I guess there are lots of big questions that people ask about God, and if everyone who read this page was to post a question or two I'm sure we'd have an interesting and varied selection. But among those questions, 'Is there a god?', 'What's this god like?' and 'How do I make sure I'm on the right side of this god?' are questions that have challenged and shaped people and societies throughout history.
Left to our own devices our experience often shapes the way we think about god. This is true for those who have been brought up with an understanding of the God that we read about in the Bible. Because of the language of the Bible and the culture of the church our understanding of God and our relationship with God is often shaped by our relationship to key male characters - our father, a head master etc. These earthly relationships can then have a very positive or negative impact on the way we see God.
Am I acceptable to God? What about when I mess up? How far can I go before God will give up on me? Have I already gone too far? Surely God can't love me after all I have done?
Over the last two Sundays we have been looking at the story of King David and how he seriously messed up. He committed adultery with a woman called Bathsheba, abusing his position and authority as king - and then in an attempt to keep things quiet he had her husband Uriah murdered. The story is told in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. But God saw it all and did not like what he saw - and he sent the prophet Nathan to challenge David.
David's immediate response was to acknowledge his wrong doing and to confess his sin. Unlike king Saul before him he did not try to justify his actions or make excuses or deny it was him. And it was in the light of this experience that David wrote Psalm 51.
David messed up big time, but he also experienced the forgiveness of God. We can know that too.
David relied on God's love, mercy, and compassion - not on his own ability, worthiness or goodness. The Bible is full of statements about the character of God and the promises of God. Have a look at Lamentations 3:22-23, Ephesians 2:4-9 and 1 John 1:9 as a starter.
David confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness. Jesus' death on the cross means that we can know our sin forgiven and a new start.
David's response to the love and mercy of God was a desire to live God's way - create in me a pure heart. Our motivation to do things God's way is not a sense of duty, it is not fear of punishment, it is love for all that God has done for us.
Showing posts with label Mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercy. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Friday, 21 May 2010
Your secrets revealed next week
How many of us are glad that there are things about us that no one knows? I wonder what would happen if I was to announce on a Sunday morning in church that the following week every person present will have something about them revealed on the projector that until that point no one else knew. I guess some people may be torn between turning up to see everyone else's stuff revealed and not turning up so as to keep their own secrets - but I'm guessing the church would be a fairly empty place - at least it would give an indication as to who wasn't listening the previous week!
But Hebrews 4:13 tells us that God knows everything about us - nothing at all is hidden. And 4:16 tells us that we can come with confidence into the presence of God. How is that possible? If God knows exactly what I'm like and what I've done and what goes on inside my head, how is it that I can come to God with confidence - especially when we think that the first readers of Hebrews had grown up with the tradition that only the high priest could enter the presence of God - the Holy of Holies - and then only on one day a year, the Day of Atonement - and then only after having made a sacrifice for his own sins.
It's possible because between verses 13 and 16 we read about Jesus and in verse 16 we read about God's mercy and grace. It's possible, not because of what I can do, but because of what Jesus has already done, on the cross.
So rather than sweep our rubbish under the carpet and hope no one finds it there, let's believe that God has dealt with our past failings and step into the present with confidence.
To listen to this message click here.
But Hebrews 4:13 tells us that God knows everything about us - nothing at all is hidden. And 4:16 tells us that we can come with confidence into the presence of God. How is that possible? If God knows exactly what I'm like and what I've done and what goes on inside my head, how is it that I can come to God with confidence - especially when we think that the first readers of Hebrews had grown up with the tradition that only the high priest could enter the presence of God - the Holy of Holies - and then only on one day a year, the Day of Atonement - and then only after having made a sacrifice for his own sins.
It's possible because between verses 13 and 16 we read about Jesus and in verse 16 we read about God's mercy and grace. It's possible, not because of what I can do, but because of what Jesus has already done, on the cross.
So rather than sweep our rubbish under the carpet and hope no one finds it there, let's believe that God has dealt with our past failings and step into the present with confidence.
To listen to this message click here.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Righteousness and Mercy
Next in our list Jesus teaches that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. Clearly, when taken within the context of the whole gospel, or even within the context of this chapter (Matthew 5), Jesus is not talking about the self-righteousness of the religious establishment. This is not an invitation to try to live out the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount and then wear them as some kind of self-righteous badge of achievement.
Jesus is talking here about people who passionately desire righteousness - in the same way that you are passionate about eating and drinking when you are hungry and thirsty. This will include a desire to see justice done in the world - that individuals, corporations and nations do the right thing, not just the quickest, easiest or cheapest thing.
It will also involve a personal element - the desire for personal ethical righteousness and a separation from sin. This is something that can't be achieved in our own strength. We need God's help through the Holy Spirit working in our lives. We need God's forgiveness for sin and His empowerment to live the kind of life the Jesus is outlining for us here.
The righteousness that Jesus talks of is only possible after God has dealt with my failings. Rather than treat me as my sin deserves I can know forgiveness through Jesus' death - this is the mercy of God - not giving me what I deserve. And having experienced the mercy of God, Jesus commands his disciples to show that kind of mercy to others - blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7)...or does he?
Jesus' teaching here on mercy and elsewhere on forgiveness (e.g. Matthew 6:14-15) is not that because we have experienced mercy/forgiveness we should be merciful/forgiving (although that is true). Rather it is the other way around - if you show mercy/forgiveness then you will experience mercy/forgiveness.
A true disciple will be merciful - that is they will treat people in a way that they don't necessarily deserve. They won't look for revenge. They won't exclude people because of some offence. They won't pay back evil for evil. Instead they will assume the best and not the worst. They will give the benefit of the doubt. They will continue to show love and kindness even when those actions have been stamped on and abused in the past. They won't just give a second chance or even a third chance - instead they won't be counting or keeping a record of wrongs.
Jesus is talking here about people who passionately desire righteousness - in the same way that you are passionate about eating and drinking when you are hungry and thirsty. This will include a desire to see justice done in the world - that individuals, corporations and nations do the right thing, not just the quickest, easiest or cheapest thing.
It will also involve a personal element - the desire for personal ethical righteousness and a separation from sin. This is something that can't be achieved in our own strength. We need God's help through the Holy Spirit working in our lives. We need God's forgiveness for sin and His empowerment to live the kind of life the Jesus is outlining for us here.
The righteousness that Jesus talks of is only possible after God has dealt with my failings. Rather than treat me as my sin deserves I can know forgiveness through Jesus' death - this is the mercy of God - not giving me what I deserve. And having experienced the mercy of God, Jesus commands his disciples to show that kind of mercy to others - blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7)...or does he?
Jesus' teaching here on mercy and elsewhere on forgiveness (e.g. Matthew 6:14-15) is not that because we have experienced mercy/forgiveness we should be merciful/forgiving (although that is true). Rather it is the other way around - if you show mercy/forgiveness then you will experience mercy/forgiveness.
A true disciple will be merciful - that is they will treat people in a way that they don't necessarily deserve. They won't look for revenge. They won't exclude people because of some offence. They won't pay back evil for evil. Instead they will assume the best and not the worst. They will give the benefit of the doubt. They will continue to show love and kindness even when those actions have been stamped on and abused in the past. They won't just give a second chance or even a third chance - instead they won't be counting or keeping a record of wrongs.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Do you want the Good News or Bad News First?
Given the option of good news or bad news I would always go for the bad news first - get that over and done with, and then end up with the good news. In Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul starts with the bad news and then moves on to the good news. Paul is writing to encourage Christians who were living at a time when declaring allegiance to Jesus was considered treason against Caesar (who at the time was Nero). Being a Christian was enough to potentially bring all the power of the Empire against you and lead to your death, maybe even by crucifixion.
The contrast between the bad news and the good news is dramatic. The bad news is a description of where they were spiritually before the became followers of Jesus. The good news is a description of where they are now spiritually, now that they are following Jesus. Before they became followers of Jesus they followed the ways of this world - they fitted in with how things were, they kept their heads down, they did what they wanted - they certainly did little that would have resulted in execution or prison at the hands of the Roman authorities (remember that Paul is writing from prison in Rome in about AD 60). I imagine that life was certainly less of a struggle before. So why on earth would people decide to follow Jesus in that particular context?
It is because of the reality of what Paul refers to in Ephesians as the 'heavenly realms'. The spiritual dimension that exists. The fact that this life is not just about what you can see, touch, measure, buy, sell... And so whilst what goes on in this world is important we must not lose sight of what goes on in the spiritual dimension. And so from prison, Paul is able to encourage these people who believe in Jesus. And he encourages them that the God they are following is love. That this God won't treat them like they deserve to be treated, but rather has made them spiritually alive, where once they were spiritually dead.
And this amazing contrast is only possible because of God. There is nothing we can do that will make God love us more and there is nothing we can do that will make God love us less. This transformation from death to life is a gift from God, paid for by Jesus' death on the cross. Whatever we are facing this week let us be encouraged by this wonderful truth.
To listen to this message click here.
The contrast between the bad news and the good news is dramatic. The bad news is a description of where they were spiritually before the became followers of Jesus. The good news is a description of where they are now spiritually, now that they are following Jesus. Before they became followers of Jesus they followed the ways of this world - they fitted in with how things were, they kept their heads down, they did what they wanted - they certainly did little that would have resulted in execution or prison at the hands of the Roman authorities (remember that Paul is writing from prison in Rome in about AD 60). I imagine that life was certainly less of a struggle before. So why on earth would people decide to follow Jesus in that particular context?
It is because of the reality of what Paul refers to in Ephesians as the 'heavenly realms'. The spiritual dimension that exists. The fact that this life is not just about what you can see, touch, measure, buy, sell... And so whilst what goes on in this world is important we must not lose sight of what goes on in the spiritual dimension. And so from prison, Paul is able to encourage these people who believe in Jesus. And he encourages them that the God they are following is love. That this God won't treat them like they deserve to be treated, but rather has made them spiritually alive, where once they were spiritually dead.
And this amazing contrast is only possible because of God. There is nothing we can do that will make God love us more and there is nothing we can do that will make God love us less. This transformation from death to life is a gift from God, paid for by Jesus' death on the cross. Whatever we are facing this week let us be encouraged by this wonderful truth.
To listen to this message click here.
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Guess who's coming to dinner
In Luke 15 Jesus tells three parables - the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son - in response to the mutterings of the religious leaders, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them'. These are the men who were supposed to be leading the people to God, and yet it is the tax collectors and sinners who are behaving like good disciples - by gathering and listening to Jesus. And so Jesus tells them three parables to try and communicate God's love for those who are 'lost' - those who are on the outside of the kingdom.
God loves those who are on the outside and wants nothing more than for them to be drawn to the inside. And so Jesus spent time with and welcomed those who were traditionally thought to be so far out that there was no hope of them ever getting in! He even went as far as to openly eat with them - threatening ritual impurity and even jeopardising his own position as one of those understood to be 'in'. Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost (Luke 19:10).
But for those who see themselves on the inside it can be hard to accept that outsiders have become insiders. The free gift of God's love, His mercy (not treating us as we deserve to be treated) and His grace (treating us as we don't deserve to be treated) are available to all who repent - but sometimes we add all kinds of other requirements. Whilst there may be a party in heaven when one sinner repents, that 'sinner' can be met with suspicion and a cold shoulder. Acceptance can be slow in coming and even then it is only after all kinds of other things have had to change first - so that the outsider now looks and sounds and behaves like an insider!
The younger son had done some bad stuff and let his whole family down in a big way. Yet his father still loved him and was ready to forgive and welcome him back as a true son. When we 'come to our senses' we recognise just how much God loves us and how much He has forgiven us. And part of our response, part of our worship, should be an overflow of the loving welcome God gave us. And so we become those who welcome others and eat with them.
The older brother was also his father's son. And yet he never really lived that way. Did he ever ask his father for a goat? For surely the father that said 'yes' to the younger boys request would not have denied his older boy a goat roast. Sometimes we lose sight of the love of God and the joy goes out of our relationship with Him. We do what we do out of a sense of duty, somehow earning God's favour, trying to repay our debt... Yet God wants us to love Him. We obey Him because we love Him, not because we're scared of Him. And because we love God, and know that God loves us, we're able to love and welcome and eat with others - both those on the inside and those on the outside.
The tragedy for the self-appointed insiders in this story is that by the end they find themselves with the elder brother on the outside, while the party goes on inside.
How would the church be different if we made seeking the lost a priority and were serious about welcoming the outsider?
Click here to listen to this message from Pastor Keith. 24 February 2008. Camrose Baptist Church.
God loves those who are on the outside and wants nothing more than for them to be drawn to the inside. And so Jesus spent time with and welcomed those who were traditionally thought to be so far out that there was no hope of them ever getting in! He even went as far as to openly eat with them - threatening ritual impurity and even jeopardising his own position as one of those understood to be 'in'. Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost (Luke 19:10).
But for those who see themselves on the inside it can be hard to accept that outsiders have become insiders. The free gift of God's love, His mercy (not treating us as we deserve to be treated) and His grace (treating us as we don't deserve to be treated) are available to all who repent - but sometimes we add all kinds of other requirements. Whilst there may be a party in heaven when one sinner repents, that 'sinner' can be met with suspicion and a cold shoulder. Acceptance can be slow in coming and even then it is only after all kinds of other things have had to change first - so that the outsider now looks and sounds and behaves like an insider!
The younger son had done some bad stuff and let his whole family down in a big way. Yet his father still loved him and was ready to forgive and welcome him back as a true son. When we 'come to our senses' we recognise just how much God loves us and how much He has forgiven us. And part of our response, part of our worship, should be an overflow of the loving welcome God gave us. And so we become those who welcome others and eat with them.
The older brother was also his father's son. And yet he never really lived that way. Did he ever ask his father for a goat? For surely the father that said 'yes' to the younger boys request would not have denied his older boy a goat roast. Sometimes we lose sight of the love of God and the joy goes out of our relationship with Him. We do what we do out of a sense of duty, somehow earning God's favour, trying to repay our debt... Yet God wants us to love Him. We obey Him because we love Him, not because we're scared of Him. And because we love God, and know that God loves us, we're able to love and welcome and eat with others - both those on the inside and those on the outside.
The tragedy for the self-appointed insiders in this story is that by the end they find themselves with the elder brother on the outside, while the party goes on inside.
How would the church be different if we made seeking the lost a priority and were serious about welcoming the outsider?
Click here to listen to this message from Pastor Keith. 24 February 2008. Camrose Baptist Church.
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