Looking back and looking forward
At this time of year, it is a fitting moment to look back and consider our experiences of the past 12 months, and perhaps to consider our hopes and dreams for the new year. What was 2022 like for you? I am sure that many of us will have had our share of disappointments and dashed dreams, both in our personal lives, and as a congregation
THE END OF THE STORY DOESN'T END HERE
Have you ever read a novel, only to be disappointed about the ending? Maybe the bad guy wins, or the good guy doesn't get his romantic interest. With the benefit of life experiences, we know that not everything appears to end happily ever after. Maybe we have become conditioned by society to expect the worst……. But from God's perspective, there is always another chapter to the story.
Our Motivation
I wonder whether you have ever felt that, after clearly hearing the Lord's word and direction in your life, things have not gone as smoothly as you might have hoped. God brings all manner of things into our lives to test and develop us, but sometimes our motivation might be the problem.
Kindness
As good and well-established Christians, I'm sure we're all manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our lives; so, can anyone name the nine fruits of the Spirit?
Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Right in the middle appears the word 'kindness'. It's easily overlooked, partly because it's in the middle and partly because it's easily confused with love, goodness and gentleness. In fact, for those of us who were brought up with the 'authorised' version of the Bible, kindness doesn't even appear in the list of fruits; the KJV lists it as 'gentleness' (and gentleness as 'meekness').
But if we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He was often kind to people.
What Do You See?
In Jeremiah 32 - 33, we read that Jerusalem was facing imminent invasion by the Babylonians who would ultimately lead many into exile. Siege ramps had been deployed around the city, and Jeremiah was under arrest in the courtyard of the guard (33:1). Jeremiah, and likely many others, were saying that the land was, or would become, a desolate waste without men or animals (v10).
I'll Wish I Had Given Him More
When we reach the gates of heaven, we look forward to hearing Jesus say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21), but will we also have some regrets? Will we wish that we had given Him more?
The Scaffold
Across most urban vistas, you will spot at least one building under construction or repair with scaffolding surrounding it. Although a little unsightly, the scaffolding is a positive sign of the investment in the city, and brings with it a sense of anticipation as to when the project might be completed, and the glory of the building that will finally be revealed. Scaffolding is used by the construction industry to ensure safe access of personnel and materials whilst work continues on a building.
Evangelism
John 4:14 NIV - but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Today is not the end of your story
I am sure that, as a Christian, there have been many times that we may have felt second-rate or inadequate. I know I have!
But we had hoped..
I am sure we have all experienced our hopes dashed by the circumstances of life. Perhaps the expectation of a new job, home, life-partner…… We have our hopes and dreams firmly fixed on a seemingly natural and logical way forward, only to find that the certain way forward is blocked by the stuff of life.
Are You Revival Ready?
As we read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, those Israelites that returned from Babylon jump-started a revival in Jerusalem that spread throughout the land. Within these two books and several lessons for us living in the 21st Century if we are to be 'revival ready'.
