Fri 10th July - #80. Hobnobs!
This morning Jesus speaks some tough words to His disciples.
Mark 9:42-50
42 ‘If anyone causes one of these little ones— those who believe in me— to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung round their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where
‘“the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.”
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 ‘Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.’
We know that following Jesus is tough, it is far more than personal fulfilment, satisfaction and meeting our felt needs.
Just prior to lockdown on Sunday nights we were reminded that we are at war! (Ephesians 6:10-20). The war is in the world but the war is also going on within ourselves.
Sometimes the battles we face means taking some ruthless actions. At times painful and not always making sense but it is for our good and our spiritual growth.
I was struck with these words from Tom Wright who says this of this passage -
“What we are asked to give up (sometimes) is not something that is sinful in and of itself. Of course we should reject sin; there’s nothing special in that (difficult though it may be), but that’s just the beginning. We should also be prepared to reject something which is good and God-given—as hands, feet and eyes are!—but which, at the moment at least, is leading us down the wrong path. This is not (as is sometimes suggested) to be morbid or dualistic, to regard as evil that which God created as good. It is to recognize, once more, that there’s a war on”. *1
So Christian, this morning - remind yourself you are at war and ask the Lord if there is anything that is not helping you in the war. It might not be a limb but it maybe be something that isn’t aiding you in the battle. It will be different things at different times in your life.
I heard of a strong Christian locally that was finding his comfort in biscuits. It might seem bizarre but he was going to his hobnobs instead of Jesus when the challenges came in the day. For you it might be social media, soap operas, late nights. It’s not for me to say, but this morning ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what it is and take some ruthless action!
Have a good weekend
much love
Tim
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1 Wright, T. (2004). Mark for Everyone (pp. 127–128). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#79. Hook Church is the only decent church in the Borough!
Wed 8th July
This header might drive up our web traffic this morning. It’s a controversial thing to say.
Is it true? Of course its not!
There are some amazing fellowships in the area. But do we fall into the trap in thinking that we have got everything right because we think we have - the right theology, heritage, history and our pastors have been to ’sound’ Bible Colleges. Also, we are seen as ‘a model church’ with some groups in the UK and further afield! So we must be ‘up there!’
We can be judgmental of other Christians and traditions. Maybe we turn our nose up if we see someone reading a book from outside our tradition or when we hear that the Robinson family have booked up for ‘the Big Church Week-away’
We can all fall into this trap!
We can think that our way is the only way and we can write off Christians who do things differently. I wonder if this was part of the problem for the disciples this morning in our reading? Did they have exclusive rights? Were they the only ones who could be used by Jesus? Lets read the passage -
Mark 9
38‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.’
39 ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said. ‘For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
So let’s not be so judgemental and instead think the Jesus way - we have many Christians on the same team as us! Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot (again). Pray for all Christians and remember all of those who are ‘one of us’.
Much love
Tim
Tues 7th July - #78. What a waste of time!
Do you ever wonder if what you do is worthwhile? Do you wonder if it matters, counts or “makes a difference”? You pour your energy into your work, you exhaust yourself by emptying your emotions into caring for your children, you spend your “spare” time in volunteering in church work or mission work, you try your hardest to help a friend… and then you wonder “Did it do anything?”
You may think that you have been useless and have failed at parenting, working, friendship and serving; and you are despondent, tired and exhausted and you feel like giving up.
Listen to this amazing verse from Isaiah 49v4: But I said, “I have laboured in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all.” Now that is in a messianic prophecy! That is to say this is what Jesus said! Difficult to believe isn’t it? But remember He was a human being and there must have been times when He was feeling low, dejected and tempted to give up (```He was tempted in every way, just as we are…``` Heb 4v15).
So, if you feel like giving up because you think all your toil, labour and hard work has produced absolutely nothing at all, then, actually, take heart: you are in very good company!
BUT…
Jesus went on to say in Isaiah 49v4: Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God. Ah ha! He looked beyond His work, beyond the results from His work, and into the Lord’s will and knew He would have a reward for His work and would graciously receive what was due to Him. So He didn’t give up, He continued and awaited His reward from the Lord. He did His work whilst looking to God and knowing that actually everything He did counted and nothing was in vain.
And we, too, can have that assurance even though we may feel failures and useless and tired and weary, yet remember Your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15v58)
So, where’s that nappy bag? When’s that Zoom call? Where’s that hoover? When’s that youth talk? Where’s that customer? When’s that visit? Who is needy in my team? Where’s that home-schooling exercise book? …
Love from Paul
Mon 6th July
#77. Confused.com
In this morning’s reading the disciples are confused and they just don’t get what Jesus is teaching them.
Mark 9:30-37
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because He was teaching His disciples. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.’ 32 But they did not understand what He meant and were afraid to ask Him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’
36 He took a little child whom He placed among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, 37 ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’
Jesus explains to them his road map and yet the disciples don’t understand. The disciples think that the journey ahead for them is fame, fortune and adulation and yet as we know this isn’t going to happen.
It’s easy to knock the disciples but again they were just like you and me. They were selective in what they heard and the bits they did hear they took it to its natural conclusion.
So how is this like us? We can think that following Jesus will bring us certain things and we can hear what we want to hear. How often have we listened to a sermon and heard something and thought so and so needs to hear this?
How often have we heard something that was for us and, before Mrs Jones has asked us how the cat is doing, the challenge of the preacher has been lost. Mmmm, so we are like the disciples - forgetful.
This morning I have a task for you!
1. Read through the passages that were preached yesterday - (AM - Psalm 18 and PM - Philippians 3.10-11)
2. Ask this question of yourself - What do I need to change in my daily walk with Jesus following yesterday’s sermons?
3. Write it down somewhere.
4. Share it with someone.
Much love
Tim