Feeling forgotten?

Sometimes we can feel forgotten, by our family, our friends or God. All of us want to be loved, noticed and cared about. As a younger person one of the questions that troubled me was, "Is this all there is to life? We live a few years, we die, are remembered for a while and then we are forgotten." If that was all there was to life, it didn't seem to make much sense to me. That question led me on a quest for meaning. It resulted in me exploring a range of spiritual avenues and connections. It found its fulfilment in discovering the reality of God in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do I feel forgotten still? To be honest sometimes I still feel a bit like that. When I do, I remember these words from the Bible, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands;..." (Isaiah 49:15). The nail holes in the hands of Jesus have my name engraved in them, and yours.

The peace of Christ

I saw a photograph in one of last week’s newspapers which has stayed in my mind and troubled me greatly. It was of young Israeli children writing messages on the sides of missiles bound for Lebanon. That evening on the news a large bomb crater was shown in Nazareth where two young children had been killed by a rocket launched from within Lebanon. As both a teacher and a father I am distressed and disturbed by the horrors of war and its impact on children in particular.

Such hostility is not new. Conflict has been a part of human existence from the very beginning. But this is not an excuse for ignoring it or passively accepting it. Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are the peacemakers”. He also came to bring peace between people and God and between different groups of people. The apostle Paul was taught to believe that God was only interested in his race and religion. But his encounter with Jesus Christ changed his outlook. He wrote,

“14 For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us. 15 By his death he ended the whole system of Jewish law that excluded the Gentiles. His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He has brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and to us Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (Ephesians 2:14-18 NLT)

Through his death on the cross Jesus makes it possible for us to “come to the Father” without fear of rejection. At the same time he has broken down the “wall of hostility” that used to separate one race from another. As a result people who have lived “without hope and without God in the world” can now find a place to call home and belong in God’s family together.

War and racism are two of the tragic curses of our age. Inevitably, it is children who are the greatest victims. Jesus Christ is the source and foundation for both personal peace and international peace. We can contribute to this becoming a reality by our prayers for peace. We can also do this by our presence as we stand alongside those who are troubled and in need of peace. Finally, we can proclaim Jesus Christ as the source of all true peace by our words.

Do you know the peace of Christ in your life? Are you an instrument of his peace in our troubled world?

When God is silent

Sometimes, God can seem to be deaf or ignoring us. The Bible records such a story in Matthew’s gospel. It is the story of a distraught mother seeking help for her suffering child. At first, Jesus appears to ignore her. Next, after protests by his followers that she is becoming a nuisance he seems to reject her, saying he has only come to his own people. (She is from another racial background). Then he appears to insult her by saying, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and give it to their dogs”. But she refuses to give up, arguing that even the household dogs get the crumbs from under the table. Finally, he rewards her faith and grants her request. Her daughter is completely healed and set free. (See Matthew 15:21-28)

Jesus’ treatment of this woman is unexpected. It doesn’t fit the mould of how we expect him to act. But it can help us to understand what is happening when God is silent in our lives. In Jewish culture at the time it was assumed that God was only interested in their race of people. Jesus tested this woman’s sincerity and the opened a door of opportunity. When he spoke about “dogs” he was referring to beloved household pets. He turned a negative word used by his countrymen to describe other nationalities into a positive one. The implication was that she was part of the family not an outsider. She seized the moment and connected more deeply with Jesus claiming her right to be heard by him. He commended her faith and granted he prayer.

Have you become discouraged in seeking God or his help? Do you feel excluded because you aren’t “religious enough”. Think again. Jesus Christ is waiting to welcome and support those who really seek after him.

When God speaks

When God speaks people and nations are changed. Throughout history and in modern times when God speaks to people they are empowered to change. The first followers of Jesus heard his voice saying, “Follow me”. The left everything and followed him and their lives were changed The apostle Paul (Saul) was filled with hate towards Christians when a blazing light blinded him and he heard the voice of Jesus say, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?” The encounter changed his life. In recent times, the nation of Argentina on the verge of economic and spiritual bankruptcy heard the voice of God as the message of Jesus was proclaimed. It has led to a social renewal. Across Africa and Asia millions of people are hearing the voice of God and responding to the person of Jesus Christ in faith and trust. (Mark 1:7-18, Acts 9:1-18)

God speaks to us in the midst of the storm. Some times life is tough and we can feel that God has forgotten us. In the midst of “stormy” times God still speaks to us. Jesus’ followers feared for their lives as their boat was engulfed by a storm. They shook him awake and were “blown away” when his voice stilled the wind and the waves. “Who is this man?” they said. When God speaks peace to our turmoil we catch a glimpse of someone bigger than we had previously realised. (Mark 4:35-41)

When God speaks we are invited to grow through risking failure. Our society in general and our education system in particular usually values success over failure. But some of the greatest human achievements have grown out of repeated failure. Abraham Lincoln failed many times to be elected to various public offices before becoming president of the United States. Thomas Edison failed repeatedly before finding the right substance for the first light bulb. The apostle Peter is often remembered for his failed attempt to walk on water. He had responded to the voice of Jesus telling him to “come”. Fear had overwhelmed him, but Jesus lifted him up in his moment of failing faith. We too can grow through risking failure. (Matthew 14:22-33)

What do you know about Jesus?

“Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished (amazed). They asked, “Where did he get all his wisdom and the power to perform such miracles? 3 He’s just the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. (Mark 6:1-3 NLT)

One of the most disturbing stories in the gospels is found in Mark chapter 6. Jesus goes back to his hometown. But instead of being welcomed as a hero he is rejected. In fact, in Luke’s account of this event (Luke 4:16-30) it says that the people tried to kill Jesus. They were so offended by his teaching that they attempted to throw him over a cliff.

Reading this passage recently I was challenged to think about what I know about Jesus. This led me to ask, “How does what I already know about Jesus affect my openness to learn more about him?” The people from his hometown were amazed by his wisdom and power. They already knew quite a bit about him? But they didn’t trust in him or follow after him. Instead their amazement was accompanied by unbelief and rejection of Jesus. Why was this so?

The people had heard about Jesus. They knew that he had been teaching and performing miracles in the neighbouring towns. This impressed them. But what they already knew about Jesus shut them down to the possibility of finding out more about him. They questioned his right to speak God’s word into their lives. They dismissed him with insults as just a carpenter and Mary’s illegitimate son. Their questions were “closed” not “open”. They were designed to put Jesus in his place and keep him at a distance. They didn’t really want answers.

What is most surprising is that the people who knew Jesus best rejected him the worst. They embodied the sayings, “a little knowledge is dangerous” and “familiarity breeds contempt”. What they already knew about Jesus limited their openness to knowing and trusting him more deeply. Instead of arousing their curiosity it made them proud and arrogant.

But even though he was a “prophet without honour” in his hometown, Jesus was still a prophet. He spoke God’s message with power and authority. The rejection of his own people didn’t stop him moving on to others who wanted his help in their lives. Nor did it deter him from willingly dying on the cross for our sins. Now God has honoured this “despised and rejected One”. (Philippians 2:1-11)

What do you already know about Jesus? How does it help or hinder you getting to know and trust him more fully? Are you asking God “open” or “closed” questions?