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Reverend Paul Collings BTh (Hons) - - - - paul.collings@methodist.org.uk - - - - 01392 206229 - - - - 07941 880768

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We are a community of faith seeking to discover the face of Jesus Christ in our Church, in our Community and in our Commitment.

Friday 26 April 2024

Resurrection Strength


Micah 7:7 according to Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase says, “But me, I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what God will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right. I’m counting on God to listen to me.”

The disciple of Jesus is called to wait with a purpose and that purpose is to be entirely attuned to God’s purpose. You never find God asking us to dream up what we want to do for Him. God’s purpose for  our lives is to have the focus of a God-centred life, not one centred on our own plans. So it is important that we seek to see God’s perspective rather than our own distorted human viewpoint.


A man was walking through an art gallery when he came upon a picture of the Lord Jesus dying upon the cross. He stopped and looked at the beautiful portrait of Calvary's love. As he stared into the face of Christ, so full of agony the gallery guard tapped him on the shoulder. "Lower," the guard said. "The artist painted this picture to be appreciated from a lower position.”


So the man bent down. And from this lower position he observed new beauties in the picture not previously shown. "Lower," said the guard. "Lower still." The man knelt down on one knee and looked up into the face of Christ. The new vantage point yielded new beauties to behold and appreciate.


But motioning with his torch toward the ground, the guard said, "Lower. You've got to go lower." The man now dropped down to two knees and looked up. Only then as he looked up at the painting from such a low posture could he realise the artist's intended perspective. Only then could he see the full beauty of the cross.


Waiting and sticking around in the Presence of God to see what he is doing in the Risen Christ will require us to wait on our knees and look up and really see his love upon the cross.


Heavenly Father, I choose to serve You in spirit and truth and to watch and wait expectantly for You. Help me to make the right choices in my life, and thank You that even when I prove faithless, You are faithful and true. Praise Your holy name! Amen 


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