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A student survey conducted at one of our local schools determined that young people see the church as being full of old people and pews. And they think that the pews have to go. There’s some good news in that survey, they didn’t say the old people should go, only the pews.
Think for a moment: How does their perception match reality?
We might immediately begin to defend the pews. They've been good enough for generations. They keep us awake. They haven’t killed anyone.
Or we might be offended that they’ve labelled us as old. We might argue that we’re not nearly as old as our grandparents were at the same age.
We might want to join James and John to ask Jesus whether we should call down fire from heaven and destroy them.
But before we get too defensive, these young people are crying out for the church to recognise and value them. They don’t think the church cares about them, they don’t think we care. They think the church is only interested in the people who’re already involved, which to them means old people.
I wonder whether they’re any different to those of any age who aren’t connected to our churches. Would the whole ‘unchurched’ and 'previously-churched’ community agree that we don’t care. Would they contend that we’re only interested in ourselves.
If we’re so busy polishing and defending our pews then they have to go. If there’s anything in our church that uses up our time at the expense of living our lives for Jesus then it has to go.
Even more urgently we have to go. Not leave the church, the community of God’s people, but go with the good news that because God loves and cares for every single person in this world so do we.
“As you go”, Jesus says, “make disciples of all nations.” Jesus cares about this because he has ‘skin-in-the-game’. He died for each and every one we encounter as we go about our lives.
How do we, as individuals and a church, need to change so that no one in our community will feel that we don’t care about them?
Comparisons 17th Day in Lent (Monday) Read: Romans 8:18-21 “I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 (GNT)
I grew up eating rissoles in hamburgers. Made with minced meat, flour, egg, breadcrumbs, chicken noodle soup mix and spices all these things added made the minced meat go further, especially having four older brothers. My husband, Mark, on the other hand grew up with hamburgers being 100% minced beef – nothing added. Apart from MacDonald’s there are not many places in Australia that serves 100% beef patties. This at times causes Mark consternation. He doesn’t understand why things need to be added to the minced meat. For him there is no comparison in taste.
Me on the other hand, prefer the rissoles for that is what I grew up with; so, we agree to disagree and have to suffer with our differences, depending on who cooks. St Paul tells us throughout Romans and the other letters he has written that we are going to suffer through this life. Hamburger preferences are probably the least of our sufferings. We cannot understand why things happen, ‘Why did God let this happen to me?’
God does not let bad things happen to His children. It is because we sin and we continually do wrong things that evil takes over. God is always there to pick up the pieces and bring comfort, peace and understanding over these situations. God wants us to keep our faith and strengthen our trust in Him. In the above verse, Paul writes that our suffering is nothing compared to our future glory that we all wait in hope for. God gives us in the Bible, little glimpses of what things will be like when we die, but I think it is 100% better than even my greatest hope.
So, we suffer through our hamburger preferences (the little sufferings) and then the bigger times of trials (sickness, loss, family, etc). We know that this suffering will pass and God’s glory will take over, and all creation will experience freedom and be fully restored. Then we will live in an eternal kingdom with no pain or sorrow. Our future hope is 100% better.
Prayer: My loving Father God, I cannot compare what it will be like to live with you in glory. You have planned out my future, and I trust and hope in your promises. Amen.
Producing Flowers 3rd Sunday during Lent Read: Romans 5:1-5 “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5 (NIV)
I do enjoy gardening. Roses are my favourite. Growing roses in the Noosa climate is not easy as the humidity causes rust and the leaves brown easily. I bought a rose when arriving in Noosa after having had many roses in my garden in Loxton. I put it in a pot on my front porch, sheltered from the rain, but it gets morning sun and it just loves it there. All around the year I get not just one bloom, but sometimes eight to ten blooms on one stem. I have learned that it is in the right spot, to give it the right amount of water and fertiliser and I can be confident I will see results if I keep looking after it.
God loves each one of us. He has justified us which means that He has done the planting, the watering and the pruning of our lives and that because He has done it all, we get to bloom under His love. It was through the love of God that He sent His son to die on the cross for each of us and rise on the third day. Because of this we can bloom in heaven eternally with our heavenly Father. This is the hope we have and can live in. God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit to give us the ability to grow and thrive and be confident in the hope of eternal life.
God knows what each of us need to thrive and grow. He places us just where we need to be and gives us just what we need to encourage growth. It is easy to think that we know what to do and that we know better. I could try moving my rose to a new place or try not pruning it each year; but I have a feeling that would stop my beautiful flowers appearing. Persevere in your faith, allow yourself to be pruned and God in His love will produce some beautiful flowers in your life. God knows what is best for us – always!
Prayer: Merciful God and our loving Saviour Jesus Christ, you know what is best for me. Allow me to be shaped and pruned by you so that I can grow in your love and faith. Amen.
God’s Voucher 16th Day in Lent (Saturday) Read: Romans 4:18-25 “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’” Romans 4:18 (NIV)
Gifting experiences or vouchers have been the new go-to for birthdays and other significant events. I lately had a larger birthday, and I was given a massage. That was very much appreciated. I also received a ‘Floatage’ (Float & Massage) for Mother’s Day. Some in my family have also received a cemetery tour, tickets to the movies and even gift cards worth a certain amount that can be used anytime for anything. All these sorts of these things have already been bought and given, and it is just up to the receiver of the gift to use!
Reading this Bible verse, it appears that God gave Abraham a voucher of ‘The Father of Many Nations’. The difference with this is that Abraham could see that the expiry date was well and truly over – Abraham one hundred years old and Sarah had well and truly gone through menopause. He tried to use his voucher too early (Hagar and Ishmael), but God reminded him it will all come in His timing. God never puts expiry dates on His vouchers of love and promise. Abraham needed to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and rely on His promise for Sarah did have a baby – Isaac! God has also given each one of us vouchers for our eternal life and that we have credit in righteousness. Jesus paid for our salvation once and for all and for all time.
God gave His only innocent son to pay the exorbitant cost for our sinfulness. Our sinfulness can only lead to eternal death and separation from God. But God in His love for all of us sent Jesus who paid for all our sins (past, present and future) for all time. This is our eternal life voucher. All we have to do is have faith and believe that God will do what He said He would. We have been washed clean and made righteous through our baptism. Now enjoy this incredible gift. This Lenten season remember that this gift has already been paid for – just bask in God’s goodness. God’s voucher never expires nor ever runs out!
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for giving me the experience of eternal life with you in Heaven. You have blessed me every day with your love and your promises, help me to appreciate your goodness. Amen. 2