Practice Hospitality

Posted on by korgrocker

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:13 NLT

Paul’s pastoral heart emerges with the verse we are considering this morning. He was concerned with the social needs of his day, and, in particular, the needs of the early Christians. Note that he didn’t start this verse with an “if”, but rather with a “when”. It was a reality that in the early church there were some who were needy. But what was the “need” that Paul observed?

The counter-cultural faith of the early Christians was considered subversive by the Roman-orientated government and societies of their time. And there was a reaction to them, that made it difficult for the early believers to be in business, or be involved with the non-Christians around them. They were too different, with their Gospel that there is only one true God. Their sexual ethics were distinct, promoting chaste behaviour and monogamic relationships between husbands and wives. They were anti-abortionists.  They refused to worship the  gods of their neighbours, considering it idolatry. They promoted a faith that was based on a love relationship with God, and salvation through grace. They were a community. They were, in fact, so different to the peoples around them that they both attracted and repelled them, and the church growth at that time was dramatic. 

But the reaction against them in their societies resulted in their having “needs”. Social justice was a part of the early church ethos, so why did Paul have to remind them of their obligations? Don’t forget that the church in Rome was an amalgam of Jewish and Gentile Christians, and perhaps some of the rivalry, even dislike, prevailed. Also, within the growing nascent church, it would have been easy to overlook those particularly on the margins. Paul wasn’t specific about which needs should be helped. He was just encouraging the people to look out for them and help them in whatever way possible. The second half of today’s verse mentions “hospitality”. Be eager to practice it, he wrote. Perhaps he was saying to these early Christians, invite God’s people around for a meal. A coffee and chat. )pen up your homes and have a party, he was perhaps saying.

To provide a clue of how the early church started can be found in the last few verses of Acts 2, “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47). Counter-cultural? If that described our local churches today we would be living in a different society.

There are those today, concerned with social justice, who look to the state to provide for people’s needs. The response expected is one of finance. Increase the benefits and eliminate poverty, they demand. More universal credit and state pensions. More housing benefit and council tax concessions. The demands are strident and never seem to end. I should point out that I agree that needy people should be helped, but, sadly, we have become confused between what is a “need” and what is a “want”. The early church made sure that people were fed – Acts 6:1, “But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food”. Note that the need at the time was for feeding those who were unable to feed themselves because of their status in society – widows. And perhaps Paul knew that the same problem between different factions – Jews and Gentiles – in the Roman church was already present elsewhere. But they dealt with it. Needs were met.

So how does Romans 12:13 impact us today? How do we pilgrims respond? The main feature for me is that the early church was growing explosively because it was different. Their morals, their community, their focus on one God, who loved them, cared for them, and had saved them through His Son Jesus, were so counter-cultural that they polarised society. The early Christians upset the idol worshippers around them because they refused to accommodate and recognise their many goods. They were society confronters, and not afraid of the consequences, even being prepared to die for their faith in God. Perhaps we have an opportunity today to confront a new reincarnation of the Roman deities – the gender ideologies. We have to point out to society around us that their “need” is not the ability to change gender at whim but instead it is to embrace the one true God. We have the right and true message. How are we promoting it? Are we hunkered down with our heads below the parapet, hoping the problem will go away? or are we too, like those early believers, willing to face the consequences of being society-confronters.

But back to “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them”. Peoples’ needs are many and often complex. We immediately think of the the basics of life such as food and drink, warmth and shelter. But most of the time in our societies there are many others. In the news this morning there are statistics reported that show a pandemic of mental health issues amongst the young people in the UK. In my community the biggest issue is not financial. It is loneliness. And the community of “God’s people” is not immune from these problems. We pilgrims need to be aware of people’s needs, and not be put off by the “fine” response at the church door. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit with us, and He is willing and able to empower us to discern the needs before us. Fulfilling Paul’s entreaty to “be ready” will cost us. Our time and money. OIur reputations and even our careers. Much prayer is needed. We probably won’t see any rewards in this life but one day we will near those precious words, “Well done …”.

Dear Father God. We worship You today. Thank You for Your loving kindness, and always being there for us in our times of need. Amen.

Rejoice in Hope

Posted on by korgrocker

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”
Romans 12:12 NLT

What do we hope for? The answer will depend on our circumstances. A resident of Ukraine will be hoping for an end to the current war. A young single mum in poor quality accommodation will be hoping for something better. A young man stuck in a dead end job will be hoping for a new opportunity. People hope that they will win the lottery. After another breakdown, a driver will be hoping that they can afford a new car. A student will be hoping that they get a good mark in their finals. An old person lying in a hospital bed will be hoping that they can get home soon. The list of “hopes” is endless, and totally related to our circumstances at the time. But these are all temporal “hopes”, grounded in our humanity and time being spent on Planet Earth. They all refer to a “hope” pinned to a point sometime in the future. Possibly to come to fruition, if at all, in a day or two. Or years away. The “hope” of mankind is a wistful thought, unlikely to happen, but rooted in a fantasy, often totally unrealistic but imagined anyway. Call it wishful thinking.

Paul wrote about a different “hope”. Galatians 5:5, “For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope”. Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. Romans 8:23-25, “And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)” Can we see the picture that is building through these Scriptures? Through our relationship with God we have faith that what He has said will come to pass. So our hope is much more than wishful thinking. It is rooted and grounded by faith in the assurance, through the Holy Spirit living within us, that one day we will be in God’s presence, with all that means.

Paul was convinced that the hope he had was going to happen. He started his letter to Titus, “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:1-2, emphasis mine). No messing about with Paul. His hope for the future and eternal life was based on something far more tangible than human hopes and wishes. It was based on his faith that what God said will happen will indeed happen one day. 

We pilgrims have a message of hope for this hopelessly dark and evil world. We too have a “hope” like Paul’s, sharing His faith and assurance. And we must tell those around us, in our families, communities, schools, and workplaces, that Heaven is real, and Jesus saves all who come to Him. Living out our hope will not be easy. We will experience ridicule and persecution. Opportunities in this world may be lost to us. We will have to make difficult choices as we live out the hope we have for an eternal future. However, Jeremiah exposed God’s heart when he wrote, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, emphasis mine). Wherever we are in our Christian walk, we have a hope, an assurance even, that one day in the future we will be with God in Heaven. The Holy Spirit who lives within us says so. 

Dear Father God. One day we will be with You in Heaven. You promised us that in Your Word. You said it, so we believe it. We pray that this transformational truth will motivate and empower us as we share the Good News with all around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Working Hard

Posted on by korgrocker

“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”
Romans 12:11 NLT
“never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord;”
Romans 12:11 AMP

In this part of Romans 12, Paul set out some quick-fire instructions, to lead and guide his readers in their Christian lives. And they are just as applicable today as they were then. The different translations for this verse bring out the importance of involving the Holy Spirit in what we do, not just as a passive Companion, with little or no influence, but in a way that fires us up, bringing enthusiasm and dedication to the task in hand.

In my contacts in the community where I live, I have met a couple of men who have never worked. Men in their forties and fifties, subsisting on benefits and other state handouts, poorly educated and without hope for the future. It was not as though they started their lives with such a lifestyle as a goal, but due to getting in with the wrong crowds at school, and discovering alcohol as a means to generate some good feelings or whatever, within them, they drifted. And it could be argued that the state benefit system here in the UK contributed to the choices they made, introducing not having to work as an option. But one man said to me recently that he wished he could get a job. There is something within him that knows what he should be doing but he lacks the motivation now to do what it takes to cast off the alcohol addiction and the other negatives in his way of life. Is he a lazy man? I wouldn’t know, but at this stage in his life it is only God who could make a difference, and there are stories of the miraculous transforming power of the Holy Spirit in lifting alcoholics out of their addiction into His wonderful life, bringing self-respect and a wonderful testimony in the process. So I pray and look to God for the opportunity to help him and bring hope to someone who is hopeless, and sadly, written off by society.

Perhaps a similar problem confronted Paul in the Roman church. What we experience today in society has always been around because it is what we call human nature. In Paul’s day there wouldn’t have been the state benefits system that we see today, because a social income was unheard of. But Paul still felt the need to confront laziness, in people perhaps doing the bare minimum to get by. In Paul’s view of society, he introduced his readers to the concept that whatever we do, we do it as to the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ”. I read somewhere of a quote from Ruth Graham, the wife of the famous evangelist Billy Graham. Apparently she had a quotation pinned above the sink in her kitchen that reminded her that she was washing dishes as to the Lord. Such a view of our working lives is transformational. A bad human boss becomes irrelevant. It is God who we work for.

The story of Joseph in the latter chapters of Genesis is fascinating. Here was a man of whom it was said, “that the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:3). Because of that, he prospered in a heathen society, bringing salvation to his people in a time of famine. In Genesis 41:41 we read, “So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’” We know, of course, this happened, not because he worked for Pharaoh, but because he looked higher to Heavenly places and took his instructions from his Lord.

We pilgrims are more than likely employed in some capacity to other. But even in retirement, enjoying state or occupational pensions, we remember that we got here because we worked for the Lord. And we continue to give thanks for all His provision.

Dear Father God. We thank You for looking after us. Please help us to remember who supplies our every need. Amen.

Love and Hate

Posted on by korgrocker

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.”
Romans 12:9-10 NLT

Paul wanted to see no false love between the Roman Christians. He made the point that they should “really love” each other. The Apostle Peter, in his first letter, implored his readers to love each other too. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). And he reminds them that sins can be mitigated by loving each other, covering over their impact by a loving response of forgiveness. Peter, of all the Apostles, knew what deep love means. After denying Him three times, Jesus took the initiative and restored the relationship between them, the discourse recorded in John 21.

Paul could see that wrong things – behaviour, attitudes and sin in general – could destroy the relationship between those early Christians, hence his reminder to them that they should avoid doing, or being part of, anything that was wrong because it would potentially destroy them and their fellowship. Paul went even further, strongly emphasising that avoiding wrong was not enough. He implored them to “hate” anything that was even tainted by what was “wrong”. But what is “wrong”? How would we define that? I suppose, as some have found helpful, we could imagine God standing with us as we go about our daily lives. Would He approve of what we are doing, or watching, or saying? Is our behaviour sinful? Hmmm…

The Bible advises believers to hate anything to do with evil, and the writer of Proverbs lists a few. It is a sobering situation when we apply these to life today. Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family“. Some of these things that the Lord hates are easier to imagine than others. For example, telling lies is obviously wrong. Plotting an evil deed shouldn’t happen. But one thing that grieves me deeply is the practice of abortion, the killing of “the innocent”. In England and Wales nearly one in four pregnancies result in a termination. And I shudder to think of the consequences for those whose “hands” are involved.

But we pilgrims should strive to do good, not letting any possibility pass us by. Paul wrote to the Galatian Christians the following, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:10). We look out for ways in which we can bless those around us, and not just our fellow believers. The old lady next door might need someone to do some shopping or a practical repair in her home. A meal cooked and shared. A kind word to someone struggling with depression. We must be proactive in looking out for opportunities. It’s all about developing a mindset where doing good to others becomes a way of life to us. Matthew 5:16 records what Jesus said, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father“. Of course we remember that we are not saved by good works but saved for good works. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago“. 

So we do good and hate evil. A strategy in which we grow in our Christian faith, day by day.

Dear God. Please help us to discern when we are in danger of falling into evil ways. Lead us, we pray, in the ways of goodness. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Loving Others

Posted on by korgrocker

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.”
Romans 12:9-10 NLT

Paul takes another breath, pausing while he thinks about what comes next, following his Holy Spirit inspired thoughts about the motivational gifts. We can almost see him with his pen held above the parchment, ink ready to flow. The Holy Spirit prompts his thoughts towards love. Loving others. In his mind is, perhaps, the memory of the strife in Rome, between the Jewish and Gentile believers. And he writes that they should love each other. And not just outwardly, with a false sense of going through the motions, but with real love, coming from deep within them.

This is a theme that he returned to several times in his letters. He wrote the much quoted section in 1 Corinthians 13 about the qualities of love, and how it should be applied. He wasn’t talking about a “what’s in it for me” sort of love. Rather a love that desires the other person’s highest good. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 bears repeating here, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”. Paul sets out a measure against which we can gauge our success in loving. How patient are we with our husbands or wives? Do we get irritable with them? Do we remember those times when our partners wronged us, failing to forgive and forget, but instead bringing up the issue at every opportunity? Do we get jealous when someone we know and love achieves something that we wish we had achieved? Hmmm…

Jesus taught His disciples the importance of loving each other. We read in John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples”. Jesus gave His disciples, and us, by implication because we are His disciples too, a commandment to love each other. Such an act will make the world notice us, but, sadly, the strife that so publicly marks differences between Christians tells a different story. Bigotry rears its ugly head frequently in our societies, bringing disrepute to the Christian faith. Inter-denominational rivalries overflow into secular and sectarian environments, and, here in Scotland, even to football matches.

We pilgrims are founded on love. God so loved us that He sent Jesus, so that He could lavish His love on us in Heaven. A sobering yet joyous thought. One which we can only respond to on our knees as we thank Him for His merciful love.

Dear Father God. Please forgive us when we dwell on the differences between us rather than the parts of our faith that bind us. In Jesus name. Amen.

Showing Kindness

Posted on by korgrocker

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Romans 12:6-8 NLT

The last of the seven motivational spiritual gifts is the “gift for showing kindness to others”. Other translations refer to this as the gift of mercy. Someone who shows mercy has detected in another person spiritual or emotional needs that others may overlook. We are all very good, most of the time, in covering up what we really feel. So as we walk through the church door on a Sunday morning, we might be asked the usual question – “How are you today?” To which we respond – “Fine”. The questioner doesn’t know that there may be turmoil within us. We may be worried about all sorts of things but to stop at that point and explain why we’re not “Fine” isn’t an option. It would just exacerbate the situation, at least for us. So we adopt a cheery demeanour and push back. The mask holds firm.

But someone with the Holy Spirit gift of mercy has been given a divine insight into the deep and hidden needs of the other person. So they won’t be put off by the “fine” response and will choose a moment when they can show the kindness and love the other person needs. A merciful person won’t be put off by a prickly response. Also, they will always be kind to the underdog, to someone who is different in some way. 

Jesus taught that we should show mercy to our enemies. Luke 6:35-36, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. Now that is hard. Show mercy to someone who wants to harm you? But as Jesus said, we have a Heavenly Father who shows kindness to the “ungrateful and wicked”. But isn’t that what we were? Did He not show us kindness when we were far away from Him, living a life of sin? When we deserved punishment did He not mercifully forgive us through Jesus and His sacrifice at Calvary? A merciful person will have a different perspective when confronted by images of our enemies because they will see them as God sees them – with kindness and mercy.

In Matthew 5:7, Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”. The implication is that as we are merciful to others, we too will somehow receive mercy, and blessings. James developed this theme, as recorded in James 2:12-13, “So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you”. It looks as though acts of mercy are not optional, if we wish to be shown mercy ourselves.

We pilgrims are followers of Jesus. And he was the kindest and most merciful man who has ever existed. We walk in His footsteps, praying for the right opportunities to be merciful to others, and praying for the Holy Spirit to work within us, enhancing and transforming our merciful thoughts and deeds. 

Dear Lord Jesus. We thank You for all You have done, and still continue to do, for us. In these brutal and unloving days, please help us to reflect Your love and kindness to those around us. Amen.

Leadership (2)

Posted on by korgrocker

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Romans 12:6-8 NLT

We continue looking at the qualities of a church leader. In a previous blog we looked at the contentious requirement of a leader being male, as we read in the teaching of Paul to Timothy, and listed in 1 Timothy 3:2, “So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach“.  We also previously considered the requirement for a leader to be “above reproach”. 

The next item on Paul’s list is the need for the leader to “exercise self-control”. This is the ability to manage emotions and impulses so that the person appears stable and reliable. He (or she) won’t react in response to a provocation. There will be no angry outbursts, or floods of tears. No going off in a huff. There may be turmoil internally, but the person externally is always in full control of their emotions. Surely this is a big ask, because we are all human. And a leader is no exception. At times of stress, or tiredness, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to always restrain our outward response to a situation. But Paul was clear – a leadership quality is being able to “exercise self-control”. Furthermore, Romans 8:9, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all)”. The inclusion of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our Christian living is essential, because without Him we will respond in a worldly way.

Paul wrote that a leader must be able to “live wisely”. That is a statement that is surely extremely broad in its scope. Paul wrote about living wisely to the Ephesian church. Ephesians 5:15-16, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days“. The implication of this verse is that we should live very carefully because the time in which we live is evil. I don’t think any of us would dispute Paul’s analysis! In Paul’s day he discerned evil. Today every time we watch or read the news, what do we find – evil. We hear evil talk on the bus, or in the workplace or school. We observe behaviour around us that is – evil. Living wisely, then, is to avoid and reject evil. Instead we should seek the opposite of evil, which is goodness. This is a lifestyle choice and one we should look for in what we do and how we do it. We worship a good God, and He has infused our society with goodness. And if we look for it, we will find it.

A good reputation is a necessary quality of a leader. Our reputations are gained by being law-abiding, gracious, kind, merciful, having integrity and honesty, all qualities that combine with others to enable those around us to look up to them. Sadly, the leaders in our societies, our politicians, so often fail to display a good reputation, and are regarded as rogues, to be voted out of office at the earliest possible opportunity. Occasionally, those who lose the “good reputation” badge can regain it, as did the UK politician Jonathan Aitken. But most leaders who fail to live up to the right standards disappear, never to be seen again.

A leader “must enjoy having guests in his home”. Hospitality is a necessary quality of a leader. A guest will see how the leader, and his family live together. Jesus taught about the importance of being hospitable in Matthew 25, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home” (Matthew 25:34-35). Hebrews 13:2, “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realising it“. And there are many others verses in the Bible promoting the importance of being hospitable; such a quality shines in a leader.

Lastly, in Paul’s list, is the importance of a leader being able to teach. This implies the ability of being able to communicate, and communicate well. Sharing a vision or goal, appropriate to the church, with enthusiasm and clarity, and with the authority that comes from a leadership position. Teaching in a Biblical sense didn’t always hit the mark though. Jesus was a good teacher and immediately His audience could discern the difference between His teaching and that of the scribes and teachers in the Jewish society. Mark 1:22, “The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law“. But we must always remember the responsibility placed upon those who teach. James 3:1, “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly“. A teacher holds a position of great influence and has to be careful of what he or she teaches.

We pilgrims may or may not officially be leaders. But we may still have the motivational gift of teaching, a quality that will stand us well in the communities where we live and work. 

Father God. Again we pray for our leaders, both in our societies and in the church. They have an awesome responsibility and need You to lead and guide them. Thank You. Amen.

Leadership (1)

Posted on by korgrocker

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Romans 12:6-8 NLT

We all know what qualities we like to see in a leader. We look for integrity, charisma, fairness, enthusiasm, competence, and so on. We also know that some people are born to be leaders, but most are followers. Another fact is that there are many leaders out there who shouldn’t be in such a role, because they lack the necessary abilities and qualities. Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy, and pointed out to him the sort of qualities a church leader should have. We read them in 1 Timothy 3:2, “So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach“. 

Paul starts by making a statement that is contentious in mainstream Christian organisations, that a church leader must be male. David Pawson, the controversial Bible teacher, who sadly died recently, wrote a book “Leadership is Male” that reflected a view that was totally based on his understanding of the Scriptures. In his autobiography “Not So Bad As The Truth” he wrote, ”My second ‘reactionary’ belief is of male leadership, in the church and the home. I believe it is a God-given role and responsibility, not a question of superiority at all. God made us male and female, with distinct and complementary functions. The current trend to blur and even obliterate the distinction, both inside and outside the church, owes more to the spirit of the secular age than the Holy Spirit”. Pawson’s belief was founded on a fundamental interpretation of Scripture, not only shared by him, but we won’t dwell on this point – we each have to make up our own minds.

A church leader must have the quality of being “above reproach”. In other words, the person must not live a life that lacks integrity or honesty. He (or she) must behave in a way that is an example to their followers. So it would not do their reputation much good, if they are caught shoplifting or even speeding. Such behaviour would disqualify them from leadership. In the 1990’s, the Assemblies of God evangelist, Jimmy Swaggart, was found to have visited prostitutes. His high profile confession and subsequent events were well reported at the time, and the incident led to his withdrawal from ministry. Such behaviour fails to meet the quality of being “above reproach”. But before we take the moral high ground, we must remember that we are all sinners. It’s just that some people are more vulnerable to media scrutiny.

The next quality of a church leader, as listed by Paul, is that he must be faithful to his wife. Obvious really, because much of a church leader’s ministry is about relationships. How can a leader preach or teach about the family, if his own is in ruins? A pastor who cannot manage his own family must have a question mark hanging over him. Some years ago, I heard of a pastor whose wife left him to form a relationship with another man. As far as I am aware, he did what he could to rescue the situation, but without success. So he left the ministry, traumatised and sad. There was always the possibility that some of the blame for the situation would rest with him regardless of the circumstances. 

Dear Father. We pray for our leaders, that You will be with them day by day, guiding them in all truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Giving

Posted on by korgrocker

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Romans 12:6-8 NLT

When the word “giving” crops up, the first thing that comes to mind is our money. Paul wrote that the ability to be able to give, and give generously, is a gift from God. But in God’s economy, money is not the only resource that is available to be given. We must include our possessions and our time, and a combination of all our resources. This is because when we pilgrims became Christians, all that we have is made available to God. God said to Job, as recorded in Job 41:11, “Who has given Me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is Mine“. Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him“. We must never hold onto what we have so tightly that God can’t use it.

Paul wrote that if we have a gift of giving, then we must use it generously. Paul wrote about giving to the Corinthian church, as we read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others“. The strange thing is that God will give us the resources to give away. We can’t out-give God. Jesus taught, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38). God even gave out the challenge that we can test Him in the matter of giving. We read in Malachi 3:10, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test“!

In the early First Century church, there was no social security or benefits system, but the Christians of that day shared what they had with each other, meeting people’s needs. We read in Acts 4:32, “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had“. Acts 4:34-35, “There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need“. 

We pilgrims who are available and willing to share our resources should do so generously, and by so doing we will fulfil what God has asked us to do. 

God, we thank You for all that You have given us. We hold what we have in our hands, always open and outstretched towards You. Amen.

Encouraging Others

Posted on by korgrocker

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Romans 12:6-8 NLT

The next item on Paul’s list of God’s motivational gifts is encouragement. I think we can all agree, in these dark days of high energy and food costs, with inflationary pressures consuming our resources, with our health service under unprecedented strain, with wars and dire warnings about the effects of climate change, that we need encouragement. And lots of it. One thing is for sure – we will get very little in the way of encouragement from the media outlets. Or our politicians. Or the society around us. It seems that discouragement is the dominant force, sapping our motivation, and spawning the feeling, “what’s the point”. In my rambles in the community, I meet some very discouraged people. People who respond to “It’s a nice morning today”, with “Aye, but it will probably rain later”. People who always view a glass of water as being half empty. People who seem to thrive on having a good moan.

We pilgrims are of a different spirit, however. We are infused with the joy of the Lord. That doesn’t mean we go through life with a silly grin on our faces regardless of the circumstances. It means that, as citizens of the Kingdom of God, we have a different perspective, resourced with the riches of Heaven. Within us is an inner strength, fuelled by the certainty that one day we will be in an environment where the worldly negatives and discouragements will no longer be found. 

In Nehemiah 8 we read about the time when the people of Israel asked Ezra the Scribe to read to them from the Book of the Law. The leaders explained what it all meant and we read in Nehemiah 8:9-10, “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength””. At a time of national challenge, as a remnant of the Jews who had returned after being exiled, they suddenly found that, although their circumstances didn’t change, their perspective did because of the “joy of the Lord”. They found great encouragement through the Word of God and their leaders who explained what it all meant.

In our fellowships, our communities, our families, and even in our workplaces or schools, there may be no-one available to share a kind word, or some encouragement, to counter the debilitating effects of rampant discouragements, except us. And God has provided just what we need. A Gift of Encouragement. Let’s use it wisely and effectively, as our lights shine like beacons in this lost world. If we pilgrims can’t display “the joy of the Lord” and encourage those around us, who will?

Dear God. You have put within us a deep-seated and immovable joy. Thank You! Amen.