An ABC of Faith

Heaven

The word Heaven is used in the Bible in two ways—of the skies above the earth and of the sphere in which God,  the angels, and ultimately all the redeemed live for eternity. The latter is the theological sense and the meaning intended by the church over the centuries. Since human language is fit for finite experience, the only way heaven can be described is in picture language, metaphor, and symbolism.

Hence we read in 1 Kings 8:27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” and Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

Art, particularly stained glass, presents Christ as sitting at the right hand of the Father, and the whole is seen as a city of gold (Rev 22). Heaven is the goal of God’s work of human salvation, and it is the sphere where his creatures perfectly enjoy his friendship and fellowship. As concerns the redeemed, it may be said that heaven was constituted by the ascension of Christ completing his promise of preparing a place for his disciples.

Jesus often used to refer to the Kingdom of Heaven; but what kind of kingdom will this be? Hans Hüng describes it this way.

“It will be a kingdom where, in accordance with Jesus’ prayer, God’s name is truly hallowed, his will is done on earth, human beings will have everything in abundance, all sin will be forgiven and all evil overcome.

It will be a kingdom where, in accordance with Jesus’ promises, the poor, the hungry, those who weep and those who are downtrodden will finally come into their own; where pain, suffering and death will have an end.

It will be a kingdom that cannot be described, but only made known in metaphors: as the new covenant, the seed springing up, the ripe harvest the great banquet, the royal feast. 

It will therefore be a kingdom of absolute righteousness, of unsurpassable freedom of dauntless love, universal reconciliation of everlasting peace. In this sense therefore it will be the time of salvation of fulfilment of consummation, of God’s presence; the absolute future.”

A Prayer

Lord, I confess I don’t often long for heaven. I’m a creature of this world and crave worldly things, not heavenly ones. I ask you would grow a desire in me for heaven. Help me not be satisfied with the things of this world, but long for closeness with you and the perfection of eternity in your presence. Lord, thank you for the hope of heaven and the joy we will have when we get there! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

An ABC of Faith

Generosity

John MacArthur an American Pastor said, “God made all of His creation to give. He made the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the earth, the plants to give. He also designed His supreme creation, humankind, to give. But we are the most reluctant givers in all of God's creation.”

Sociologist refer to three ways that people act in relationship; takers, matchers and givers.

Takers are self-focused and put their own interests ahead of others’ needs. They try to gain as much as possible from their interactions while contributing as little as they can in return.

Matchers like to preserve an equal balance of giving and taking. Their mindset is: “If you take from me, I’ll take from you. If you give to me, I’ll give to you.”

Givers are others-focused, and tend to provide support to others with no strings attached. They ask themselves, “How can I add value for this person? What can I contribute?”

In Matthew 10 we find Jesus advising his disciples to, “You received without payment; give without payment”. This is the call of the disciple: to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received so that we can give freely. Following such advice can purify us from any pride or self-righteousness, as we realise that we are all recipients of God's mercy, and we can look at those to whom we am sent with respect and gratitude. As we listen to Jesus instructing his disciples, we need ask for the grace to let his words make us a better disciple.

Jesus' word, like Jesus himself, always carries judgement with it, for those who accept it, as for those who reject it. We find Jesus’ very concrete instructions so reassuring: God gets involved in the nitty gritty of life’s challenges as well as dealing with the big issues. For God no problem is too small for us to ask for help and advice. Knock and the door will be opened.

'You received without payment; give without payment'. What is it that we can give that requires no payment on either side? My time? My expertise? My gifts? My forgiveness? We can give others the benefit of the doubt. We can pray that the person who receives from us will pass on the grace of giving, and that whoever we forgive will likewise forgive someone else.

Giving God,

we receive so much from you,

and therefore have much to give.

Help us to share in the blessings of giving as well as the happiness of receiving,

that your love may be more widely, shared through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous; 

teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labour and not to seek reward,

except that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.

St. Ignatius Loyola

An ABC of Faith

Glory - There are many ways of thinking about the word glory; We can think of it as  praise, honour, or distinction extended by common consent or as worshipful praise, honour, and thanksgiving. Then there is the notion  great beauty and splendour sometimes referred to a Magnificence. But what was the glory sung about when the angel’s appeared to the shepherds on the hillside outside Bethlehem?

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:10-14

When we think about it, although the the angelic proclamation is described in glorious terms, the actual reason for the glory was the image of a humble birth in a borrowed room. I think that John Betjeman beautifully frames the true nature of God’s glorious humility, “And is it true? And is it true, This most tremendous tale of all, Seen in a stained-glass window’s hue, A Baby in an ox’s stall? The Maker of the stars and sea Become a Child on earth for me?”

Many people are hungry for the greatness, grandeur and glory of God. They are looking for something bigger themselves and bigger than this physical or temporal experience. People are searching for transcendence.

The Bible mentions the glory of God many times throughout its pages. Yet glory remains an elusive concept. What is the glory of God? And how can we, individually and corporately, glorify him?

True we can see the glory of God in the beauty, intricacy and variety of nature. We can also glorify God with words of heartfelt praise and adoration. 

Often the church has a high concept of the sublime majesty and glory of God, and longs for its manifestation, but God’s glory is also manifested when his people engage in lowly works that continue Jesus’ mission of bringing hope and healing to the world. I read recently, “As long as we are in the day of small things, then, our job is to bear the Spirit’s fruit of faithfulness as we wait for God to bring the big things. And our job is to see, by faith, his glory is often in the small things right in front of us.”

Prayer:

Show us, Oh God, how to live our daily lives that we may glorify you in the common tasks of life. Many centuries ago there was a genius of the spiritual life, Brother Lawrence, a cook and shoemaker, who wrote: "Having given myself to God, having renounced all that is not God, I have come to see that my only business is to live as though there were none but God and I in the world." Let us focus on the radiance of Jesus' transfigured presence, and work for a world transfigured in the glory of Jesus' justice and love. In the name of Jesus, the Crucified and Risen Lord. Amen. 

An ABC of Faith

Goodness 

I wonder what Charles Dickens had in mind when he had a character in his 1840 " Barnaby Rudge " exclaim, " Goodness gracious me !"? This phrase also appeared in many classic TV programmes including the legendary Peter Sellers monologue of that name. Most dictionaries refer to this phrase as a mild exclamation meaning we feel alarm, dismay, annoyance or exasperation.

But it is thought also to have originated in the form “Good God be Gracious to me.”

In the 23rd Psalm we have that lovely phrase “Surely, Goodness and Mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Did you notice the first word?  Surely.  The shepherd David did not say, “maybe” or “possibly” or even “there’s a good chance”.  David penned the word, “Surely”.  It really doesn’t mean that we are deserving of “goodness and mercy”, just the fact that God promises it to us in spite of our doubt, rebellion or even plan stubbornness.  If those words still don’t grab you, let’s look at the remaining portion of this verse, “pursue me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”  God says His love will chase after me all  not some, not most, not nearly all – but all the days of my life.  Talk about a love passage this is one of the great ones.

The word Goodness here in Hebrew stands for a state of “welfare, prosperity, happiness” followed by the word Mercy, best translated as “loving kindness.” It was Augustine who said that “God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.”

Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I trust that You are opening doors for me that no man can shut. I choose to obey Your commands and walk in love as I wait on Your marvellous plan to unfold in Jesus’ name. Amen

An ABC of Faith

Grace -

We often use the words of the Grace at the end of a service or meeting, but what is this Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Bishop Will Willimon describes grace as "the power of God working in you to give you a transformed life."

The Grace Prayer is based on Paul's prayer at the end of 2 Corinthians 13: - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:14, NIV Bible) to which have been added the words "Now and evermore, Amen." It is common practise in church meetings for the whole congregation to say the grace prayer out loud, and to each other. 

In John Wesley's Bible Notes, we see an insight into the importance of this blessing to the life of the church. Wesley warns that it should not be taken with disrespect:- 

"It is with great reason that this comprehensive and instructive blessing is pronounced at the close of our solemn assemblies; and it is a very indecent thing to see so many quitting them, or getting into postures of remove, before this short sentence can be ended. How often have we heard this awful benediction pronounced! Let us study it more and more, that we may value it proportionably; that we may either deliver or receive it with a becoming reverence, with eyes and hearts lifted up to God, "who giveth the blessing out of Sion, and life for evermore." John Wesley's Bible Notes (2 Corinthians 13:14)

In terms of the Christian faith, grace is concerned with the nature of God's love. It is the unmerited favour of God. We do not deserve the love and goodness that is freely and unconditionally given from heaven. All we can do is receive it. Jesus tells a story about a son that squanders his father's inheritance (the parable of the prodigal son). When the son returns, rather than rejecting or disciplining him, the father runs to greet him and celebrates his return. This story gives us an insight into the kind of love that God gives.

A Prayer

Loving Father, You have loved me when I was unlovable. I am so amazingly grateful that I know You and I can experience Your wonderful presence in my life. Give me this day Your grace in how I live my life today. Give me wisdom and gentleness in how I interact with others. Make me pure then peaceable and gentle. May I have a mind that is open to reason and shows mercy. In all of today’s tasks, grant me the wisdom and grace to be sincere and meek. Thank You that You pour out Your grace to me. Amen.

An ABC of Faith

Gospel - We have a gospel to proclaim

I must admit that I am often confused about the use of the word Bible when perusing a bookshops shelves.  I have seen titles such as Lad’s Bible, Culinary Bible, The Gardener’s Bible, with each volume claiming  to be the last word on the titled subject. This is not so with what we have come to know as the Bible - the scriptures of the Old and New Testament that includes the gospels are not the the last word. 

The gospel is a living breathing continuous narrative found and displayed in the heart and life of the believer. Remember Paul’s words, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then he says, “whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27) In biblical literature the meaning of the term gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon godspell (“good story”). The classical Greek word euangelion means “a reward for bringing of good news” or the “good news” itself.

So the message of the gospel is not just a story telling narrative; it is a living unfolding, a telling that has an impact upon the reader or listener’s lives.

Brennan Manning, in his book “The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out” writes;-

“The Word we study has to be the Word we pray. My personal experience of the relentless tenderness of God came not from exegetes, theologians, and spiritual writers, but from sitting still in the presence of the living Word and beseeching Him to help me understand with my head and heart His written Word. Sheer scholarship alone cannot reveal to us the gospel of grace. We must never allow the authority of books, institutions, or leaders to replace the authority of *knowing* Jesus Christ personally and directly. When the religious views of others interpose between us and the primary experience of Jesus as the Christ, we become unconvicted and unpersuasive travel agents handing out brochures to places we have never visited.” 

A PRAYER

Almighty, ever-living God, by our baptism, we have been called to live as missionary disciples of your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that we, your people will fulfil our purpose by proclaiming the Good News and inviting all people to encounter the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Deepen our trust in you, O Lord, and help us to remain steadfast in our commitment to Courageously Living the Gospel in our homes, neighbourhoods,  communities, and wherever you may lead us. We humbly ask for the courage to live as your disciples standing firm in our  faith, through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

An ABC of Faith

God - Today, part of one verse comes to mind - “the Word was God”. John 1:1

John’s introduction is a powerful opening to his Gospel, a type of musical overture with trumpets and drums, anticipating the major themes that will recur throughout the story of Jesus. Why not  consider reading it out loud, then come back and dwell on one sentence or phrase that resonates with me.

In the first verse we find the phrase, “The Word was God” – this is the central truth about Jesus in the Gospels. In one word, the only Son who is close to the Father’s heart has made him known. We later read, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). To all who believe in his name, he gives power to become children of God. Then we have Thomas’ declaration of faith in the Risen Lord, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) – the climax to John’s Gospel.

It was N T Wright who said, “God is the one who satisfies the passion for justice, the longing for spirituality, the hunger for relationship, the yearning for beauty. And God, the true God, is the God we see in Jesus of Nazareth, Israel's Messiah, the world's true Lord.”

We thank God for the voice of John. Through his words and images, through the rhythm of his language and the depth of his thoughts, we glimpse the magnificence of God. God is the beginning, the power behind creation, the irresistible dawn which overcomes the darkness of our world.

A Prayer

Lord, we ponder the awesome mystery that you, God of eternal glory, decide to be united with us. As your daughters and sons, may we begin to understand today that we can help to fulfil your creative designs for the world and for ourselves. Let us give ourselves over to you, as you give yourself over to us. Amen