You just don’t understand

The oft heard cry of those who feel that someone else doesn’t get them, they are misunderstood, misinterpreted and it’s all very frustrating.

Isaiah gives us the cry of a misunderstood God:

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? (Isaiah 40:21)

Perhaps so many of our problems with God are because we misunderstand him.  We don’t see the answers we are seeking because we are asking the wrong questions.

Because there is actually nothing and no-one to whom God can be compared.  He is outside of our human experience.One of the first questions I had to answer in my Local Preacher training (way back in 1990, so the course before we have now…), was about the deficiency in language to describe God and what he is about.

But what we can understand about God is that he made everything.  He knows how it all works.

And we are left with an assurance into the uncertainty:

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom (Isaiah 40:28)

We do not need to understand God fully – if he could be understood, he wouldn’t be much of a God, he would be just the same as us.  But we can rely on him.

He is everlasting – he’s not just a fad, here today, gone tomorrow.  He won’t wear out or become bored by us.  God is in the world for the long haul.  He continues to keep his hand on it, and cares for it – even when we cannot understand what is happening.  God constantly holds the bigger picture.

He has created to the ends of the earth – there is nothing that is outside God’s care and attention.  There aren’t bits that he misses, some things that are in his blind-spot, or parts outside of his love.  His tent is over all.

So should we do nothing and just leave God to get on with it?  Absolutely not!  Being part of God’s creation brings responsibility to care, to love and to hope; to wrestle with things we don’t understand that we might capture a glimpse more of God and what he is doing – and what he asks us to do with him.

For ultimately, God is the one who gives strength to the weary, power to the weak, and hope to those who feel they have none.

Thank you Lord,

that though we can never fully understand you,

we can trust you,

for you care for your creation.

Thank you that you invite us to work with you,

to be art of your love, hope and strength.

We pray

for hope for the hopeless,

strength for the weary,

and power to the weak

- in your name

When I was younger, I was convinced that becoming a Christian would make my life dull and boring, that there would be so much to give up that it wouldn’t be worth it.

Many people continue to think that following Jesus is about what you have to give up – not what you will receive; about having your own personality taken from you.
There seems to be a similar attitude to Jesus by the evil spirit in this account.  He meets with Jesus, and is immediately worried that he will be destroyed.
Well the spirit might be about to be destroyed, because it is not good for the man, but the man certainly isn’t going to be destroyed, he is going to be released.

Jesus comes not to destroy, but to free.

Perhaps the man had come to see his whole identity by what bound him and held him; perhaps he was frightened to let go; maybe he was worried by what might replace it if he did – but Jesus reassures him, that whatever he loses in his encounter with Jesus will make his life better not worse.
How about us?
Are there things we cling on to that are effecting our lives, that would be better handed over to God?
He will take them and deal with them. Our lives won’t be diminished, but opened up to all God has to give us.

Thank you lord
that you seek only for us to have fullness of life.
Thank you that you take the bad things from us
and replace them with good.
Forgive me
when I try to cling on
to things which I am better without.
Today,
now,
I hand them to you.

Sometimes something pulls you up short.
Someone questions something you’ve always done.

In our current household where I can do very little, Mr Pamsperambulation is having to ask lots of questions about everyday household chores. But as well as asking how, I’m getting the occasional

why?

And I’m having to think through the rationale of my usual actions.

Something similar was occurring in the early church. Everything was new.  They were having to think through the how and the why of what they did, how they behaved – and it was causing some tricky situations and decisions.

Some were happy to eat meat that had previously been offered to idols. They believed idols were of no consequence, and so it didn’t matter – the meat was fine.  Others found this more difficult and couldn’t reconcile that it would be ok for a Christian to have anything to do with something that had been already offered to an idol. It didn’t sit right with them, and made them uncomfortable.

So Paul gives them some good advice – it’s not just how your actions make you feel that matters, but as important is how they effect those around you.  And the guiding factor always should be love.

I wonder how after we think about how the things we do effect others; things that we take for granted that may disturb others? Do we ever consider it, or are we just getting on with our own lives?

We have a responsibility in how our lives effect others. Our actions should never lead others astray, even if we are comfortable. What really matters is others and helping them to live as God requires them.

• How does my lifestyle effect others – for good or bad

•   How can I help others to find their way?

I thank you Lord,

for all those that have helped me,

who have supported me,

as I have worked out your way in my life.

May I always be considerate,

and look first to love,

not what I am convinced is right;

that your ways

may be our ways

You’ve got to love the instruction books that come with new products. When you pull it out of the box you think the item must be incredibly complex if that’s the thickness of the instructions! But on closer inspection you realise it’s not the length of the instructions making them so big, but the fact they’re printed in various different languages.
And so begins the desperate hunt for one you recognise and can understand – that we may get the most from the product.

The people are about to enter the new land. A land full of strange practices, far from God’s ways. They are going to need to know how to live. God promises instructions.

As they have crossed the desert, they have been afraid when God has spoken to them directly, even as he has led them in the pillar of fire. They don’t want to encounter him again in that way – a choice God saw as a good one!

So what God promises to do is send them someone from among their own people; someone who would speak their language; someone who would interpret Gods ways to them in a way they could understand.

We, understand that ultimately to be Jesus – Gods son, but born as a human being to interpret Gods ways in human language. Born as a human to give us a full understanding of how we are meant to live.  Not just telling, but showing.

But it also gives us a challenge:

•   How do we live, so as to interpret Gods ways in a way that people if our time and place get?

• How do we continue to let Jesus shine through as the ultimate expression of all god has to show us?

Thank you Lord

that you want your ways to be understood,

that you do not leave us to flounder,

but speak to us in ways we can understand,

and show us your ways lived out in the life of Jesus.

I pray

that you may help me

to live out your life

in ways that make sense

to those around me,

and that I may learn from others

who live your ways too.

I spent the weekend in hospital, so am living in a bit of a time fog anyway, but how easy it is to lose track of time, to not realise how much is passing, and that it might actually be time to be doing something else.

At the beginning of his work Jesus announces that it is time.  Time to repent and believe. A time of opportunity, a time for decision. The people had been waiting so long for the person that was to come and save them – that time is here now, Jesus says.

There comes a time when a decision has to be made. There can be no more procrastination. It is time to act.

Jesus challenges us to that decision – what are we going to do?

It’s time…

Thank you lord
that you give us an opportunity
a time to make a decision
- to believe or not;
to turn around and follow you
- or not.
Today I make my decision…

When I first heard God’s call to itinerant ministry, I offered God a lot of very sensible alternatives – but he didn’t accept any of them!

In this reading, Jonah has come to his senses, realized there’s no point arguing with God, and sets off to do what was asked of him in the first place.
So it’s no surprise then when the people respond. Because Jonah finally does what god asked of him, the people are able to hear the message, believe in god and respond in repentance. Their lives are saved.
So, when God calls on us to do something, we have a responsibility to respond. He’s asking us for a reason. There’s a message people need to hear.

• Have you heard God asking you to do something for him?

•   how have you responded?

There’s still time to act on Gods call…

Thank you Lord
that you call to me;
that there are tasks you call me to
that can make a real difference
in the lives of others.
Help me not to be afraid,
or think I have a better plan
- but to step out with you.

When we first heard that Peter Kay was  doing a new show in 2010, we were very keen to go.  At one time we lived in Bolton, and the children grew up on Peter Kay’s comedy.    When he mentioned Green Lane, we knew where he meant; we knew the bingo hall; Phoenix Nights was filmed round the corner (and one of our sons was once in a crowd scene!). It was all local.

So we decided we would make the trip back to Manchester to see it.  But Mr Pamsperambulation and I didn’t want to go by ourselves, it was part of our family heritage, so messages were sent to the children (by this time independent adults!),

We’re going, do you want to come?

The occasion, the experience was something to be shared.

(in the end the plan fell apart as the only dates available, we were on holiday… but the plan was a good one)

As Jesus sets off on the beginning of his ministry, he meets Philip, and says to him,

Come with me!

Jesus invites him along, he gives him the opportunity to be a part of all that is going to happen.

Not only does Philip decide that he will go along, but he goes and invites Nathanael to come with him.  Philip is convinced that Jesus is THE ONE – the one that Moses and the prophets had written about.  He wants Nathanael to share in it.

Nathanael’s response is heart breaking.

Can anything good come from Nazareth?

In that one cutting comment and instant dismissal, he almost missed the most amazing opportunity he would ever be offered.  How easily he was willing to rubbish something because of where it came from.

I wonder if sometimes we miss opportunities?  How we miss glimpses of God and seeing what he is doing, because we instantly dismiss them because of their origin.  Do we easily rubbish some people because of who they are or where they come from?  We may be dismissing God.

Fortunately for Nathanael, Philip doesn’t give up,

Come and see

he invites him again.  Don’t make an ill-informed or biased decision.  Come and see for yourself.  And to Nathanael’s credit, he does.  And is able to declare for himself

Teacher, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!

Nathanael was able to put aside he pre-conceived ideas, his mis-conceptions and his personal prejudices – and he discovered Jesus and all he had to offer him.

So, are we willing to come and see?  To be prepared to encounter God in the places we least expect to?

Jesus is here.  He is the one.  Will you come and see?

Forgive me Lord

for the times I fail to see you,

because I have my own ideas

about where you will be,

what you will be doing,

and who will lead me to you.

Give me a willingness to come and see -

to discover you anew,

to see what you are doing.

May I not respond from a place of prejudice,

or superiority,

or thinking I know best;

but be open to you

in all ways.

Lord,

I’m coming with you

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

is a great maxim for life.  There are many things we can do, but not all of them is sensible or good for you.  I could eat cake morning, noon and night – but it would not be good for my health.  I could drive down the road as fast as I like – but that would cause danger and probable injury to myself and to others.

This is the point at which Paul starts in this part of his advice to the Corinthians:

Everything is permissible for me— but not everything is beneficial

There are lots of possibilities in life, but not all options are good ones. As Christians we should be pursuing the things that lead us deeper into our relationship with God, not those things which take us from his ways and distract us.

Neither should we pursue those things which can distract those around us from the right way.  Just because we can live with something doesn’t mean it’s helpful to others.  Indeed it is possible that our actions may turn others away from God, and of that we need to be mindful.

Is there anything that I do that is distracting others from God, or totally putting people off him?

That may be a hard question to face, but an important one to honestly consider.

We have a responsibility to one another.  We are all part of one body, all part of God’s temple.

We know that when we are ill, it is not just one part of the body that is infected, there is a knock on effect around the body.    Likewise with property, a hole in the roof or a water leak bring consequences around the building.

We are not Christians in isolation, our lives effect each other.  But God invites us and allows us to work with him.

So, Paul invites us to use our bodies, our whole lives, for God’s glory; to honour him with all we do.

What an amazing invitation – and an awesome responsibility…

Thank you Lord,

that you live in me.

I stand in awe of the responsibility

that how I live

effects how others experience you.

May I make choices

that attract people to you.

I give to you all those things I have done

that have pushed people from you,

and offer my life anew.

Lord I pray

that you will use me for your glory -

and that I will let you

Samuel, beloved and longed for child, is living in the Temple, serving the Lord under the direction of Eli, the Priest.  Eli, is very old and nearly blind and part of Samuel’s role is to care for him.  Eli is asleep in his room, and Samuel is asleep in the Sanctuary.

During the night, Samuel hears his name being called, and assumes it is Eli calling for help.  He rushes to him, but is not Eli calling.  This happens a further twice, before the penny drops with Eli, and he tells Samuel the next time he hears his name being called to respond:

‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’

And that is what happens.  Tantalizingly, the lectionary reading leaves it there.  Samuel inviting God to speak to him.

Infant Samuel by SIr Joshua Reynolds

Samuel invites God to speak to him, with no idea what God might ask of him.  He comes willing, openly, offering himself.

Can we hear God calling to us?  In the noise and the bustle of life?  Can we discern his voice from what we are expecting to hear?

When we hear God’s voice, do we respond?  Or ignore it and carry on with what we were doing, with what we have planned, with what our usual routine?

Are we willing to hear God’s voice where we are.  To stop and let him speak?

Lord,

may I hear your voice,

and listen as you speak.

May I pick your voice out from the crowd,

and hear what you are saying.

May I hear you calling me

from what I’m expecting to hear.

May I discern your voice,

be willing to listen,

and respond freely and wholeheartedly.

Dirt happens, it just does.  But with our modern appliances and potions it is not difficult to make things clean again.

John the Baptist came at a time when people had wandered away from God.  Despite the perfect world that he had created, all in harmony and balance, people had done their own thing.  They had got things wrong, marred creation, and generally made a mess.  And the mess needed sorting out.

Sorting it out had to begin with themselves.  They had to recognise that they had got things wrong and start again in the right way.

John come offering them baptism – an opportunity to get cleaned up and start again with God.  To have the things they had done wrong forgiven.  The symbolism of baptism is clear.  It is the opportunity to be washed clean.  But unlike the washing or the windows, not just to be cleaned to be used and get dirty all over again, but to be washed and to have the chance to turn away from one way and to another.

Many took the chance John was offering them.  They felt the need to be washed clean.

The same opportunity is still available to us today.  God offers us a clean start, a new chance.

Washing needs a good detergent.  God offers us the best way to clean up lives.

What a gift: for those who cannot forgive themselves; for those who feel that they have gone too far away; for those who feel weighed down by what they know they have got wrong; for those who don’t know what to do next…

If a time of reflection has led you to think how wrong you have got it, and you know you need to try again, God can take the burden from you.  Try it.  Let him cleanse you.

God,

I want to thank you,

that you offer me a new way,

a better way,

the right way.

But more than that,

I thank you that through you,

the things I have got wrong

need not weigh me down,

and hold me back.

You take them from me,

clean me up,

and set me on the right way.

Thank you for that opportunity -

help me to take it.