by Pastor Peter Bean
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What to make of these verses? Not the most wonderful reading in the Bible. It started off well with hospitality shown by Lot. But it quickly degenerated into all sorts of terrible things: sexual immorality, betrayal of family, disbelief, tardiness, warnings ignored, ingratitude. And, as we read on, there is more.
What do we do with all of this? Of course, it’s easy to jump to conclusions and become judgemental of actions and inactions, groups and individuals. And don’t we do that? Sorry, I’ll let you answer that for yourself. For myself, yes, I do jump to conclusions. I do make judgements. I do look down on people. Lord, have mercy.
And the Lord does. Even when we think we have more time to prepare. Even when we joke about what God might do. Even when we are inhospitable. Even when we condemn!
I guess, here, in these verses, we have a good description of human nature. Thoughts and actions are described that can lead us away from God. Even when God is present – in our face, if you like – even when God is clear, and we can hear the voice of the Spirit guiding us. (Did you know that, in the Hebrew Scriptures, to hear is the same as to obey?)
But we also have a good description of God’s nature: to be merciful, to restore those who lack trust or think they can make it on their own. Can each of us examine our lives? Look for those times when you didn’t trust God’s promises and thought you could make it alone. Look for those times when God’s mercy re-appeared: in a word of forgiveness, in a restoration of relationships, in a comforting hug, in the quiet breath of the Spirit breathing new life into you.
And give thanks for the Lord’s mercy.
Lord God, Heavenly Dad, gracious Saviour, life-giving Spirit, thank you for your mercy, shown to me in so many ways. Thank you. Amen.
In early October, Peter enjoyed a family camp with his children and grandchildren at Lake Bonney, South Australia. Then, he returned to weeding, planting, riding, reading and relaxing.
My dwelling place
by Jim Strelan
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Lord, you have been my dwelling place throughout all generations (Psalm 90:1).
Read Psalm 90:1–8,12
When our daughter was very young, and we came ‘home’ from Papua New Guinea on leave, she got confused. One night, we found her whimpering in her bed, and when we asked her what was bothering her, she said she felt bewildered. We talked about going ‘home’ to Australia, and we talked about how we would soon be going ‘home’ to Papua New Guinea. So, where is home? We told her that wherever the three of us are, that’s home. Home is where she belongs, is safe, secure, and at ease.
The psalmist says that God has been his people’s home for all generations, their dwelling place. It’s where they rest. It’s where they feel safe. It’s where they belong. It is home.
What a wonderful thing to say about our God. When we get to the latter part of our lives, we realise how fragile life is. For those of us at this stage, we become aware that we are spending more and more of our time at funerals. One by one, people we knew, grew up with and made friends with, even members of our own families, die. But there is comfort. God is eternal, and his presence with us never diminishes.
He has been our home through all the days of our lives; he is our home now, and he will be the one we go home to when the time comes for us to die. It’s okay. We don’t need to be anxious. We don’t need to curl up into ourselves to feel secure. God sees us, knows us, loves us and wants to be our dwelling place today, tomorrow and always.
Dwell in God as he dwells in you. In Revelation 21:3, a voice describing the end of time says, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with [people] and he will live with them.’ His home will be our home and our home his. How good is that?
Loving God, I rest in you. In you, I find the place where I belong. Thank you. Amen.
Jim is a retired pastor living with his wife Ruth in Deception Bay, Queensland. He spends his retirement making space to add more Lions’ premiership posters to the six (3+3) he already has on his garage wall.
Live what you know
by Jim Strelan
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Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard, obey it and repent (Revelation 3:3a).
Read Revelation 3:1–6
If you grew up in a Christian family with a strong connection to a Christian church, you may have been taught, over and over again, about God’s acts in the past and what he can do in the present. If you are newer to the faith, perhaps you also heard the message and felt convicted.
Many, many years ago, when I was confirmed, the process that qualified (!) me for confirmation was my ability to repeat things I had learnt off by heart. In my ministry, I encouraged young people to express their faith in their own words. Not just head knowledge, but something heartfelt. There’s a difference.
In this passage, the church at Sardis is encouraged to remember what it has received and to live that out. Sardis was a famous and wealthy city. It would have been easy for the people of that city to be influenced by what was around them. They gave the appearance of being alive in faith – that was their reputation, but the call is for them to be real. If it meant repentance, then repent. Some weren’t influenced by what was around them but were faithful. God acknowledged them.
The focus is on living what you know. Would you say your faith is more than words, more than head knowledge, more than the Bible verses you can recite, but rather something that impacts all of your life? Is it evident in how you trust when you are anxious, how you hear the word of forgiveness and allow it to cover you, and how you love your neighbour and so show your love for God? To receive something is to be given a gift. You have that gift. Let it define you. Live it. God’s Spirit is with you, working to bring what you know to life. Your name is in the book of life and will never be blotted out.
Thank you, loving God, for revealing yourself to me. As I grow in knowledge and understanding, help me to live that out. Help me to be true to what I am. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jim is a retired pastor living with his wife Ruth in Deception Bay, Queensland. He spends his retirement making space to add more Lions’ premiership posters to the six (3+3) he already has on his garage wall.
Stay confident
by Jim Strelan
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So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded (Hebrews 10:35).
Read Hebrews 10:32–39
You know, of course, that any moment could be your last, no matter your age. Does that scare you? There’s a saying: ‘Live each day as though it were your last.’ That helps us value and treasure each moment and makes us more determined to live worthwhile lives. I prefer: ‘Live each day as though it were your first.’ The joy of discovery, the newness all around you, the learning you can do, the relationships that can deepen.
The same applies when we think about the end of all things and Christ’s promised return. You can live apprehensively, or you can live with the confidence that God is with you in everything, cares about you and never abandons you.
Look at the attitude the writer of Hebrews encourages in their readers. See how they lived even when terrible times came upon them. Exposed to insult and persecuted, they stood side by side with those who were ill-treated, felt sympathy for the imprisoned and were joyful even when things were taken away from them. So they are encouraged to remain confident in their loving God. They are encouraged not to shrink back because they can be sure of their salvation (a word which, in a general sense, means ‘wellbeing’).
As you get older, you can look at the death notices in the paper, and if your name isn’t there, then be sure you are still alive! This day is a gift. Each day is a gift. God is here; he is with you, so trust in him. He is a good God. This reminds me of a chorus of a song: ‘All my life, you’ve been faithful. All my life, you’ve been so, so good.’
This week’s readings about Christ’s second coming aren’t meant to cause fear. They remind us that God does things in his time. So let him, and enjoy life in the meantime.
Thank you, God, for all your promises. They give me such confidence that all my days are gifts given by you. Help me to find joy in each day, trusting in your goodness. Amen.
Jim is a retired pastor living with his wife Ruth in Deception Bay, Queensland. He spends his retirement making space to add more Lions’ premiership posters to the six (3+3) he already has on his garage wall.