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Saturday 12 May 2018

Happy Mother's Day

When I think about Mary, the mother of Jesus, I consider her the most remarkable of mothers.
In the time of Christ's conception and birth, Jewish scriptures had foretold that a Messiah would be born who would be the Saviour of the Jewish people. As they were living under Roman occupation, they were eagerly awaiting a Messiah who would deliver them from their captivity, in the same way that Moses had led them out of slavery in Egypt centuries earlier. Therefore many young Jewish women were hoping that they would be the chosen girl to bear God's gift of a Messiah.

Mary was no doubt a young woman of exceptional character, chosen by God. When an angel appeared to her to announce that she would be the mother of the Saviour, she, very naturally, enquired as to how this could come about. She was a virgin, engaged to be married to Joseph. The angel explained that the child would be an immaculate conception, conceived through the presence of the Holy Spirit in her, not a sexual relationship.

"the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."
Luke chapter 1, verses 30-35. 

Mary was honoured to be the mother of Jesus. She and her family and husband Joseph no doubt experienced being the subject of much gossip and slander. Forever after she was chosen to walk a different path to what she would have experienced otherwise. Perhaps her wedding was different. The circumstances of her baby's birth, away from home in a crude stable were probably different to what she had dreamt of. She was aware that her son was destined for greatness, but also for suffering. She was with her son until His earthly end, and endured the agonising experience of His crucifixion. No mother could have loved more.

Mary was a godly example to all mothers, a woman who was obedient to God no matter what the cost, a woman of great love and faithfulness.

Her story reminds us to be faithful to God in honouring our own mothers, and for those of us who are mothers, to pray for our children, to teach them of God's love and to try and live a life which will reflect His ways. It's a reminder too, to care for those women who, through whatever circumstances are doing the tough job of mothering on their own. 

"And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
   for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”
(Luke chapter 1 :46-55)


"his mother treasured all these things in her heart"  (Luke chapter 2, v 51).

Happy Mother's Day 2018 to all the mums near and far.

 

Saturday 5 May 2018

Passing the baton


I recently had cause, whilst browsing on the internet, to look at some online information about a man that I knew some years ago when he was a teenager. Back then he was involved in church activities and was liked and respected by those who knew him. A born stage performer, he was outgoing and athletic and hero-worshipped to some extent by some of the younger boys.
Wind the clock forward ten years and the man that I saw on the internet was still handsome and athletic, his outside appearance having changed but a little; yet his demeanour seemed so completely different. His online conversation was peppered liberally with foul expletives and his biography indicated that he was living a lifestyle far from Christian principles.
I was filled with great sadness when I read this. We can never know for sure what causes a young person to turn away from God’s ways. No doubt there are often a number of factors. What I do know in this case, however, was that the father of the young man concerned was heavily involved in a church which experienced infighting and as a result lost his church ministry (but not his faith) after being publicly humiliated in a very raucous and bitter church meeting. A church split ensued, a small but vocal group of elders held sway and a large proportion of the youth left.  One can only wonder if the hurt that the church caused his father created a cynical and antagonistic attitude in his son. Yet hopefully this young man will have many praying for him and the foundations of his Christian faith will remain, if clouded for a time, and he will return to his Father’s care.
The root cause of church hurt, of course, is Satan, who loves to create dissention among the followers of Christ, having already in hand the allegiance of the world’s unbelievers. Two of the most readily available tools he uses to this end are criticism and gossip. In the case of the church above there was much of the two behind the scenes. Perhaps there were some valid reasons for concern, but these should have been dealt with privately and respectfully.
We older folk in a church congregation must ask ourselves the questions-
“What messages am I giving to the children and youth in my church?”
“Am I supporting them in encouragement? In Godly example?”
“Do I want things to remain just how I like them, or am I accepting of new ways of doing things?
“Am I willing to release finances for youth/ young adults programs, knowing that many young people are not able to contribute financially? “
“Am I committed to praying and supporting the ministry leaders in my church? Do I pray for my fellow brothers and sisters in my church family, including the young adults and children?”
“Do I speak words of wisdom, praise and encouragement or do I enjoy spreading juicy gossip? Do I find faults in and criticise others in my church?”

As I reflected on the situation of the young man who had fallen away, I was challenged to repent of any times in my church life when I have criticised, carried gossip and failed to encourage those in ministry and young people. May God give me a willing heart to support and encourage others. As one of my online mentors, Pastor Chuck Smith says, the young people are the ones who will be carrying on when we are carried out. A relay race is not won by the final leg runner alone. It's also won by the others who ran their leg and passed the baton on to their successors.