Renewal

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30,31NLT

You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, “It is hopeless.” You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint. Isaiah57:10

We are all subject to the troubles and worries of the day as we work our way through this life.

The words of an old Gospel song come to mind:
Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptation so
Now won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

As we get that little bit older, these verses become more pointed, and important. Energy and stamina are the bywords of youth when you can take on the world. But now, you are left with little energy and lots of memories. What was once a dreaded time of life, has now become welcome to say the least.

The renewal the prophet speaks about is not to take us back to the strength of our youth, although that would be good, it talks about having a renewal of energy to take us through each and every day without flagging or falling. Whether you are a younger person, or an older, more mature believer, we will all have enough strength for the needs of the day. When you are having a hard time and your faith is being tested, whether young or old, Philippians 4:19 assures us that our “God will supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.” His strength can never be exhausted! Amen to that thought.

Good Way First

This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah6:16NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… Matthew6:33NIV

There are many ways out there, and when you are young there is the tendency to try a few of them without thinking of the consequences, or where they will end up. Everyone who is older, has been young once, but sometimes our younger folks don’t realise that, or they seem to think it was different way back then in the dark ages! Spoiler alert. It wasn’t any different!

The saying ‘older and wiser’ is there for a reason, and should not be discounted. Wiser doesn’t mean educated with a diploma, but experienced by virtue of the school of hard knocks graduated with a first class honours degree. I don’t say every older person has tried every road or path in life, but between us we have walked a good few. Bad destinations that you don’t recognise while you are having fun. Rough terrain but you know you can handle it. Peaks and hills that tire you out, but don’t worry there’s always tomorrow morning to sleep it off. And you will always find ‘friends’ who will help you try out as many of these paths as you can, after all you are only young once, right? Yes, I have heard it before.

You don’t really need to know it from the Bible although it is very clear there, but that piece of common sense we all have tells us that it is better to find the good way, and not to waste our life searching for the best of a bad bunch of misleading paths. Can I let you into a secret? Taking the good way really doesn’t rob you of fun, or a worthwhile experience. It’s true. The Bible puts it as ‘rest for your souls’ but that can’t be a bad thing, can it? Who, in this life, doesn’t want some peace at any age?

The key question is how do we find that good way, and know it for sure? Spoiler alert number 2. It’s using more common sense, but it might help to know the rest of the text at the top of the post. You don’t need to be educated to understand the meaning, so here it is…..

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew6:33NIV. Now tell me, how good is that? I’ll tell you, it’s unbeatable!

Just Talk?

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy6:6-7NIV

Our biggest, best, and most important mission field is our family. Not the world, or the nation, or even the community, all of which are important, but not as significant as our children. The biggest influence on any child is their mum and dad, especially in their younger formative years, so what are we doing about it?

I don’t know about your church fellowship, but I was used to missionary meetings which always featured brave men and women who left home and family to take the gospel to the poor tribes in the third world. What amazing stories they told, but every convert was a tough challenge, and certainly not easy. Going into a culture which is contrary to the Christian Gospel, and going against the grain for every convert is not easy and every one should be commended.

We are not all called to be missionaries, preachers, or teachers, but every parent has the ability to tell their children about the love of God, and better still, they can show that love first hand. The impact is clear and unmistakeable, and our verse shows the importance. But why do it at all? Taking the following verses in context shows God’s heart and intention for using the family unit as the mission field that most adults can identify with, and He gives us good reason to talk so that we don’t forget the Lord. Just talk with your family, and walk the talk!

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deuteronomy6:10-12NIV

The Journey - The Fork

I well remember being on a hill walk with family, and the trek was long, winding, and steep but we were determined to reach the top where an amazing vista awaited us. But we were impatient. Right about then, we came across another small group of walkers and we got talking. Having told them our plans to keep to the path, they suggested strongly that we take the direct route up the very steep gradient. That way we wouldn’t have to walk so far, and we would get there quicker. We listened, and set off in good spirits straight up this climb because it was no longer a time consuming, long walk.

By the time we got to the summit, we were bruised, and very tired. In fact the joy of the journey had gone completely. Even the flask of hot tea didn’t help. The problem was that we took the advice of strangers, and went away from the recommended route on the map. Had we stayed on the narrow path, we would have arrived in better shape, and a lot happier.

When you come to a decision about which path to take in our faith walk, do we sometimes listen to the world’s unsafe advice and leave the recommended way? Or do we have the courage of our convictions to stay the course until the end. Then and only then can we enjoy the full rewards of the efforts made to complete the journey.

This is also true of our choice in accepting the words and example of Jesus, or taking the shortcut which leads away from the source of life. The choice is for each individual to make. No one is exempt. To avoid is the same as rejecting or saying no. So be careful when you come to each fork in the road and choose well.

“But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Walter Mitty

Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:8 NLT

Walter Mitty is a fictional character who lives in a dream world. One in which he is far removed from the mild mannered person he really is. In fact his real life and his hidden life are very far distant from each other, but it’s only a bit of fun, isn’t it, and quite harmless?

The Bible tells us that we are in great danger if our loyalty is divided between God and the world. Yes, we must be in the world, but not of the world. If our loyalty to God is not divided and is clear, we are stable in everything we do. Did you catch that? When our loyalty to God is undivided, we are stable in everything else we do!

Jesus had stern words for the church leaders of His day, and He described them as whitewashed tombs. Clean in appearance on the outside, but inside it’s a different matter. Full of death. We say it another way nowadays and it is every bit as clear.. We must “walk the walk, and talk the talk”. How else will the others around us know which part of us is the real, or greater part if we are divided? Who we say we are, or who we really are?

Are we playing the character of Walter Mitty with spiritual things? Good and pure during a Sunday, but no different than our worldly friends Monday to Saturday? Do you really think they don’t notice? Whether they say it or not, they have already made up their minds if we are loyal and stable. I pray we are up to the challenge, because unlike Walter Mitty, that’s certainly not harmless either to ourselves, or the witness to our friends. It has eternal consequences.

The Journey - Untidy Bothy

You and your small walking party have done well in getting this far, but right now you all need a rest, out of the howling cold wind and rain, where you can be refreshed in a warm, dry place. There should be a wee fire going if the last users had lit one, so the small croft like building could even be warm. The spot in the distance keeps getting bigger until you are within good visible distance. What a welcome awaits.

But wait. There is no smoke from the small chimney, and that can only mean one thing. The previous owners were long gone and there would be no embers in the hearth. Closer still and the door has been left ajar. That can only mean the room will be wet and cold and feeling damp. That’s not a welcome bothy at all. You would think that other walkers and hikers would think more about others than themselves. It’s enough to make you irritable as you shake the wet off your jacket, and your fist at the world.

Church is our bothy. A welcome place of shelter where we can relax in our Father’s presence and worship Him. But what about those times when the Spirit seems to have disappeared out of the ‘open door’? The warmth and heat has gone, and it appears there is no one of like mind inside? What then?

I suggest we have a choice. Either we take a deep breath, pull our zipper up to the chin and walk on by, hoping we will find another better bothy that’s just the way we want it, OR we go inside, set the fire in the hearth, close the door to build up the heat, and take some of those wet clothes off to dry. A cup of soup from the thermos is enough to warm the cockles of your heart and give you a song in your heart. Do you see where I am going with this? When our church feels cold and unwelcoming, do we look for another warmer, better church OR do we make the effort to stir the Spirit by our presence? But why would we do that? Maybe because somebody, unknown to you, had stirred the fire just for you, so that you could find your way. Would it not be a good thing for us to do the same for another, possibly unknown, traveller who needs a warm welcome? Quite a thought!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

The Journey - With Friends

A good walk can be made better (or worse) depending on the company you keep along the way. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who is hard work? Take that short time, and multiply it many times over because when you are on a long walk with friends that 10 miles can feel like 20 if the talk of your travelling companion is difficult.

It’s a good thing to plan your route and even more important that you choose your walking partners carefully. That’s not to say that some folks have no worth. They will be worth their weight in gold under different circumstances, but when you are side by side for such a long time, it is essential you make the journey as enjoyable as possible.

We all have friends in our lives whose company we enjoy. Maybe we have been friends since school days, but on our faith walk it becomes apparent very quickly that the common ground of conversation and lifestyle is not quite the same. You might want to enjoy the wonder of creation and talk about your friend and Saviour, the Creator. On the other hand if your walking partner wants to brag about their pub, club and Godless lifestyle, it can and will sour the experience of the journey. I am not saying our friends must all be Christians, but be careful not to exclude them as we try to look ‘cool’ and in touch with the world.

Our faith journey is a very special one, and the road can be narrow, so making room beside you for a like minded person just makes sense. And let’s face it, that narrow path is not the one chosen by some of our friends. They may stay our friends, but at the end of the trek, we will have a different destination. That’s worth keeping in mind when we start choosing. As a final thought, I have noticed that my true friends who have lasted are also the ones of like mind. Some of the pals made in my youth have become occasional colleagues now. To any younger readers, I would suggest that you take good care of the people who surround you. They may all be your friends now, but the real friends who will last will be more than just those who make you laugh now!

God’s temple cannot have anything to do with idols, and we are the temple of the living God. As God said, I will live with them and walk with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. So come away from those people and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch anything that is not clean, and I will accept you. I will be your father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord All-Powerful. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18

The Journey - Walking Group

A good way to walk or climb is to do it as a group. That way you get physical, emotional, and moral support from others who may be just like you, fit and healthy, and with a good positive outlook that you will make it to the destination safely. In a strange way when groups walk together, it has been shown that everybody feels less tired than if they had made the same climb alone! That is even more significant and true for those who are not seasoned walkers.

In a group walk there is always a leader. Someone who has been this way before you and is prepared to take a pace that suits even the slowest walker. This leader will know each person, their strengths and weaknesses, both physically and emotionally. Are they all up to the task?

In our faith walk, it is not difficult to see the parallels of the church and its pastor. I am also reminded of the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd’s voice is known to the sheep, and more importantly, the shepherd KNOWS his sheep, even by name. I get the image of some sheep gathered in small groups, and even in a certain part of the sheepfold. The shepherd knows where each sheep is. It is important to understand that he also knew there were 100, and one was lost. How else would he know that one had strayed except he knew the total number in his care?

If we accept the role of the pastor as a shepherd (after all, that is the meaning of the word) he will know each and every person in his care. He will know their names, who they associate with, and where they live, or am I taking the analogy too far? However, there can be no doubt that the role of the leader/shepherd/pastor is crucial to group success in reaching their goal.

For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them. Matthew 18:20

We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. Hebrews 10:25