The Ancient World

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.”
2 Peter 2:5 NLT

We read recently the passage in Genesis 6, where there is an account of angels having a “liaison” with women on earth and producing the giants of the ancient world. God spoke out in Genesis 6:3, “Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years””. In Genesis 6:5-6 we then read, “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart“. Those last words poignantly describe what God thinks about sin. And He pronounced judgement on the world at that time, “And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them”” (Genesis 6:7). That would have been the end of the human race but… We thank God for His buts! Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found favour with the Lord“.

In Genesis 1, God created the Heavens and the Earth, and we read in Genesis 1:31, “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day”. He was pleased with His creation, exclaiming that it was “very good”. An understatement, I think we agree. But as Peter wrote, God did not even spare His beautiful creation when evil and sin blighted what He had made. God had Noah’s ear, and He shared His plan with Noah, a plan that involved the destruction of all living creatures, except for those that He was going to save. It took Noah 100 years, or thereabouts, to build the ark, because he was 500 years old when he became the father of his three sons (Genesis 5:32), and he was 600 when he populated the ark and the flood came (Genesis 7:6). 

In a generation, a society, that was inherently evil, Noah stood strong in his faith in God. Imagine the abuse and ridicule he received for 100 years, as he built that ark and populated it with all the animals. We must consider that the building of a structure that large would have been too much for one man and his young sons, so he must have employed local craftsmen to help. We must also consider that the people of that day were not familiar with a large expanse of water, and therefore wouldn’t have known what a boat was for. But Noah stood strong in God anyway, and in so doing warned “the world of God’s righteous judgement”. And in return Noah had God’s protection. After the Flood, God made a promise to Noah. “Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth”” (Genesis 9:11). So instead of destroying His creation again for their wickedness, God introduced Jesus to the world. Surely they will believe in Him and turn to Me? Was that His thought?

There are many discouraged Christians around in the West these days. They observe much that is going on in Christian denominations that is directly against Scripture, and they grieve dwindling numbers attending church services. But we can take heart because God always has a “but” up His sleeve. Jesus said that He would build His church, and that will truly happen. In fact, we know that in the last days many will fall away from the faith – Jesus Himself warned us that this would happen, “And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other” (Matthew 24:10). We pilgrims therefore must shine even brighter in this dark society, where even churches are embracing the wickedness that God hates.

How are we shining for God to those around us? For a start, do they know that we are believers in Jesus? Are we behaving in a way that reflects our faith? One thing I believe God said to me recently was that some people are so worn down and depressed in their lives, that even a cheery word is enough to lift them. We have a message of hope, and the Holy Spirit will help us communicate it to this sad, sombre and sinful world.

Dear Father God. Please help us to share Your loving heart to those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sinning Angels

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.”
2 Peter 2:4 NLT

Peter told his readers that even angels are not immune from God’s righteousness and justice. The graphic language of this verse stimulates imaginations into all sorts of pictures. But we never think of angels as being sinners, that is until we read Genesis 6. “Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives” (Genesis 6:1-2). Theologians widely interpret the phrase “sons of God” as meaning angels in the context, and it is believed that the rebellious satan tried the strategy of mixing heavenly and earthly beings in a sexual relationship. And we find out later in this chapter in Genesis that giants resulted from the union. “In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times” (Genesis 6:4).

We pilgrims know of course that God desires justice. He is perfectly righteous in all His ways, as we read in Psalm 145:17, “The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness“. We read in Psalm 7:11, “God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day“. So Peter wrote in our verse today that “God did not spare even the angels who sinned”. It is widely thought that demons are fallen angels, angels who have sinned, so the timing of their incarceration in “hell” (actually in the Greek this place is called Tartarus, a holding area just for these rebellious and sinful angels). We don’t know when these angels were thrown into Tartarus, but it is probably still some time in the future. What we do know is that God didn’t “spare” them, even though they were angels. The use of this word “spare” reminds us of what Paul wrote in Romans 8:32, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else“? This word “spare” means not holding back. It implies a necessary, but painful, act, perhaps irrevocable. So we might give away our “spare” change into a donation box, or take a “spare” item to a charity shop. But what God refused to “spare” was precious and dear to Him. It was an act of incredible and amazing love and kindness that He even gave up His Son for us. God spared Him.

There are consequences to sin. It has to be judged and dealt with, and the spirit realm is full of the spirits of sinful angels and people, waiting for that time when they are judged for what they have done in their life. Angels are immortal beings but they, like humans, have the ability to make choices. Satan, who, from what we can see in the Bible, was also called Lucifer, was the senior angel, a worship leader in Heaven. Yet he made a choice to rebel against God and suffered the consequences, being thrown out of Heaven along with a large number of angels who sided with him. And Peter reminded his readers that they would one day come to a miserable end in a holding place called Tartarus. 

Is all this of any relevance to us pilgrims? After all, have we ever seen an angel? And aren’t they responsible for their own actions, just as we are? For me, this verse in 2 Peter that we are considering today is a warning that one day the sinful universe in which we live will be rebalanced. Sin will be no more, and all those who have made right choices in wanting to live God’s way through Jesus will find themselves living with Him forever. But all those who reject God will find out that He has rejected them. God has done everything possible to make available eternal life for all those who desire it. He of course could have created a race of robots, zombies unable to make choices for themselves, but instead He created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27), taking a risk that they would want to live with Him forever. We know what happened, as the Genesis story unfolded. But God had a plan for the future of His creation, involving His very own Son, through whom everything was created (John 1:3). And, for that plan, we will be eternally grateful.

Father God. Once again we praise and thank You for Your grace and mercy. Through Jesus You have accepted us as righteous in Your sight. We are a truly privileged people. Amen.

Seeing or Believing

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendour with our own eyes when he received honour and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.”
2 Peter 1:16-19 NLT

‭‭Peter once again refers to the “experience” of the Mount of Transfiguration. It was an occasion that transformed his life. Well, why wouldn’t it? Imagine being in that situation ourselves, not only seeing Jesus in all His “majestic splendour” but seeing with Him two of the old prophets, Moses and Elijah, who should have been long dead and buried. Such an “experience” must transcend any human understanding, because it cuts right across all our scientific and natural beliefs. Imagine the scenario, trying to describe what happened to a sceptical and agnostic professor at an esteemed university. Such an academic might be impressed by our animated description of what had happened but he would be highly sceptical and more likely to assume it was a drug-induced fantasy. Neither is it the sort of tale that would be well received in the pub or our workplace. Ridicule or worse would follow. 

Just after 9/11, a girl in my office returned from her New York holiday still deeply affected, in shock even, by the sight of the Twin Towers being destroyed. Just the day before it had happened she had eaten a meal in the restaurant at the top of one of the towers, and the following day observed the attacks in real time. We were impressed by her account of what had happened, because we too had seen the event on the news reports. But imagine if we hadn’t and all the knowledge came solely from her account? Would her story have been too off the wall to be believed?

And we remember the disciple, Thomas. He wasn’t present when the resurrected Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples. We read in John 20:24-25, “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side””. His response came after the testimony of the remaining ten disciples (of course, Judas was no longer with them) and he still didn’t believe. A few days later, he did get to meet the risen Jesus, who said to him, “ … You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me”” (John 20:29).

It is true that no-one living on Planet Earth today has ever experienced at first hand the person of Jesus. The only recorded instant of a personal encounter after the resurrection was with Paul, who met the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road and we can read his story in Acts 9. But our future salvation does not depend on an in-the-flesh meeting with Jesus. He came to this world to save it, and we know what He said – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We know much about Jesus from the Biblical accounts and we can develop a Holy-Spirit enlightened impression of who Jesus was. As we read in Revelation 22:4, one day we will see Jesus’ face, “And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads”. But not will we see Him. The Bible tells us we will be like Him. 1 John 3:2, “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is“. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, we read, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely“. That’s where our faith comes into play. All we need to know about Jesus we can find in God’s Word, the Bible. And the more we read it, the more we will find out about His love and grace, equipping use for life in this sad and sinful world.

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your master plan, revealing Your Son, Jesus, to all on this planet. Please help us not to squander the experience, by helping us to share our faith and belief with others who don’t know Him. Amen.

Divine Power

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:3 NLT

In the bustling chaos of our daily lives, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and drained. We often find ourselves juggling responsibilities, navigating challenges, and seeking fulfilment in a world that constantly demands more. Peter tantalisingly gives us the thought that regardless of how are lives are proceeding, it is possible to live a Godly life, because all the power we need is in God. It’s a power not constrained by our human limitations but one that encompasses everything we need for life and godliness. This divine empowerment isn’t arbitrary – God doesn’t sit on His throne with a sweety bag, throwing out handfuls of granny sookers at random – the availability of His Power is intricately related to our knowledge of God. As we delve into the depths of understanding Him, we unlock the reservoir of His power available to us.

The divine power available to us pilgrims isn’t limited to a specific area. It applies to every facet of our existence. From navigating relationships to overcoming personal struggles, the power we can access in God is available to us and covers the entirety of life’s spectrum. But what is this power? Paul wrote about it in Ephesians 1:19-20, “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms“. 

So how can we access this limitless source of divine power? It is obviously a power that is far greater than anything we could imagine. And we know that from Ephesians 3:20, that His power is within us, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think“. Enticingly, we can do much with this power – the limitation seems to be our willingness to dream, to ask God, to believe that He is who He says He is, and wants to work much through our lives. This Divine resource comes from a deep, intimate knowledge of God that opens the floodgates of His power. This knowledge involves seeking Him through prayer, studying His Word, and cultivating a relationship that goes beyond surface-level understanding. 

For a moment let us journey back to Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth“. Then look at verses 3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, and 26. They all start with “Then God said…”. How much power did that take? Our amazing God spoke and something happened that was far beyond anything we can get our minds around. That’s divine power. In Romans 8:11 we read, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you“. That’s divine power. In Matthew 14 is the account of the feeding of the 5,000. We read, “Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!” (Matthew 14:19-21). That’s divine power. And we can look at other Bible events and see the manifestations of God’s power, events often far beyond the ability of the authors to articulate what really happened. 

We pilgrims can do great works ourselves because Jesus said so. We read what He said in John 14:12, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father“. So is it too much to believe that God’s power is sufficient for “everything we need for living a godly life”? But we worry and fret. We’re anxious about the next pay check. We take our eyes off our God with all His resources of divine power. But no more. On our knees today we ask for His forgiveness and hold out our hands in supplication, in the knowledge that he wants to provide for His children. Through faith, all we need is available to us.

Dear Father. Thank You for Your provision, Your resources, Your limitless power. Please help us to tap into what we need day by day, and we ask that You keep us close to You. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Grace and Peace Multiplied

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,”
2 Peter 1:2 NKJV

Peter writes some encouragement for his readers, a blessing numbering just a few words but limitless in scope. And the blessing didn’t stop after it rested on the inhabitants of the five provinces – it has reverberated down through the ages right to the present day. Peter opened a door for his readers, a door labelled “Grace and Peace”, and by it he provided a glimpse into the world inside, a vista of God’s blessings disappearing without limit into the distance. 

Grace is a word that encapsulates the unmerited favour and divine kindness that God has poured out upon mankind. The benevolence that God displays started with the creation of the world and is still with us today. There is no end to His favour, and Peter presents an opportunity for his readers, of receiving more than a single portion. God’s grace, Peter says, is “multiplied” to them from a bottomless reservoir that will never be exhausted. He spoke out that blessing over them through his pen, and I’m sure his early readers would have felt the Holy Spirit pour over them.

Peter could have left his blessing just with grace, but he added to it the concept of peace. Grace paves the way for peace, creating a harmonious synergy between God and us pilgrims. Through His grace we can experience a peace so profound that it is life changing in our world, conflicted as it is by sin. But the peace that Peter wrote about is not just the absence of conflict but a profound tranquillity that surpasses understanding. Paul also wrote about this peace in Philippians 4:7, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus“. In an age marked by chaos, the assurance of multiplied peace becomes a beacon of hope to a sad world in despair.

We pilgrims are the enlightened ones. We know God’s grace and peace. We have experienced Peter’s prayer in our lives and have warmed ourselves in the glow from God’s multiplied blessings. But we must act as reflectors, focusing the heavenly rays to those around us, alleviating their distress and despair. We pray that we have the words to say, the deeds to act, to bridge the gap and penetrate the hard outward crust covering the hunger inside our Godless friends and neighbours. Paul wrote in his second Corinthian letter, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4). That’s multiplied grace leading to the comfort of an inner peace. The grace we receive can be multiplied to others.

But we pilgrims must never forget that God’s boundless blessings of multiplied grace and peace is for us too. We need more grace, more peace, more of God, to help us gain “the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”. There is no limit to God’s grace and peace except ourselves.

Dear Heavenly Father. We thank You for Your many blessings and all the resources we need for our journey through life. All supplied through Jesus. We worship You today. Amen.

Peace

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace. Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.”
1 Peter 5:12-14 NLT

Peace seems to be an elusive word in and on 21st Century Planet Earth. The world around us is tearing itself apart with wars. Even closer to home, a lack of tolerance and understanding brings people onto the streets to have a “peaceful” demonstration, but it is inevitably full of hatred and vitriol rather than “peace”. This weekend there are planned marches in major British cities in defence of the Palestinian cause. Social media-stoked misinformation, and anti-Semitic rhetoric abound and destroy any hopes of peace in our UK communities, at least for the time being. Good people, and God’s people, stay at home, hoping the storms of non-peace will pass them by. But all this mayhem is an external manifestation of peace, or a lack of it, and not the sort of peace Peter was finishing his first letter with. Peter was writing about an inner peace, peace with God and our fellow believers. Achieving such a peace will spill over into peace in our communities and nations.

Paul wrote famously the verses in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus”. It is a true fact of life in modern times, that the peace Paul and Peter were writing about is in short supply. The lives we live can become corrupted by worry and anxiety, spawning feelings of anger and distress. Lashing out at perceived, often distorted or mistaken, “injustices” can partly mitigate the inner feelings of conflict. But instead of marching on the streets, prayer is a better solution. 

Jesus came to this world bringing peace. Remember the angels’ song to the shepherds near Bethlehem? “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14). Isaiah prophesied the coming “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9:6, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. And Jesus Himself mentioned how God’s blessing will fall on the peace-makers, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). 

Paul wrote that our inner peace is so important that it must become a driving force within us. We read in Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful”. How is our inner peace today? Do we pilgrims feel turmoil and stress, combining to displace the rule and reign of Christ within us? If that is the case, we need to pause on our life-journey and take some time sitting in God’s presence and allowing His peace to flood over us. We give thanks for our progress on the journey. And we pray about whatever is conflicting our very souls. We look up and see God in His throne room, smiling upon us, encouraging us, blessing us, and as we embrace His Son, the Prince of Peace, we will find restoration and peace once more. The journey will still be there tomorrow, or the next day. But now is the time for God and our peace.

Dear Heavenly Father. You have created us within us a need for peace. You know what is best for us, and we pray for Your grace to help us align ourselves to how You would have us be. So we thank You once again, and worship at Your footstool. Amen.

God’s Grace

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace. Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.”
1 Peter 5:12-14 NLT

After a letter full of encouragement and instructions, Peter summarised the contents with the words, “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you”. The five churches in Asia Minor must have been struggling to survive. The persecution they were experiencing was almost too much for them to bear, and they must have often thought about giving up. So Pastor Peter sent a letter and his “faithful brother” Silas to help them. And with the two messengers, written and living, the early Christians would have been really encouraged. 

Throughout his letter, Peter reminded his readers of the grace of God. In his introduction, he prayed, “may God give you more and more grace…”. In 1:13, he wrote, ” … Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world“. He reminded them in 2:9 that they were “a chosen people” and “God’s very own possession”. And throughout the letter he alluded to Christ’s suffering, but never minimising their own. 

The word “grace” is not uncommon in our society. We are aware of “grace and favour” homes, where tenants are allowed to live for a peppercorn rent, if any at all. We talk about a boorish person lacking “social graces”. But the word “grace” really comes alive when we associate it with God. God’s grace, His unmerited favour, has always been there. Through Moses, He gave the Law, but even that was a gracious act providing a method using animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. God hasn’t changed, even though we now talk about being in a season of grace. The animal sacrifices were replaced by a much greater mitigation for sin – Jesus. He became the sacrifice God demanded as a penalty for our sins. We read in Hebrews 2:17, “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people“. But the Law is still there. Jesus said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose” (Matthew 5:17). The Apostle John wrote, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Through God’s grace we can now find life through His Spirit. Romans 7:6, “But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit“. When Jesus came to this earth, He found that God’s intentions through the Law, in showing us our sins, had been turned by the religious leaders into a legalistic stick which they used to beat the people. God’s grace became hidden in a swamp of rules and regulations. But like a breath of fresh air, God’s grace flooded over us through Jesus’ revelation. His kindness to sinful man must drive us to our knees in repentance and gratitude. And there, in a place of worship, we feel what His grace really means. There is nothing we can do to earn it, because grace is a free gift from God. With outstretched hands we accept it. For all eternity.

Father God. Your grace is sufficient for us, today and forevermore. Thank You. Amen.

Silas

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace. Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.”
1 Peter 5:12-14 NLT

As he was signing off his letter, Peter mentioned the help he had received from a man called Silas. We find the first mention of Silas in Acts 15:22, “Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas”. So we know he was one of the first church leaders and respected enough to be entrusted with an important role in the establishment of the Christian church in Antioch. We also know that Silas accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey, and he was the Silas who was severely beaten with Paul in Philippi and ended up in the Philippian jail. We can read this story in Acts 16. Silas had a reputation of being faithful and another short verse gives us some more insight into this man. “Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith“ (Acts 15:32). So as well as being a faithful encourager, Silas was also a prophet.

There was no postal service in those days, so Peter sent the letter to the five churches in the care of Silas, who he commended as a “faithful brother”. After this, Silas disappeared from historical accounts, but we do know that through his faithfulness, he would have made a difference in the lives of those early Christians, encouraging and supporting them.

Are there any men like Silas today? I have been fortunate enough to have known several. Men of God, who have faithfully followed Jesus, and who have helped me at times in my pilgrimage through life. I can remember the man who carefully and diligently started me off on my journey with a Bible and some Bible Notes. Another man from Florida, who had moved to Scotland as a missionary, at just the right time, showed me the way through some spiritual minefields. And there were others. Faithful men doing God’s work.

We pilgrims also have an obligation to help our fellow brothers and sisters. Silas was motivated by love for other believers, doing what Jesus asks all His disciples to do. We read what Jesus said 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”. Loving our brothers and sisters in God involves the same demonstration of love that Jesus exampled to His disciples. No conditions. Faithfully. Never giving up. Such loving qualities are the mark of Christians everywhere. Sometimes we pilgrims look at the scale of the potential task of encouraging everyone, and are in danger of being overwhelmed. But God is the Master strategist, and knows we are not required to change the world. There might just be one brother or sister to whom we have supplied the right words at an opportune time, and that is all God has asked us to do. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians with this message, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We can all be a “Silas” to those around us.

Dear Father God. You, the great Encourager, want us to encourage others too. Please give us the right words at the right time. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

A Firm Foundation

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 NLT

When we consider the word “foundation” what comes into our minds? A builder will think of the concrete and stone that he is building a wall or house on, a base strong and firm enough to support the weight of the structure above it. And that picture will extend into all manner of activities that we get involved in. So a sportsman or woman will develop a foundation of fitness that will enable them to compete in their sport. Their foundations are built on a regime of the correct muscle-building foods, the long hours spent swimming, or running, or repeating the very process they will go through on the competition day. Paul used the sporting analogy when he wrote this in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Don’t you realise that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified”. 

A business will develop prosperity based on the skills and knowledge of its workers. In this context we talk about the founders of a company, who put together a few ideas perhaps in a bedroom or garage, and from there became a success story, growing into a large and even multi-national company. A “foundation” is a beginning, a starting point, something solid and tangible. And something essential for the success of whatever is built upon it.

The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee in the days before he met Jesus on the Damascus Road. Not just any Pharisee, however. We read about his Jewish upbringing in Philippians 3:5-6, “I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault”. Paul’s foundation was on the Law of Moses and the plethora of accompanying rules and regulations that made up the lives of Pharisees. But imagine what happened to his foundation when he met Jesus. It took him days to get his mind round the reality that he had built his life on the wrong foundation. Referring to his heritage and pedigree, we read more of his story in Philippians 3:7-8, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ”. 

We pilgrims have built our lives on a true and strong foundation – the person and work, death and resurrection, of Jesus Christ. In fact He is the only way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) that we need. Everything in our lives must be built upon Him. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:20, “Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself”. 

There is an old hymn written in 1866 by S J Stone, and the first verse is:
The church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is His new creation,
by water and the word.
From heav’n He came and sought her
to be His holy bride;
with His own blood He bought her,
and for her life He died.

It was a favourite of mine in my early Anglican days, and the truths within it haven’t changed at all in the last 160 years or so. Our faith is truly founded on the Chief Cornerstone – Jesus Himself. There is no other foundation that will support our lives on Planet Earth and in the life to come.

Dear Lord Jesus. You are there only foundation that will last when all else is destroyed. We build upon You and Your ways, this day and every day. Amen.

God’s Kindness

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 NLT

We read these two verses today and receive the assurance that through Jesus everything will work out okay in the end. But those in the middle of the suffering Peter was referring to might wish to see a positive situation much sooner than that. Bringing that theme up to date, think of the single mum, constantly struggling to balance her small family budget. The man desperately looking for work so that he can pay his bills. The old lady cowering in a cold, dark cellar, waiting for the next bomb to fall, hoping that it doesn’t hit her home. The parents distraught as they look at their child, sick with an aggressive cancer, suffering beyond anything we would wish to experience. But in this sin-ridden world, all these examples are only too common and many lift their eyes to Heaven and shake their fists at a God they hold accountable for their misfortunes. How could the God of the Universe, they say, allow all this suffering to happen, particularly to them.

But Peter starts with the thought that God is kind. In fact, he refers to the eternal glory we will share with Jesus through God’s kindness. God doesn’t have to show us any kindness because, after all, we humans are polluted by sin, and we offend His very righteousness. But the revelation to Peter’s readers was that they could experience God’s kindness in the middle of their suffering. But how can that be, we ask? Will God pay our bills? Perhaps. Will He heal the sick child? It has happened before, many times. Will God …? In times of suffering, no matter how intense, we lift our eyes upwards to the very throne of God, not in anger, but looking to receive the kindness of our Heavenly Father. It is an encounter that will transform the situation in which we find ourselves. 

Whenever I think of God’s loving kindness, I go to the Book of Psalms. Here I can find prayers, songs, poems, and words of worship that can bind our spirits to God’s. Psalm 36:7a, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  … ”. Or Psalm 69:16, “Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies“. Then there’s Psalm 17:7, “Show Your marvellous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them“. 

We pilgrims live in a sin-ridden and evil world, and believers everywhere are not immune to the consequences of sin. But Jesus came to save us by taking on board the sin for us. And instead He gave us His righteousness. Paul wrote about what we call the Divine Exchange in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him“. So we have access to all God’s resources through Jesus. Peter wrote, “he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation”. J L Packer wrote in his book “Knowing God”, “We have said that when people know God, losses and ‘crosses’ cease to matter to them; what they have gained simply banishes these things from their minds”. 

So today, no matter what our situation is, can we just lift our eyes above the suffering and get a glimpse of God reaching out to us, ready and waiting to show us the kindness we need? There may just be a break in the clouds …

Dear kind and gracious Heavenly Father. Thank You for Your love for us, and we thank You for Jesus who has showed us the way to Your presence. Amen.