Author: Carol Purves

Questions

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In our church small group recently we discussed some very interesting questions. We didn’t come up with any consensus of opinion because as always there were differences of opinion.

Do we agree in giving money to our churches? There was a general agreement that the upkeep of our church buildings was expensive. There was also the thought that by selling some of the properties the money could be used for the poor and needy. What do we do about brass candlesticks, ornate lecterns and monuments that have been donated in memory of a deceased relative? Again these hidden assets could be used to help others.

Does the idea of tithing used in the Old Testament still apply today? Should we be tithing on all our income or just what is left when all essential bills have been paid? All our money and everything belongs to God anyway. Should every penny we spent be preceded by prayer?

Salt

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I read in Matthew 5, ‘You are the salt of the earth.’ I also read in a magazine that although we are advised to cut back on salt in food to keep our blood pressure low, we do need to have enough salt. The ideal is 6 g (one teaspoon ) per day. Not quite sure how we measure it as there is salt in much processed food. I never use salt in cooking, maybe I should.

It’s a matter of getting the quantities of salt correct. If we are to be the salt of the earth, can we ever be too much? We need to sprinkle ourselves in all ways under the direction of the Holy Spirit. May we not be salt which has lost its saltiness, but again nurtured by the Holy Spirit, be salt where we can be the most use.

Veiled

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Veils are not just modern inventions used in some religions, we also read about them in the Bible. Moses had spent time with God and when he returned down the mountainside,his face glowed with the glory of God. When Moses was speaking to the congregation because his face was so radiant, he covered his face with a veil.Even though the glory of God was fading the people could not bear to look.

Paul tells us that we are not like Moses who had a cover his face. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we have such a hope and can be very bold.

In Our Own Eyes

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Forty unnecessary years in the wilderness because of disobedience and eyes turned away from God. When the twelve members of the advance party returned from spying out the promised land, ten had negative reports. In Numbers 12 and 13 we read they said ‘In our own eyes we seem like grasshoppers’ against the inhabitants. Their mistake was in ‘their own eyes.’ Of course capture of the land seemed impossible but God had promised the land to them. They needed to look to their God and not the problem.

Do these sound familiar words to us today. At times we only see the difficulties ahead; we omit to look towards God, who is all-powerful and only wants the best for us. If He is almighty, as we believe, our tiny problems are not too great for Him.

Five Husbands

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How easy it is for us to be judgmental and narrow-minded.Jesus had no such inhibitions when He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. He broke many taboos and showed His loving and discerning nature.

Firstly, it must have been very deliberate for the group to travel through Samaritan at all. Jews would often travel many extra miles to avoid going through this country. Why was Jesus alone at a place where mostly women went to draw water? By asking about her husband Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. It was a very personal question to ask a despised foreigner of the opposite sex.

But we see a marvelous result when the woman asked ‘Can this be the Messiah?’ And the result was that they ‘came out of the town and were coming to Him.’ Maybe we should show more boldness in our witness!

Lost for Words

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We are often lost for words when describing God. One version of the Bible has used the most telling words they can thing of. It tells us that ‘God’s love is meteoric.’ What a lovely word. With meteors we think of luminous stars shooting across the sky from horizon to horizon, just like the love of God. ‘God’s loyalty is astronomic.’ Again the writer has turned to the skies.

‘God’s purpose is titanic,’ using the image of the sunken ship and the power of the Titan race. ‘God’s verdict is oceanic.’ The writer turns again to nature using the thought of water which covers so much of the world’s surface. The book of Proverbs is further evidence of this.

Whatever words are used, they are completely incapable of describing our God!

Called Two by Two

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We read that Jesus walked by the seashore and called Simon Peter and his brother to be disciples. A little further along He met and called the brothers James and John. I wonder whether it actually happened on the same day. If so it could be called ‘Recruitment Day!’ The other disciples were called individually. but these brothers came in pairs.

On many occasions God allows us to have partners as we do our Christian work. What a blessing that is when we are with someone who speaks the same Christian language as us, someone who understands rejection from the world. This companionship must be a great blessing. This would especially apply in a foreign culture or where persecution is high.

For those who are called to ‘plough a lonely furrow’ God is there as their companion and guide.

Not One Saved and Not One Drowned.

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Probably few of us witness such a spectacular and horrifying event as the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea. The Israelites had passed through safely, then the waters closed over the Egyptian warriors. The Bible tells us that ‘were bodies of the Egyptians on the shore.’

One wonders how they could forget God’s wonderful miracle towards them. But then we only have to think of ourselves and how we easily forgot God’s bounty to us.

The story reminds of God’s great power especially over the natural world. Not surprising really as He created it. The waters parted as exactly the right time and then closed over at the right time again. There was nothing haphazard in God’s planning. There wasn’t one Israelite who drowned or one Egyptian who was saved.

‘Why Have You Forsaken Me.’

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‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.’ The anguished words of Jesus on the cross will be ones we never have to utter. Never at any time are we forsaken by God. From the beginning of time to all eternity God is there for us. We read in the Bible ‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Ephesians 2:20 .Impossible though it sounds, God is always there for us. God means good for us and not evil. We read again ‘You created my utmost being. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.’ Psalms 139:13

The sad thing is that we so often forget Him, disobey Him or use Him as a glorified Father Christmas.In national disasters we pray; in personal tragedies we remember Him and promise ‘if only You answer my prayer, I promise this and that. How about a bit more worshiping, praising and communication with Him!

A Hot-line

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Prayer is a hot line to God. When speaking to Him there is no waiting in a queue, or an anonymous voice saying ‘Your call is important to us.’ There is no endless Vivaldi being played. The Bible tells us that God answers even before we ask. As we pray to God for others, He hears and answers, though not always in the way we expect but always in ways which are the best.

Prayer moves the hand that moves the world and more things happen through prayer than this world dreams of. Prayer is asking God to do what we cannot. What a responsibility, what a privilege! We are making contact with the King of Heaven.““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““