SERVICE WELL-PLEASING TO GOD

Good news in the present tense – Hebrews 13: 1-9 

“Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.  Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.  Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’  So we can say with confidence,

‘The Lord is my helper;     I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.”

Do you feel uncomfortable when people who have been Christians for years insist on telling their conversion experiences?  Perhaps it’s not the stories that make you uncomfortable, but the thought that they ought to have something much more recent to communicate about their Christian life.

‘The Good News in the present tense.’  Something seen, not in the stories of half a generation ago, but in those of today.  Why not tell people what happened this morning, or the day before, because that’s the living faith of our relationship with Christ now.  The Christian life is for living, not just remembering.  It’s an experience of immediacy – not in the sense of undisciplined and thoughtless action, but in actually living with Christ today, rather than the memory of what used to be.  History can often help to make sense of what’s happening today, but we can’t live our lives on it.  The Christian faith is based on an historic event, the life and death of Jesus.  The history of God’s dealing with men and women recorded in the Old Testament helps us understand it; but life is NOW.  The remembrance of past blessings can strengthen us as individuals, but for others Christ is relevant if he is shown as the one who can change life today.

Clergy, LLM’s, Readers and those licenced by the Bishop, preach a picture of Jesus changing lives, including theirs, and all must surely hope they live up to His expectations! 

We all fall short, of course, but the only relevance in our lives is the love we show to others, reflecting the love of God in Jesus Christ.  It’s that which people recognise, however dimly, and it’s that alone which authenticates both our claims and our living, more, it is that love which Christ will recognise in you – a likeness which lasts as long as He is with us.  It’s the way we live our lives today that counts – and that can be a scary prospect!

I’m sure we can all remember the yesterdays that we lived usefully and well; and we can make promises for tomorrow; but what about ‘the Good News in the present tense?’ 

Prayer

Dear Lord, today is my concern.  Good News in the present tense.  Not just for me, Lord – although in honesty that’s where my interest begins – but for those with whom I love and work and talk.  Make me an instrument for good.  A small focus of your healing in a worried world.  I thank you for yesterday, and I leave tomorrow in your hands.  Today is yours and mine.  Amen.

 Penny Bonham