Silence

O LORD, you are my rock of safety. Please help me; don't refuse to answer me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die. Psalm28:1NLT

Silence is suspicious! Ask any parent who suddenly notices that the playful laughter and giggles of their little treasures stop, followed by silence. More often than not, it means they have found something to do that would not be liked by mum and dad. Silence is suspicious. Ask the person who is awakened from a deep sleep by the eerie sound of silence as their house is violated by a cat burglar. Yes, silence is suspicious and unhealthy.

We too become silent at times, but ask yourself when that is most likely to happen? I can see two possibilities at least. One, when a usually down and negative person who talks a lot about all his overstated medical ailments, has come to realise that s/he really IS ill this time so nothing constructive can be added or contrived, so silence is their only way out to save face. And Two, which I think more likely, is the silence of someone who has been hurt in some way by friends or trusted colleagues, but due to a sense of misplaced loyalty cannot, and will not, speak out against them. The realisation that they may not be all that s/he had thought is just too much to bear, so the obvious response becomes a retreated silence. The trouble now is that any underlying issue cannot and will not be addressed.

When your normally upbeat and talkative friend goes quiet, ask yourself why, then do the best and most helpful thing you possibly can. Draw alongside to let them know you are here for them, and most of all, you care. You may never know in this life the good you have done, but be assured, your friend will know. A parting thought because the opposite holds true too: If you, or no one else, comes alongside for them, that has an equal and opposite effect on your friend.

We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up. When we have the opportunity to do good to anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers. Galatians6:9-10ERV

Who Cares?

It’s a good question, but sometimes asked in a flippant or sarcastic tone. A good friend starts to tell you how bad their day has been, you zone out, and find yourself saying to yourself ‘who cares’ anyway. The classroom know-it-all starts to explain the finer points of the previous lesson, and you think or even say, ‘who cares’?

In Scotland we have mastered the fine art of sarcasm (and some see it as a humorous artform) but the same cannot be said about speaking encouraging pleasantries. These are pushed aside, out of the way, because they are seen as soft, and show a caring, sensitive side and we can’t be having that now, can we? Anyway, who cares if you are offended by that sarcasm?

Church is different for the most part, with people being nice, and showing that they care. Whoa! Back up! Sure the Bible tells us to love one another, and by that characteristic all will know you are Jesus’ disciples. Ah, I hear you say, but can’t we be sarcastic at the same time as being loving and caring? I suggest not.

Take it a step further. Something a Christian can do that no other group can do, is pray. We can pray for the sick, the hurting, the lonely, the unsaved, and that is all good and shows our concern, and that we really do care. But can’t we pray at the same time as we are sarcastic? Of course not!

The real problem for me, is not when there is an absence of sarcasm, encouraging words, or even prayer. It’s the silence. That’s what hits and hurts the most. I remember clearly being in Christian company in church when one of the ladies said to my late wife. “You do know we are praying for you?” Neither she nor I knew that they were praying. No one said. There was silence. My wife had cancer and didn’t survive the disease, so lost out from the knowledge that people in the church at that time were praying. Silence. There were two lessons for me in that short conversation. The first is to pray when you say you will pray. Don’t talk about it to your friends, but do it. That brings me to the second lesson, which is to tell them you are praying for them right in their time of need. They need to hear it. Trust me on this. The person you are praying for needs to know you care enough to pray. They need to know you care. We need to care, and be seen to care!

Worrying Time

You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. Matthew 6:27 ERV

It started off as a slight concern, and has now gone through all the following stages until it has become a full blown anxiety. I know this verse and have quoted it often as a way to defuse other people’s fears and worries, but…. Well that’s the problem, it’s the word BUT!! What about now? What about my fears? My suspicions? What if I do nothing, and something bad happens to a loved one this time? How could I possibly live with myself?

Harm comes in many forms and from many sources, but one that doesn’t get much airtime is the harm that affects the eternal destiny of the harmed one(s). Can I afford to play along and pretend all is well, when I am growing more and more uncertain that all really is well? For me, it has changed from a game of hide and seek, to one of hide and hide and hide again.

Meanwhile we all play our part in the theatre of life. The ones who harm, the ones harmed, and those watching from the gallery. In truth there are almost certainly more than a few who see the signs, question the life and lifestyle of the harmer, and still don’t know what to do that would solve the problem, or even reduce the harm done. It is difficult not to worry about the ones you love, and that makes it hurt!

Inner Strength

Be strong and [be] very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7 NIV

We all have those ‘goto’ verses where we find help, strength or comfort, and sometimes all three like this one! But like all of God’s promises, this one comes with a condition. Our salvation is free for the asking. Yes, you have to want it enough to ask for it and only then it is given as a free gift. In this verse, the condition is obedience to the law of Moses, but Jesus brought an extension to the law, so I suggest that our condition today, is to obey the commands and law of Christ.

Not straying to one side or the other is easier said than done, but it is required, no it is necessary for our success in life. Did you notice that being strong and courageous came first? Only then to taking care and obeying the law? By staying on the straight road, then and only then God’s people would be successful, and not only where they were, but wherever they went!

The strength of our convictions must come first, and the other things follow. There was a time that I thought we must not get sidetracked to the left or right, but that’s not the timeline of the verse, is it? As modern language would say, we have to ‘man up’ (or woman up!) with all the strength God will give us, and ultimately we will be successful. Just as it was for Joshua, so we are keeping good company. I can almost hear you asking, how on this earth are we supposed to find this strength. The answer is found in the very next verse where it says: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua was to be obedient to the law of Moses, but we have the greater law as given by the Son of God and the apostles. Now I must ask myself the question, am I up to reading and studying the Bible, so that I will overcome? That’s something we must each work out for ourselves, so how about you?

Paying Attention

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4 NIV

The parable of the lost sheep is a favourite of mine, and a favourite for many others too. It wraps up the love and patience of Jesus in coming after His sheep if and when he or she strays. That’s clearly us, because we do tend to stray, and that’s why we love the story.

For the first time in many years of reading this story I noticed a part of the action of the Shepherd, which is not said, but is hidden in the text. What stands out to you? The thought of being carried home? The action of the Shepherd ‘going after’ His sheep? The fact that He felt confident enough to leave the other sheep without a Shepherd while He went looking? These are all amazing characteristics of our Shepherd Saviour, and how he loves us. But is something obvious being left unsaid?

Before He did any of the actions that a Shepherd would do for the sheep that were His responsibility, He must have noticed that something was wrong. He made regular counts and this time it brought home the truth that one was not there, so that’s why He went after it and did all He could to bring it back? I suggest it was because He cared for all the sheep, and so knew when one was missing. Think about that. Jesus cares for His sheep who are lost. He notices. The Shepherd pays attention to the one who is not there in His safekeeping.

Fast forward to our day and age. To a degree we are all shepherds with some responsibility to help bring lost sheep home where we can. We are not the Good Shepherd, but we can be good enough to notice, or care enough to act when we discover that someone is not out at church. But first, like Jesus the great Shepherd, we must care enough to notice. Only when we pay attention can we continue to do the other things described in the parable. May God help us all to pay more attention and care when it is needed!

Casting and Caring

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

The apostle Peter knew a thing or two about failing, and yet being forgiven. He denied Jesus, not once, but three times, and in front of a servant girl. How humiliating and embarrassing for the one who was the loud mouthed firebrand of the twelve. Then came the time for proof of his allegiance. Jesus asked Peter, not once, but three times “do you love Me?” Was that once for each denial? We don’t know for sure, but Peter’s confirmation of his love for the Master said it all when he uttered the words, “You KNOW that I love you”. Peter was forgiven, and given work to do when Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”.

I can only imagine that Peter threw himself on the mercy of his Master, because he had seen that same forgiveness shown time and time again to the sinners who also knew that Jesus was their only hope. We tend to emphasise the first part of this verse because that’s our responsibility. We must cast ourselves on Him, or to put it another way, we fall at His feet in the full knowledge of our sin and wrongdoing. In that respect, Peter was no different from the biggest sinner who came to Jesus.

But why would anyone do that? After all, humanly speaking we could be sent packing with a flea in our ear! However, deep down, in the heart of each person who came to Jesus, there must have been a recognition that He would not turn them away. I go back to the question why? The latter part of the verse holds the key to our Saviour’s heart when Peter reminds us that “He cares for you”. Everything that Jesus did, and still does for man/woman, his chief creation, is because He cares. It’s that simple. That’s why we can come to Him with worries, cares, and our sin, in the full assurance that Jesus cares. No ifs, ands, or buts, He cares for us. So, when we come to Him in repentance, He will never turn His back on us. Who better to know this than the apostle Peter. His words ring as true now as they ever did.

We do the care casting, but it’s Jesus who does the caring. I like that.

Warnings

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark… Hebrews 11:7a

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9,10

Have you ever been in a situation when some kind of warning bell rings in your head, and at first you are not sure why? It can happen in the car while you are driving, causing you to take a different route, perhaps avoiding an accident? It can happen at a work event, or a family gathering where you are introduced to a new member, but very quickly, for some unknown reason you get the ‘feeling’ of unease? Or in a church setting, you meet up with a new member who claims to be a Christian, but their words and life give them away?

God works in mysterious ways, so the old phrase goes, and it is true. We cannot figure out His ways because they are above our understanding, so it should not come as a surprise to learn that this same God can protect and warn His children when something is not quite right.

Sad to say that this same protective warning can also be caused by the conduct and words of someone in national or local church leadership that we look up to. We can’t always put our finger on why this should be so, but it would be foolhardy to ignore it altogether. The warning is there for good reason, and the converse is also true. Someone could also get the same or similar warning bell from the example of our life, so it’s all the more important that we live openly and with integrity. No Christian wants to be a stumbling-block to anyone at any age!

In Common

A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 NIV

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. Acts 2:44 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

Jesus gave the commandment to His disciples, and yes it is a command, but how did the early church do this? How did they put Jesus’ words into practice? Come to think of it, the commandment applies to us too, so how do we manage to cope?

I am familiar with the sharing of food, goods, money, trades, and all the practical things which make life easier as you become an integral part of a shared community, but is that as far as it goes? I don’t think so. People have other needs which are not as easily seen, like feelings, emotions, and anxieties, so I would suggest that Jesus meant us to ‘be there’ for our friends in Christian love. If that means sharing food and work, that is good, but we miss something when we don’t recognise that we also share in each other’s lives in full. If one of our group is absent for a week or two, do we notice? Perhaps we conveniently assume they are on holiday, or away for the weekend. I would suggest that we should care enough to check if they are ill, or going through a tough time before we make any other assumptions. Why should we do this? Because the Word of God says: so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4. I suggest that is reason enough.

Who Cares?

If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small! Luke 12:28

Who do you trust with your deepest feelings but the one you trust the most? After all, why should you unburden your innermost thoughts and fears to someone who couldn’t care less what you are going through?

Praying is what we do, but the pray-er is the person who cares enough about you to remember to bring your hurts and problems to the Father in the act of intercession. If the pray-er doesn’t care, s/he will not remember to pray. They may have other things on their mind, and it may not be you.

I think the ultimate compliment we can be paid as a Christian, is when a friend asks you to pray for them, and their life. They will only do that if they trust you fully, and know in their heart that you will pray. Be thankful if or when you are asked to pray on behalf of another struggling soul. They have just placed their deepest trust in another struggling soul, but one whose integrity they respect. Let’s not take that trust lightly.

I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares for you. Philippians 2:20

Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Missing, Presumed What?

It’s not very scientific or a mathematical equation, but it does carry some weight. Church is a body of caring believers who are real friends. Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”, so we know this is important.

The real question is, how should we show it? The church body is made up of family members, friends we know well, and some we are slowly getting to know better. We are all on a journey of learning and faith, and therefore not all the same. There are extroverts and introverts, talkative and quiet, and those on the way for a short or long time. We do not all react to the same things in the same way, but we are all affected by a hurt or missing member of the body. Or we should be!

The temperature can be measured by how many out of this different group of people will not only realise you are missing from church, but essentially those who will take the time to let you know you were missed. It doesn’t mean half as much to be told the following week when you enter the church again. That’s easy and takes no effort or forethought. When you love someone, I mean really love them like your wife or child, you leave no doubt that you care enough to see that they are doing ok. It doesn’t matter if they are ill, or away for the day, after all you don’t know until you make that call.

It means a lot to know you have been missed, and for that message to come to you before the week is over, and next Sunday morning comes around. Equally, and perhaps even more so, it sends an opposite message when silence reigns and you are left with the question, who loves enough as a disciple to care? Here’s another thought. A cold body is usually a dying or dead body. What a sobering thought!

Tended Sheep

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness…. Psalm 23:1-3

We are all familiar with the parable of the lost sheep where the shepherd searched diligently for the one lost sheep. Over the years I have come to think we miss something about the shepherd. Yes, he searches out the lost, but does he stand idly by twiddling his thumbs, waiting for one of those stupid sheep to get lost? NO!!

The familiar Psalm 23 which we all love holds some vital clues about the ‘Good Shepherd’. His time is mostly spent looking after the sheep he has in the fold. The ones which are not lost. He values them. Read the verses over again, because this is not a Shepherd who idly waits for one to go missing. He is actively making sure each one feels worth His attention, and valued. He IS the shepherd after all, so would we expect any less?

Church leaders and pastors, by definition are ‘shepherds’, and as such have a responsibility to tend (I love that word of caring) the sheep which are faithful and remain within the fold. While we remember the one that strayed, keep in mind the other ninety-nine which were secure in the pen. So, where is the bulk of the shepherd’s time spent, if not on the ones which already are safe? It is down to the tending of the Good Shepherd that more are not lost, and similarly it is the driving force and heart of our earthly Pastors who help the sheep that need his attention. So, what else is in the Good Shepherd’s mind? Nothing! Just the wellbeing of the sheep that already are His.

There are too many ways to mention where a Pastor can help his flock, but they all come down to one characteristic. Like the Good Shepherd, he must care for all his flock, to the exclusion of all else.

Refuge

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

When you get into trouble, where do you run? Where is your comfort zone when circumstances change around you, and you feel lost? Depression and physical harm are no stranger to the Christian, because although sinners saved by grace, we are still human.

There is a natural attraction to using retail therapy, or immersing yourself in your spouse, children, or grandchildren. You might even get over it by visiting someone less fortunate than yourself, and that is commendable. But what if the trouble you face is personal, and affects your health in a major way? Doing these things may take the edge off for a short time, but they don’t really do the job completely, if at all.

You need a person you can trust completely, and the closest person to you might be your husband, or wife, although in severe health issues they will almost certainly be out of their depth, no matter how much they love you. All’s not lost though because there is another person in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is well able to shoulder every trouble or burden you will ever have. There is a condition of course. You have to come in faith, and in repentance put your trust totally in Him by choice because He cares most of all. Just as the verse says:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Don't Worry

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today”. Matthew 6:34

It might be easy for you to live life without worrying, but not me I can hear you say. You don’t know what I’ve been through, and you are right. But then how can anyone fully know what another person has to handle? After all, everyone of us wears a mask, and we seldom let it drop to show how we cope with life.

It is thought that Scottish theologian Ian Maclaren was the original source of the quotation “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle,” and how true even today. So, when you meet up with your friend next time, look carefully and listen, because you might be the friend they need to listen. Really listen, and hear their worries.

Of course, you and I will also need a friend to hear our worries, to let us unburden ourselves, but we probably don’t know who that will be. After all, we are also wearing that mask that shouts “I’m fine” so it will need to be a real friend and not just an acquaintance who will have the ability to help us drop our own mask and become vulnerable. Thanks to those we can call true friends!

Love, Care and facebook

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

There are a few definitions of love, but how does love apply to the church? My church. I believe in loving, and being loved. This is one of the greatest joys in this life, and cannot be faked! Everyone, without exception, wants to be loved, but we are not all able to love, or so it would seem sometime. I think this can spill over into our church life. We want to be loved in some ways, and are happy to receive anything which makes us feel wanted, or important. However, the other side of the coin is that we can’t always return the compliment, at least adequately. We live in a one way world of love!

The verse at the top is the oft quoted one, but it follows right after these words of Jesus, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” So it follows that our love has to copy the love of the Lord, and that can sometimes be a one way street from Him to us. I see this as a bit of ‘give and take’. Jesus gives, and we take, and we are happy to leave it at that. Loving back is a high calling, and I go back to my first thought that we all want to love, and be loved. God gives His love to us, mostly on a one way basis, and we in turn, are happy to accept this love from God, and we also take the same from our friends. How about giving back some love?

I do understand that this is an uphill struggle, but how about starting with something easier? Caring! We can all do that, can’t we? The trouble with both love and caring, is that they take us out of our comfort zones, and make us vulnerable. Coming from the West of Scotland, I was brought up in an environment where people were not so soppy as to show their feelings. That even applied to family life, and yes, church family life too. We can be happier to give some slight sarcasm to our friends, in the hope it will be interpreted as caring! Huh?? If Christians don’t show the way, who will? We are commanded to love one another. It’s not a suggestion, so can we get on with it please! Facebook might help  so look for ‘Port Glasgow Nazarene’ (that’s a hint!)...