But if anybody does sin …

 Spring blossoms

First Letter of John 2: 1-6 (NIV)

¹ My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
³ We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. ⁴ The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

When the Apostle John wrote this, thought by scholars to be late in his relatively long life, he knew that Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was not only for Jews but for the peoples of all nations. Moreover he knew that the sins for which the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient atonement were not only those of the present; they included those that had already been committed some time in the past and those to be committed at some future time by people who had not yet been born – including us.

Even so, there are people who refuse to accept Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. There are people whose sins have been covered but who refuse to accept that atonement, some even refusing to accept the fact that they have sinned. Perhaps the saddest cases are those referred to by the Apostle John in verse 4: “The man who says ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands”.

I have to admit that, despite good intentions, I do not always do what Jesus commands. I fail to live up to his standards; I fail to “walk as Jesus did” (verse 6). Sometimes my efforts to be obedient are half-hearted; my human frailty is reflected in my weakness of will, lack of strength, failures of faith.

I am grateful for the comforting words which the Apostle John gives us (verse 1). Writing to us so that we will not sin, he then assures us that, even if we do sin (for example by failing to do always as Jesus has commanded), Jesus speaks to the Father in our defence.

We who follow Jesus seek to obey his word. Unassisted we would be incapable of this obedience but we are not unassisted. As he promised to his disciples (Gospel of John 14 and 15), so he gives to us the gift of the Counsellor, the Spirit of truth, to inform us, guide us and strengthen us.

May those newly sworn-in to our Federal Parliament be strengthened by the Holy Spirit so that they are equipped to obey the word of Jesus and to walk as he did – throughout their Parliamentary careers and beyond.

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We, the people, pray …

 A bee visits Chaenomeles Japonica “Rubra” blossoms

Epistle of Paul to the Romans 15: 5-7, 13 (NIV)

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A week from this day, after an ecumenical service of Christian worship, Senators and Members of Australia’s 45^th Parliament will be sworn-in and will resume the business of governing this people.

The nation has high expectations of this Parliament that we will be governed well. What are the expectations of our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier with regard to this next Parliament?

Chapter 15 of this letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome includes two short prayers for those to whom he was writing. For each Senator and Member of Parliament who honours Jesus Christ, excerpts from the passage above present a template for behaviour, speech and thought in this new Parliament:

• “as you follow Christ Jesus” – yes, follow him consistently in all parts of your life: public, family and private;
• “God … give you a spirit of unity among yourselves” – yes, as his children for eternity, ensure party or factional loyalty drops into a subordinate position as, across the Parliament, you exemplify Christian unity to the nation and to the church;
• “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” – yes, despite the all-too-natural preference to receive the adulation of the people for yourself, direct the glory to God and use your own thoughts, words and actions to give him the glory;
• “Accept one another … as Christ accepted you” – yes, not for any personal merit have you been accepted by God but because of his grace through Jesus Christ. Be accepting of Parliamentary colleagues therefore, especially those with whom you disagree. Treat all people with respect because all were created in the image of God;
• “… in order to bring praise to God” – yes, for this should be your motive in all public work*;
• “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace …” – yes, for that will give you the stimulus, the incentive, to continue the work for which God has placed you in our Federal Parliament; and
• “overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” – yes, so that your overflowing will bring great benefit to this nation and to the world through the outworking of Christian hope and through the good government that will proceed from it.

We, the people, pray Romans 15: 5-7 and 13 over you, our elected representatives in Federal Parliament. Amen.

* Prayers offered at the commencement of every Parliamentary sitting day include this sentence which is referred to in my Reflection for 12 August 2014 (emphasis added):

“direct and prosper
the work of thy servants (Senate) /our deliberations (House of Representatives)
to the advancement of thy glory and
to the true welfare of the people of Australia.”

Priscilla and Aquila, champions!

 Silver wattle

Acts of the Apostles 18: 24-28 (NIV)

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

“Meanwhile”, at the beginning of this passage, indicates a diversion from the principal theme of this part of the book of Acts describing the journeys of the Apostle Paul. Having visited Ephesus (verse 19), Paul left Priscilla and Aquila there and sailed to Caesarea. After a probable visit to the church at Jerusalem, Paul journeyed overland to Antioch with the intention later of returning to Ephesus (Acts 19: 1).

What champions Priscilla and Aquila proved to be! They were courageous missionaries. They were leaders. They were encouragers. They were eager expositors of the message of the Gospel. Having been ordered by Claudius to leave Rome, these Jews were about to settle in Corinth when Paul arrived. He convinced them to sail with him for Syria but then, when they reached Ephesus, he required them to remain there and form a house church.

It could have been too easy for them to silence Apollos when they first heard him speaking boldly in the synagogue. He did not have the full story of Jesus’ post-resurrection instructions to his Apostles (Acts 1: 4-5), knowing only the baptism of John. But rather than over-rule him publicly, Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos into their home. Without making a public issue of the matter, they explained to him the way of God more adequately.

It is a testimony to their approach and to their hospitality as well as to their coaching that Apollos responded positively. His ability, channelled by the careful teaching of Priscilla and Aquila, must have been evident to the brothers in Ephesus who were keen to encourage him in his initiative to take the message of the Gospel to Achaia. The opening verses of Paul’s subsequent letter to the church in Corinth attest to the effectiveness there of Apollos’ ministry.

How do we compare in our Christian walk with that of Priscilla and Aquila, or with that of Apollos, for that matter? Are we encouragers? Are we able to see potential in other people and are we confident enough to develop that potential rather than be intimidated by it? Are we tactful as to how we correct error, building others up rather than trying to pull them down? Are we willing to be taught, as Apollos was, to enhance our knowledge and understanding and to become more effective in those areas where our gifting is strong?

Are we trustworthy servants, ready to apply our talents where they are needed without having to be coerced to do so by someone in authority?

Well done Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos, good and faithful servants!

Seek understanding.

 Wattle blossoms appear suddenly

Psalm 119: 97-104 (NIV)

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Through the words of Scripture we encounter God speaking to us, the humans he has created, however in the Psalms we tend to find the words of human poets crying out to God. Here, in Psalm 119, the poet expresses his love for God in the references to his love for God’s law (or laws), commands (or commandments), statutes, precepts, word (or words), ordinances, testimonies, promises and decrees.

Not only does the poet love God’s law, he claims to have gained from God’s teaching of these laws obedience to the extent that he has “kept (his) feet from every evil path” and has “not departed from (God’s) laws”.

Does this grate with you? Does it seem to be unjustifiable arrogance on the part of the poet? Do you read these verses to be self-congratulatory or do you consider that the poet is expressing aspirations which demonstrate how valuable to him are the laws of God? Perhaps there is an element of the prophetic here, for each of verses 97-104 could truly have been spoken by our Lord during his earthly ministry.

In those verses, I regard the poet’s references to the “law(s)” of God to extend beyond the “Law” (meaning the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures) to encompass all that God has revealed through Holy Scripture to his chosen people.

Should not we also love God’s law? Is it not appropriate that we should seek to gain the wisdom, insight and understanding to which the poet refers? The poet has not claimed fully to understand God and his ways. He “gain(s) understanding from (God’s) precepts” and as a consequence of his study of God’s precepts and of his desire to obey, he has “more understanding than the elders” and “more insight than all (his) teachers”.

In military planning, the senior commander will issue orders for an operation and in addition will make clear his/her overall intentions. This enables the commander’s subordinates to use initiative when the battle develops beyond what was foreseen in the operation order. Subordinates can exercise initiative, confident that their battlefield decisions will be in compliance with the already-expressed intentions of the senior commander.

As members of the body of which Christ is the head, we have been granted access, through his word, to “the commander’s intentions”. We are called to gain as full an understanding of his intentions as is possible through the study of his word so that, encountering the unexpected, we are equipped to respond, in word or in action, in a way that will advance the coming of his kingdom and not hinder it. Recall, for example, this verse from 2 Peter 3:

⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Everyone!

A Prayer for the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship

 Tiny windows to the Meditation Room at Parliament House Canberra

First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 12: 12-27 (NIV)

One Body, Many Parts

¹² The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
¹⁴ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Let us pray:

Loving Heavenly Father, as the results of the 2 July 2016 Federal Election are released for the Senate this week, we pray that you will raise up from the Members and the Senators of the 45^th Parliament a powerful and faithful body of witnesses to you our Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through your Holy Spirit, empower them to perform their duties with integrity and humility, seeking to serve rather than to be served. Cause them to regard their Parliamentary colleagues as you do and to respect one another. May those who honour you be willing partners in the body of Christ at Parliament House, working together to bring glory to your Name.

This we pray through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Was Jesus laughing?

 A week out from Rio: Frosty track at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra

Gospel of Matthew 14: 25-33 (NIV)

²⁵ During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹ “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Of all the disciples who were in that boat, only Peter dared to step out of the boat. What led him to do that? Was it his impetuous nature? Was it his faith in his Lord, even though that faith had yet to mature? Was it Spirit-led but with Peter’s natural self then getting in the way? We may not ever know but we may be certain that, when the disciples saw this “apparition” on the lake’s surface, Peter responded far more quickly and far more earnestly than did any of the others.

And what of Jesus? He deliberately encouraged Peter: “Come”. Did Jesus already know what was to happen? Had he known Peter so well that the entire sequence of events was evident before him? Was this Jesus’ deliberate way of teaching the disciple whom he was preparing for leadership of the infant church?

I would like to hear the tone in Jesus’ voice as he reached out his hand towards the sinking Peter. How did he express those words, “You of little faith”? Was Jesus gently and lovingly laughing with Peter? Was he showing frustration or irritation? Was he scolding Peter? This side of heaven, I doubt we’ll ever know.

I like to think that Jesus said it to Peter with a smile, knowing that the lesson he intended for Peter had already been learned. I think of another encounter, where Jesus was in conversation with a rich young man (Mark 10).

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No-one is good-except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.’”
²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

“Jesus looked at him and loved him.” I believe that is how he regarded Peter the instant Peter stepped out of the boat. I believe that is how Jesus regards all his “sheep”. I believe it describes how he sees my stumbling attempts to follow him and, while the world might look on critically as I make mistakes, Jesus continues to love me.

 

 

For more on Matthew 14: 25-27, see the reflection of 4 August 2015.