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In my first year of high school, Australia converted to decimal currency and Simon and Garfunkel released the song, “I am a rock”. While everyone in Australia was working together to adjust to the new currency the song spoke of going it alone. “I am a rock. I am an island.”
It’s a sad song about being hurt and withdrawing into isolation in order to avoid any more pain.
We’ve had some experiences of isolation this year and depending on our nature we’ve either enjoyed or hated those times.
Our God is into community. God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in a divine community of love and because we’re made in the image of God we’re also made for community.
The Christian faith in particular and life in general aren’t meant to be solo adventures. Even those with an introverted nature need others. We all need community.
Paul describes the community in terms of a body with many different and varied parts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. The different parts of the body need each other and when they work together the body functions properly.
The beauty of this image and situation is found in the love and support we give and receive in the community. There are times when we desperately need the support of a loving community and there are times when we provide the support to members of the community.
This ‘strange’ year has highlighted the need for community. We need to care for each other and look out for each other.
It’s great to know God is always doing his best for us. It’s also clear our sisters and brothers are gifts from God. God often helps us through the community. God bless you with all the help you need and with all the strength you need to help others.
Joyful in Hope 20th Day in Lent (Thursday) Read: Romans 12:9-21 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV)
In 17th century Italy, in the town of Cremona, lived a young boy named Antonio. Antonio was often sad because he lived in a town that was famous for its music, but he could neither sing nor play. Antonio’s voice was high and squeaky, so he was not welcome in the Cremona Boys’ Choir. When he took violin lessons, the neighbours persuaded his parents to make him stop. Yet Antonio still wanted to make music.
Antonio’s friends kidded him because it seemed that his only talent was whittling, but he did not give up. One day the boy learned that a world-famous violinmaker named Amati lived in Cremona. The next morning Antonio went to visit Amati and begged to serve as his apprentice. For many years he studied and worked. Antonio’s knack for whittling grew into a skill of carving; his hobby became his craft. Patiently he fashioned many violins, striving to make each one better and more beautiful than the one before. When Antonio died, he left over 1,500 violins, each one bearing a label that said “Antonio Stradivarius.” Today they are the most sought after violins in all the world. The clarity of tone and careful craftsmanship remain untouched by the centuries.
Today Antonio’s violins sell for more than $100,000. Antonio Stradivarius could neither sing nor play, but he did what he could, and now, over 300 years later, his violins are still making beautiful music. In the above story, this little boy had a passion and wanted to make music. He persevered to find his calling, the place where he knew he fitted. God has a place for each of us, and it is a place where our gifts can be used.
A place where we can make ‘beautiful music’. We are to be joyful with hope to find the place where God blesses and guides you to where there is also a need in the world. Your calling is where the needs of the world intercept with your passion. God will use you for His glory. Your place is where God is calling you to be. Be joy filled in hope.
Prayer: Lord, you know where my life is going. Direct and guide me that I may find joy in all that you have prepared for me. My hope and life is in you – use me Lord! Amen
Absolutely Certain 19th Day in Lent (Wednesday) Read: Romans 8:31-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels not demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
There is not a lot in this world to which I hold absolute certainty! We lived through COVID 19 and saw how quickly a world can shut down, new laws put in place, not being able to buy toilet paper, and be faced with fear and uncertainty of catching this dreaded virus. Then with the weather, will the forecast be correct or should I doubt BOM (Bureau of Meteorology)? With all the computer scamming happening can I be absolutely certain that my money will still be in the bank when I want to use it? Going for holidays, can I be absolutely certain that my home will not be burgled while I am away?
All these things happening in the world bring fear to our lives and it seems there is nothing certain to hold on to. The Apostle Paul points us to our God: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31b–32 NIV) This is something we can be absolutely certain about. God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for all our sins and wrongdoings.
God then raised Him to life, after beating death so that you and I can now no longer be left condemned of all our sin but be made righteous (perfect) in God’s eyes. You can be absolutely certain, that nothing can now separate us from God… read the list above in verses 38 and 39. This is the hope we have, that there is a loving God who wants us to be with Him for all eternity and there is nothing in this world now that can stop this.
God made sure of this 2,000 years ago when He sent His sinless Son to die for our sins. This broke the power that the devil had over us. You are God’s child now and for eternity! You can be absolutely certain of this!
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you made a way for me to be righteous and holy before God. You have made my salvation and all your promises absolutely certain. I don’t need to fear but live in hope. Amen.
Waiting for Christmas 18th Day in Lent (Tuesday) Read: Romans 8:22-25 “For it was by hope that we were saved; but if we see what we hope for, then it is not really hope. For who of us hopes for something we see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:24-25 (GNT)
In the beginning of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, by C. S. Lewis, the land of Narnia is described as always winter and never Christmas. Narnia has been in a perpetual winter for as long as any of the Narnians could remember because of the reign of the White Witch. There was no hope or light in this winter to remind the Narnians that winter is only temporary (in the Northern Hemisphere, winter means that Christmas is coming). They could see nothing to be hopeful for, yet they hung onto the prophecy of the downfall of the White Witch and the return of Aslan.
For those who haven’t yet read this book, I hope I have given you the incentive to read it. It may seem like a children’s book, but there is so much gospel in it. There is disobedience and forgiveness, evil and the overcoming goodness, sadness and joy! Aslan is the ‘Jesus figure’ who returns to Narnia bringing hope and Christmas and the ending of despair and winter. The coming of Christmas in Narnia is a reminder that no matter how dark the world gets, darkness cannot overcome the light. Christmas was a few months ago now, but every day we need to be reminded of Christmas and the coming of our Saviour.
That is a reason I keep a few nativity scenes up all year round! Jesus has come to bring light into a dark world. So then at Easter, our Saviour’s purpose comes into focus. He came to bring us hope and the surety of eternal life. Lent is sometimes seen as a sombre, dark time as we follow Jesus to the cross. But Jesus did this all for you and me. He went to the cross willingly to give us hope and a future where before there was no hope.
So now we can wait for our salvation patiently knowing that it is in heaven that our Saviour will welcome us with open arms and it will always be Christmas! Even though we can’t see ‘hope’ – know that Jesus is your hope!
Prayer: My loving Saviour, you bring me hope in a darkened world. Give me patience to wait for this eternal joy in your presence. I can’t see it yet, but I wait expectantly and with hope. Amen