Photo by...Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
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?
Conspiracy!
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
… Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel (2 Samuel 15:5b,6).
Read 2 Samuel 15:1–16
A person once came to me and said they appreciated that I did not plot or connive for things – in other words, I played it straight. I was genuine. I received it as a compliment, for this person lived in a corporate world where ‘the game’ was played. That person’s world was about selectively placed influence and cultivated partnerships – saying the ‘right’ thing to the person who wanted to hear it. A far cry from Jesus’ ‘Let your yes be yes, and your no be no’ (Matthew 5:37a). Sadly, this also happens in the church.
In this story, Absalom has mastered the art of conspiracy and is gathering supporters against the king. Seemingly simple things, such as taking an interest in a person’s home location, taking a person’s hand warmly, giving a welcome kiss and promising assistance. Absolom painted himself as one who would do justice for those who perceived they had suffered injustice. He did this consistently over four years, cultivating favour.
Surely Absalom could not do this without his father knowing what was happening – even allowing it to continue. This shows David’s tolerance and love for his son. Perhaps he believed – even hoped – that Absalom had honourable intentions. However, we learn this is not the case as the story of conspiracy and betrayal unfolds.
Perhaps you have been in David’s position. What would you do? How would you act? Would you give such people the benefit of the doubt? Would you be prepared to continue loving them, forgiving them and caring for them?
We have every reason to thank the Lord for continuing to love and care for us despite our conspiracies of sin: when lip service belies our true feelings, when a smile disguises anger, and lies or even silence betray his truth.
Father God, we are so thankful that you continue to love us despite our consistent betrayal of you. Please renew and restore us to true and constant faith in you. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening. This is the season of flowers: beautiful irises, anemones, proteas, leucodendrons and leucospermums – and roses! They all give witness to God’s glory and grace.
God knows what’s inside us
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25a).
Read 2 Samuel 14:25–33
Here’s a song that had some sort of resonance with my younger self – or perhaps not, maybe?
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
I get better looking each day
Did you read about Absalom’s hair? Lustrous, luxurious locks. He cut it once a year, weighed it and valued it greatly. He was the golden boy of the kingdom with visions of the throne in mind. ‘From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him’ (verse 25b).
I suspect when we look in the mirror, we are hoping to see something like that – rather than our lost and wrinkled dreams.
The blemish we can’t see is the mess inside – sin’s blemish, and it can’t be hidden. It will emerge.
Under the physical beauty, Absalom seethed against his half-brother, who had raped his sister, ultimately having him killed. Absalom’s rage against his father, David, led him to plot David’s downfall so that he could seize the Kingdom of Israel. (More to come in the following devotions.)
While at war with David, Absalom suffered a tragic death. Ironically, it was his beautiful hair that tangled in the branches of a tree, suspending him where he died at the hands of Joab, a general of David’s army.
Despite all that Absalom had done, David mourned his death. He was heartbroken for the son who tried to kill him and steal his throne. You can read more of Absalom’s story in chapters 13 to 18 of 2 Samuel.
How amazing that David could still love this son of his, whose anger had led him to war against his father. Finally, it was Solomon (Jedidiah), another of David’s sons, who became king of Israel.
We are children of the King – our King Jesus! Give thanks that he looks beneath our surface, recognises the blemishes of sin in our lives and still loves us.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good – his love is everlasting.
Father God, we are humbled by your love. Thank you for your mercy and grace that forgives sin’s stain in our lives and keeps us in your kingdom. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening. This is the season of flowers: beautiful irises, anemones, proteas, leucodendrons and leucospermums – and roses! They all give witness to God’s glory and grace.
Where there’s death, there’s hope
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat! (2 Samuel 12:21)
Read 2 Samuel 12:15–31
From time to time, we use the phrase ‘Where there’s life, there’s hope.’
But it seems the Lord has other ways of dealing with life, death and hope. Here in today’s word, where there’s death, there’s hope!
While David’s son, born to Uriah’s wife, lies dying, David is fasting and pleading with the Lord for his life. He had hope that the Lord would rescue this child from death. When the child finally dies, David, instead of entering into mourning, gets on with life. Life continues with a new hope, a new way ahead. Solomon, David’s son from Bathsheba, is born. He is also named Jedidiah. This name, given by the Lord through the prophet Nathan, means ‘beloved by the Lord’.
So we have this situation where, while the child from Uriah’s wife is dying, David has hope, and when the child dies, it’s not the end! A new hope emerges: new life, new plans.
That’s how it can be with life and death among us. There’s always something dying – life ebbs away in so many ways. Yet the Lord, with grace and mercy, will be at work doing new things. He says it in Revelation 21:5: ‘He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”’
You could consider some of the things that are dying or broken around you right now. Death is there: from a loved one dying to church decisions with which we disagree to international losses and griefs. In any of these sorts of situations, would you also consider this as true, that while there’s death, there’s hope? Hope for new life, for something new. Hope for the present and future.
Jesus’ death is the death that gives us hope in the middle of our sin and related struggles. In Robin Mann’s song ‘May We Be One’ comes this wonderful truth: ‘Dying our death he restores our life; heaven has begun, he makes us one!’
God of the living and the dead: through Jesus, fill us with new hope every day, even in the face of our dying. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening. This is the season of flowers: beautiful irises, anemones, proteas, leucodendrons and leucospermums – and roses! They all give witness to God’s glory and grace.