God's Grace and Kindness
Sunday, 22 January 2012
It's a great joy to be back worshipping with you after a
two-week holiday. A warm welcome to those who are visiting today
and a warm welcome to others who are returning from holidays. I
love the opportunity holidays brings to read, reflect, visit other
Christian communities, as well as spend quality time with those who
are closest to us. The following snippets are just a few of the
thoughts and words that have impacted me over the past few
weeks....
If you want despair, spend time with mocking sinners, but if
you want God's happiness make friends with those who love God and
His word. (Application Study Bible notes on Ps 1 :2-3.) For
all our imperfections and failings as a church its such a blessing
to worship, hear God's word and do life with those who are also
seeking to centre their lives in Christ.
In Jim Collins' study of the decline of businesses (How the
Mighty Fall), he states that the first stage of decline is
"Hubris born of Success....we're so great we can do
anything!" The words of James 4:6 remain true for businesses,
churches and for every one of us...God opposes the proud but
gives grace to the humble. How much we individually and
as church need to humbly walk with our God this year.
When I visited another congregation of our Baptist family of
Churches, I heard the story of a man whose was given a vision from
God more than 15 years ago. It called for him to complete a
doctorate so he had the credentials to engage national leaders in
the area of education. He said he was a retiring person but God had
called him to be courageous. He quoted the verse from
Ecclesiastes 9:10...Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with
all your strength. What a great word for all of us this year
as we seek to seize hold of every opportunity the Holy
Spirit opens to impact our world for Christ.
Just this past week I read a chapter of Andy Stanley's book
"The Grace of God."
He asked a great question as he reflected on the story of the woman
at the well in John 4. "How much sand would a person have to
consume in order to quench his thirst? ..... God's response to the
thirsty soul is grace. Grace that fills the gaps created by our sin
or the sins of others. Grace that allows us to honestly face and
carry our pasts but without being controlled by them. He
quotes from Hebrews 4 :16 "Let us then approach the throne of
grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help us in our time of need." This is the grace Jesus
wants us and all those around to live in this year. It alone
quenches thirsty souls.
Our good and loving Father has an amazing year of ministry and
service planned for us. As we mesh our lives together, live humbly
and prayerfully as his people, boldly and diligently take hold of
Holy Spirit opportunities and drink deep from the well of God's
grace and kindness, then rivers of joy, life and blessing will
flow this year. There is a wonderful opportunity this very week
through the Garage Sale, to be caught up in a stream of God's
grace as we meet and love our community in Christ's
name.
Looking forward to sharing life in Christ with you this week and in
the year ahead.
Peter