|
In a few weeks’ time we will run the Road to Christmas event (commonly abbreviated to R2C). I am so looking forward to being involved.
The presence of this event and its name among the community is epic. Everyone in our area knows about R2C. Many people know us as, the ‘church who runs the Christmas event’ – well, that’s what I have heard over and over again. My friends, this is our chance to shine! This is our chance as a church to tell the great story. This is our chance to let others know about the hope we have in Jesus and the meaning that can be found in him. So what is your part in this? Before and after the R2C there are many jobs, during the R2C there are many jobs. But here is a challenge; how about serving at one and bringing friends to another? It's examples like this that make a great difference! For the last couple of weeks I have spoken on GIVING, and some reasons why I think we should all give generously to Seeds.
This is a big deal for Seeds Uniting Church, as it has a big bearing on our future ministry and resources for undertaking ministry. If you were there on Sunday, you would have heard me hint about risk and how I believe as a church we must now walk into a season of risk. The inference is that we need to risk a whole heap of things in order to bring people to Jesus. So as part of that I’m asking us all to take a risk as well. A step of faith, that even if we give some money away, God will continue to provide for us and meet all of our needs. Why do we do that? Simply that God, through this church, will take our offering and use it to help others hear the gospel. Let me assure you my friends that when we see someone who has been transformed by the power of God, it will be worth every bit of risk and sacrifice that we have made. You see, there are things more valuable than money! Maybe I’m getting cynical in my old age, but I struggle to believe the adverts which promise free stuff when you buy something. Every now and again I’m proved wrong… but normally not.
I suppose that it’s my understanding of human nature that has led me to this point. I am always looking for the catch, looking for the trick, looking for the deception. Have you ever been bitten by a ‘free’ deal? It’s an altogether different thing when it comes to God. Not only is God worthy of our trust, God is also not hiding anything. The bible tells us that he gave his only son, that’s how much he opened himself out. There are a lot of free things in God's economy. Things like grace, salvation, life, love, mercy…. so many things that God gives to us liberally. All of this with no deception or guile, all of this so that we might walk deeper into a relationship with him. What a great God we have! Prayer - It’s a little word with big implications. Prayer. So easy to say and so hard to do.
Prayer for a lot of Christians inspires guilt. We should, we could, we augh to…. Maybe you might feel some of these some of the time, all of the time! But that’s not how God views prayer. Quite the opposite. Prayer is God's way of opening up the conversation, opening up the channels of real relational communication. I think that prayer is much less complicated than what we make it. While I think it is very important to have a prayer time, it is also vital to pray at every moment of the day. For me, prayer is an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day. When I hear something sad I bring that to God, when I see an ambulance, I bring that to God, when I’m happy I bring that to God. It’s like talking to my family, all the time and at every place. I’m pretty sure that God is happy with that too! |
Jonathan's BlogJonathan Davies | Archives
July 2016
Categories |
RSS Feed
