LOOKING IN A MIRROR

 

Recently in our fellowship we have been looking at the Letter to the Philippians and James’s letter to the dispersed brothers.

This has brought to light how very different human nature is than the nature of Jesus.  The general command is that we allow Christ’s nature to be formed in us.  James advises us to seek for God’s wisdom and to make sure we have real faith that obeys God.  There can be no doubt that following Christ, believing in him, is not a passive thing.  Faith shows itself in acts of obedience and faithfulness.

So, we have looked into the spiritual mirror and seen some challenging stuff!  We are not what we thought we were!  We have been challenged about humility, submission and genuine love for our neighbour.  James points out that we can be shown  what we really are but forget it as soon as we turn away from the mirror.

Jesus had numerous conflicts with Pharisees on this simple issue.  He is the light that reveals our true nature in the mirror.  He spoke of the Pharisees in general as looking OK on the outside but being corrupt on the inside.  Not a nice thing to have to admit about oneself [Matthew 23.27].

However, it is fundamental to the Christian Faith that we start with a realistic and honest appraisal of our characters.  This involves accepting what God says of us.  If not, what will our repentance be based on?  What desire will there be to be like Jesus?  How will we begin to think others better than ourselves or refrain from thinking too highly of ourselves?  Why would we want our minds to be taken captive by Jesus?  In fact, if I am unwilling to see what I am really like, I will not be willing to see what God wants me to be.

This brings to mind what Jesus said, citing Isaiah ch.6:

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' Matthew 13.14,15

It is a challenge to us who name Jesus as Saviour to be careful that we do not become like this.  I can see the danger in myself of thinking I am better than I really am; superior to others in spiritual things.  There are two dangers in this: the first is that I will become worldly in my thinking and acting and the second is that I open myself up to the devil’s accusations.  These occur because I would be living a double-life (as a hypocrite).  I would not be living according to faith – so I would be relying on my worldly wits to get by.  I would be trying to reconcile my personal opinion of myself with the unpalatable truth of what I am really like.  This gives the devil an opportunity to spoil me.

It is good to accept with the apostle Paul:

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  Romans 7:18 

The result is a good one because we begin to discover the grace and love of God and a view of self that does not pin itself to success and ambition, wealth and winning.  And with Paul we will be able to say:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  2Timothy 4:7,8

 

 

 

Just One Thing?

Luke 10:42 … but only one thing is needed…

 

Got this painting from the internet – appreciate being able to use it but do not know who painted it … it was on a web page danielim.com

These words of Jesus to Martha are usually wrapped up in advice about being too busy to spend quality time with the Lord.  Perhaps Jesus was saying that he would be happy with just one dish, course or plate of food?  It does not stretch the spiritual mind to see rather more in our Lord’s words and application on several levels. 

A local church can be a busy thing.  There can be all kinds of projects and meetings going on and a faithful few tiring themselves out trying to keep it all going.  The motives are good but sometimes misguided.  So much effort is put into special events to attract the world to hear the Gospel.  We see this as casting our nets, putting the right bait out in order to catch some fish!  Then there are the many events designed to keep the congregation happy and interested in attending meetings so that they will hear God’s Word and Pray together.  All these things have a place in the day to day life of a local church but they can become too dominant and take the place of the main purpose! 

A family is a precious thing.  Through a single year there will be birthday celebrations, days out, special times together, a holiday may be?  These things should be products of love, not an attempt to keep the family together!  If that were the case then all the efforts will never be enough.  The simple day to day being together, belonging and sharing must be the greater thing.  Our human tendency to materialism easily intrudes on this.  Where many material things are available a family can become fragmented – as the Scripture says – “Everyone to his own tent!”  Children sit in solitude with their own TV, or games console.  Meals are taken alone.  Conversation is limited and relationships can be weakened.  The Bible teaches that the human condition tends to selfishness and pride.  A family can help moderate this and bring empathy and real concern for one’s “brother” and “neighbour”. 

Our world, we are told, has become a global village.  Often we are encouraged to think of neighbours as people thousands of miles away who we do not know and have only seen through two-dimensional means.  We help these neighbours through charitable giving.  Yet, and yet, we have real neighbours, real “brethren”, who have needs.  I will suggest an extreme example: we may have genuine sympathy for AIDS victims in Africa somewhere but treat AIDS victims in our neighbourhood as pariahs, as outcasts!  What I am trying to point out is that the emphasis on personal fulfilment, the way we relate with celebrities and imaginary film heroes can desensitise us to the reality of belonging in a real society and having real parents, brothers, sisters and neighbours.

Perhaps we are being swept along in a turmoil of busy-ness in the hope that this will buy stability for our family?  Perhaps the same is true for our local church? In times of lucidity, we realise that, like Martha, we are too busy to do the one thing that is needed?  I believe that Jesus taught that this one thing was love for him and for one another.  I wonder, do we really believe that love can achieve what money cannot? 

Proverbs 15:16 and 17

 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.