Living Wittily

TFTD July 14-20: On Not Losing My Religion.

Monday

James 1.12 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

In every life circumstances change, difficult times come, relationships go wrong, and hopes are disappointed. The old wisdom “these things are sent to try us” can seem heartless when someone says that to us. But James has a point. Resilience is built by resistance; character is shaped by all our struggles to make life work; faith and trust in God are strengthened by a determined inner love, enabled by God’s grace. The crown of life is God’s ‘Yes’ to our love, when we have never taken the option of walking away, but have persevered and found God’s grace more than sufficient.

Tuesday

James 1.17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

The best translation of what James meant is still the opening verse of the hymn: “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; / there is no shadow of turning with Thee. / Thou changest not, the compassions they fail not / as Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.” We live each day beneath the constant generosity of God. As we say of those we have come to trust. “You always get them the same way.” Or as the old KJV says, in God “there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Wednesday

James 1. 19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry…”

Pay attention! Take note! Get your head round this. In three phrases James provides an outline for a TEDS talk on learning to keep our mouths shut! Peace-making, conciliation, negotiation, relation building, community health and safety – they all depend on three things. First, the discipline of listening in order to understand rather than find fault; second, install a good braking system on the urge to talk back, correct, or control the conversation; third, enough self-knowledge to recognise that our anger is seldom righteous anger! James’s words should be in bold print at the top of every day planner and displayed at every supermarket checkout!

Thursday

James 1.20 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

Anger is a problem. There are times when it is absolutely right to be angry, and when it would be wrong not to be outraged. But that is anger on behalf of others when, for example, we witness injustice or needless suffering. James is talking about anger as that inner aggression that wants to win the argument, to get our own way, or to put someone in their place - which usually means beneath us! The righteous life that God requires is the opposite of self-serving anger. If we want to know what that looks like then think of an upper room, dirty feet, a basin and a towel, and Jesus defusing the anger of disciples who had been arguing about who was the greatest.

Friday

James 1.26 “If anyone considers himself religious, and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”

Those words could have come straight out of Proverbs, and they have the same concern. Gossip, harmful words, innuendo, wounding sarcasm, lying, angry retorts, broken confidences, the clever take-down – the list is long of the ways that our words undermine trust and poison a community environment. Religion, as James sees it, is demonstrated in the practice of the faith we profess. As followers of Jesus we are called to a discipleship of the mind and heart, - and of the mouth!   

Saturday

James 1.27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:”

Our religion, according to James, is nothing more, nothing less, than our faith being put into practice. We don’t just hear God’s word, we do it. Religion is both our inner piety of prayers and devotional affection and commitment to God, in response to God’s great love towards us in Christ; and our religion is how we behave in the light of God’s great love for us. The mercy and compassion of God has acted in love towards us in the gift of his Son. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless” will likewise be visible, actual and real in the practice of mercy to others.

Sunday

James 1.27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Care for the vulnerable, compassion for those who need help; in other words seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus who never, ever, ignored those in distress. Perhaps the worst pollution by the world is allowing our hearts to harden and become complacent about the distress of those who have no power to rescue themselves. Looking after folk who are struggling is of the very essence of Christian love, and love for Christ. “Forasmuch as you did it for one of the least of these…”

A Prayer to the God of Wisdom, Mercy, and Justice

God of Grace and Wisdom - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

We live in a world that is becoming less and less predictable. Give wisdom to those who hold power, and can influence the lives of others for good or ill. And give to each of us wisdom to know and to do what is right. Keep us faithful to the teaching of Jesus about loving our neighbour, trusting our Heavenly Father, and lifting up our heads in hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

God of Grace and Mercy - “Be merciful, just as your Father in Heaven is merciful.”

We live in a world where cruelty is televised, where in places of war, conflict and oppression, mercy is seen as weakness, and where innocent lives are too often dismissed as of no value or consequence. Merciful God, constrain the powers that rage for vengeance, bring an end to suffering and death as the price of our all too human failures to live together without hate and violence. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God of Grace and Justice - Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing river.

We know that there can be no peace without justice, and that you are a God of faithfulness and without injustice. Those words of your prophet Amos become our prayer as we read the news feeds, fear for the future of our world, worry about the sheer scale of problems humanity faces. By your Spirit who brought creation out of chaos, speak again Let there be light, and push back the darkness that threatens the life of our world and all who call this planet our home.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

TFTD July 7-13: "And Jesus said..."

Monday

Matthew 22.37: Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment.”

Sometimes we ask a question because we genuinely want to know; other times a question can be a mental body swerve, a way of avoiding the truth that stands in our way. This was Jesus’ reply to a trick question about which is the greatest commandment. Jesus’ answer was like a well-timed rugby tackle, leaving no room for manoeuvre. The first priority of the heart, the magnetic North of the soul, the first focus of the mind, is to love God with all that we are. To love God completely, and serve God first and foremost, is to give God first claim on our worship and obedience.

Tuesday

Matthew 22.39: Jesus said: “And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.”    

Second only to our love and obedience to God, is our love and service to our neighbour. The parable of the Good Samaritan is all the argument a Christian should ever need to be alert, responsive and compassionate to those we meet on the way who could do with our help. But if we need even more convincing, then Jesus’ astonishing self-revelation in the need of our neighbour is likewise like a well-timed rugby tackle that isn’t fooled by the body swerve: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matt.25.40)

Wednesday

Matthew 22.40: Jesus said: “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

God demands no more than is contained in these two commandments. But the unpacking of them in lives of loving obedience to God and compassionate service to others is the work of a lifetime. “He has shown you, every one of you, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah distilled into that one verse all the commands of the Law and the Prophets for holiness and justice. Jesus concentrated all that teaching down into matters of the heart devoted in love to God, the soul centred in worship, the mind focused on obedience, and the neighbour loved and safe in our presence.

Thursday

Matthew 4.3 Jesus said: ”Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

These words were spoken under pressure. Temptation is that familiar inner process of being torn two ways at once, knowing there is a right and wrong choice of what course of action to take. The greatest commandment to love God with our whole selves means nothing in life matters more than God. Life is God’s gift. We live every day by the enabling grace of God, who calls us as his children to a loving and responsive obedience with all our heart, soul and mind. Seek first God’s rule in your heart and in your daily living; then every other thing will fall into its proper place.

Friday

Matthew 5.13: Jesus said: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”

Salt can’t lose its saltiness. But it can become adulterated, a mixed economy of salt and accumulated compromises. Jesus was saying two things. First, salt works when it makes a difference, when it is different from what it comes into contact with. The various uses of salt for preserving from corruption, medicinal aid to healing, adding flavour to what is bland, all depend on salt being salt! Second, the credibility of the good news depends on our being Christ-like, telling the Gospel, living lives of such convincing quality that Jesus is obvious and visible in who we are. Salt of the earth.

Saturday

Matthew 5.14: Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Light is an element of the reality we inhabit that enables life, makes visible, pulses with energy and is used to make life liveable. Followers of Jesus are lights that guide and illuminate and encourage life. The light of Christ brings hope, by forgiveness banishes guilt, liberates from fear, and guides those who are lost and confused back to their home in God. And yes, wherever it’s dark, light can’t be hidden. On the contrary, light defies and defeats darkness. Travellers in the darkness, see the city lights, and know where home and safety lies. You, yes you, are the light of the world.

Sunday

Matthew 5. 16: Jesus said: “In the same way, let your light shine before everyone, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

The good news of God’s love revealed in Jesus, demonstrated on the cross, bursting abroad and let loose on the world at the resurrection – that’s the light that shines in and through the Christian’s heart, and as the living centre of the Christian community. This is who we are! Love God, completely; love your neighbour, every time; be the salt and be the difference; shine with the light of Christ out into the world around you. Be the Body of Christ who is the originating Light of the World.

"Your Word is a Lamp for My Feet and a Light to MY Path."

Some years ago, I spent several days on retreat at St Deiniol's Library and Psalm 119 was the main focus of study, prayer, and journal writing. I also set myself an essay, written for no reason other than writing for me is a way of thinking out and thinking through a complex text.

In 22 sections, each devoted to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each line beginning with that specified letter, Psalm 119 is a masterpiece of literary precision. It is also a powerful teaching method for what it means to live a life of obedient love and faithful persistence in the service of God and others. The acrostic pattern is a well marked path for the reader, a metaphor the Psalm uses throughout for the life of loving obedience to God.

When I'm out walking, I take photographs of paths. Often they remind me of this Psalm, and one of its key verses: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light to my path." (Psalm 119.105) This particular photo could be a visual exegesis of that verse!