Commit and Live

“A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known.
What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:24-39

The very first event recognizing fathers occurred on July 5, 1908, in Fairmont, West Virginia. Grace Golden Clayton organized a church service to honour 362 men who had died in the Monongah mining disaster a few months prior. Subsequently, after much lobbying, Father’s Day was created by Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, in 1910 to recognise her single Civil War veteran father who raised and cared for her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth.

On Father’s Day, we pause to honour the physical and spiritual fathers we have in our lives, which includes those who have to be both mother and father, and all that they have done. From Psalm 103 verse 13, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him”.

There are many aspects to the perceived role of fatherhood and there are different people who may fulfil this role for us. For some it is their Dad, for some their Mum, for some a Grandparent, for some a carer or a foster parent and for some a trusted mentor or friend. All these people are loved by those they love and care for and we thank God, our Almighty Father, for these people, for all they do and for the way they touch our lives.

Fear causes failure. Fear causes failure in discipleship.

Sometimes one of the harder jobs of a parental type role is having to tell us things that are tough to prepare us for what lies ahead.
Jesus is preparing His disciples for their mission and does not hide from them the threats they will come up against but He also explains why they must not let this fear control or hinder them.

The disciples are to undertake their mission in complete vulnerability and dependence on God; even though they will face arrests, beatings, opposition (including from family and friends), hatred and persecution.

Why tell the disciples the trials they will suffer? Wouldn’t this put them off the task assigned to them?

By warning them in advance, not only do the disciples have the opportunity to be prepared, but also saying aloud the suffering and trials to be faced is the first step to being freed from the grip of fear.

Jesus doesn’t just tell the disciples the worst case scenarios, He also gives reassurance and instructions to resist fear. The most important part of this reassurance is the relationship between the disciples and Jesus, and through Him God.

Jesus warns His disciples that the fate of the Master or Teacher also awaits their disciples and so the disciples should be ready to receive a similar response from the leaders of Israel that Jesus Himself receives and to have no fear of them.

Proclaiming and living the Gospel is the most powerful tool the disciples have against world powers.

Death threats can be a powerful way of controlling people through fear. Whilst humans try to use this power, Jesus reassures the disciples that humans only have power to destroy the body, not the whole person. Only God can destroy both soul and body. However, God is not like human rulers. God has ultimate power over our whole being and exercises this power with mercy and love.

The call to discipleship has priority and is above all other claims on identity, allegiance, family and friends.

To take up our cross aligns the discipleship mission and fate with that of Jesus which can include humiliation, suffering, shame, opposition and death. It implies identification with marginal people who do not “find their lives in this world”. But it comes with the promise from Jesus that anyone who loses their life for Him will “find it” whereas those “finding their life in the world” will lose it.

Jesus shows us that the answer to fear includes recognising and naming it. Fear of the unknown or unacknowledged is a far greater fear than the fear of the known and spoken.

We need to be honest and transparent in recognising the elements of human power including those rooted in the threat of death and suffering. We need to be aware of the conflict and division that proclaiming and living the Gospel inevitably produces. We need deep awareness and conviction of God’s presence in the world in love, mercy and compassion.

Today’s society is guilty of having a lack of commitment and has left its cross on the side of the road.

Every organisation that relies on regular and committed volunteers – churches, Girl Guiding, Scouts to name just a couple – all are having trouble finding people to take on running these groups, to take on responsibility for the different elements that need doing, to run and to support events. People don’t mind making use of these various groups when it suits them but they will not commit to regular attendance, regular giving or taking on responsibility.

There are all kinds of reasons used and excuses given to explain this such as working hours or childcare but, whilst that does affect some, it most certainly does not affect everyone. What about the childless? The unemployed? The retired? Those with compatible working hours or who work part time? Those who do have the talents and time to take an active part but who won’t? And so forth.

People today would rather keep their interpretation of freedom, stay at home watching the television or surf the internet. People think less about being or don’t want to be part of something whether that be a cause, a group or community of believers (in anything) and think more about individual pleasure and activities. And we are all guilty.

Today, people are told to just do what they can and this encourages people to not put the effort in.

Jesus does not say that to us. He did not say it to the disciples. Instead He told a group of scared men that it required commitment and was going to be very tough. He told them this in no uncertain terms.

Did they decline – No
Did they give up – No
Did they say actually Jesus I don’t really feel like doing that today – No

What they did do was to rise to the challenge in total commitment to Jesus.

People, regardless of age, will be what society expects them to be. If a child is told they can’t do something then they start to believe they can’t do it and won’t even try. If you tell a child they can’t behave they won’t even try and the more they don’t – whether that is leaving rubbish on the floor, not putting things away, being rude causing damage, shooting catapults or any action that the adult considers misbehaviour. If they are constantly told they can’t behave they don’t.

Likewise, the more people are told not to overdo it or to be careful because they are frail or that they don’t need to then the less they do and the more fearful and frail they become.

We must train ourselves to take a risk and be willing to commit and do.

Jesus told His disciples not to be afraid, that they would be guided and protected, that they were precious to God and that even if their bodies or feelings got hurt no harm would come to their souls.

God’s love and protection surrounds and insulates us from the worst human powers and earthly life can throw at us. We might suffer as all typical humans suffer but we are precious to God, He holds us in His hand and keeps our souls safe. We can and will endure.

In a society that encourages lazy, self indulgent life on the sidelines it can be difficult to be as committed and courageous as those first Christians.

We must not be complacent. As the world is, it is easy to become. We must be on our guard always to ensure that the world does not drain us of our commitment to others and to God. We must resist the temptation to be lazy and uninvolved.

Like those first disciples, as Jesus’s followers we are all involved with each other, with God’s will for the world, with His command to spread the word, and to bring in the kingdom; and we must not let the siren call of selfishness and lack of commitment prevent that purpose.

Life to Dry Bones

The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.” So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD.”
Ezekiel 37: 1 – 14

When I read this passage it always reminds me of the scene from the 1963 Jason and the Argonauts when the bones rise out of the ground and reform into skeleton soldiers marching across the valley. When I shared this with my husband and explained the intricacies of this stop motion creation by Ray Harryhausen, unbelievably, of course, my husband had no idea what I was talking about. Well, obviously that had to be rectified and so I showed him the scene in question so that he could see the animation of the skeletons – to help him visualise the life to dry bones. If, like him, you have missed out on this cultural experience the clip is available to view on YouTube.

Having slightly detoured, let’s get back to Ezekiel and the dry bones.

“The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord”, basically, Ezekiel had a vision. And in his vision he saw a large valley, the Valley of Death. Everywhere he looked Ezekiel could see bones all over the ground. Bones laying on the surface of the ground are from people in disgrace who have been denied a proper burial; and being dry bones they are from people who have been dead a long time. They had had life once but it had long departed. Yet God asked Ezekiel whether these bones could live.

Ezekiel had no hope in the bones, but he did have hope in God. Ezekiel did not presume to know what God wanted to do with the bones; but he was confident that God DID know.

Ezekiel deliberately left the matter with God, to God’s power and wisdom. In return God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to these dry, dead bones.

To an outsider looking in this would probably be conceived as foolishness. In Corinthians Paul acknowledged that God’s rescue of humanity in the person and work of Jesus, especially His sacrifice on the cross, was foolishness to those intent on perishing.

Ezekiel preached his message full of faith in God, he was confident that he was speaking God’s word and that the word of God is full of power.

God promised to restore life to these bones. The bones could not create life themselves but as the word of God was proclaimed over them they received God’s promise of life.

This restoration of life was to be marked by breath living once again in these bones – God’s Spirit, the breath of life.

Ezekiel did as God commanded and as he continued to prophesy to the bones their revival took place in stages. First the bones stirred, then they assembled, sinews and flesh were added, the skin covered the tissues and they awaited the breath of God. This is a direct reversal of the decomposition process.

Next God told Ezekiel to call upon the Spirit of God to come upon those on whom the word of God was working. Ezekiel proclaimed God’s message, the breath of God breathed into the reanimated bodies and they stood on their feet becoming an exceedingly great army who lived to act under the orders of God who gave and restored their life. They had God’s word and Spirit, an army of life willingly under the command of God.

If we have word but no Spirit we are like a dead army, assembled but without the true breath of life.

God then explains the vision to Ezekiel. God is promising to restore the whole house of Israel in a restoration so wide and deep that it will be fulfilled as part of God’s plan for Israel in the very last days.

This whole passage highlights to us how God works in revival and how God’s servants should think and act relevant to God’s mighty reviving work:
– God’s servant knows the bones are dead and dry
– God’s servant must walk among the dead and the unrevived
– God’s servant must proclaim God’s word
– God’s servant must have almost a foolish confidence in God’s word
– God’s servant must understand that the Spirit works in a process
– God’s servant must recognise that the work of the Holy Spirit is essential
– God’s servant must boldly pray for the Spirit to move
– God’s servant must speak in the power of faith
– God’s servant must notice every evidence of the Spirit’s work
– God’s servant must look for God’s people to be revived into an army of service
– God’s servant must not say that hope is lost

Upon the valley, wide and sear,
Where death had settled, year on year,
The Spirit set me in the cold,
Amidst the dry bones, grey and old.
Can these bones live? The Voice did ask,
This impossible, heavy task?
I answered not with my own thought,
But “Sovereign Lord, You know,” I brought.

Then came the word: “Prophesy, O son,
To what is broken, dead, and done!
Tell them to hear the LORD on high,
Who brings back breath, who gives them sky.”
As I did speak, a rattling song,
As bone to bone rushed to belong!
Tendons and sinews, flesh and skin,
Wrapped around the void within.
The forms stood up in silent grace,
A breathless army in that place.

“Prophesy again,” the Word did say,
“Call from the four winds, breath of day!
Breathe on these slain, that they may live,
The resurrection I will give.”
The breath of God, the spirit-wind,
Filled the lungs and freed the pinned.
They stood on feet, a vast, huge host,
Alive by Son and Holy Ghost.

“These are my people,” saith the Lord,
“Lost in the graves, by hope ignored.
But I will open up the tomb,
And bring them out of death’s cold gloom.
I’ll put My Spirit in your heart,
A new life, right from the start.
Then you shall know, from dust and sigh,
The Lord has spoken—and will not lie.”
The Valley of Whispering Dust

Time of Change …

… time for change. As we enter October change is all around us. Changing leaves falling off trees, darkness approaches earlier each day, changing times, people come and people go. It will be tough but God will see us through.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

When change comes, whether it is planned and expected or whether it has been thrust upon us, whether it is wanted or unwanted, it is an opportunity to take a good look at ourselves. What do we need to change about ourselves and how we react and respond to the changes that must take place. What we need to change to be the best we can be – to have open hearts and minds and ears for God. To actually listen to His voice and His plan for us. To take the next steps on our journey.

To open ourselves to changes that will have to be made to enable us to make it through difficult situations. To be open to and make the changes that are required for us to flourish in the future.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Change can be challenging and many are resistant to it but change is a normal and necessary part of life. And, of course, change can be exciting, stimulating or rejuvenating but it can also be disorientating, uncomfortable and stressful. However, change will happen whether we want it to or not, so we need to accept and embrace it, as much as possible.

But the Lord, our God, is our strength and shield. We do not need to fear what tomorrow may hold. God is with us and will never leave us. He protects us and His plans for us are good.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. (Psalm 28:7)