Aug 10th

Ruth 3-4     Jeremiah 38     Acts 28     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Paul finally arrives at Rome after an eventful journey!  However there is no relaxation for him. He takes the initiative and calls the local Jewish leaders together to give his testimony in an encounter that is characterised by a graciousness on both sides.  He would have had every justification for “having a go” at the local Jews as representative of those who had been instrumental in his being in the dangerous position that he was, but instead his sole motivation is to speak with them for “the hope of Israel”.  They in turn respond to him in a similarly open way and the result is a growing dialogue (v23) which goes on over a number of days and as a result of which many were brought to a Christian commitment.  The only jarring note is that some of the Jews “refused to believe”, closing their minds to the truth laid out by Paul.

One has to ask how different the outcome might be had Paul not made the conscious choice to forgive, and to be gracious and open in that situation.  That in turn opened the way for the Jewish leaders to engage with him in a similarly open way.

In contrast, how often do we allow ourselves the luxury of allowing our own feelings, however justifiable they may be, to stand in the way of witnessing to our faith in the way that we should, or to prevent us from deciding to forgive others?  How often do we allow opportunities for witness to pass by as a result?  Let us resolve today that our speech may be seaoned with salt and full of grace.”

(member of the PCC)

Aug 9th

Ruth 2     Jeremiah 37     Acts 27     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Luke’s detailed account of the shipwreck leaves us in no doubt that he was one of those on board. As he writes, the memory is so vivid that he is able to record many minor details of the story but the outstanding features are the conduct of Paul and the overriding protection of God. Unusually for him, Luke doesn’t tell us of the fear of his shipmates, nor of their amazement at their final escape, but we can well imagine the sheer terror of the centurion and the soldiers, let alone the prisoners, as the storm lashed their fragile craft and put their lives in severe danger. Two interesting things didn’t happen. Firstly Paul didn’t warn of the perils of the journey before they left, so it was as if God allowed them to get into this situation to show his power, and help those involved to trust him afterwards. Might this be a reason he similarly allows us to get into a ‘storm’ now and again? Secondly, Paul might have reasoned, ‘Jesus calmed the storm; is that what he wants me to do here?’ but he didn’t. Instead he waited for God’s solution, and it came. Then Paul was resolute, daring to tell the centurion and his men what to do. Such was his authority that they trusted him, without questioning the story about the angel, and in doing so they were saved, although all Paul had to look forward to was being tried in front of Caesar. Some reward! Death by drowning might have been preferable, but his resolve, reminiscent of Jesus setting his face towards Jerusalem, showed his complete trust in God’s purposes. An inspiring story. No wonder Luke remembered it so well.

(member of the PCC)

Aug 8th

Ruth 1     Jeremiah 36,45     Acts 26     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

It's a familiar story.  People migrate from their family roots in search of food, and settle.  But then disaster strikes.  The husband, head of the family, and the two sons, the heirs, all die within 10 years leaving a widow and two widowed daughters in law.  Given the social norms of the time these women were very vulnerable.

Naomi feels that she should return to her family roots, but puts the interests of her daughters in law before her own and suggests they stay in Moab, the land of their birth.  In her love for them, she is willing to lose them so they can be secure.  But Ruth's love for Naomi is greater than the ties to her roots, and she stays with her as they set out on the journey.  We read of the dilemma they face, and of the heartbreaking farewells as Ruth went with Naomi, and Orpah stayed.

Is our love for God so strong that we will bid farewell to the familiar and secure, and go on a journey with Him?  This story tells us it is a risk worth taking, and it will bring blessing to others.  Here it ultimately led to the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1 v5).

As we read later, God created a wonderful outcome from an unpromising situation through the support of their family.  If we as individuals let Him, he can do the same with us and for us.  And if we as a Christian family let Him, He can do wonderful things through us for the good of others.

(member of the PCC)

Aug 7th

John 21     Jeremiah 35     Acts 25     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish – Jesus appears to his disciples for the third time after he has risen from the dead. The experienced fishermen had been out all night and caught nothing. Possibly exhausted, grumpy and disappointed they come back in the morning and they get asked the obvious, that they had no fish. They reply politely. How does the person on the beach know that by placing the net on the right side of the boat and in shallow waters that they would haul in such a big catch? The net does not give way to wear or tear with the amount and size of fish. Now who could be that person who all knowing, all powerful and ever-present? The disciples recognised that the person was Jesus.

With our chaotic lifestyles and through disappointing times help us to listen, hear and believe and trust in Jesus, the one who is able to sort us out. Think about Ephesians 3: 20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen”

(member of the PCC)

Aug 6th

John 20     Jeremiah 34     Acts 24     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

This is it! The key to the Christian faith – Jesus is alive! Without what happened in this chapter (and the equivalents in the other three gospels) our Christian faith would be a waste of time. Jesus took our sin on the cross, defeated death and is now risen! The heart of the gospel.

Yet despite the miracle of overcoming death itself, some refused to believe. Among them Thomas – one of Jesus’ closed companions.

Surely this would be an outrage to the risen Christ – here I am standing before you, power over life and death and you refuse to believe!!!! Yet Jesus dealt with “Doubting Thomas” with love not anger. “Put your finger here; see my hands”. Jesus does not criticise Thomas’ doubts but helps him overcome them. Jesus knows that Thomas wants to believe but also knows that Thomas is struggling.

Maybe sometimes we feel like Thomas, struggling to believe in the things of God. It might not be over Jesus death and resurrection but over some other aspect of our faith.

Just like with Thomas, God does not criticise us for our doubts. He wants us to overcome them and lovingly helps us do so – without ever forcing us to believe him.

It’s OK to doubt providing we earnestly seek to believe in God, to love Him and to trust Him.

(member of the PCC)

Aug 5th

John 19     Jeremiah 33     Acts 23     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

In John 23 the high priest, Ananias, orders those standing near Paul to “strike him on the mouth”.  We may consider such a command somewhat surprising coming from a high ranking official although perhaps not as surprising as Paul’s reply in describing Ananias as a “whitewashed wall” – an accusation of hypocrisy where the illusion is to a dirty wall being made clean by the application of a thin layer of whitewash.

What makes this accusation so surprising is that Paul is addressing the high priest - a man who, in the eyes of the members of the council, was appointed by God.  Paul claims that he did not realise that he was addressing the high priest but it does seem somewhat surprising that he did not know who he was addressing.  Some commentators have suggested that this may have been because of Paul’s poor eyesight or the fact that he simply did not know who he was.  However, others have suggested that the more likely explanation is that Paul was speaking out of irony i.e. that he could not believe that such an order could come from a man who purported to be the high priest.

All three of today’s passages remind us of the way in which violence is often a reaction to those who preach the good news.  In John 19 the soldiers displayed violence against Jesus having placed a crown of thorns on his head and struck him in the face.  Similarly, in Jeremiah 33, the words of comfort spoken by the prophet came to him when he was in prison.

No confinement or violence can deprive God's people of His presence.  Indeed it is often in such conditions that God’s grace abounds and we find our greatest strength in Him.

(member of the PCC)

Aug 4th

John 18     Jeremiah 32     Acts 22     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

I love the whole Peter thing. Here is someone who has broken their word and betrayed their Master, someone who has let God down, someone who is fearful and whose faith evaporates at a moment’s notice, someone who, when it comes to the crunch, puts their own interests first, ahead of not only friends, but of Jesus Himself. And what’s more it is not a fluke: Peter keeps on doing it. It looks like we are dealing with a treacherous, unreliable, selfish wimp of the first order.

And how did Jesus manage to get lumbered with this spectacularly unpromising member of His team?

In Matthew 4: 18-19 we read that Peter was Jesus’ first-pick in a recruitment campaign of shockingly naïve simplicity:  “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.”

Peter is chosen by God. No matter what Peter is like, no matter what Peter has done (or will do) Peter is unconditionally embraced by God, loved by God and forgiven by God. And we know what’s coming next: Peter will be empowered by the Holy Spirit and used by God in ways that Peter could never have imagined possible.

Many of us have much in common with Peter. Try substituting your own name for ‘Peter’ into this reflection and seeing how much fits.

 (member of the congregation)