As part of
our Alpha Renewed programme, we look at how God guides us. We would all like to do the right thing – the
problem is that we do not always know what that right thing is. We might like to imagine a heavenly GPS
system where a voice that we have chosen guides us unerringly through
life. Reality is not like that. We have all heard stories of people who have
ended up miles from their intended destination, or who have been directed to
drive through an impassable obstacle.
GPS (Global
Positioning System) is actually useful and accurate. It relies upon 24 satellites in orbit around
the earth, positions so that four are always in line of sight. The mini computer in your possession can talk
to each of these satellites and calculate its position with great
accuracy. As you are moving, and as
trees, buildings or weather can obscure the satellites, you will see that it is
actually a complex set of relationships at work.
Our two
readings this morning look at the complex set of relationships that form our
Christian walk, approaching it from different directions.
The voice of
Proverbs calls us to listen, to take heed of the teachings in the Law, which
will lead us into a relationship of trust with our Lord. It talks of the heart, love and faithfulness,
trust, submission. These are inward
virtues that speak of a growing relationship.
The bible is not a rule book that we learn by heart, but it is more a
guide book that gives us clues about how others have interacted with God and
how we can learn to do the same.
We find the
same emphasis in the last chapter of the letter to the Hebrews. The writer has comprehensively demonstrated
that Jesus has fulfilled the promises of the Hebrew Scriptures, that he is the
heir to King David, that he is heir to the High Priests, that he is now our man
in heaven where he prays for us, and that he is the author and the finisher of
the faith in which we now live.
How are we
to live out that faith? The answer is in
relationships. We are taught here about
how to respond to three different sorts of people. They are given to us in sequence, but we are
to do them all at the same time.
First, we
are to keep loving one another as brothers and sisters. We are not members of a club who sometimes just
get together. Jesus has bound us
together with him with the ties of family, of blood. All Saints is the season when we remember
that we are joined together with all whom God has brought into the family. We are joined with all who love Jesus or who
have ever loved him, people who worship Jesus in a variety of languages and
cultures, on all the continents of the world, and those who worship him on a
distant shore.
We are
exhorted here to live this love out, worshipping and working together among
those whom God has placed us. Why are we
told to keep loving each other? I think
because we do not find it easy to do. This
is a narrow path, with a wide ditch on each side. One the one hand, there are churches where
people can appear quite hard or uncaring.
I heard of one new vicar whose only sermon for the first year was that
we should be kind to each other. After
all, that is what it says on the tin, and what we look for from followers of
Jesus. On the other hand, we can place
politeness and kindness at such a premium that we fail to really connect with
each other. I always tell my engaged
couples that people in love can be the most dishonest; we shy away from telling
the truth, or find ourselves saying things like “Let’s not go there”. If we do not know each other’s little
idiosyncrasies, if we are comfortable with a shell of politeness that keeps us
from really knowing each other, then perhaps we need to know each other
better. Jesus had hundreds of followers,
but found it necessary to spend time with a smaller group of twelve, so that
they could really get to know him.
I have found
that the surest way that I have received guidance has been when I have prayed
and reflected on scripture, in the company of trusted brothers and sisters who
have become friends, and we have become guides for each other. This has linked with the tradition of
Christians from the past who have faced similar trials or decisions. This series of links is like the multiple
messages from satellites that help us get a ‘fix’ on our true position – with
God.
Second we
are to reach out, to be hospitable to ‘outsiders’. For all that relationships within the church
can be challenging and growth inducing, there is a comfort spending time with
our Christian brothers and sisters. The
whole message of scripture, however, is that God is reaching out and we are called to do the same. Having a faith and sharing it are
essentials. Doing this through acts of
kindness and compassion are mandatory.
God so loved the world that he gave ….
Go into all the world and make disciples …. This is why Camberley Connections will be
such an opportunity for us to join for a week with other churches in the town
to share God’s love with our families and neighbours, our colleagues and our
friends. More detail of this exciting
ecumenical mission will be given in the coming months, but keep the week from
Mothering Sunday to St Patrick’s Day free!
Third, we
are to remember those who are suffering, specifically those in prison. Today is also being kept as Persecuted Church
Sunday, and so we remember all our fellow saints, brothers and sisters who face
hard times because of their Christian faith.
We remember and pray for those who are threatened or attacked because
they are judged guilty of apostasy to another faith, or because their
expression of the Christian faith is outlawed.
We pray that churches can be rebuilt in Egypt, and that Christians will
be kept safe in Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and so many other places. We pray for those who set the legal and moral
agendas here in our own country, for teachers and medical staff who must walk a
fine line in issues of faith and practice.
The passage
from Hebrews continues with advice to seek a pure life – free from sexual sin,
a simple life free from the love of money, an ordered life – working together
in mutual submission and respect for authority, and in a life centred on Jesus,
who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
How does God
guide us?
Your GPS can
be relied upon if you programme in the correct destination. Every day we programme in our heart’s desire,
for his name to be hallowed, his kingdom to come, his will to be done, here on
earth, in our lives, as it is in heaven.
This is to ‘in all our ways submit to him, and he will make our paths
straight.’
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