Carol Purves

‘Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His. Job 12:12-13

Well, I can be classed as aged, but I’m not sure how much wisdom can be found in me. I have long life, but there are many things I don’t understand. At times I feel I understand less and less.

I’m thankful that wisdom and power can be found in God. That is where I place my reliance. To God alone belong counsel and understandings

‘Now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.’ 1 Corinthians 13:13

Words change their meaning. Charity now means us giving money and provision to many needy causes. In modern translations we have changed the word to ‘love,’ with the text being much used in wedding services.

The word ‘charity’ comes from the Latin word ‘caritas.’ The characteristics of charity/love are described in verses 4-5 of this chapter and along with all well known verses are not always thought about deeply enough ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered , it keeps no record of wrongs.’

Only with God’s help can we reach this standard of loving.

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ Acts 2:11

My church have chosen this text as their theme for the month of September. Each Sunday will be looking at one of the items :- teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.

It seems a fairly good basis for any church. It is very easy to be lacking in one aspect. A good balance is needed. It is a sound structure in our personal Christian life as well. I like the idea of adding to the church daily as well. Maybe not in our church, but in the whole world.

Therefore, Holy Brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus. Hebrews 3:11

Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. To fix something it will be very firm. (Not like my D.I.Y.) Fixing in the Bible is super tough and secure. It means blotting out everything else. Many choruses reflect this thought. ‘Turn your eyes on Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.’ Another one tells us ‘Just a glimpse of Jesus, just a glimpse of Him.’ A glimpse will become fixation.

‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.’ 1 John 1:8-9

It is so easy to beat ourselves up because of our failings. It’s easy to swing from one extreme to another – ‘Oh my, I’m so wicked’ or ‘I’m not as bad as the next person.’ We need God’s forgiveness to equal ourselves out. Our humanness needs God’s divinity.

‘Sin is not a measurement of how bad we are, but of how good we are not.’ Charles Price

‘For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword; it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ‘ Hebrews 4:12

When I lived in the south of England I heard the story of a man who found a fragment of the Bible in the debris in the gutter. He read it, sought help and became a believer in Christ.

Strangely enough I had planned to write this today, when yesterday I heard a similar story which happened in my present home town. I don’t know why I use the word ‘strangely’. The God who has the power of His written word, also governs our daily happenings.

‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’ Hebrew 3:7-8

I think that ‘if’ is a big word. When we do not listen, we will not hear Him. There are so many distractions, so many other voices. The people of Israel did not listen. Instead of their journey taking eleven days, it took forty years. That’s quite some delay.

‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 1:31

As this verse goes on to say, not many of us are wise, influential or of noble birth. God chose the foolish to shame the wise and the weak to shame the strong. I praise God, because I’m right in there.

The other day I blogged about God speaking through dreams. Recently our church was approached by a refugee who was asking to be baptised. This man had dreamed a dream and heard God speaking to him, instructing him to be baptised. I thank God that my church accepted this challenged.

There were no long weeks of teaching or instructing this man, just a hastily called baptism with 19 of our members able to be present. I thought so much Philip and the Ethiopian; he accepted Christ and was baptised in the nearest section of water.

One of our young people had been defending his faith in the place where he worked. He was receiving a lot of opposition until this refugee spoke and said ‘I’m a Christian and I want to be baptised.’

God knew that this young person went to a church which had a baptistery, that our leader would be willing and that the rest of the church would support the decision to baptise the man with little preparation. (Because of the short notice the water was rather cool, I understand)