Authentic Church applied (1) : Reading the bible as a church family.

Ponderings on how authentic church should be in the global mission of God's new community.  

Who is the bible for and how inclusive is it presented to be ?

There was a trend 10 years or so ago to help people be better prepared (hyper prepared) for public reading of scripture. It came from a noble place to honour the word of God. I love friends in the acting profession who can read, recite or remember so well, and those who put time into public declaration of the word of God. They are so gifted by God and such a blessing to the church. My concern however was a growing trend of elitism which only allows well prepared gifted readers to be the sole public readers of the bible in the gathered new community of God. To me the issue was always and is always one of balance. The majority of us are not gifted in public reading, but we have a heart for God's people. Whats more, regardless of our reading and public speaking abilities we long for his word to be declared, and love to honour it amongst his family. The heart of God is surely more passionate about our genuine affection for him and our private authenticity than any public announcements. ( Luke 18:1-14, 1 Cor 13:1, Matthew 6:1-4, ).  Many of the countries we are currently working in have a high percentage of illiteracy or shortage of bibles in that language to check what is being read/ recited. This however does not minimise the desire for God's word,  in many cases it makes it more intense.

 I was left wondering if this (hyper prepared reading of scripture) was a bit of an obsession in the Western world, to read the word of God in a more controlled (OCD) manner which was more to our taste and middle class liking. Was this part of the Western world looking like it had a high view of Scripture when in fact we were trying to contain / manage the word of God to our limitations ? 

Confession time. I don't usually share this ... but as a young guy I acted in the theatre, in a lead role of an Alan Bennet play (amongst others). I've also worked in musical direction in the theatre and media world. It was a weird world of social eccentricity. I remember the culture long after the lines and practiced intonation have been forgotten (a lesson for the new community in itself). Without exception, each new show was a fresh window on how desperate and depraved false community and humanity can be. The duplicity of pretending to be perfectly charming in a company before the Director or public, was coupled with constant gossip and backstabbing backstage to land the Director's favour for the next role. It was no family of cohesive unity, but everyone driven to do what was right in their own eyes. I would hate that world or a similar culture to be seen in the church. The church is so much more beautiful than a theatre company culture to me. God's new community has greater treasure in his grace. We are normalised by knowing that it is by grace alone we belong. Our story begins and ends with his mercy identifying who we are authentically and transparently before God. We are united by the same blood, to hear the voice of the one true eternal shepherd who draws all people to himself.

So... should we maintain or impose an exclusivity on who should read from the front of church ?

Should we not be more concerned about opening up the word to all people in a natural way for heart to heart response in the family ? 

At what stage are we guilty of making the reading of God's word a performance act which has an extra manmade veneer obscuring the natural human reading and genuine human response of creatures who need to hear and respond to our GOD ? 

• 
  If we only allow hyper prepared readers, what does this say about the 7 year old who comes to read the bible on the spot (or not so prepared) and mispronounces ? (My wife is still mortified and getting over the fact that on Palm Sunday she told a full congregation that Jesus road into Jerusalem on a clot rather than a colt. Thankfully it was a new community full of grace.) 
• Is it not healthy for other children to hear one of their group read in church ? 
• If we segregate children to only read in their own program (where they can make mistakes without us having to listen), what does that say about how much we value them as a church family, and the level of our patience and grace? 

Including the family to hear his voice as we listen together. 

How many of those now in leadership,  had their first experience of public speaking to the church family through reading a short passage, doing a memory verse or giving a short account of the holiday club/ youth weekend away ?

A young guy learns to be seen growing in giftedness:

When people grow in the family of God ... the whole family benefits:

"Command and teach these things.  Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,[c] so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."

1 Tim 4:11-14 reminds us that young kids being brought up in the scriptures have both private and public dimensions. Remember Timothy's early start (2 Tim 1:5). Word ...with life on life family mentorship (whether bloodline or blood bought) is the biblical model. Praise God for Godly Grannies and Mums who humbly and regularly read the bible with their kids. Tomorrow's world leaders in the mission of the new community come from such humble beginnings. There is however the public dimension, which is hugely encouraging to the whole church. Timothy's growth started in God's word, it started early and kept progressing in gift, authenticity, power and impact. In fact it has global impact when young kids grow into mature adults to reach the nations with the word of God, with confident proclamation that the word of God is not just for them but all peoples.

Psalm 145:3-6

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,

 and shall declare your mighty acts.

 

On the glorious splendour of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

 

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,

    and I will declare your greatness.

Psalm 96:7-9

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

 

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering, and come into his courts!

 

Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth!

The bible is God's gift of grace to ALL NATIONS AND ALL PEOPLE. 

God's heart and voice is for all nations, Jesus' invitation is for whoever will receive him. 

1. His word is for all...those who have not been to school, those who cannot read or struggle to read so easily. It is for the ordinary man, woman, boy, or girl in in a frontier mission country, where audio bibles are treasured and hopefully one day they will also have a printed bible to read (hopefully they will also be helped by God's people to be patiently sought how to read.)
2. The bible is for the marginalised, vulnerable and transparently weak/ humble... The bible is for the old man who wears glasses as he wobbles before the lectern, or the one who reads in their second or fourth language. The bible is for the displaced Ukrainian who arrived in your country yesterday, it is for the persecuted asylum seeker who knows Christ but has never read publicly in your language. It is for the street child in Bogota, Brazil or Odessa, It is for the woman who used to work on the streets and the gang leader who now serves Christ. It is for the man who found Christ in prison, the rogue whose story proclaims he was treasured by heaven. 

• NB All of these authentic (real current situations) of reading the bible have more inherent blessing to me when each read publicly in church, blessing more than any staged or stage managed performance. How wonderful that God's word has no boundaries about who should read it, and is so inclusive of all marginalised by the caste system, or downtrodden due to persecution. 

3. THE UNCONTAINABLE WORD OF GOD GOES OUT TO THIS GENERATION AND THE NEXT. There are multi- ripples for the gospel when God's rainbow grace is publicly seen. There is a place for reading the bible well and prepared, however this should never be overly sanitised... the word of God is living not confined, a roaring lion not a lap dog. Authentic natural worship is the natural environment for God's voice to be heard.  Spontaneous reading, mediation and pondering, are natural in the family atmosphere of a loving gracious new community as we involve and discourse with all.  

• Yes such open culture can be dangerous and messy, but there are even greater dangers in treating the gathered people of God as a sanitised or contained performance. There is no good which can come from  reading the bible as performance, or reading with our limitations imposed with pride, there is no good which can come from reading with the motive of self gratification or personal adoration. 
• As a family we meet as a family and speak as a family (with blunt openness in the security of guaranteed acceptance and love). Simarly as the household of God as we gather to hear God speak to us as a family, and through the family. Surely if you belong to this family of Christ by his grace and compassion,  it is appropriate for you to read God's word  publicly and speak his truth to the rest of the family? Public confession of Christ and wearing the badge of discipleship (Romans 10:9) is inherent to belonging to God's family. We need to permeate each of our gatherings with this vital component. 
• Extra layers of conditions about who can read publicly (inner circle membership restrictions) have more to do with the 1st century Hebraic monoculture Jesus is scathing of in the gospels.  

SUMMARY : 

• Consider what is perceived by the family (and those looking on through the new community window), re: who reads the bible publicly and who is chosen/ invited to do so.
• How inclusive can we make this whilst being helpful to the family? 
• Reading God's word is not the role of the elite super priests with a hotline to heaven, it is for the family priesthood of all believers. Don't elevate your role as a leader beyond what it is by Christ's calling. We are servants and servants who submit below his word... called to facilitate and enable others to come close and hear his voice,  confess his greatness. This is our great privilege. 
• Public "Mistakes" are opportunities to display grace in action. When one learns publicly by grace, we all learn. 
• Diversity of accents, and overtones of many cultures proclaim that we are all one in Christ Jesus. Without diversity there is no true unity. Unity in Christ is not monotone or monochrome, but a loud diversity which covers the whole earth, all generations, all history and even the unconfined / yet to be understood cosmos. 

How great is our God.

Psalm 113

Praise the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

    praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord

    from this time forth and forevermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting,

    the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,

    and his glory above the heavens!

Who is like the Lord our God,

    who is seated on high,

who looks far down

    on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust

    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

to make them sit with princes,

    with the princes of his people.

He gives the barren woman a home,

    making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the Lord!

Transparent families are healthy families

“At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”

Just pondering something which is really starting to hit home. As I travel churches and countries, various cultures and kind friends generously invite me into their family homes. I have come to love the home which just treats me the same as a normal member of the family, the home which doesn't tidy up with obsession in advance, or do anything different for food. (JFI Homemade authentic local cuisine is always infinitely more moreish than an attempt at the narrow perception of what a brit can cope with). I am therefore pondering what this means for the family of God. In what ways do we not need to pretend to be something we are not, and offer a treasured welcome to so many in need of the welcome of Christ's family?

Home is a place of reality and acceptance without pretence.

One of the beauties about living daily with those you love is that your devotion is tested and active. Relationship goes deeper, the flavour is richer and fuller when true family effervesces in the same pot. There is such an inexplicable beauty when this works. Home is a place where I should not need to pretend, but am accepted, unconditionally dealt with in love whether in discipline or encouragement. 

A long time ago in a land not so far away, there was no such thing as "virtual church". In fact the very DNA of church is real true family, the creation of the triune God (who is himself 3 in 1), who comes to live with his people, his people live with him, and each other. Our daily abiding is what we are, who we are, and is to signal to the world the joy of the privileged place that grace has chosen for our home. This grace community, is also supposed to be over-flowingly generous with all that they enjoy out of God's kindness. Our joy should overspill to daily   invitation of welcome  to join the family of grace, as extensions are built to accommodate all new comers, and new homes built on the family land reaching far and wide. Our "familyness" in God is to authenticate the gospel we preach and the character of the wonderful Father we live under. 43 explicit times in the bible the thread of God living with his people and being the presence and identity of his family  runs through the family history of his people and the new community. (see verse index at the end) 

“I will dwell in them and walk among them;

And I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

A worrying trend:

However, in our age image is often more treasured than reality. In our digital age we project who we want to be. The spirit of our age is to copy those who influence, to ape the appearance of those who are seen to be popular, and yes be a "virtual family" or projected version of ourselves, even when in the same room. Avoiding reality for the idolatry of what is virtual is unhealthy on so many levels. Have you visited a home where each are on their phones all at the same time ? How bizarre to be in the room or home with those we share blood with but only communicate electronically, or reduce conversation to soundbites, yet at the same time talk verbosely about all kinds of rubbish with others around the world.  When family Facebook photos are only full of fake smiles, perfectly tidy kitchens and the only meal on show is restaurant quality we have to ask ... is this real ? and if it is ...where is the reality of this family heading? Do I belong here, or have any real relationship with such perfection knowing my many flaws? How on earth could I relate to this ? 

We need to make the same evaluation of church. The sad thing Is that too many churches are more concerned about their projection to others than the reality of God amongst them. People have had enough fake family, and whilst church may have worked hard to be defined as a successful profile for a media savvy world, I suggest that everyone sees through it. The fake smiles of the ministry team (and their wonderful white veneers on the who's who profiles of a web site) will not see someone trust Christ but may possibly repel them at the first glance. The super kitted out stage, with the well presented and selected at the front,  may present a professional show, but that is all it is ... a show, and whilst there is no transparency before God there is no true church functioning. People who truly love Christ and God himself want the same thing... authenticity !

As I say I am pondering and would value your reflections (feel free to PM / IM/ chat) as I apply this to my own life and hopefully to others as by God's grace we train, learn and share in the global new community. How does this work in different cultures? Has our own (UK/ Western) culture become so normalised to the fake routine that we've forgotten how to do church (transparent family) without staging something?

Acts 2 is a critical passage. Sharing homes, eating together and living out of each others pockets is core to real church wherever we are. Being daily in each others homes does something healthy to our relationship recalibration. Hebrews 3:13 also points to the daily activity of devotion to God and each other being inseparable in our deep rootedness. Abiding (John 15) in Christ together brings fruitfulness. This is not a model for isolated profit or individualism but the fruit of The Spirit, the outworking of the life of God in the soul of the church as all become one, and grow unitedly in Christ (Gal 3:28, Eh 4:16).

We pray for good healthy churches to spring up, in the Uk and USA, Canada, across Europe and greater Europe, in Asia, Africa and in many unreached areas of the world yet to be reached or impacted by the family of God. Our prayer is that whilst each have a healthy reality of where they are, and who they are by God's providence they will also display the beauty of being real to others, and display routinely that the living God is amongst them, with them and yes... in them. May deep roots in his word (Col 2:7), and with each other bear much fruit as this authentically overspills in God's glorious global mission.

AUTHENTIC CHURCH AND AUTHENTIC GROWTH GO TOGETHER.

ACTS 2:42-47 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

HEBREWS 3:13

 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

GALATIANS 6:2

 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 

(In the context of messy church - and what should be publicly seen ?) 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness (gentleness NIV) be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ref index:

1. Genesis 17:7
2. Genesis 17:8
3. Exodus 6:7
4. Exodus 20:2
5. Exodus 29:45
6. Leviticus 11:45
7. Leviticus 22:33
8. Leviticus 25:38
9. Leviticus 26:12
10. Leviticus 26:45
11. Numbers 15:41
12. Psalm 50:7
13. Psalm 81:10
14. Isaiah 41:10
15. Isaiah 41:13
16. Isaiah 43:3
17. Jeremiah 7:23 
18. Jeremiah 11:4
19. Jeremiah 30:22
20. Jeremiah 31:1
21. Jeremiah 31:33
22. Jeremiah 32:38
23. Ezekiel 11:20 
24. Ezekiel 14:11
25. Ezekiel 20:5
26. Ezekiel 20:7
27. Ezekiel 20:19
28. Ezekiel 20:20
29. Ezekiel 34:24
30. Ezekiel 34:31
31. Ezekiel 36:28
32. Ezekiel 37:23
33. Ezekiel 37:27
34. Hosea 12:9
35. Hosea 13:4
36. Joel 2:27
37. Joel 3:17
38. Zechariah 8:8
39. Zechariah 10:6
40. 2 Corinthians 6:16
41. Hebrews 8:10
42. Revelation 21:3
43. Revelation 21:7

Be careful of the good times.

 

One of the crucial lessons from the Old Testament is the vulnerability of God's people. We tend to think that we are more vulnerable to spiritual danger when times are tough, and then (in our own eyes) we are more prone to lean on our own understanding. However the Old Testament seems to suggest that the opposite is more often true. Human nature means we are often less careful in "good times". There is a reason why most speeding offences happen within 2 miles of home. Familiarity breeds contempt and complacency is a dangerous place to be. Humbly reflecting on our vulnerability and need of GOD each day is not pessimism but wisdom, the foundation of being geared for growth in all that He has for us. Never has it been more important for us to hear God speak His authoritative and life giving word into our lives than in our age where pride and self sufficiency is the prevailing culture. 

*Read Deut 8:1-20

 It was in the time of daily supernatural provision (miracle food, God's provision of clothes on their back and shoes on their feet (8:4)) and after miraculous rescue (through shed blood and superior protection  (8:14-16, Exodus 12:7-13)) that Israel forgot the goodness and spectacular redemption provided by our God. In our good times (when we feel wealthy in one way or another) and when circumstances are without volatility, we detect less danger and are more prone to slip, less reliant on the total dependance we do need in GOD constantly in all circumstances.

"Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have ...

God tests his people in the Good times, and the bad, and both are good for us by His gracious work in us and provision for us. The scan of GOD is more detailed and precise than any X-ray or CT. In all things and all details GOD sees the depth of our hearts, and wants us as his people to depend on him, moment by moment and for every spiritual resource, blessing, and provision. 

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

"Take care, watch out" (v13-14) is the message of Deut 8, for there is a self pride which lifts us to a point of self confidence from which the fall is catastrophic. For some it will be that time when the bank account is healthy, the cupboard is full, and we can afford the heating bill increments. I guess less will go back to work this year with full financial confidence, but I'm sure they partied (drank) just as hard (if not even harder) over Christmas. For others it is when home comforts or family relationships are not disturbed. We don't need lofty ambitions to have a lofty view of ourselves, or a free spirit of independance.  Without any great ambitions for this world (thinking ourselves humble) we can reach a time of quiet equilibrium, but even this is not from ourselves and should not be the source of any pride. Every peaceful healthy day is a gift from GOD. If our feet get out of the bed, this a great blessing. If our minds are alert, and we have purposeful work, and roles of responsibility, there is an even greater reason to be humbly thankful.

In whatever form it comes, and whatever our ambition or temperament, self dependance is a total wolf, which prowls on humanity until it devours all of us who forget we are but human beings, created by a God of grace, and sustained in each breath and each moment of health each day. 

Considering all that we've been through in 2022 (Covid, the unrest and increasing danger in Eastern Europe, the death of a Monarch / move into multi faith governance, and the shifting sands of both national leadership and the established positions in leadership of the CofE), you would think that we would not be so proud or self confident. Yet fireworks fulminate as we celebrate ourselves, and yearly reviews trumpet our own (human) achievements over covid and as a country and society. We remembered that the Lionesses roared, and as Sam Ryder leads the country into a new year singing and dancing, that we even managed a high placing in Eurovision. In 2023 Britain, we are not short of pride, or for the call for more pride as we are called to aspire to make ourselves "even greater" in the light of the "achievements" last year. 

How important then that the church, you and I, should be humbly on our knees before God and demonstrate anything but self confidence. We need to depend on him and his word as more important each morning than food. We need to depend on him each day for spiritual sustenance and wisdom in a world which is so full of wickedness and spiritual hunger. In him we can be truly confident without reservation, it is possible to be more strong and more courageous by faith when we take our eyes off ourselves and onto Him. We need to acknowledge each fresh day that our only hope is in Him, and in Him is the only hope of spiritual protection. 

As many of us return to the workaday world, and our routines revolve around our business and our busyness, 

RATHER THAN SAYING ...

"My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ (8:17) 

WE SHOULD SAY...

• I Know then in my heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines me. "
•  "it is He who gives power..." (8:18)

His love and His desires for me are constant in the good and bad circumstances of life and the program of eternal redemption.  In Christ I have true wealth that this world can not afford. In Christ... His greatest desire is my permanent holiness, which is far more significant than my temporary happiness. 

"And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you (8:2)"

Humility before GOD is always appropriate, always wise and always yields untold riches as we discover more of Him and His way. 

May GOD give us hearts full of his goodness, alert to the danger and void of self confidence. May our love for him and worship of him be displayed in humble obedience. We know that in Christ, our underserved inheritance is greater than any other land of promise, it is the eternal provision of Christ himself. Living in him we lack nothing, either in the good or bad times, and in our certain future in Him we can have total certainty that living for Him now in total trust and humble dependence is the best place to be.  

"Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills. (8:6-7)"

"You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. " (8:18).

LORD help us to deal with our pride before you need to deal with it for us. 

(1 Peter 5:6, James 4:10, 2 Chron 7:14)

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.

Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ’til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Stuart Townend & Keith Getty Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com)

Newness that never grows stale, fresh for every new day and all it brings.

 

Lamentations is a book about the pain of real life in fallen world. As many friends in Ukraine wake to 2023, the pain of a broken world is all too obvious. In many other parts of the world, friends suffer for sharing Christ and those who pioneer to the unreached often suffer the most. In the UK context we wonder what this year will bring, and how many prime ministers we will have this year. In such a context and with such realities it would be so easy to become tired, cynical and fatigued with disappointment. Yet I find that those in Christ are not so, but actually display the greatest optimism and certain hope. Why ?

Lamentations 3:23 is well known...

The steadfast love of The LORD never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

Therefore I will hope in Him. 

We have a saying  that "a  dog is not just for Christmas", reminding us of the daily realities behind dog care which last long after the tinsel wrapped grand gesture. Be reminded when you look at the social  media post or bedroom poster, that behind every soft focus image of a fluffy puppy... there is an owner with a bag and "poopascoop". Those friends who saw my Facebook photos of Harvey's bed destruction over Christmas will have seen the reality of dog care after 8 years. Friends who commented have suggested it as a great advertisement and highly effective campaign for not buying a puppy on a whim. Harv. has brought a lot of joy to the family but also at times the same amount of despair. I love my faithful friend, and yet he destroys where I live if there is not much on the TV that catches his eye, and our neighbours are not always blessed by his good morning greetings and barks. 

In the same way that we perceive the realities of a Christmas puppy, we can also say on a much more profound level, the faithfulness of GOD is not just for the 1st of January.

 Notice 3 things about God's ongoing faithfulness in Lamentations 3.

1)DARKNESS SHINES A LIGHT ON GOD'S FAITHFULNESS:

 Read the whole of Lamentations 3. God's faithfulness is known in much deeper ways when we are experiencing dark times and daily need to lean heavily on the arm of grace. Whilst it is one thing to have Lam 3:23 on a bookmark from the Christian bookshop, it is a totally different thing to have it in your heart when everything is falling around you on a daily basis. Here is a deep and profound reality... those who know the brightness of God's faithfulness have been through the darkest of times. In many ways we only truly know God's provision to keep us going when nothing else is there to keep us going. As we pray this verse into 2023 then, we do so knowing that the true reality of God's faithfulness will be seen in the worst of times, as we experience God's glory to shine into them and congruously transform them into even the best of times, as we go deeper with him.

2) HOPE FOR ONE DAY, IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS FAITHFULNESS FOR ALL DAYS: 

Notice the verse that comes after 23, which is so less quoted...

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

Therefore I will hope in Him.

There is a reality check which comes with hard days, which says that one day is enough at a time, or let's just try to get through today. Such humility is a good humility. It is part of what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 6:34, when he urges us to trust in The Father's provision one day at a time. It is the same principle that Jehovah taught Israel in the desert (Exodus 16) with the provision of manna, and the same principle we pray in the prayer Christ modelled as appropriate (Matthew 6:11). 

Daily dependence is a decision based on calculated hope. Reminding ourselves each morning in God's word of his steadfast covenant love towards us is congruent to putting our hope in the right place for each day. Such hope has two qualities; it revives because it is fresh hope for fresh problems and challenges, and it sustains as we see the greater and more glorious purposes behind the daily detail. God is weaving history, and the threads of one day make no sense on their own, however as we trace his grace, we see that it runs in the tapestry of history from before the dawn of time, to our preexistence, our birth, our daily breath, our final human breath and to our ultimate destination for eternity and beyond. In all things Christ is LORD. He is the center of all human history. He is the image in whom all humanity finds its place and true identity. He is the one before whom every knee will bow in heaven and one earth. This is where our hope is placed, and nothing can shake it, not even what tomorrow brings, for everything happens under his control and by his will, and good purposes. He does not change even if I mess up beyond my expectations (Numbers 23:19,Titus 1:2,Hebrews 6:18). His faithfulness is not circumstantial on our situation or obedience (2 Tim 2:13). There is great fresh hope each new morning in this bedrock certainty, however badly yesterday went.

3) FRESH EXAMINATION FOR THE NEW DAY AHEAD IN THE LIGHT OF HIS FAITHFULNESS: 

Finally notice that the certainty of GOD's faithfulness and grace each day should cause us to examine our hearts each day. Verses 24 -66 are the bulk weight of Lam 3. The appropriate response to God's faithfulness, the dark times we live in, and the certainty of what is to come in Christ, should cause us to allow him to shine his torchlight of grace into our dark hearts each day the sun rises. 

There is little brightness in the power outages of war, but Christ is shining brightly in God's people. There is little to be radiant about in a prison cell for those who stand for Christ in a hostile place, but there is a deep joy and contentment which causes others to come to him. This is the reality of his grace and provision. Every new day we call on him, we are renewed and made more new. Is this bad grammar? probably, but the reality of what God is doing as he renews all things, and makes all things new. The sun will set on this earth one day, and a new dawn with GOD being the only and constant light will emerge. That process which Christ is orchestrating, the day before the true dawn, is already in preparation and motion. He is getting his bride ready, and this glorious process has has started in you and I. Each new day we trust in him is a day of preparation and renewal for that final day when all things are new and there is no darkness, pain, sorrow, mourning, tears or challenge from a broken world, body  or character. I hope that remains an encouragement for us as we live Jan 2nd to December 31st.

Have a really blessed new year. Praying that each day He gives us will be lived in the certainty of His grace, and that this year you shine brighter than ever, more like Christ, and increasingly renewed in Him.

P

Psalm 112 contd.: THE RIGHTEOUS WON'T BE BUDGED.

 

As part of the 5th and final book of Psalms (107-150) the dominant tone is the issue of perfected worship, as we focus on JEHOVAH our redeemer KING. Book 4 (psalms 90-106) has a central thread of submission in worship  to JEHOVAH as the governing KING. In a world of false pride, temporary fame,  and an overabundance of fabricated human accolades (which lead to disappointment, disorder, dishonour and dissent), we need to remember that The KING is worthy of our total submission. This however is only half of the truth. Submission without love is duty, and in Christ... grace , compassion and mercy makes us want to love and submit, with completely glad and joyful surrender. 

In our worshipping we receive total blessing, as our Saviour and redeemer brings us into ever increasing reality of what he has done, is doing, and will do for us. As the old hymn reminds us, if we trust him going into 2023 we are being changed "from glory into glory", until in heaven we take our place (2 Cor 3:18). Our GOD is in the change business, of making all things new. Every aspect of GOD we discover not only transforms us, but blesses our lives and through us blesses others. The extent of what GOD has done for us, and can do through us (to bless others) will only be revealed when the veil is ultimately removed. This throws a completely different perspective on our lives as we look into 2023.

Our existence now has the shades down, the blinds partly drawn. We see the glory in Christ and our full certain salvation, but not all the ramifications of it. In the fallen world around us His glory is but a marred reflection in humanity. Society, culture and even the culture of church and the new community is not all it should be. Our humanity and all our relationships display a brokenness which does not honour him in the way it should. However beautiful, creative, and fulfilling these things get for us on a daily basis, they are only a fragmented portrait of how things are to be. Even as redeemed people we struggle (Romans 7:15-20) in our human capacity and consistency to follow and comply with the work of sanctification in us. Even when our desire is to comply with all that God has for us we fail ourselves and Him. We need him so much as we go into 2023, our lives and worship of Him are in desperate need of his ongoing work of redemption.

However,  on The day of culmination, we'll see ourselves, our habitat, our relationships, in the light of his perfect glory and fulfilled redemption. This should be our perspective for life now, a reality which gathers momentum for those who fix their eyes on him. Christmas and some festive joy may be over, but we are one sleep nearer being with him forever, and that is incomparably greater. We live with this in mind, and so it transforms our perspective of each day as the sun comes up.

 Psalm 111 and 112 form a close twin-ship, and have the dual themes of GOD's greatness and his grace. The two are always in balance. One of the aspects of God's perfection (Holiness) is that His attributes are always in perfect balance. This brings total "frazzleisation" to my mind. 

1) THE GOD OF ULTIMATE STABILITY IS OUR STEADINESS INTO 2023.

As human beings we are prone to imbalance. On a bad hair day our fuse is shortened, our generosity is shrunken, and our perspective is more for ourselves. This in turn relationally impacts all those around us and the future events of our lives. Part of God's glory is his unchanging solidity to be the same yesterday, today and forever. This is especially seen in his balance of justice and generosity. The GOD of infinite power and ability is able beyond our understanding. He alone is able to deal with our SIN in such a gracious and full justice way, that He is able to remove our sin from us as far as the East is from the West. Whilst North and South are fixed points, the writer needs that infinite measurement to deal with both God's mercy and his justice. We may think of consistency and steadiness as a vanilla (boring?) characteristic in people, but in God this is far from the truth. His character, plans, purposes, progress and accomplishments of redemption are utterly unwavering. In this our lives are included and changed and aligned to the same. Knowing my own many failings,  and inconsistencies this is breathtaking, and gives me so much joy and expectation into the new year as I follow Christ and live under his loving authority.

In Psalm 111, the Hebrew there are 10 verses of 22 lines,  the first 7 lines dealing with God's greatness,  the following 12 his graciousness and the final 3 the wisdom of fearing him appropriately because of the above. Our God is matchless in honour, majesty in righteousness. 

Psalm 112 displays the blessedness of trusting and fearing such a GOD. 

There are so many encouragements which can radically impact daily life as we go into 2023:

2) HIS UNCONTAINABLE BLESSING BECOMES THE STAPLE OF OUR LIVES:

In PS 112 notice it is assumed that blessedness is the appropriate way to live a life before GOD:

Blessing is inevitable for those who fear God. The fear of JEHOVAH is the beginning of all wisdom (Ps 111v10, and also the foundation of blessing 112:1)

Notice that the words which describe GOD in 111, become the expression of our lives of blessing in 112.

• Because the righteousness of GOD endures forever, so as we fear him our righteousness endures forever.
• Because GOD is gracious and full of compassion, so as we live, our way of faith demonstrates the same relational beauty as his character. The SPIRIT of CHRIST lives in us and others see it.

The simple summary is that we become like the one we worship. 

3) Hungry for more we pray that our focus on Christ and worship/ devotion of him will grow in 2023. Pray that now we will see him and be like him. 

All people have faith, but not all trust in what is trustworthy. All worship but not all objects and destinations are worthy of it. People may say... "I wish I had your faith", as if it is a gift of our human qualities to be able to trust in GOD,  but ultimately it is not the will or even quantity of our faith which is the primary issue, it is the destination and focus of it. He enables us, he opens our hearts, he plants the seed of faith, he waters and grows it, until roots are deep in Christ.

I don't find the command / idea to have New Years' resolutions in my bible. In many ways the ritual of resolutions is a human endeavour, for a human goal, for human satisfaction. When we are the objects of our worship, we are destined to be disappointed.  This is the rationale which perpetuates the human attitude all around us this Christmas, as people seek to be "the best me possible". Whilst it may reflect the honour of the created being after the image of God, it gives him not even a sideways glance, and so there is diminishing glory, as faces turn from Him who is altogether glorious and live for self idolatry.

 I do however note how many who grow in wisdom make appropriate vows to GOD. As He becomes the sure bedrock on which daily habits, attitudes, ambitions, yearnings, acts of love are built, we see more and more the wisdom of fixing our eyes on our Saviour (Heb 12:2. Phil 1:6). There is so much wisdom in bowing in submission these few days before the new year starts. This is especially so as we see his power, promise and desire to fulfil all that which he calls us to submit to and commit to in Him. We can vow in faith and confidence in Him. 

4) We live in the certainty and content knowledge that those who live life anchored to rock solid character of GOD will not be budged (v6)

In a world with so full of so many uncertainties...

• Remember your GOD, the living one who loves you and gave himself for you. 
• Remember your GOD whose power never fails, and whose wisdom is always available. 
• Remember your GOD whose compassion is as great as his justice, whose righteousness outlasts all seasons and experiences of the human condition. 
• Remember your GOD and pray that he will equip you to fix your eyes on him in 2023 whatever it may hold. 
• LORD we trust in you alone, and look for your character to change ours. May your heart be seen in ours, your instincts become ours, your balance be ours, your steadfast HESED love be the anchor of each waking and active moment. 

Such is the foundation of blessing and wisdom as we go through the new year, and I pray this will be your experience and of those around you. 

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;[a]
    he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!