solzhenitsyn wrote: “The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being”.

The psalmist David knew that he couldn’t really make any significant progress on his own or without God. ‘Old habits die hard’! The answer comes from verse 10 onwards. Read verses 10-12. Can we pray this prayer (verses 10-12), and then engage with some positive outcomes? No matter where we are coming from … a fairly low point, or from a pretty solid foundation, this prayer is a great springboard to a new year of opportunity, adventure and blessing.

The whole notion of growth in God is represented in these verses. Being from the Old Testament, the name of Jesus is not mentioned specifically, but we can easily see how the work and life of Jesus intersects with these words. Ultimately it was Jesus that cleared the path for new life … free from slavery to sin. And the life of the complete Community of God (Divine Trinity) is available to us to bring about any necessary change: from the creative love and compassion of God, to the sacrificial saving work of Jesus, to the presence and leading of the Holy Spirit.

Basically, to grow spiritually – is to embrace being a disciple of Jesus, experiencing new capacities and abilities … because we truly know Jesus.

Text

The prayer is for a “clean heart” and a “new and right spirit”. This is surely something that can ably carry us forward. This is not just in the area of behaviour modification, but much deeper into our motivations, the inner springs of everything we think, plan and do. This is dealing with the inner character and nature of a person.

Godly character being built in us is all important, which is why we still suffer many of the significant challenges that come across our path. Serious character is often built through adversity. Sometimes we run off seeking the quickest solution for pain and suffering, without considering what we are supposed to be learning through it. Not to say that God brought such suffering to us – the world can do that easily enough – but once it does come, God is wanting us to grow because of it. Relationship struggles are a key part of this. As we creatively work through difficult relationship issues, we are bound to grow in understanding and wisdom … and ultimately in Godly character.

Through a “new and right spirit” we will more likely make the right decisions for the right reasons, and develop God-honouring priorities, attitudes and goals. And, when the tree becomes healthier … the fruit will become more beautiful to taste. This is about moving right away from the ‘old’ mind, into a ‘new’ mind … where the conscience is well attuned, and freedom is exercised with due consideration.

To ask God to “create” (beginning of v.10) … is to give God enough access to do that work. This is ‘hands-on’ work for God! It’s a choice – we will or we won’t … give God sufficient space to move. Are we prepared to hear and face up to areas of our life that need some renovation? As this creative work can only be done by God, it would be a good idea to let God in!

Only God can do this work, but also sometimes it is our brothers and sisters in our church family who are in the position to point out some ‘blind-spots’ for us or challenge any destructive behaviours in us. Are we prepared to hear these words that are (hopefully) coming out of love and graciousness?

Although ‘creating’ is something God does pretty naturally, when we see such tremendous turn-arounds in people’s lives, we can also appreciate this as a form of miracle, and see this as an obvious opportunity to bring all praise and glory to God. The ultimate touch of the Triune God upon us, moves us from any selfish inward orientation (that easily succumbs to temptation and fear), toward the compassion, collegiality and cooperation that defines God.

There should be an excitement … as a share in God’s Spirit becomes an integral part of our new self. However, in verse 11, the psalmist David just backtracks a little … to the alternative … to the opposite … to a refusal to give God access! To lose touch with the Holy Spirit, as expressed here in verse 11, would be a disaster for David, and indeed a disaster for us … unthinkable! Yet this would be inevitable if one chooses to stay in rebellion (against God). This happened to King Saul for one (1 Samuel 16). The potential blessing sort of moves on (or past)!

So, let’s not let that happen … back onto the right road in verse 12. Two things there to practically go forward with: the “joy of salvation” and a “willing spirit”. But with the prayer to “restore” and “sustain” these areas of one’s spirituality, there again is that need to give God access – and obviously NOT on just a one-off basis, but on a CONTINUAL basis. ‘Joy’ and a ‘willingness to serve’ are often the first things to go when one’s life is taken over by negativity or the wrong pursuits. So, “joy” and “service” are seen as particular ‘signposts’ of growth (or the lack of it).

The prayer here is to “restore” what has been lost, ‘maintain’ the energy for 'their' upkeep, and to make sure ‘these’ are never lost again. We go forward spiritually through being able to express the “joy of our salvation” and a “willing spirit” through which to serve. We need to balance meeting the demands of everyday life … with cultivating our relationship with our Creator, Saviour and Sustainer! Are we trying to make provision for ourselves in our own limited capacity, or, rather casting ourselves totally on Jesus?

Conclusion (for now)

I reckon that living in the “joy of salvation”, and with a “willing spirit” is a good way to go for the years ahead! This is certainly to live on the positive side, even when certain circumstances seem to be against us. This is to live in the full appreciation of forgiveness and freedom, with an eternal perspective. This means we will naturally think beyond ourselves towards the needs (especially spiritual needs) of the other.

A “willing spirit” does NOT have to be forced or coerced or even persuaded; quite the opposite – here is a volunteer who responds because this is who they are now … this is their character. They are NOT easily dissuaded from the task at hand. The person with a “willing spirit” wants to know and activate God’s will, and bring God’s heavenly kingdom all the way to earth. The one with a “willing spirit” is committed, eager and generous! They are growing.

"Downward Mobility" (Philippians 2:1-13)

Paul writes to the church in Philippi asking them to have the same mind as Jesus. After all, the church is founded on no other name than the name of Jesus! This would mean that they should think like Jesus, have the same attitudes as Jesus did – thus imitate Jesus and follow his example completely. So, what was it about Jesus … that was so worthy of imitation, and so significant … as to build the whole church upon it? How does Jesus stand out … as the One who we should stake our life on? This was an important question to be explored, as Paul was writing before the Gospels were available in a written form. People were still grappling to know who this Jesus was, and what was he like.

It is likely that what Paul quotes in verses 6 to 11, to describe Jesus, was an early hymn. Likely these words were written and sung … to try to build understanding in the early church about the person of Jesus, especially those twin features of divinity and humanity. At the same time as being equal with God, and part of God, in respect of being part of the Divine Community (known as the Trinity), Jesus became a fully-fledged human being born of an earthly mother. In so doing, Jesus engaged with all that it means to be human – from the joys of family and fun, to the challenges of isolation and conflict. No one could ever now say … that God doesn’t know what it’s like to be living in this world!

God, in Jesus, meets us in the everyday affairs of human life … wherever we are, whatever we are doing, whatever complex challenge sits before us. This was NOT to bring judgment or find fault, but rather a ministry of love and grace. This is made clear by repeated references to Jesus being … “in the form of a slave”, “born in human likeness”, “found in human form”. Religious people, as well as spiritual seekers, were looking for a Messiah – a new king. It seems that, mainly, they were looking with the wrong definition of ‘kingship’ in mind. They were thinking power, God was thinking service.

What sort of a king was Jesus? Thirty-three years after the first Christmas, he rode into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey. Jesus had taught, healed, gained committed yet fallible followers, and generally created a bit of a stir (for three years). Then, when, for some, he was a threat, and for others a disappointment, the powers that be … crucified him. Yet ironically, for God, this was a case of sacrifice – a willing sacrifice of love. Jesus could have called on power to avoid the cross; but he had from the outset of his ministry, before the devil, and before his disciples, focussed himself on a humble ministry of service to the world. Jesus is the ‘Servant King’! Some would criticise his choice of friends, or those he spent time with, but Jesus came to set the captives free; and as a healer for the sick, not a convenience for the self-satisfied.

Why is it that we seek power and influence, when we follow the ‘Servant King”!?! We might even compromise some core beliefs, to gain that power. For me, this was the temptation that many American evangelicals recently fell for (in their support of their president-elect). Now they will have to live with it (and we will have to live with it too). Rather, isn’t the message of Christmas clearly about following the humble path of service, especially when the tide turns against us. Jesus, the King of Glory, born to earth in humble circumstances, reaching out to the blind and lame, speaking about love of enemies … becomes the ‘Servant King’, and dies on a cross to redeem all humanity and all creation!

Jesus was here described in terms of a “slave”, indicating the adoption of the humblest human status (even accepting the type of death proscribed for slaves – crucifixion). God’s response to the darkness, evil and sin in the world, was NOT from anger, although you would have easily excused such feelings, considering what humanity had done to God’s beautiful acts of creation. RATHER, God’s response was from love (and desire for relationship). And quite the opposite from turning his back on the world, God paid the earth a visit … and not a brief (passing) one, but rather quite an extended visit! Actually, God moved right into our neighbourhood. How might we describe this in another way?

[In spite of his best efforts, surgeon Richard Selzer had to cut a nerve in a young woman's cheek in order to get at a tumor. The result was that her mouth was permanently misshapen. Dr. Selzer was uncertain as to how her husband would respond to the change. Therefore, he was encouraged when the young man came in and was warm and caring to his wife, even joking about her new cute look. But when he saw what happened next, Dr. Selzer's encouragement turned to awe. The young husband bent down towards his wife, twisted his lips to fit her crooked mouth, and gently kissed her.

Christmas is all about the incarnation; about the Divine Word "making himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:7). In so doing, God bent down, 'twisted his lips’, and kissed the crooked lips of a world, misshapen by sin and despair, with His love and grace. From: Steve Nordbye, Charlton, Massachusetts; source: David McCullough, Trivialization of God (Nav Press, 1995), pages 47-48.]

This was all a case of ‘downward mobility’. This was an unprecedented offer of relationship and blessing, of healing and wholeness … to a world in desperate need. One crucial issue to deal with though – getting past our guilt. To go forward, we would need to experience God’s mercy – forgiveness from our sins from God’s perspective, and also from our own perspective … there is always that mountain of being able to forgive ourselves.

God, in Jesus, took upon himself the worst suffering imaginable, the torture of a cross, the product of a devious Roman mind … to prove how much he loves us, values us, and wants to relate to us. Where we were lost – largely a product of our (own) poor decision-making; where we couldn’t find our way forward, imprisoned in destructive life patterns … along comes Jesus. Where God couldn’t reach us from a distance, because we had stopped listening, Jesus entered our environment … everywhere we live and go – to show us His love and compassion. And he lifted our burdens there at Calvary!

What a King! What a Leader to follow! Not remote, but near. Not power-seeking, but relational, personal and self-giving. Not coercive, but invitational and welcoming. And the only thing that would befit such a ‘king’ is a complete resolution and total reversal: what seemed to be humiliation and defeat turned into exaltation and victory. Jesus returns in all fullness to his Divine role: firstly raised from death to defeat death, and then restored to Heavenly Community and cosmic authority. A resurrection in glory! The whole of salvation history turns on Jesus. Jesus was brought low, so that we too may be raised up! Through Jesus’ resurrection, there is a possible reversal for us, should we choose it, a restoration of our created potential to live in God’s image.

So here is the greatest Christmas gift of all! You are being invited to accept this gift … in humility and repentance. You are being invited to unwrap this gift … in being healed and becoming a disciple. You are being invited to appreciate this gift … in worship and witness. You are being invited to share this gift … in service of others. Which invitation do you need to respond to positively today? You may know that the gift is under the tree, but have not grasped it. You may have the gift at hand, but never unwrapped it – so it has never been any use to you. You may have actually experienced the gift in some way, but never really found any joy in it, or been able to express new found love. You may have accepted, unwrapped and appreciated the gift okay, but then kept it all to yourself. What invitation will you respond to today??

Christmas is a wonderful reminder of the ‘downward mobility’ of God to us – a ‘Servant King’. God continues to come down and touch our lives, as well as the circumstances happening around us. We pray, and things change, because God hears our prayers, sees our faith, and acts. We may not see this clearly all at once. We may only notice God’s activity in hindsight. But we should be looking! Where is God working? What is God doing? Healing – physical maybe, spiritual certainly. Relationships – easing the tensions. There is a fresh indwelling presence. Faith is able to be newly shared. Doors are opening for ministry to others. Confidence is growing in the use of gifts and abilities. People are coming to know Jesus.

Yes … Christmas is a wonderful reminder of the ‘downward’ mobility of God for us. Yet it is also a profound challenge for us to embrace similar journeys of ‘downward mobility’. Let us lay aside any power, privilege or position – to give ourselves in love to others, so that, some might be saved. [Edited from: Mark Leach, Rector of Darling Street Anglican, Rozelle, Sydney.] For us, it would be more like an ‘outward mobility’. How might this work?

Anne Cetas in ‘Our Daily Bread’ tells the story of Christine and Kyle getting married in 2007, doing something that most of us wouldn’t think of doing. Instead of hosting a sit-down dinner, they bought in a truckload of food, delivered to the church carpark, and invited their wedding guests to help distribute it to people in need. As a response to God blessing them with each other, they wanted to start their marriage serving others. This, I think, is a magnificent example of counter-cultural difference, in the face of much wedding extravagance. This clearly would be something that Jesus - the 'Servant King' - would do!

A closing quote from ‘Saturate’ by Jeff Vanderstelt. “Jesus came as a king, but his posture is that of a servant. He did not come to be served, for he needed nothing. He came to serve, because we needed everything he had! And he provided us with everything we need – as a servant who laid down his life, so we could have life!

"A Mother's Faith" (Luke 1:26-38)

Introduction

I am overwhelmed by the beauty of this passage of scripture – my mind runs away with me with all the remarkable features we read here. Most particularly, where Mary ultimately says (Luke 1:38), “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word”. A complete giving over of her life. Extraordinary! I am in awe of Mary, and the faith and commitment exhibited here. Considering all that had just been laid on Mary! I’m caused to think … how can I ever emulate this level of response and faith? Well, this same text gives us an answer … in two places. We’ll come back to this.

I think of ‘nuns’ who take special vows … into a life of prayer and service to God. I think of my own ordination to ministry, and the serious vows I took concerning God’s calling to mission and pastoral care. Yet, the bible teaches that all of us are under a calling, irrespective of our particular vocations and situations. God calls all the disciples of Jesus to witness, encourage, pray and care. How can we say, with genuine commitment, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word”?

The ‘Favoured One”

What sort of a person was Mary? The remarkable news, concerning a blessed baby, came to Mary completely out of thin air! Or did it? Was Mary the sort of person, even as a young girl (of maybe 12 or 13), that was, in some way at least, anticipating God’s activity in her life?! We read that “the angel Gabriel” called Mary “favoured one” (1:28). I think this indicates that Mary WASN’T just plucked out at random, but rather chosen … chosen on the basis of character, openness and readiness. God had to know that his Son would be in good hands. Even if she had no idea of the specific call upon her life, Mary seems to have been well-prepared for this angel’s visit.

At the same time, we see God’s hand in the fact that Jesus came into a very ordinary family, indicating God’s natural connection with the humble and poor (more so than the proud and powerful). And Jesus would not be born with pomp and ceremony, but rather quietly in a barn with the animals. Thus, we could consider Mary as the most appropriate woman alive to carry the Son of God. What if an angel appeared to us! Are we anticipating that God wants to work in our lives in very particular ways, and draw us into something significant? If we are anticipating this, then likely, when the day comes, we too are more ready to say, “Here I am, the servant of Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (1:38)! Could it be, given our particular personality and experiences, that we are most appropriate person for a certain task or ministry?

Yet, there was understandable concern for Mary … to work her way through (1:29). She was so young! What was happening to her dreams of a quiet life with Joseph? What does it mean to be a “favoured one”? Was this angel really saying what she thought she had heard? This would all be quite intimidating. Bearing a child who be a king! And, how could Mary be pregnant? Again, a natural question to have. Mary was only engaged to Joseph, and although fully and legally committed to one another, they had not begun to live together yet. The answer was that this would be a very unique one-off conception. This child Jesus would be conceived through the Holy Spirit, and be in reality God’s Son (1:35).

As this was a very special visitation, Mary was reassured that she should not be afraid (1:30). Yet, even the acceptance of this miracle birth was laden with threat. Mary would still be exposing herself to the possibility of the contempt and rejection of her community for having a baby out of wedlock, and even the legal penalty of stoning for alleged adultery; and for all she knows, the possibility of being dumped by Joseph. And, what was Joseph going to think about all this? [For the answer go to Matthew 1:18-25]. But there just seems to be a trust in God displayed here, Mary quickly believing that everything will be alright!

Mary’s life, which was of great value, was going to play out as God intended, because Mary exercised her freewill in the right way! Sometimes the hard thing to do, is actually the right thing to do! We should never, though, downplay Mary’s feelings as a mother, concerning all the implications of what the angel was saying. Surely such a role in the world as this, would be tremendously challenging for her son – she would feel for him in advance. As it turned out, Mary came to witness Jesus suffer more and more opposition to his ministry, leading to his eventual crucifixion. Mary did understandably waver at times about all this, but I think she was ably reassured.

Yet, her son's crucifixion was devastating – despite knowing who Jesus was, and what was being achieved. The burden of universal guilt laying upon one set of shoulders, must have been hard to watch. A mother likely only sees the pain and the torture, and has a keen sense of her own loss. Jesus himself apparently sensed his mother’s anguish, as he asked his disciple John to take Mary into his own household (John 19:26-27).

I think, that this young girl Mary, that we read about at the opening of the Gospel, already anticipated some of this heartache, and accepted God’s will wherever it would lead – “let it be with me according to your word” (1:38). So, Mary had not only anticipated God working in her life, but also that there would likely be some personal cost. In the midst of all this concern, Mary chose to accept any pain, inconvenience, false accusations or danger that came her way … in faith and commitment to her God.

The ‘Son of God’

But what about the upside! Her son Jesus, had been identified to her, by the angel, as the long-hoped-for Messiah (Luke 1:31-33). The very name Jesus means ‘salvation’. Jesus is really God’s Son! Jesus is the One who is rightly placed to take David’s throne over God’s people. Jesus would also become part of a family which had descended (through Joseph) from David, thereby fulfilling the Hebrew prophecies concerning the origin of the Messiah. Jesus will fulfil the promises made to the patriarchs, that God’s kingdom will stretch beyond the Jews deep into the Gentile world.

People of faith and insight like Mary, would have understood, that God’s Messiah would NOT have been that conquering hero (that so many had hoped would crush the Romans), but rather be the suffering servant that Isaiah spoke about so often. People don’t need a political liberator, so much as a spiritual liberator. [It is through spiritual liberation that we will more ably address society’s problems and rampant injustice]. The text makes it clear (for those ready to hear) that this was most assuredly God’s long-awaited anointed One (1:32-33) – so why did the people of the day largely reject Jesus??

The broken are likely to respond when Jesus comes to town. However, self-contented people don’t want to be challenged about their life.

What happens in our outer life is so much controlled and destined by what is happening on the inside. And on the inside we need a Saviour. So no wonder Jesus is so often rejected! Who wants to be confronted with the necessity of major change on the inside!?

In Isaiah 7:10-14, we read of King Ahaz, who only wanted to hear what he wanted to hear, not so much what God wanted to tell him. So given the opportunity, King Ahaz would rather not ask, than get the wrong (or non-preferred) answer for him. Ahaz should NOT put his trust in political alliances, but rather in “Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Someone to wipe my problems aside … ‘that’s what I want’! No! Jesus came to do a work on our inside, so that we would be transformed inside-out toward doing His will. Then our new selves would see the problems and challenges around us in a new light. But you have to be ready for this.

The “Immanuel” – meaning ‘God is with Us’ – that King Ahaz heard about seven centuries earlier has turned up. The baby conceived in Mary is the Son of God; and given the name Jesus … he would save people from their sins. Jesus is still and will always be the Saviour of the World. This was God’s way of cleaning up our lives, and this is the grand provision that we celebrate at Christmas!

The Blessed Assurances

So in Mary’s predicament, or in any faith or commitment challenge that comes to us, what is the way forward … where is our reference point??

For Mary, she heard, right at the beginning, “The Lord is with you” (1:28b). Then as the particular calling upon Mary’s life was unveiled, and concerns or doubts were expressed, she heard that, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (1:35a). This is a reoccurring biblical reassurance, that wherever God’s people are given a challenge, there is the accompanying promise of God’s presence. When Jesus pointed his disciples toward the mission-field, he said to them, “And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

And just in case anyone remains unconvinced … that this is God bringing about the remarkable, and underwriting the whole process – we are given the example of Mary’s relative Elizabeth. This Elizabeth was elderly and believed to be “barren” (thus incapable of bearing a child), but here she was in the sixth month of her own pregnancy – a seemingly impossible outcome! Mary could, and did, check this out for herself; and found it to be true. Whether it be Mary, or the original readers of Luke’s Gospel, or us … the only conclusion possible, is that nothing will be impossible for God (the Creator of the universe and all life within) – 1:37.

The call to faith and commitment to God comes with assurances. Not ease, often the opposite. Not status, but rather service. Not comfort, more often inconvenience, and sometimes danger. But in all this, the assurance rings loud and clear, “The Lord is with you” (1:28b), and, “The Holy Spirit will … overshadow you” (1:35a).

Conclusion

Like Mary, we can have faith and commitment, because it will always be supported by the close and supportive presence of God. Mary’s experience of God in this scripture is so personal, so comforting, so affirming. May our experience of God be so personal, comforting and affirming! God is so close, he is like the clothes we wear next to our skin. God “overshadows” us, which suggests a complete covering of our lives and our movements.

In fact, so much of Mary’s experience here is as a faithful and open channel. God is actually doing it all! We live under “Divine agency”. When we talk about being an ‘agent’ or representative of Jesus, it is not as scary as it sounds! Jesus is not remote, but close by. It’s not like God is at a distance with a long-range remote-control. Rather, God dwells close and is right at hand.

There is something special about a God who enters into the reality of human life through the gateway of everyday birth, yet at the same time remains the God who can all-powerfully deal with all the tragedies and difficulties and brokenness in our lives … with transforming power. Jesus was able to understand and involve himself in human dilemmas, yet was also able to lift people up toward new possibilities. Happy Christmas indeed!