Hey everyone.
Just letting you know that I have moved my blog to a different site, so I will no longer be updating this blog.
Here is the link to my new page:
http://just--a--thought.tumblr.com/
xxxx
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Friday, 24 September 2010
What God taught me in China - Part Two
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these,” (1 Tim. 6:7-8).
Will we?
Before going to China if someone had said these words to me, I would have been a little unsure. Do I really rejoice and thank God for providing me with food and clothing every day? Well no is the honest answer, and I'm pretty sure most of you reading will agree - these are just something we take for granted aren't they?
There were times in China when all I wanted to do was go home. It was too hot. I was tired. I didn't like the food. There was no proper toilet. There was no proper shower. I missed my family... I could go on.
Before China I saw myself as a bit of a quitter. During 6th form for example, I missed about a quarter of those two years because I had Depression and found it easier to stay in bed all day than try and make myself be happy. I was grateful for the days when God got me through but I wasn't content in them. During my first year at Uni (the academic year before China) I was much happier with life and thankful to God for this. But I wasn't content. I was happy.
What is the difference you may be thinking. I was thinking about this a lot in China. Could I honestly say that I was happy getting 3 hours sleep a night because I was so hot and my mattress and pillow were made of bamboo?! No, not really.
Could I honestly say that whilst sitting in a dirty, outside hospital in Jiangxi with sick all over the floor, babies screaming, no translator and nurses stabbing me here there and everywhere with (what I believed to be) dirty needles, that I was happy?! Unless one is a masochist, I'm pretty sure all our answers will be no...
I was content though.
In my preparations for China I was worried that I would quit as soon as anything got vaguely difficult because I'm not happy when I'm not comfortable. During Orientation (a week of training and fellowship), my attitude changed towards, well life, really. A lady called Joanne came and gave us a talk about what to expect in China. I left the talk feeling excited, nervous and confused all at the same time. One thing she said though really stuck with me.
'You are a guest here and therefore have no sense of entitlement. View everything as a privelege.'
I had no idea what she meant by this until faced with my first difficulty. Looking back actually, the food from the canteen at the first school in Beijing, was a million times better than what we had in store for us at the other places, but at the time it felt really awful. After a few meals of eating as much as I could and still feeling hungry and sick, I began to understand what Joanne meant. I wasn't entitled to this food. I wasn't paying for it and it was a privelege that it was there and edible. Gradually as the trip went on I learnt to adopt this attitude in most things I did and it made me really content to be there. I was really content living under God's provision because I knew that literally everything may be taken away any minute so it was really reassuring to know that the God of the Universe had it all covered and knew exactly what he was doing.
I believe God provided me with difficult situations to test me and to give me the perseverance to run the race, when previously I would have quit as soon as I got tired. It baffles me to think about how much God has changed me in the past few months. I remember feeling really annoyed and grumpy about the fact that our air con didn't work in the youth hostel the day I arrived in Beijing, and by the third camp I was looking forward to waking up at 6am to have a cold bucket 'shower' after a night with a wooden slab for a mattress!
In terms of where to go from here with the learning curve, I still believe there is a lot to learn. Joanne's comment about having no sense of entitlement can still be applied to life here, and actually, life in general. I was a guest in China and this is why I had no sense of entitlement. But here on earth I am a guest in God's Creation, and i've messed it up - so how much less is my sense of entitlement when it comes to Him! Jesus allowed us to have a relationship with God, but he didn't give us the right to just expect that God will bless us and give us everything we want. It says in Timothy (see above) that actually so long as we have food and clothing, we will be content.
I so often get bogged down with life and still get my depressive tendencies from time to time. God is teaching me though that I have everything I need to be content. My main reason to be content is that I have a relationship with Jesus, and the awesome Creator and Sustainer of the Universe sustaining me - every day. And on top of this He has given me not only what I need, but also a lot of things I want.
I know I often forget this, but I'm so much more aware of it now than I was before. Even though there were many tough things I encountered during the summer, and many times i wanted to go home and pack it all in, God, in His usual wonderful fashion, used these things for my good and His glory, and this is why I wanted to share this thing that He taught me in China.
:-)
Will we?
Before going to China if someone had said these words to me, I would have been a little unsure. Do I really rejoice and thank God for providing me with food and clothing every day? Well no is the honest answer, and I'm pretty sure most of you reading will agree - these are just something we take for granted aren't they?
There were times in China when all I wanted to do was go home. It was too hot. I was tired. I didn't like the food. There was no proper toilet. There was no proper shower. I missed my family... I could go on.
Before China I saw myself as a bit of a quitter. During 6th form for example, I missed about a quarter of those two years because I had Depression and found it easier to stay in bed all day than try and make myself be happy. I was grateful for the days when God got me through but I wasn't content in them. During my first year at Uni (the academic year before China) I was much happier with life and thankful to God for this. But I wasn't content. I was happy.
What is the difference you may be thinking. I was thinking about this a lot in China. Could I honestly say that I was happy getting 3 hours sleep a night because I was so hot and my mattress and pillow were made of bamboo?! No, not really.
Could I honestly say that whilst sitting in a dirty, outside hospital in Jiangxi with sick all over the floor, babies screaming, no translator and nurses stabbing me here there and everywhere with (what I believed to be) dirty needles, that I was happy?! Unless one is a masochist, I'm pretty sure all our answers will be no...
I was content though.
In my preparations for China I was worried that I would quit as soon as anything got vaguely difficult because I'm not happy when I'm not comfortable. During Orientation (a week of training and fellowship), my attitude changed towards, well life, really. A lady called Joanne came and gave us a talk about what to expect in China. I left the talk feeling excited, nervous and confused all at the same time. One thing she said though really stuck with me.
'You are a guest here and therefore have no sense of entitlement. View everything as a privelege.'
I had no idea what she meant by this until faced with my first difficulty. Looking back actually, the food from the canteen at the first school in Beijing, was a million times better than what we had in store for us at the other places, but at the time it felt really awful. After a few meals of eating as much as I could and still feeling hungry and sick, I began to understand what Joanne meant. I wasn't entitled to this food. I wasn't paying for it and it was a privelege that it was there and edible. Gradually as the trip went on I learnt to adopt this attitude in most things I did and it made me really content to be there. I was really content living under God's provision because I knew that literally everything may be taken away any minute so it was really reassuring to know that the God of the Universe had it all covered and knew exactly what he was doing.
I believe God provided me with difficult situations to test me and to give me the perseverance to run the race, when previously I would have quit as soon as I got tired. It baffles me to think about how much God has changed me in the past few months. I remember feeling really annoyed and grumpy about the fact that our air con didn't work in the youth hostel the day I arrived in Beijing, and by the third camp I was looking forward to waking up at 6am to have a cold bucket 'shower' after a night with a wooden slab for a mattress!
In terms of where to go from here with the learning curve, I still believe there is a lot to learn. Joanne's comment about having no sense of entitlement can still be applied to life here, and actually, life in general. I was a guest in China and this is why I had no sense of entitlement. But here on earth I am a guest in God's Creation, and i've messed it up - so how much less is my sense of entitlement when it comes to Him! Jesus allowed us to have a relationship with God, but he didn't give us the right to just expect that God will bless us and give us everything we want. It says in Timothy (see above) that actually so long as we have food and clothing, we will be content.
I so often get bogged down with life and still get my depressive tendencies from time to time. God is teaching me though that I have everything I need to be content. My main reason to be content is that I have a relationship with Jesus, and the awesome Creator and Sustainer of the Universe sustaining me - every day. And on top of this He has given me not only what I need, but also a lot of things I want.
I know I often forget this, but I'm so much more aware of it now than I was before. Even though there were many tough things I encountered during the summer, and many times i wanted to go home and pack it all in, God, in His usual wonderful fashion, used these things for my good and His glory, and this is why I wanted to share this thing that He taught me in China.
:-)
Thursday, 23 September 2010
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
We performed this skit in China a few times. We changed a few of the sins to be more relevant to the kids there and it was really effective. Rather than waffling on about my feelings about the video, I'll let it speak for itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwsTUW4fsV4&feature=related
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:6,8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwsTUW4fsV4&feature=related
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:6,8)
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
What God has taught me in China - Part One
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
To bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called mighty oaks,
a planting of the LORD
for the displays of his splendour."
Isaiah 61:1-3
So as many of you will know, I have just spent 2 months of my summer holiday out in China, teaching English with a Christian organisation. Before the trip, this is all I believed it would be. I knew it would be a fulfilling time for me, and God would very much be the centre of the trip for everyone involved, but i didn't think it would be quite the way it turned out to be!
The first week was spent in Beijing - an orientation week. Here, I thought we would be taught how to teach english well to the children. Instead we were taught how to evangelise effectively to the children. I believed that the purpose of the trip was to teach the children english and then maybe have the odd conversation with a child about Jesus. No. English teaching was a major factor of the trip, but evangelism so much more so. We weren't just there to show the love of Christ - we were there to proclaim it to every single person we met. I wondered how this would be possible, seeing as most of the children we would come in contact with would not have sufficient english skills to understand words such as "forgiveness" or "sin". We were given a Chinese/English phrasebook of Christian words to solve that one. I soon discovered that it was very easy to explain the gospel with such limited vocabulary and understanding. And pictures of course. God has no limits. So what if a child you are speaking to doesn't speak the same language as you. God speaks the language of the heart - a universal language that can be spoken between even a Chinese and English person!
At first I was a little shy with my evangelism skills, as I was trusting too much in my own ability to say the right things. It's a big cliche among Christians saying that "it's God who does all the speaking. You're just a vessel". It's so true though. There was one instance in Guan Tao (my last camp) where i was frantically trying to explain the concept of sin and our need for God's forgiveness. This little girl just stared at me blankly for about 5 minutes. Then all of a sudden, she went inside, grabbed my counsellor (translator) and got him to translate what she wanted to say: "I am very bad and deserve hell. So are you. Jesus loves me and died on the cross and now all the bad things i have done God does not see. I will be in heaven when i die now." It was amazing! I could go on for hours telling all the similiar stories both I and others on my team experienced, but maybe that should be for another day.
The point is, I was able to see just how important evangelism is. At uni I am unfortunately not involved with the CU because I have choir on the nights that it falls. I wasn't too bothered about this last year because I was still able to get fellowship and Bible teaching from my church, and a small Christian group at my college. The only problem was, neither of these groups are actively focussed on evangelism. Of course, we're encouraged to share the gospel and invite people along etc, and they're great for what they are. But they're not evangelical.
This summer I was blessed to learn the urgency of the gospel. In China it was slightly different because it was likely that we were the only Christians some of these kids would ever meet, and therefore it really was now or never. The urgency of the gospel, however, is equally urgent here. If not more so. Yes, we'll see our friends and our family many many more times, but why does that mean we should save that awkward Jesus conversation for another day? Another cliche but Jesus really may come back tomorrow, and what will we be able to say about our friends to him? "Oh sorry I didn't talk about you with them Jesus, I was too busy talking about going out, or shopping, or a boring lecturer." Somehow I don't think that will really cut it. And there's no real reason why we don't talk about Jesus to everyone we meet, just that we're afraid or embarrassed or just don't think it would be appropriate. But what's more appropriate than talking about something which has not only changed our lives, but which our whole lives are focussed on? Why are we embarrassed of a God who has given everything for us and who we love with all our hearts? Why are we afraid when we have the God who created the universe not only on our side, but actually speaking on our behalf?
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..."
Romans 1:16
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
To bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called mighty oaks,
a planting of the LORD
for the displays of his splendour."
Isaiah 61:1-3
So as many of you will know, I have just spent 2 months of my summer holiday out in China, teaching English with a Christian organisation. Before the trip, this is all I believed it would be. I knew it would be a fulfilling time for me, and God would very much be the centre of the trip for everyone involved, but i didn't think it would be quite the way it turned out to be!
The first week was spent in Beijing - an orientation week. Here, I thought we would be taught how to teach english well to the children. Instead we were taught how to evangelise effectively to the children. I believed that the purpose of the trip was to teach the children english and then maybe have the odd conversation with a child about Jesus. No. English teaching was a major factor of the trip, but evangelism so much more so. We weren't just there to show the love of Christ - we were there to proclaim it to every single person we met. I wondered how this would be possible, seeing as most of the children we would come in contact with would not have sufficient english skills to understand words such as "forgiveness" or "sin". We were given a Chinese/English phrasebook of Christian words to solve that one. I soon discovered that it was very easy to explain the gospel with such limited vocabulary and understanding. And pictures of course. God has no limits. So what if a child you are speaking to doesn't speak the same language as you. God speaks the language of the heart - a universal language that can be spoken between even a Chinese and English person!
At first I was a little shy with my evangelism skills, as I was trusting too much in my own ability to say the right things. It's a big cliche among Christians saying that "it's God who does all the speaking. You're just a vessel". It's so true though. There was one instance in Guan Tao (my last camp) where i was frantically trying to explain the concept of sin and our need for God's forgiveness. This little girl just stared at me blankly for about 5 minutes. Then all of a sudden, she went inside, grabbed my counsellor (translator) and got him to translate what she wanted to say: "I am very bad and deserve hell. So are you. Jesus loves me and died on the cross and now all the bad things i have done God does not see. I will be in heaven when i die now." It was amazing! I could go on for hours telling all the similiar stories both I and others on my team experienced, but maybe that should be for another day.
The point is, I was able to see just how important evangelism is. At uni I am unfortunately not involved with the CU because I have choir on the nights that it falls. I wasn't too bothered about this last year because I was still able to get fellowship and Bible teaching from my church, and a small Christian group at my college. The only problem was, neither of these groups are actively focussed on evangelism. Of course, we're encouraged to share the gospel and invite people along etc, and they're great for what they are. But they're not evangelical.
This summer I was blessed to learn the urgency of the gospel. In China it was slightly different because it was likely that we were the only Christians some of these kids would ever meet, and therefore it really was now or never. The urgency of the gospel, however, is equally urgent here. If not more so. Yes, we'll see our friends and our family many many more times, but why does that mean we should save that awkward Jesus conversation for another day? Another cliche but Jesus really may come back tomorrow, and what will we be able to say about our friends to him? "Oh sorry I didn't talk about you with them Jesus, I was too busy talking about going out, or shopping, or a boring lecturer." Somehow I don't think that will really cut it. And there's no real reason why we don't talk about Jesus to everyone we meet, just that we're afraid or embarrassed or just don't think it would be appropriate. But what's more appropriate than talking about something which has not only changed our lives, but which our whole lives are focussed on? Why are we embarrassed of a God who has given everything for us and who we love with all our hearts? Why are we afraid when we have the God who created the universe not only on our side, but actually speaking on our behalf?
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..."
Romans 1:16
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Oh how he loves us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxTOsQ3LDE4&feature=related
The words of this song are really great. Not only are they poetic, they're also just so true. I had one of those moments today where everything just clicked and I realised just how much God really does love us. It wasn't a feeling of guilt as such, more just I was absolutely heart broken that he died for me, and so completely overwhelmed by his love in doing this. I know it's such an obvious thing to say but I would really just encourage anyone reading this to really just take a step back and think of what actually happened.
God - the one who holds the universe in the palm of his hand (try and picture that if you can)- died on a cross (a humiliating and terrible way to die) at the hands of the people who he loves and created because he loves us and for no other reason.
And what I also realised today is that it doesn't just stop there. If he loved me enough to die for me, he loves me enough to continue to sort everything in my life out and continue blessing me. It doesn't just stop with that one amazing act. God is continuously pouring out his love.
I just had this overwhelming feeling of protection today, almost as if God was actually hugging me so tight and that he would never let me go. I was thinking about how much my Dad loves me and just the general fatherly protection and love of any father and how God's love is so much more even the love of a parent.
It says in 1 John that God is love: he is the epitome of love - he can't be anything except totally and completely and perfectly loving. It's not even just an in impersonal, general love - it's real and personal.
When thinking about the extent of God's love my initial reaction was just one of being completely overwhelmed. Then I felt guilty, then I felt thankful. But I don't think any of these emotions do his love justice. Yes we should be overwhelmed by his love, want to change and be thankful for it, but really the main emotion i'm feeling now is just one of complete peace because with love comes power. If God loved me enough to die on a cross for my sin, he certainly loves me enough to help me in whatever situation I may find in. I don't think I've ever really thought about God's love in this way before. I always just restricted his love to his death. But it's so much more than this. We see God's love in every sunrise, in every good gift we have, in our past, in our future, in our family, in our friends, in our food, in our clothes and shelter, in our education, when we've had answered prayer, the fact that we have the Bible, when things have gone well, when we are happy, when we have had the strength to carry on when things fall apart, when God decides to save a life, when he takes a life away and even in the midst of confusion and hurt he is unchanging and continues to pour out blessings. I could go on for hours. His love is everywhere. Too often I think we can forget these things and think of his love as only really being revealed through Jesus. Yes, this was the ultimate display of his love, but that doesn't mean he isn't still actively loving us now!
Challenge: Think back over today and try and see where you have seen God's love. Whether it's something awesome like an answered prayer, or even just you being realising just how good you have it and how blessed you are with your situation, that's still his love.
"Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?...
Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you." (Matthew 6:26-30)
The words of this song are really great. Not only are they poetic, they're also just so true. I had one of those moments today where everything just clicked and I realised just how much God really does love us. It wasn't a feeling of guilt as such, more just I was absolutely heart broken that he died for me, and so completely overwhelmed by his love in doing this. I know it's such an obvious thing to say but I would really just encourage anyone reading this to really just take a step back and think of what actually happened.
God - the one who holds the universe in the palm of his hand (try and picture that if you can)- died on a cross (a humiliating and terrible way to die) at the hands of the people who he loves and created because he loves us and for no other reason.
And what I also realised today is that it doesn't just stop there. If he loved me enough to die for me, he loves me enough to continue to sort everything in my life out and continue blessing me. It doesn't just stop with that one amazing act. God is continuously pouring out his love.
I just had this overwhelming feeling of protection today, almost as if God was actually hugging me so tight and that he would never let me go. I was thinking about how much my Dad loves me and just the general fatherly protection and love of any father and how God's love is so much more even the love of a parent.
It says in 1 John that God is love: he is the epitome of love - he can't be anything except totally and completely and perfectly loving. It's not even just an in impersonal, general love - it's real and personal.
When thinking about the extent of God's love my initial reaction was just one of being completely overwhelmed. Then I felt guilty, then I felt thankful. But I don't think any of these emotions do his love justice. Yes we should be overwhelmed by his love, want to change and be thankful for it, but really the main emotion i'm feeling now is just one of complete peace because with love comes power. If God loved me enough to die on a cross for my sin, he certainly loves me enough to help me in whatever situation I may find in. I don't think I've ever really thought about God's love in this way before. I always just restricted his love to his death. But it's so much more than this. We see God's love in every sunrise, in every good gift we have, in our past, in our future, in our family, in our friends, in our food, in our clothes and shelter, in our education, when we've had answered prayer, the fact that we have the Bible, when things have gone well, when we are happy, when we have had the strength to carry on when things fall apart, when God decides to save a life, when he takes a life away and even in the midst of confusion and hurt he is unchanging and continues to pour out blessings. I could go on for hours. His love is everywhere. Too often I think we can forget these things and think of his love as only really being revealed through Jesus. Yes, this was the ultimate display of his love, but that doesn't mean he isn't still actively loving us now!
Challenge: Think back over today and try and see where you have seen God's love. Whether it's something awesome like an answered prayer, or even just you being realising just how good you have it and how blessed you are with your situation, that's still his love.
"Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?...
Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you." (Matthew 6:26-30)
Friday, 14 May 2010
Happy Ascension Day!
So technically this was yesterday but I haven't been to bed yet so it still feels like yesterday to me, and I've only just got round to writing this...so for the sake of this blog, it's Ascension Day today! :-P
As quite a "Low-Anglican Church" attending Christian, Christian 'celebrations' aren't really observed all that much, and most of the Christians I know don't really celebrate days such as today, or even know when these special occasions are. As someone who refuses to be defined as 'religious' (because following Jesus is a relationship not a set of rules and regulations), it may seem strange that I am commenting on this religious, traditional celebration. I do disagree with just celebrating Jesus's ascension on Ascension Day, just as I would disagree with only celebrating Jesus's death and resurrection over the Easter weekend. But I still think it is important that we as Christians use these specially set out days to remind ourselves what it is we believe and celebrate.
What exactly is Ascension Day then? Well, basically, it is the celebration of Jesus's exaltation - the day he left earth and returned to Heaven. Note, it is different from his resurrection as here he was exalted from death. There is then a period when he returns back to earth to reveal himself to the disciples. The ascension is after this when he then leaves earth to permanently remain in Heaven (or at least until the second coming).
I was having lunch today with two Christian friends, one of whom was a good friend and the other whom I had just met. I was impressed that the girl I had just met was aware it was Ascension Day, but was surprised that when we got on to discussing the matter further she didn't in fact know what actually happened on the first ascension day! I thought every Christian knew what Jesus's ascension is. But then I started thinking that actually, his ascension is quite often overlooked. Christians tend to stick to the big festivals - Christmas and Easter - Jesus's birth, death and resurrection. I suppose ultimately these are the key things needed for our salvation so the tendancy is to worship God for these things.
But I think this is quite a narrow and humanist way of looking at things. If we as Christians only celebrate those major events in Jesus's life that affect us, well this won't really do. For Jesus, his ascension back in to Heaven was probably the biggest deal out of everything. In coming to earth Jesus humbled himself to live in the painful, sin-infested world that we had created. He came from a perfect relationship with the Father in a perfect place where he was King and ruled with God...to here. Think about that for a second.
The ascension marks the day when Jesus finally went back to his Father - back to Heaven to rule in his rightful place at God's right hand. It marks the end of his mission on earth. The end of his humility and the start of his glorification. A pretty big deal don't you think?!
Another key aspect of Ascension Day we are told about is in Acts 2:33:
"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."
Only after Jesus's ascension do we have access to the Holy Spirit. The ascension marks the cross over between Jesus with us, and the Holy Spirit with us. It shows God's glorious faithfulness that despite the fact that the early church were losing their leader and therefore probably were feeling very worried and lost, God did not leave them on their own. He gave them the Counsellor whom Jesus had already promised (John 14:16) to help them and remain with them always. The Holy Spirit still works in us to this day and will do until Jesus comes again.
So as we can see Ascension Day is a huge deal. Perhaps it doesn't affect our salvation but it certainly affects our worship of God, and our day to day Christian lives. Our God whom we worship for humbling himself, was also glorious enough to return back to Heaven. Not only did he defeat death - he also ascended back to the place where he created the world and where he will judge all people. The ascension marks Jesus's long deserved glorification for all he did on earth. It marked the amazing reconciliation between Father and Son - that which separated them on earth and in death no longer has power over them - they can once again live in perfection and harmony in Heaven as was intended. And not only that - God once again shows his amazing generosity and faithfulness in helping his people. Even though the focus should have been entirely on Jesus on this day, God still turns back to us and blesses us again by giving us his Holy Spirit.
But this stuff should not just be celebrated on Ascension Day. Ascension day should be the catalyst for our worship - a reminder of these amazing truths. I think there are two dangers:
1. We can get so bogged down with tradition and celebrating 'set religious calendar days' that what is celebrated loses its meaning.
2. Or we can fail to recognise these days all together and forget to be reminded exactly what it is we should be worshipping God for.
So on this (now post!)-Ascension Day, why not spend a little bit of time really reminding yourself of God's glory and power, and thank him for his faithfulness even on a day when the focus should have been entirely on him.
"The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all." Psalm 103:19
As quite a "Low-Anglican Church" attending Christian, Christian 'celebrations' aren't really observed all that much, and most of the Christians I know don't really celebrate days such as today, or even know when these special occasions are. As someone who refuses to be defined as 'religious' (because following Jesus is a relationship not a set of rules and regulations), it may seem strange that I am commenting on this religious, traditional celebration. I do disagree with just celebrating Jesus's ascension on Ascension Day, just as I would disagree with only celebrating Jesus's death and resurrection over the Easter weekend. But I still think it is important that we as Christians use these specially set out days to remind ourselves what it is we believe and celebrate.
What exactly is Ascension Day then? Well, basically, it is the celebration of Jesus's exaltation - the day he left earth and returned to Heaven. Note, it is different from his resurrection as here he was exalted from death. There is then a period when he returns back to earth to reveal himself to the disciples. The ascension is after this when he then leaves earth to permanently remain in Heaven (or at least until the second coming).
I was having lunch today with two Christian friends, one of whom was a good friend and the other whom I had just met. I was impressed that the girl I had just met was aware it was Ascension Day, but was surprised that when we got on to discussing the matter further she didn't in fact know what actually happened on the first ascension day! I thought every Christian knew what Jesus's ascension is. But then I started thinking that actually, his ascension is quite often overlooked. Christians tend to stick to the big festivals - Christmas and Easter - Jesus's birth, death and resurrection. I suppose ultimately these are the key things needed for our salvation so the tendancy is to worship God for these things.
But I think this is quite a narrow and humanist way of looking at things. If we as Christians only celebrate those major events in Jesus's life that affect us, well this won't really do. For Jesus, his ascension back in to Heaven was probably the biggest deal out of everything. In coming to earth Jesus humbled himself to live in the painful, sin-infested world that we had created. He came from a perfect relationship with the Father in a perfect place where he was King and ruled with God...to here. Think about that for a second.
The ascension marks the day when Jesus finally went back to his Father - back to Heaven to rule in his rightful place at God's right hand. It marks the end of his mission on earth. The end of his humility and the start of his glorification. A pretty big deal don't you think?!
Another key aspect of Ascension Day we are told about is in Acts 2:33:
"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."
Only after Jesus's ascension do we have access to the Holy Spirit. The ascension marks the cross over between Jesus with us, and the Holy Spirit with us. It shows God's glorious faithfulness that despite the fact that the early church were losing their leader and therefore probably were feeling very worried and lost, God did not leave them on their own. He gave them the Counsellor whom Jesus had already promised (John 14:16) to help them and remain with them always. The Holy Spirit still works in us to this day and will do until Jesus comes again.
So as we can see Ascension Day is a huge deal. Perhaps it doesn't affect our salvation but it certainly affects our worship of God, and our day to day Christian lives. Our God whom we worship for humbling himself, was also glorious enough to return back to Heaven. Not only did he defeat death - he also ascended back to the place where he created the world and where he will judge all people. The ascension marks Jesus's long deserved glorification for all he did on earth. It marked the amazing reconciliation between Father and Son - that which separated them on earth and in death no longer has power over them - they can once again live in perfection and harmony in Heaven as was intended. And not only that - God once again shows his amazing generosity and faithfulness in helping his people. Even though the focus should have been entirely on Jesus on this day, God still turns back to us and blesses us again by giving us his Holy Spirit.
But this stuff should not just be celebrated on Ascension Day. Ascension day should be the catalyst for our worship - a reminder of these amazing truths. I think there are two dangers:
1. We can get so bogged down with tradition and celebrating 'set religious calendar days' that what is celebrated loses its meaning.
2. Or we can fail to recognise these days all together and forget to be reminded exactly what it is we should be worshipping God for.
So on this (now post!)-Ascension Day, why not spend a little bit of time really reminding yourself of God's glory and power, and thank him for his faithfulness even on a day when the focus should have been entirely on him.
"The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all." Psalm 103:19
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
"God is whispering loudly"
I think you should all listen to this sermon by Mike Pilavachi (top one on the link). It will inspire and challenge you, make you think, cry and laugh all at the same time. Very cool.
http://dynamic.church123.com/podcast/227ec155-f09e-42d9-b357-a0af5b40e662
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."
http://dynamic.church123.com/podcast/227ec155-f09e-42d9-b357-a0af5b40e662
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)