Memory

God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us. Ephesians 3:20 NLV

It was heartbreaking to hear a widow friend say of her husband who had died some years before, “I’m so afraid I will forget what he looks like”. She said this because there were tell tale signs that her memory was fading slowly yes, but surely, and it worried her heart. She recognised that her mind was failing. Her fear was real!

God is not like that because He will never forget us or our love for Him. But it goes deeper and better for me anyway. No matter how we see God now, in all His glory and power, it doesn’t come anywhere close to what He can, and will, do in us. That’s whether our mind is alert or frail and failing.

No matter what we think about God’s love, His love is greater. Whatever we think about His power, He is more powerful still. If we think we know His forgiveness, God’s forgiving Spirit is far greater and for everyone. The phrase is worth repeating: God is able to do much more than we ask or think. When our weakened mind starts to fail us, and sadly we don’t recognise our loved ones, take comfort in the sure and certain fact that God remembers His own. Always, and forever, time without end. Amen and Amen to that simple truth!

God remembers those who suffer; he does not forget their cry. Psalm 9:12

Ever New

But if a man who is not a Christian comes to your church meeting while you are all speaking God’s Word, he will understand that he is a sinner by what he hears. He will know he is guilty. The secrets of his heart will be brought into the open. He will get on his knees and worship God. He will say, “For sure, God is here with you!”    1 Corinthians 14:24-25 NLV

We have this new idea. This is something we should try. I think this will work. All of these statements have tripped off my tongue at some time in my church life, and I have heard them, or words like them, from sincere folks who want their church to grow. We desperately want and need to be relevant we say, and that is true.

How many new ideas or programs do we use or try before we realise that church growth is just not happening? There is a saying in business that if something is not working, and there is no return on your investment efforts, you stop doing it! Then you think again and try something else. We are not good at that in church circles, are we? I think there is a fear that we might look bad by admitting that it was our new program that didn’t work.

A business would not think twice about quitting a process or program if it didn’t produce results. In truth you don’t get a different result by doing the same things over again. These thoughts have been weighty on my mind recently, and then I stumbled across this familiar verse, but in a different translation. Paul is writing to a troubled church. One that needed to grow properly, and in the truth of the gospel. The apostle’s advice went right to the heart of the issue then, and I believe it goes straight to the core of the problem today. Our churches are in trouble, and generally declining, so what do we do? We try new things. New programs. Learn new insights. Anything. But they still don’t work, so we blame society, our bad community, the members who are not trying hard enough, or are just not committed the way they should be.

Read our two verses above, and then read them twice more. Did Paul suggest a new approach to the message of the gospel? Far from it. Paul emphasised the same gospel without any frills or changes. Whether society accepts the gospel message or not, it is still the only show in town. So, let’s not keep on trying to reinvent the wheel, but get behind the only message that works consistently. Preach the gospel, and only the gospel. The same gospel your parents and grandparents heard and reacted to. When we do our part, God will do His. Then our community and visitors will make their own decision about the Word of God. They may accept it, or reject it, but that’s free will as God ordained, and nothing can alter that fact!

Failure?

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

My granddaughter is taking driving lessons, and doing very well. Recently, we sat and went through some driving theory questions together and I failed. Twice! As an older, more mature driver, I thought I would complete the online test with a clear 100% pass. How wrong could I be?

When I passed my test some 50 years ago, things were easier. I read and learned all the Highway Code at that time, but it seems that the rules would not allow me to pass today. Ouch. You would think that once you have committed to something, and set your mind to it, and succeeded, that would be it for ever. Not in the secular things of this life it seems, and certainly not for our driving test.

How glad I am that our God does not operate that way with us, or our salvation. Once we repent and hand over the reins of our life to our Saviour, He does just that. He saves. For ever. We don’t have to prove ourselves all over again because He will keep our minds in perfect peace. Did you catch the little word ‘keep’? To make sure we get the message, the apostle Paul gives Timothy (and therefore us) the following assurance which keeps our hearts, minds, and souls for eternity. We serve a great God, but there is a small condition. We must keep our mind stayed on Him. Now, is that such a difficult thing to do, when we consider the reward?

But I am not ashamed, because I know the one I have put my trust in. And I am sure that he is able to protect what I have put into his care until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:12