Life With Lucas July-September 2022

Jeff clears away expired religion to reveal the living Jesus ADRIAN PLASS

WITH LUCAS APPLYING GOD’S WORD TODAY

JULY – SEPTEMBER 2022

Get Get Sorted.

Sorted.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY SUBSCRIBE TODAY 2

sortedmag.com sortedmag.com SortedMagazine SortedMagazine

Sorted Men’s Men’s Magazine Magazine

© Son Christian Media (SCM) and Novio Published 2022 by SCM/Novio – PO Box 3070, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6WX, UK All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of SCM/Novio.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, The “NIRV”, “New International Reader’s Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Publisher.

Design by Piero Regnante – Rogfog Creative | rogfog.co.uk Printed by Halcyon

PO Box 3070, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6WX, UK | Tel 01903 732190

3

A WORD FROM JEFF

HOW TO CHANGE It’s a question that we have surely all asked of ourselves, especially when we’ve failed and genuinely want to be different: ‘How can I change?’ When we turn to the pages of Scripture, we see that the normal Christian life involves daily transformation: if we faithfully walk with Jesus, not only is heart change possible, it’s inevitable. In Christ, we experience what one writer has described as the ‘transforming friendship’.

But as we’ll see, all too often we get stuck, and little change occurs. Dallas Willard lamented, ‘Faith today is treated as something that should make us different, not as actually does or can make us different.’1 There’s a car bumper sticker that declares that ‘Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven!’ But that is not the gospel. We are not yet perfect. We are forgiven.

But the good news doesn’t stop there – we are called to transformation! The most important question for us is not ‘What am I becoming – richer, more powerful, successful, better looking’ – but rather ‘Who am I becoming?’

Do we believe we can change? If true change is to happen in our lives, then we need a vision for what we can become.

And so, in our journey together, we will take time to carefully consider just exactly what maturity in Christ looks like. We need not only to affirm what we have been saved from, but also what we are saved for. And then we need intention. We will see that we are called to partner with the Holy Spirit who is the key agent of change.

4

1

Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, (San Francisco: Harper Collins,1988) preface, p13

Finally, we need the means to change. Jesus modelled spiritual practices (some call them disciplines) that are tools we can use to help us to walk with Christ and so prepare ourselves for the work God will do in us. The Early Church had a saying that John Wesley adopted: ‘The Spirit and discipline make a Christian.’2 Through the discipline, we don’t just adopt a lifestyle, but connect to the life source Himself – and that leads to altered lifestyles!

The ultimate objective? God wants us to become like Jesus.

As Paul puts it, ‘God planned that those he had chosen would become like his Son’ (Rom. 8:29). The Orthodox Church calls this process Christification.

In writing these notes, I have been deeply challenged and inspired, and have a fresh hunger to walk with the Lord and see His Spirit powerfully work in and through me. I pray that, as we journey together, you will feel the same. And thank you, as always, for joining me.

2

John Wesley, Sermons on Several Occasions, (New York: Waugh and Mason, 1836) p437

5

INTRODUCTION

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF LIFE WITH LUCAS! CHOOSE A TIME Find the best time that works for you, ideally the same time, same place every day, when you can concentrate and have the least number of distractions.

PAUSE AND TALK TO GOD Take a moment to focus on God and ask Him to speak to you as you read and reflect on His word.

READ GOD’S WORD Read the daily passage from your Bible. Don’t be tempted just to skip this part. It’s important: who knows how the Holy Spirit might speak to you as you read the actual text?

MAKE NOTES Writing slows you down and helps you focus. Write in your Bible, a notebook, or in the white space in the devotions. Don’t hesitate to underline, write in the margins, or circle words.

ONLINE VIDEO INTRODUCTIONS, AND GOING DEEPER When you see the video icon this points you to a brief Video Introduction to the subject. ake the most of the M occasional Going Deeper resources when you see this icon. They will help you delve further into the passage.

GIVE YOUR DAY TO GOD Thank God for what you’ve learned and ask for help if the day’s notes brought to light anything especially applicable to your life at the moment.

FRI 01 JUL

THE GLORIOUS VISION: METAMORPHOSIS

READ 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Matthew 17:1-13 FOCUS So we are being changed to become more like him so that we have more and more glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18

VIDEO INTRODUCTION lifewithlucas.co.uk /intros

The word awesome is overused, in my view.

Everything isn’t awesome, but surely the transfiguration of Christ was. In a scene that refers to ‘six days’ and the ‘high mountain’, some commentators believe Matthew was linking this episode to the six days of creation, and Moses’ mountain top encounter with God (Exod. 24:15-16). Both John and Peter would write later about their experience as Jesus was transformed before them. ‘We saw him in all his majesty’, said Peter (2 Pet. 1:16). John adds, ‘We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the one and only Son’ (John 1:14). The word used to describe what happened to Jesus is the root of our word ‘metamorphosis’ – a change, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.

This mountaintop encounter was surely staged to help sustain Jesus’ inner circle of three. The cross was looming: there were dark and difficult days ahead. The stunning sight of the glorious Christ would strengthen them.

But here’s another awesome truth: the apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, uses that very same word, metamorphosis, to describe what God wants to do in our lives as He does the work of changing and shaping us. For us, change is progressive, and takes a lifetime. And the plan is that we become ‘glorious’, for His glory! Paul repeats the same word as he teaches the church in Rome about being ‘transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Rom. 12:2 NIV).

Gradual, glorious change – that’s God’s plan for you and me.

Prayer: My glorious Christ, I worship you: creator, redeemer, rescuer, wondrous Jesus. I offer myself afresh to You and to Your shaping hand. Amen.

7

WEEKEND 02-03 JUL

THE VISION: OUR POTENTIAL

The day began predictably for fishermen Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew. And then Jesus walked by and issued a lifealtering summons, together with a promise about their future: ‘Come. Follow me,’ Jesus said. ‘I will make you fishers of people’ (Matt.

4:19). Surely the brothers were shocked by His invitation – usually potential students approached a rabbi asking permission to join him, but Jesus reversed that protocol here.

Others, like the scribes and Pharisees, were far more qualified than fishermen to join the team of a teacher, but He chose them. And they may have wondered about the nature of His mission, because the phrase ‘fishing for men’ had only been used by the Old Testament prophets to describe ‘hooking’ people for judgement (Jer. 16:16, Amos 4:2).

Jesus’ assignment, however, was to save humanity from judgement and bring beautiful grace and truth.

The brothers obeyed immediately, and then James and John joined them.

READ Matthew 4:18-22 2 Peter 3:1-18

The four were called to radical change as they fulfilled their commission to change the world, but they didn’t discover their destiny as self-made men. Their invitation to be with Jesus – the word ‘follow’ means ‘accompany’ – was the key to unlocking their potential.

We’ll return to this later, but for now, as we hear Jesus say, ‘Come, follow me... I will make you fishers’, let’s understand God has vision and purpose for us all, but that potential will be unleashed as we heed His call and stay in His good company.

To ponder: Let’s ‘stay in Jesus’ good company’. What does that mean, practically, for us?

8

MON 04 JUL

THE VISION: GROWING UP

READ Ephesians 4:1-16 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

FOCUS We will no longer be babies in the faith.

Ephesians 4:14

The church’s ‘Bring and Share’ lunch, where everyone contributed to a communal Sunday lunch, was going well. It was the congregation’s 100th anniversary; the hall echoed with the sound of relaxed chatter and laughter. But the atmosphere chilled in a moment, as Jimmy, sitting next to Sandra, realised that she had been served a larger portion of chicken than his. His face turned red, and he looked ready to cry. ‘That’s sooooo unfair’, he said, loudly. ‘I want more chicken!’

Perhaps you’re thinking that I am describing a spat between two children. Sadly, Jimmy was in his sixties and a deacon, while Sandra, at just seventeen, was a new Christian. Jimmy’s petulant attitude was obviously a poor example to her. Unfortunately, this is a true story.

Most problems that arise in local churches stem from immaturity, which is surely why Paul challenged the believers in Ephesus to move on from being ‘babies in the faith’ and then issued a blunt exhortation, to ‘grow up into Christ in every way’. He offered a stronger rebuke to the squabbling Corinthians: ‘You aren’t growing as Christ wants you to. You are still like babies.’ In his writing, Peter used a similar analogy. He doesn’t rebuke new converts for their immaturity, but encourages them to press on towards maturity (see 1 Peter 2:1-3).

Later we will look more closely at what Christian maturity looks like. But for now, let’s know that God calls us to be childlike in faith, not childish in character.

Prayer: Father, help me to catch Your vision for me. As I navigate the joys and challenges of life, shape me into greater maturity. In Christ’s name and for Your glory. Amen.

9

TUE 05 JUL

THE VISION: SURGING FORWARD IN THE RACE

READ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 2 Timothy 4:1-8

FOCUS So run in a way that will get you the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24

10

3

So far, we’ve talked about change, potential, and growing up. Now we see another New Testament metaphor on progress: a running race. Worried that his friends in Corinth were becoming spiritually flabby, Paul sought to stir them to action. His chosen metaphor immediately grabbed their attention because Corinth was a sports capital of the day. The Isthmian games were held in Corinth every other year. The streets of the city would have been teeming with athletes, all hoping for success in their chosen sport. But they were more than hopeful; every day the citizens of Corinth witnessed their dedication, seeing their grimaced faces and sweating bodies.

They were in the games, but not playing games; the Isthmian event was about passion, not amusement. As Paul talks about training the body, he calls us to the selfmastery that the athletes exhibit.

Paul also uses the race analogy to encourage his young protege, Timothy. Eugene Petersen has the veteran athlete/apostle declare, ‘This is the only race worth running’ (2 Tim. 4:7).3 Paul views participation in the Christian marathon as a priceless privilege. It has eternal consequences, a trek run with Jesus going ahead as our example and yet alongside us with His daily presence. It’s also a race with a stadium full of forerunners whose own stories of perseverance and faith show us that we’re in a noble line. This is the only race that’s truly worthwhile!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, shape me and show me how to run the race of life Your way, and for Your applause. Amen.

Eugene Petersen, The Message: The Bible in contemporary language (Navpress, 2005)

WED 06 JUL

THE VISION: AN INTENTIONAL PEOPLE

READ Galatians 5:16-26 Philippians 3:12-21

FOCUS Since we live by the Spirit, let us march in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

God’s vision for us all is that we navigate life by walking with Him by faith, like the Old Testament character Enoch (Gen. 5:22).

As Paul calls us all to ‘march in step with the Spirit’, he uses a military term used to describe soldiers forming a line.

Imagine the scene with me: rookie recruits and seasoned veterans together, boots clacking on the parade ground, eager to obey their marching orders, ready for battle. That’s a picture of intentionality and readiness. As Paul compares life lived, surrendered to the Holy Spirit versus the sinful nature, he shows us that growth and change don’t just happen as we do ‘what comes naturally’. Left to our own devices, our fallen nature produces moral chaos, but as we’ll see in more detail, the Holy Spirit produces beautiful fruit. As Oswald Chambers wrote, ‘The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is getting His way with us.’4 Writing to the Philippians, Paul uses another image of determination: ‘I push hard toward what is ahead of me... to win the prize’ (Phil. 3:13–14).

This is a picture of the aerodynamically perfect posture of the sprinter – his body angled forward as every different part of his body cooperates to the maximum efficiency to enable him to breast the tape first. It's a portrait of tension, of utter engagement and focus. Let’s be those who deliberately ‘get in line’ with Jesus each day, offering the Holy Spirit our availability, and asking for His help in all we do.

Prayer: Today, I choose. I want to walk with You, Jesus, by Your Spirit. I gladly get in line, ready to do Your will. Amen.

4

Oswald Chambers, The Psychology of Redemption, (London: Simpson Marshall Ltd, 1947) p34

11

THU 07 JUL

THE VISION: GROWING IN LOVE

READ Galatians 5:22-23 1 Corinthians 13:1-1

FOCUS But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.

Galatians 5:22–23

12

We usually list things in order of priority and importance. Perhaps as Paul begins to unpack what a follower of Jesus looks like as a result of God’s Spirit being at work, he lists love because love is always the priority, and all other beautiful character traits flow from it. And in Paul’s thinking, nothing much else matters apart from love. That’s what comes across as he writes earlier to the Galatians: ‘The only thing that really counts is faith that shows itself through love’ (Gal. 5:6).

Searching for a statement that sums up God in three words, Scripture puts it succinctly: ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8). That makes me wonder what is the first thing that comes to mind when people meet me (it might be my nose...). Surely this is the greatest accolade any of us could be given: he or she loved...

But what does that actually mean? What would it take for me to be noticed most for my ability to love? Would it mean that I would listen more, and talk less? Would I try to find ways of caring and serving rather than searching for ways to impress with a list of my strengths and successes? Would it mean that I took inordinate amounts of time in order to show concern? Would I be hesitant about a conversation that focused on me, and eager to hear about the stories of others? Would I refuse to be drawn into the potentially delicious circle of gossip, and be adamantly faithful to my friends?

Love is supreme – and practical. Without it, we’re not grown up at all.

Prayer: Loving God, this very day, give me an opportunity to grow in love. Amen.

FRI 08 JUL

THE VISION: IMAGEBEARERS

READ Romans 8:28-39 Colossians 1:15-17

FOCUS God planned that those he had chosen would become like his Son. In that way, Christ will be the first and most honoured among many brothers.

Romans 8:29

The theologians talk about how humanity was created – imago Dei – made in the image of God. Right back at the beginning of all things, God expressed His own characteristics in the way that He uniquely shaped human beings (Gen. 1:26-27). That doesn’t make humans gods, but we were made God-like, image-bearers of our Creator.

And the fall came, marring that image.

In turn, as the One who became human without sin, Jesus perfectly shows us what God is like, because ‘Christ is the exact likeness of God, who can’t be seen’ (Col. 1:15).

That’s why Jesus was able to say, ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9). It has been said, ‘If it doesn’t look like Jesus, it isn’t God.’ But it doesn’t stop there. God’s plan is that you and I, through the transforming work of the Spirit, would become more and more like the Son – looking so like Jesus that we can be called His brothers and sisters. We are children of the same Father, and because we bear the family likeness, we look very similar to Jesus!

As we’ll see tomorrow, this is God’s priority, not least because He wants a lost world to be able to look at us and so get a glimpse of what Jesus is like. Just as God called Israel to be a lighthouse people, wonderfully shining for God in a dark world and modelling what life with Him could be, so we are called to be the light of the world because we look like the ultimate Light of the world – Jesus Himself.

Prayer: What an amazing plan You have for Your people, Lord. I am part of that plan.

Holy Spirit, mould me, make me like Christ Jesus. Amen.

13

WEEKEND 09-10 JUL

THE VISION: CHRISTLIKENESS

READ Galatians 4:12-20 Philippians 4:1-9

If men want to get themselves into trouble, one easy way is to start using childbirth as any kind of analogy, mainly because the male of the species has absolutely no idea what it’s like! Perhaps unconcerned about the risk, the apostle Paul ventures into that perilous territory because his greatest passion, and one that pained him, was to see the Christians scattered in the area of Galatia become Christlike.

Some of the Galatian believers were drifting back into empty, lifeless religion. Sabotaged by false teaching, their wandering made Paul feel like a woman who has gone through the pain of childbirth, only to have to do it all over again. Some commentators suggest that the erroneous teaching had the effect of an abortion, hijacking the beautiful new birth that the Galatians had experienced. Strong words indeed, but a bold call follows.

Paul wants his spiritual children to be like Jesus, but then, because Christ had done such a work in his own life, he is bold enough to call them to imitate him (Gal. 4:12). Paul also offered himself as an example to follow in his writing to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians (1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1; 1 Thess. 1:6).

At first glance, it might seem that Paul was being arrogant – but in pointing to himself as an example, he also twice called himself the ‘least of all the apostles’. When we allow God to do His transforming work in us, which includes shaping a humble heart, we can truly be an example to others.

To ponder: Who has lived as a true example of Christlikeness in your life?

14

MON 11 JUL

THE VISION: LITTLE CHRISTS

READ Acts 11:19-26 Ephesians 4:1-3

FOCUS At Antioch the believers were called Christians for the first time.

Acts 11:26

Sadly, some believers want to distance themselves from the term ‘Christian’ today.

In the western world, often it’s become associated with a particular political stance, or has other negative connotations. It might surprise us that the Early Church didn’t rush to use the word ‘Christian’ to describe themselves – they preferred words like ‘believers’, ‘disciples’, ‘brothers and sisters’, ‘slaves of Jesus’, or ‘people of the Way’. The term ‘Christian’ only occurs twice more in the New Testament (Acts 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16).

Luke tells us that the word ‘Christian’ was first coined in Antioch. The citizens there were famous for their cutting wit, so when some fanatical followers of the emperor Nero settled in the city, they were dubbed the Augustianoi – followers of the emperor. And so the band of Jesus followers became known as the Christianoi – followers of Christ, or even ‘little Christs’. What probably began as a term of derision ultimately became a badge of honour.

Gregory of Nyssa, a third century bishop, celebrated the term’s distinction: ‘We are sharers of the greatest and the most divine and the first of names... by being called Christians.’

He called all Christ-followers to live in a way worthy of that name, or to use Paul’s words from his letter to the Ephesians, ‘live a life worthy of what God chose you for’ (Eph. 4:1).

As we grow in Christ and become more like Him, surely, we can help the world to understand what Jesus is really like.

Prayer: Today, I am frail, but through Your Spirit, may my words, thoughts and actions be found worthy of Your Name, glorious Christ. Amen.

15

TUES 12 JUL

THE VISION: WE ARE HIS UNIQUE POETRY READ Ephesians 2:1-10 Matthew 3:1-12 FOCUS God made us. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good things. Long ago God prepared them for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

The little group gathered around me, eager to pray for me, their guest speaker. I’m always grateful for those pre-service prayers – I need all the help I can get! But this one troubled me. ‘We don’t want to see Jeff tonight, Lord... just You. Hide him behind the cross...’

Probably it was not what was intended, but it seemed that my personality should be eradicated from the communication completely. All this talk of becoming like Christ could lead us to think that our own personalities should fade into the background.

But John the Baptist, who insisted Jesus ‘must become more important. I must become less important’ (John 3:30) never lost his own style, which included a love for camel hair clothing and snacking on locusts! John didn’t lose his uniqueness, but wanted everything about him to point to Christ.

Paul encouraged the Ephesians with the news that they were ‘God’s workmanship’ – the word there is poiēma, from which we get our word ‘poem’ (Eph. 2:10, NIV). While he was addressing them corporately as the church, surely this is also true of us individually. God made us to be us.

In a day when people often talk about being the ‘best version of themselves’, (often a prelude to selfish choices) we affirm that the very best for us is to be who God made us to be. C. S. Lewis puts it like this: ‘The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become, because He made us. He invented us.’5 We’ll reflect on this further tomorrow.

Prayer: Thank you Father, for making me, me. As I walk with You, I become the best version of myself. I choose You and Your way today. Amen.

16

5

Quoted in The Reservoir, Arrends, Hall, Morykon and Olawsky, (Englewood, Colorado: Renovare, 2019)

WED 13 JUL

THE VISION: US BEING US

READ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Luke 15:11-32

FOCUS May he make you holy through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept free from blame.

May you be without blame from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

I’ve shared the details elsewhere, but there was a junction moment in my life and ministry when God broke in with some liberating news. I’ve always loved humour and storytelling in my preaching and writing, and that occasionally got me into hot water with frowning Christians who didn’t approve of either. I was anxious that the call to be holy ‘through and through’ meant that I would lose some of my personality, but through a prophetic word spoken at a leadership conference, God made it clear – He wanted me to be fully me, humour included. We know that no two sets of fingerprints are alike – not even in identical twins. We’re all utterly unique. While, as we’ve seen, others can be examples to us, we are not called to be them.

Any church that seeks to mould people into bland uniformity is a cult!

It’s sin, not holiness, which fragments us and draws us away from authentically being ourselves. When people make terrible moral choices, perhaps sacrificing their marriages in the process, those around them often remark, ‘He/she is like a different person.’

That’s because, in a sense, they are. In that well-known parable, the prodigal son ‘came to himself’ (Luke 15:17 KJV) when he decided to return home.

The Hebrew word for repentance is teshuva which means ‘homecoming’. When we choose the Father’s house over the pigsty, we come home: to ourselves as we were always meant to be, and to our loving Father, who extends His open arms of welcome.

Prayer: I am prone to wander, Father. May I stay home, at home with you, and at home with my true self. Amen.

17

THU 14 JUL

THE VISION: FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

READ Luke 17:1-10 1 Samuel 24:1-22

FOCUS The apostles said to the Lord, “Give us more faith!”

Luke 17:5

As we continue to reflect on God’s vision and purpose for all our lives, perhaps it’s obvious that He wants us to grow in our capacity to have faith in Him. What might be less obvious is the connection between faith and forgiveness. As Jesus taught His apostolic team about radical relationships, including loving rebuke and continual forgiveness, the apostles asked to be given more faith. But why is forgiving an act of faith?

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to obedience, and we obey God’s commands – including the call to forgive – because we believe His way is best. We lay aside our own thirst for vengeance. If instead we determine to repay evil for evil, we are taking matters into our own hands rather than leaving room for God to act (Rom. 12:19). We act in faith as we trust the Holy Spirit to bring healing and peace to our hearts. And we stand in the noble line of Joseph in Genesis, who trusted God through years of hardship, and freely forgave his conniving brothers. We also follow the example of King David, who had the opportunity to kill his nemesis, Saul.

David’s generals saw an enemy in the cave, and even insisted this was a God-given opportunity to be rid of him; David saw the Lord’s anointed, and refused to strike, entrusting his own safety to God. When we are willing to take the faith journey towards forgiving those who have hurt us, we reflect the character of our God who freely forgives, and Christlikeness is formed in us.

Prayer: Lord, increase my faith, that I might grow in grace and my capacity to forgive.

Amen.

18

FRI 15 JUL

THE VISION: BEAUTIFUL BROKEN VESSELS

READ Psalm 31:1-24 Isaiah 64:1-8

FOCUS I have become like broken pottery.

Psalms 31:12

The parental warning was very clear: ‘Don’t play ball inside the house.’ Like most 13-year-olds, I thought that I knew better.

Five minutes later, a precious pot, a family heirloom, was smashed to smithereens.

The Japanese deliberately smash pots, and they’ve been doing it for over 500 years.

The ancient art of kintsugi, where broken pieces are painstakingly reassembled and joined with a lacquer mixed with powdered gold, serves as a reminder to them of human fragility and the beauty of brokenness. In kintsugi, the artist doesn’t just mend the vase – the technique makes the broken pottery even more beautiful than the original.

As we continue to think about growth and change, we’re reminded that we are all broken people, on a journey of reconstruction and renewal. The psalmist speaks of his sense of utter brokenness, but declares his conviction that God loves him so.

Derek Walcott, a poet and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, said: ‘Break a vase and the love that reassembles the fragments is stronger than the love which took its symmetry for granted when it was whole.’

Of course, the metaphor is limited, because God doesn’t just fix us – He makes us new creations (2 Cor. 5:17).

God is not only committed to the process of shaping us in our brokenness, but is loving, patient and brilliant in His artistry. Our Maker continues to ‘make’ us. And as Isaiah reminds us in his prayer of repentance (Isa. 64:8), God is not only a potter, but also our Father.

Prayer: Father, I confess my vulnerability and brokenness, and trust in Your loving care. Amen.

19

WEEKEND 16-17 JUL

THE VISION: FIRST LOVE

READ Revelation 2:1-7 Hebrews 3:7-19

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

During a visit to the Essex town where I grew up, I recalled my very first steps of faith as an eager 17-year-old. Despite being part of a wonderful, grace-filled church, my personality meant that I developed a passion to please God which was a little neurotic.

The upside of this was that I was hungry to learn and grow, and I made being with God’s people an absolute priority. I was eager to share the news of my newfound relationship with Jesus.

There were downsides, however. Failure paralyzed me with shame, I struggled with the truth of grace, and I was terrified that I might make a decision that would take me out of God’s perfect will. Wandering around the town, I mused: have I made a pendulum swing away from that first faith? In thinking that I am more mature now, am I more willing to allow compromises that I would never have considered as a younger Christian? Maturity is surely growth in character, not deterioration.

How easily our hearts can harden.

It’s good to look back, in order to look forward. In challenging the congregation in Ephesus, Jesus called them to remembrance: ‘Remember how far you have fallen! Turn away from your sins. Do the things you did at first’ (Rev. 2:5). The apostle Paul, writing to the churches under his care, often called them to remember their initial responses to the gospel, enabling them to reflect on their current spiritual health (Gal. 1:6-9, 1 Thess. 1:5-10, 4:1-2). I don’t want my first faith, but with God’s help, I want to walk in my first love for Him. To ponder: What was your ‘first faith’ like?

20

MON 18 JUL

MATURITY – WHAT IT’S NOT

READ Matthew 23:1-39 Philippians 2:1-3

FOCUS Everything they do is done for others to see.

Matthew 23:5

We’ve explored the truth that God’s purpose for all our lives is for transformation. Shortly we’ll look at how maturity is defined in the New Testament. But first, let’s consider a religious group who felt they were experts in spiritual maturity.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees prized holiness, and only allowed others to join them after a year-long probationary trial. They were committed to intense study of the Scriptures, and were expected to pray for at least three hours daily. Driven by the hopeful coming of the Messiah, they believed in the supernatural, the resurrection of the body, judgement after death, and in angels and demons. But these fastidiously religious idealists became Jesus’ bitterest enemies, and He reserved His strongest words of rebuke for them. They were the Pharisees, and they show us religious zeal is no guarantee of true maturity.

In exposing their hypocrisy, Jesus challenged their motives rather than their practices. They prayed lengthy prayers to impress, and gave offerings in a way that could be admired. In a word, they were driven by pride. In 1737, revivalist Jonathan Edwards said, ‘The first and worst cause of errors that abound in our day and age is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the mind and mislead the judgment.’ Let’s run from pride. It will seriously stunt our growth.

Prayer: Help me to walk in humility, especially as I grow closer to You. Save me from pride, gracious Father. Amen.

21

TUE 19 JUL

MATURITY – FOR ALL

READ 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 2 Corinthians 10:1-17

FOCUS So we are being changed to become more like him so that we have more and more glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18

I’ve been privileged to preach in many local churches across the world. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be with healthy congregations from so many different traditions. But occasionally I’ve been in churches where I found myself thanking God that He hadn’t called me to lead there. These churches were squabbling, resisting change, stuck in outmoded traditionalism, or threatening to split.

I feel the same way when I look at the Early Church community in Corinth – their problems were nightmarish. Leadership there would have been a serious challenge. There were some who had become spiritually arrogant, believers were rushing to the courts to sue each other, and sexual immorality was going unchecked. Some were even getting drunk during communal meals – not the usual situation at the local church ‘bring and share’! The apostle Paul was struggling with some in the congregation who were loudly dismissive of his leadership, even though he had founded the church during his second missionary journey, and spent 18 months there (Acts 18:1-11). Not only were there serious issues to be dealt with, but some were questioning his right to confront them over those issues.

But in all this mess, Paul held on to his conviction that the Corinthians could change.

If we are to change and grow, we need to believe that it’s not just possible; if we walk with Jesus, it’s inevitable – for us. Let’s all count ourselves in.

Prayer: Father, as I reflect on change, take me beyond just gathering information about transformation. Shape and mould me by Your Spirit during this journey, Lord. Amen.

22

WED 20 JUL

Let’s look at a few snapshots of how various New Testament writers – Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and the writer to the Hebrews – define what maturity is.

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PAUL (1)

As we turn again to Paul, let’s remember that he was a man of great passion – and in his old life, he had been a fiery zealot, terrorising the church. Following his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road, he made a 180 degree turn. His supreme ambition now was pursuing Jesus and knowing Him more.

As we saw earlier, the analogy of a runner in a race was a favourite metaphor for Paul.

He acknowledged he had not ‘arrived’ as a disciple – but he was determined to ‘move on’.

But for Paul, this was no solitary endeavour.

READ Philippians 3:1-16 Ephesians 4:11-13

The man who was the sworn enemy of the Church was now utterly committed to serving her. He lists the ministry gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and views their contribution as vital for the equipping of God’s people. These ministries are given to the Church for her strengthening and upbuilding. When we are part of a local church, we can benefit from those ministry gifts.

FOCUS I want to know Christ better. I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings.

I want to become like him by sharing in his death.

Philippians 3:10

I know some people who consider themselves too ‘mature’ to participate in a local church. Viewing others as less spiritual, they look down on the ministries, service and fellowship of the local church. Paul would have none of that thinking. We grow as we embrace the joys and pain of togetherness – sharing fellowship, conflict, burden-bearing, tension, laughter and tears.

Prayer: Thank you for the family of God, Lord. When being part of it becomes a real challenge, help me to be found faithful.

Amen.

23

THU 21 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PAUL (2)

It’s a concern that all Christian leaders share, especially those who lead larger churches.

When thousands gather in a congregation, are they truly functioning as a congregation, a serving community, or are they just a crowd that gathers for a weekly religious routine on Sunday mornings, an activity that has little impact on their Mondays? Do we attend, sing, hear some teaching, and then simply go on with life as normal? Most leaders will testify to the sad truth that there are usually more spectators than servants in the local church.

Spectators can also be the loudest critics – if in doubt, attend a sports gathering!

Paul has a different vision. For him, those who are truly mature will serve. The word used here includes acts of service that are menial – the same word is used to describe Martha’s frustrated fussing in the kitchen (Luke 10:38-42)!

READ Ephesians 4:1-12 Matthew 23:11-12

FOCUS He did it so that they might prepare God’s people to serve. If they do, the body of Christ will be built up.

Ephesians 4:12

24

Jesus taught that greatness is measured by our willingness to serve others – and He dramatically illustrated that truth as He washed His disciples’ feet – a dirty job usually undertaken by the lowliest of servants. And 19 times in the New Testament, the word ‘fellowship’ is used. Having ‘fellowship’ involves far more than sharing a cup of tea after the worship service. It is primarily an action word, and involves contributing, sharing and participation. Fellowship is not just being together, it is doing together!

Mature disciples serve. We’ll return to this briefly later as we consider spiritual practices.

Prayer: Show me where I can serve; give me a heart of a servant, and fill me with Your power to serve, Holy Spirit. Amen.

FRI 22 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PAUL (3)

READ Ephesians 4:13-14 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

FOCUS We won’t be blown here and there by every new teaching.

We won’t be blown around by the cleverness and tricks of people who try to hide their evil plans.

Ephesians 4:14

It was a wonderful local church, and as a new Christian, I was thrilled to be part of it, and for good reason. Our minister, Brian Richardson, was a leader with a great teaching gift, a tender heart and a warm smile. The youth group was vibrant and engaging. But looking back, I’m most grateful for the presence of the older folk in our congregation. Some had walked with Jesus for five decades or more, and had experienced seasons of great pain and loss, but they were rock solid in their faith. Their consistency was inspirational.

They just kept going.

Earlier we saw that the apostle Paul, in calling us all to maturity, frequently used the illustration of babies who have never grown up (see also Galatians 4:3). Stringing two metaphors together – helpless infants and a ship tossed around by giant waves – he shows us that mature disciples are stable in their faith. Using the same imagery in his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul specifically addresses the personality cults that were emerging there which created factions.

Some Christians blindly follow the preaching or writing of their favourite Bible teacher, thoughtlessly going along with whatever they say. And in pursuit of what we think is a fresh move of God, we can be faddish. I’ve seen churches jump headlong into excessive teaching on deliverance, prosperity, charismatic renewal, and leadership authority, to name just a few examples.

Stability is a mark of maturity.

Prayer: Faithful Lord Jesus, enable me to be steadfast and faithful, steady in You until You come or call. Amen.

25

WEEKEND 23-24 JUL

‘I need to have a word with you, Jeff.’ The man had approached me after I’d preached at an evening celebration. He did not look happy, and then he uttered the phrase I’ve come to fear. ‘What I am about to say is in love, brother.’ Yikes. I wanted to run. In my experience, when people announce they are going to speak the truth in love, they don’t.

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PAUL (4)

As Paul uses this phrase describing the mature disciple, he is specifically challenging the way we hold on to truth – his words can be literally translated, ‘truthing it in love’.

READ Ephesians 4:14-15 John 1:1-14

I’ve met Christians who are zealots when it comes to biblical truth, but while waving a Bible that speaks repeatedly about loving one another, they lack love. With unseemly delight and harsh words of condemnation, they pounce on anyone who takes a different view from their own. They seem to be relish a fight, and are deeply unpleasant to be around. But then there are others who, in their desire for unity and love, hold loosely to the core foundational truths of Scripture. As John Stott said so wisely, ‘Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth. The apostle calls us to hold the two together... the Holy Spirit is himself “the Spirit of truth”, and his first fruit is “love”. There is no other route than this to a fully mature Christian unity.’6 Being full of grace and truth – this is the nature of Christ, and should characterise those who follow Him. To ponder: What does it mean to be ‘full of grace’?

26

6

John R. W. Stott, God’s new society: the message of Ephesians, (Nottingham: IVP, 1972) p172

MON 25 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PAUL (5)

READ Colossians 4:1-13 Matthew 22: 39-46

FOCUS Epaphras sends greetings. He is one of you. He serves Christ Jesus. He is always praying hard for you.

Colossians 4:12

‘I’m praying for you.’ It’s a phrase that we Christians use easily, and it can therefore be used almost as a throwaway line of comfort, rather than a real assurance of prayerful support. As Paul writes to the believers in Colossae, who had been unsettled by false teachers spreading spurious notions about spiritual maturity, he mentions his friend and colleague, Epaphras. He was probably an evangelist, born in Colossae, who had heard the gospel from Paul while visiting Ephesus, and had taken the good news back to his own people. Now Paul was able to say that Epaphras was ‘wrestling in prayer’ – (the phrase, ’praying hard’ doesn’t quite do justice here). The word used describes intercessory prayer that is an urgent, impassioned struggle. Epaphras is praying for their faithfulness, their maturity, and for them to be fully confident in the gospel. So, translations used the word ‘perfect’ which is Paul’s shorthand term for the mature disciple.

The word for wrestling is the same word used in Colossians 1:29 and 2:1. Both Paul and Epaphras struggled in work and prayer, in their passion to see mature disciples. In the Greek, it is the word agonizomai – agonising effort. Some commentators say Paul had Jesus’ wrestling in prayer in Gethsemane in mind when he used these words. There’s nothing casual about this. When we pray for others, let’s be willing to pray intensely for their maturity in Christ, because for Paul and his team, this was such a high priority and purpose.

Prayer: Teach me to labour in prayer for the maturity and growth of others, Father. Holy Spirit, lead me in this most beautiful fight.

Amen.

27

TUE 26 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO JAMES (1)

READ James 1:1-5 Romans 5:1-11

FOCUS The strength to keep going must be allowed to finish its work.

James 1:4

When a season of suffering dawns in my life, my response is simple – I want it to end, quickly. But then I turn to the book of James and hear what seems like a very strange call from the Lord’s half-brother. ’You will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy (James 1:2). What? Surely nobody relishes trouble. James is not celebrating pain, but showing us that suffering creates an opportunity for us to grow. As Paul puts it, ‘suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character’ (Rom. 5:3–4 NIV).

So according to Scripture, persevering is not just about hanging in there in faith when life is tough. Perseverance has purpose in its ‘work’ – it produces maturity. To quote Eugene Peterson’s well-known phrase, as we continue in a ‘long obedience in the same direction’, walking in determined submission to God through our darkest days, we become all that God intended us to be.

I’m very conscious this is so much easier to write about than live. But let’s remember we are not alone when we trudge along an uphill pathway of pain. James affirms that God is the great giver of wisdom, and Paul reminds us that we have been given the Holy Spirit, our helper (Rom. 5:5).

Perhaps you find yourself in a season of real misery, and there’s no better dawning in sight at this time. May you know God’s grace to cling tightly to Him rather than drift from Him, and so not only be found faithful, but be built up in maturity and character as you do.

Prayer: Faithful, loving God, when life is at its darkest and most difficult, may I not only endure, but be matured as I am faithful.

Amen.

28

WED 27 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO JAMES (2)

READ James 1:5 James 3:13-15

FOCUS If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone.

James 1:5

It’s been said that common sense isn’t all that common these days, even among some who are viewed as clever. Perhaps it’s a phenomenon that you’ve witnessed.

A brilliant person, renowned for their intelligence, makes a disastrous decision: something that isn’t that rare. Some studies suggest that clever people are actually more likely to blunder into folly, because they lack intellectual humility. Overconfident, they believe in themselves too much, and don’t seek advice.

James points us to godly wisdom as a sign of true maturity. Wisdom surely comes to us in various ways. While being older definitely doesn’t mean we’re wiser, life experience can be a treasure as we apply the lessons we’ve learned along the way. And then Scripture connects us to the One who really does know it all: God. Then there is a gift of the Spirit, when the Lord gives us divinely inspired insight, a ‘word of wisdom’, (1 Cor. 12:8-10). In the third chapter, James contrasts two types of wisdom, heavenly and earthly wisdom. The Old Testament affirms God as the source of true wisdom (Prov. 2:6).

Notice that wisdom is not promised automatically – we are told to ask God for it – and overconfident people don’t tend to do that. I’ve dashed into a few decisions without properly pausing to make a prayerful, thoughtful choice. The times when I thought I knew best haven’t typically ended well.

Prayer: By faith, I set my eyes upon You, O Lord, and I open my ears to Your wisdom.

Amen.

29

THU 28 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO JAMES (3)

READ James 3:1-12 Proverbs 16:27 FOCUS All of us get tripped up in many ways.

Suppose someone is never wrong in what he says. Then he is a perfect man.

James 3:2

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

As a child, my parents told me the story of the fire that started in Pudding Lane, London.

In September 1666, a baker called Thomas Farynor forgot to douse the fire in his oven.

Stray embers set nearby firewood ablaze and the destruction of much of the medieval city began. A huge area was destroyed, including many churches and over 13,000 houses.

As James tells us to 'think about how a small spark can set a big forest on fire’ (James 3:5), he shows us the destructive potential of careless words. Then he paints a picture of maturity, this time using the picture of a ‘perfect man’ – again, a synonym for maturity.

Most of us would admit that our hasty words have created trouble for us and hurt for others.

Our tongues are like spring-loaded weapons, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. James describes the mature person who is slow to speak, but who also knows that they need God’s help to control their tongues. When James remarks that ‘no one can control the tongue (James 3:8), he isn’t painting a picture of despair, but once again points us to God’s help being at hand – the literal Greek is ‘no one of men alone can control the tongue’. The word that James uses only occurs once elsewhere in the New Testament, referring to the demoniac who was so out of control that ‘no one was strong enough to control him’ (Mark 5:4).

Today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us to tame our words, so that we can bless and build rather than hurt.

Prayer: My words can so quickly bless or bruise, Lord. In my speaking, I so need Your help. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight today, O Lord. Amen.

30

FRI 29 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (1): ATTAINABLE GODLINESS

READ 2 Peter 1:3-9 Philippians 3:1-11

FOCUS God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life.

2 Peter 1:3

As we consider Peter’s view of maturity, let’s remember that he experienced a major reality check in his own life. Jesus prophesied Peter’s denial, but Peter had insisted that even if he was the last man standing, he would be found faithful. His headstrong self-confidence was quickly shattered, as he denied knowing Jesus. Now he calls his readers to a ‘godly’ life. The word is one of his favourites, and he uses it three times in this letter (2 Pet. 1:6–7; 2:9; 3:11). To be godly is to live a life of character and virtue that pleases God. But notice that Peter, the man who had seen his own strength vaporise, doesn’t call us to do this by mere human effort. We need the powerful resources that God makes available to us all. The man who had known such utter defeat and despair now shows us that authentic godliness is not just available to a saintly few, but to you and me. And that power is ours ‘because we know the One who chose us’ (2 Pet. 1:3).

Let’s not surrender to the false idea that we are only human, which can be an excuse for wallowing in sinful behaviour. But let’s also know that the conduit for God’s power is a daily, intimate walk of faith with Jesus – to quote Peter, as we get to know our Lord Jesus Christ better (2 Pet. 1:8). Peter stands alongside Paul, who declared that his primary ambition was to know Christ.

In his mind, everything else was garbage compared to the privilege of knowing and walking with the Lord Jesus.

Prayer: I want to know you more and more, Lord. Reveal more of Yourself to me today.

Amen.

31

WEEKEND 30-31 JUL

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (2): PROMISES AND PERSPECTIVE

READ 2 Peter 1:4 2 Corinthians 7:1

Peter had personally received a variety of promises from Jesus, such as a place of authority in the new kingdom community that would be established – the Church (Matt. 16:18). That promise was fulfilled as he preached the first evangelistic sermon, and he became the first representative of the Early Church. Jesus had also assured Peter of His prayers, and that failure would not be the end: he would have a role in strengthening the rest of the apostolic team (Luke 22:31-32).

Peter based the rest of his life upon those and other promises that Jesus gave. As he describes a mature believer, he reminds us that Christ has given us all ‘his very great and valuable promises’ (2 Pet.1:4). Peter isn’t specific about which promises he means, but presumably he is referring to everything God has pledged to His covenant people. And in writing this letter, the idea of promise and the second coming of Jesus are repeatedly linked (see 2 Pet. 1:16–21; 3:4, 9, 13).

I said this earlier, but I need to repeat my deep concerns about biblical illiteracy among Christians today. If we are to grow up, we need to ensure that our lives are built on the solid foundation of knowing and applying God’s word with God’s help. That will grant us a right perspective on life and faith, especially when troubles come. And it will shape us to ‘share in His nature’. That doesn’t mean we will be become gods, but we will become like God in character. We can’t grasp His promises if we don’t know them.

To ponder: Is there a promise in Scripture that has especially strengthened and encouraged you?

32

MON 01 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (3): MATURITY

READ 2 Peter 1:4 Matthew 26:69-75

FOCUS He has also given us his very great and valuable promises.

2 Peter 1:4

Let’s linger for a moment on the theme of promises that we considered yesterday, and notice that the two promises that Jesus made to Peter both included a very clear call to community, to the Church. As we saw, Peter was told that he was to play a key role in the building of the Church and the strengthening of his fellow leaders.

We know that after denying Jesus, Peter was distraught. The word translated ‘sobbing’ means loud, audible weeping. Surely a deep shadow of depression clouded his soul as he faced the sad truth about himself – his pledges of faithfulness had come to nothing.

So, what has this to do with those promises that centre on community? I have written elsewhere about my own struggle with clinical depression some years ago. Stumbling through that awful year, my temptation was to retreat into isolation, withdrawing from even my closest friends, because I didn’t feel that I had the emotional energy to invest in relationships. Over the years, I’ve seen too many people abandon their church community because of disappointment, tragedy, or emotional struggles. The weeping Peter was not called to withdraw, but to commit wholeheartedly to the Church that Jesus was building.

Perhaps isolation from relationships and community looks very tempting for you right now. Sometimes being in community can be really hard work, even when our local church is healthy and thriving. Let’s know that we will change and grow only as we do so together.

Prayer: Mighty God, when being part of a community is demanding and even exhausting, help me to hold tightly to the lifeline of Your people. Amen.

33

TUE 02 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (4): RUN FOR OUR LIVES

READ 2 Peter 1:4 Genesis 39:1-23

FOCUS He also did it so you could escape from the evil in the world.

That evil is caused by sinful longings.

2 Peter 1:4

I have often wondered what happened to Charles (not his real name). He and his wife attended a church we were part of in Oregon, decades ago. At the end of every Sunday morning service, the ministry team gathered and invited those who wanted prayer to come forward. Charles did, every week, and it was a depressing sight, because his issue was always the same. For decades, he battled with an addiction to pornography.

Brief seasons of freedom were followed by failure, and his problem worsened as he explored ever darker materials. Addiction is hungry, always looking for more. As far as I know, Charles never emerged from the shadows of his destructive habits.

According to Peter, mature Christians know how to run. He tells us we can and should ‘escape’ from ‘sinful longings’, and this parallels Paul’s encouragement to young Timothy to ‘Run away from the evil things that young people long for’ (2 Tim. 2:22).

We’re reminded of the story of Joseph. When Potiphar’s wife attempted a seduction, he made a run for it. There was no time for discussion or hesitation – he sprinted, leaving his coat behind. Addictions deepen when we flirt with destructive life patterns, fooling ourselves that we can emerge from them whenever we choose. But that’s not true.

When temptation comes knocking, let’s not answer the door, but run for our lives. As we’ve seen, God’s powerful help is available, and sometimes it comes through resources created to promote freedom.

Prayer: Lord, when temptation whispers, help me to see through the lies, and run away. Help me in that moment. Amen.

34

WED 03 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (5): TRYING HARD

READ 2 Peter 1:5 Philippians 2: 12-13

FOCUS So you should try very hard to add goodness to your faith.

2 Peter 1:5

It’s an old saying that regularly does the rounds in Christian circles: ‘Let go and let God.’ The idea is that, because of grace, there is nothing for us to do as disciples of Jesus. And when it comes to our salvation, everything has already been done for us in Christ.

Scripture makes it clear that we cannot earn God’s forgiveness. But here Peter describes the mature Christian as someone who should ‘try very hard’. Put succinctly, Scripture is against earning, not effort. The word Peter uses is fascinating – one used to describe the sponsors of drama festivals. The word came to mean ‘generous and costly co-operation’.

Elsewhere, we find a perfect illustration of our partnering with God in Paul’s writings. Writing to the Philippians, he tells them to ‘work out your own salvation (Phil 2:12). But then in the next verse, he reminds them, ‘God is working in you.’ This combination of human effort with divine empowering is echoed by the writer to the Hebrews: ‘Try your best to live in peace with everyone. Try to be holy’ (Heb. 12:14) – words that are immediately followed up by a reminder not to miss God’s grace.

As St John of the Cross, the 15th century priest, puts it, ‘Each of us is called to cultivate an inner garden in which the Divine Word may grow and flourish.’

At the beginning of these notes, we saw we are called to be intentional and diligent. Later we will look at spiritual practices that can help us to grow. For now, remember we are called to effort.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as a disciple, I want to be disciplined and intentional about my walk with You. Save me from being casual about my faith. Amen.

35

THU 04 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (6): FAITH

READ 2 Peter 1:5 James 2:14-26

FOCUS So you should try very hard to add goodness to your faith.

2 Peter 1:5

36

As we begin to look more closely at Peter’s description of mature discipleship, we see a list of characteristics. ‘Virtue lists’ like these were often used by religious leaders in the ancient world. Peter begins by linking faith and goodness. Some people treat faith as a vague idea, and prayer as an emergency helpline for when life turns tough. For the Christian, faith is the foundation of our existence – that’s why we’re called believers.

Peter views faith – active trust in God – as being the ground on which all other virtues grow. But when my faith is low, I am less likely to be faithful. Goodness, which we will consider tomorrow, might be eroded in me because I am less concerned about obeying God and walking in His ways. I am less interested in knowing and applying the truths of Scripture, and I lack self-control – and so the deterioration continues. On the other hand, our faith can grow and increase – hence the disciples’ request to Jesus: ‘Give us more faith!’ (Luke 17:5).

Peter agrees with James, who insists true faith is far more than a vague idea or a spiritual compartment in our lives. For James, faith without fruit is no faith at all; it’s a lifeless shell, a useless parody of the real thing. Is our faith alive, or has it gradually, ever so slowly eroded, and faded into being an old habit that we barely maintain? Does our faith have a pulse? Are we still trusting, risking, and exploring?

Prayer: Lord, as I navigate my circumstances, through the work of Your Spirit, increase my faith and trust in You. Amen.

FRI 05 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (7): BEING GOOD

READ 2 Peter 1:5 Galatians 6:1-10

FOCUS So you should try very hard to add goodness to your faith.

2 Peter 1:5

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

‘God is good!’ the worship leader hollered into the microphone. ‘All the time!’, the congregation responded. I’m not a fan of those moments. It’s entirely a matter of personal taste, but I feel uncomfortable when worship involves what feels like cheerleading, at least to me. That said, God is good, all the time.

Peter ties this truth with a call considered earlier, that we, as followers of Christ, should reflect His character: God is good, and we should be people of goodness as well.

But goodness is often derided. A diligent person, who strives to behave with consistent integrity, will be dismissed as a dull ‘goody two shoes’. The young Christian who choses purity over promiscuity will be mocked.

As God’s people, we are called to live virtuous lives, and when we do that, we model a lifestyle that is God’s pattern for all humanity. William Wilberforce, who battled chronic ill health and faced many political setbacks, was often described as making goodness fashionable. He fought the scourge of slavery, not only with tenacity, but with a kind heart. It was said that his voice never lost its ‘silvery cadence’.

When we look at the beginnings of the Early Church, we see that Barnabas played a significant leadership role. Luke describes him as ‘a good man... full of the Holy Spirit and of faith’ (Acts 11:24). Let’s be like him, God helping us, especially when, as Paul elaborates, we feel ‘tired of doing good’.

God is good. All the time.

Prayer: Lord, You are so good to me, and goodness follows me. May goodness characterise my life, all the days of my life, including today. Amen.

37

WEEKEND 06-07 AUG

One of the great dangers for Christians is living a Christless Christianity. That seems like a contradiction in terms, but it’s a real temptation. We get busy with church life, service, and ministry, and soon, we’re working for God rather than with God, acting like His servants rather than His friends (John 15:15).

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (8): KNOWLEDGE

As Peter talks about knowledge, he steps into potentially dangerous territory, because there were many false teachers, known as gnostics, who claimed to have deeper, even secretive insight into divine truth. But for Peter, knowledge is not mysterious or intellectual. It is rooted in knowing Jesus personally: we can have abundant grace and peace ‘through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord’ (2 Pet. 1:2). That priority is reaffirmed in his call to us all to ‘get to know our Lord Jesus Christ better’ (2 Pet. 1:8).

READ 2 Peter 1:1-5 Hebrews 5:11-6:3

In his list of characteristics of the mature believer, Peter uses the word knowledge to describe an ability to discern right from wrong: as we determine to walk daily with Jesus, we will have a moral compass. The writer to the Hebrews has a similar call: as we graduate from the ‘milk’ of the basic truths of the faith, we will be able to tell the difference between good and evil (Heb. 5:14).

I’m challenged by the need to stay close to Christ in prayer and dig deep into God’s Word with the Spirit’s help. But I’m encouraged that, as we choose that lifestyle, we can navigate the moral maze in which we live with confidence.

To ponder: Do we know Jesus better than we did a year ago?

38

MON 08 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (9): SELFCONTROL

READ 2 Peter 1:6 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

FOCUS To knowledge, add the ability to control yourselves.

2 Peter 1:6

A frequently used word these days, ‘addiction’ comes from a Latin term that means ‘enslaved by’ or ‘bound to’. One report says that one in ten Americans are addicted to alcohol or other drugs, while the Metro newspaper7 states people get drunk in the UK more than anywhere else in the world.

Others are chained to gambling, shopping and sex. As Peter continues to describe what a mature disciple looks like, he includes selfcontrol as a characteristic.

Peter and Paul are in harmony here. Paul includes self-control as he teaches about the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:13-26). While he was no ascetic, Paul’s commitment to walking in freedom was clear. Writing to the Corinthians, infamous for their sexual excesses, he declared, ‘I will not be controlled by anything’ (1 Cor. 6:12). Addressing a royal couple infamous for their immorality, Paul made it clear that the gospel called for self-control (Acts 24:24-25). That conversation came to an end rather quickly.

It’s well known that many Christians – leaders included – routinely abuse alcohol to the point of drunkenness. The good news is that those who follow Christ are not simply called to break the chains of addiction in their own strength – the power of the Holy Spirit is available. And when we acknowledge that there is an area of our lives that is out of control, there are programmes and resources to help us. But self-control can only be restored when we acknowledge that we have a problem.

Prayer: Lord, when You call me to make healthy choices, thank You that I can know Your power as I exercise self-control. Amen.

7

metro.co.uk/2019/05/15/uk-is-officially-the-most-drunk-nation-on-earth-9547816/

39

TUE 09 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (10): ENDURANCE READ 2 Peter 1:6 Romans 5:1-11 FOCUS To the ability to control yourselves, add the strength to keep going.

To the strength to keep going, add godliness.

2 Peter 1:6

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

We’ve already touched on the call to perseverance – the strength to keep going, and live a life of godliness. Perhaps Peter saw a clear link between them, together with self-control.

A cynic said that a Christian experience is ‘an initial spasm followed by a chronic inertia.’

Those words might sting, but let’s consider their challenge. Self-control is a marathon, not a sprint – if in doubt, ask anyone who has made a New Year’s resolution, only to see the best intentions evaporate within a few days.

It takes determination: the athlete wakes early to brave all weathers – enduring cold, discouragement and injury in their quest for medal glory.

The New Testament frequently speaks of the need for endurance, and we can see it in our ‘Going Deeper’ section today. The word Peter uses specifically describes an ability to stay faithful to pursuing Christ in the face of evil or suffering. In ancient culture, endurance was prized, but in Christian thinking, endurance doesn’t just come from human determination, but it forms in us as we trust God and His promises.

Michael Green puts it like this: ‘The mature Christian does not give up. His or her Christianity is like the steady shining of a star rather than the ephemeral brilliance (and speedy eclipse) of a meteor. There are few more reliable tests of faith than this; true faith endures.’8 We’re called to keep calm and carry on with God’s help, power and presence always with us. Let’s press on with Him. Prayer: When the road is hard and my hope fades, empower, steady and strengthen me for the journey, Lord, that I might be found faithful. Amen.

40

8

Michael Green, 2 Peter and Jude: an introduction and commentary (Nottingham: InterVarsity Press, 1987).

WED 10 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO PETER (11): KINDNESS

READ 2 Peter 1:7, Ephesians 4:17-32

FOCUS To godliness, add kindness to believers. And to kindness to believers, add love.

(2 Pet. 1:7)

A recent survey in the USA revealed that over a third of Christian leaders were seriously considering quitting ministry.

With churches unable to gather, the global pandemic brought financial stress as income plummeted. But many leaders found themselves in a no-win situation, caught in the middle of conflicting views about how churches should respond to the restrictions. As some of us disagreed about mask-wearing and vaccinations, shouting rather than listening, and often leaving congregations that had been our church home for decades, kindness was sacrificed.

I witnessed some of this first hand. As Peter identifies kindness and love as hallmarks of maturity, he uses a word previously used to describe the relationships between physical brothers and sisters. Thus he reminds us we should not view church as a club or an organisation, but as a committed family of believers. Anything less creates a consumerist approach to church, where people only stay together as long as the preaching is to their taste, the pews suit their required level of comfort, they enjoy the worship style, and (very importantly) their fellow church members broadly agree with their views on controversial matters.

One of the most beautiful Old Testament words is chesed: the loving kindness of our God. As Peter ends his list with ‘kindness and love’, he points us to this part of God’s nature, and calls us to be like Him – especially when we disagree.

Prayer: Give me a fuller, deeper vision of what Your Church is, Lord. Grant me practical opportunities to demonstrate kindness today. Amen.

41

THU 11 AUG

MATURITY – ACCORDING TO JUDE

READ Jude 1-25 John 15:1-17

FOCUS Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith.

Jude 20

We have taken quite a while to consider not only the clear New Testament call to maturity and change, but also what spiritual maturity actually looks like. Now, let’s begin to consider what practices we can adopt to partner with God in our growth. As we make this transition, we will consider some words from a less well-known biblical book, Jude, that can help us. Most commentators believe that Jude was one of Jesus’ half-brothers – a son of Mary and Joseph. As we hear his encouragement to build ourselves up in our faith, once again we see the need for us to be proactive and disciplined, cooperating with the Lord. As we embrace spiritual practices, which for Jude include prayer, it isn’t that we earn God’s love, but we stay centred and focused on it.

Jude begins his letter by celebrating the truth that we are ‘loved by God the Father’. But it is possible to drift away from a life that is founded on that love. Here, Jude echoes the words of Jesus, who called us to ‘remain in my love’. Once again, the focus is prayer – as we ask in prayer, and walk in obedience to God’s commands, so we live mindfully in His love. Then we will live as friends of God rather than merely as His servants, and the outflow of all of this is we will pass the love of God around in our relationships, and the fruit of the Spirit will increase in our lives. Once again, we see that true change is rooted in relationship and intentionality.

Prayer: Your word tells me I am loved, and calls me to live in that love. Enable me to experience its reality and share it with others. Amen.

42

FRI 12 AUG

HIS YOKE

READ Matthew 11:28-30 Matthew 23:1-4

FOCUS Serving me is easy, and my load is light.

Matthew 11:30

Sometimes spiritual practices are described as spiritual disciplines. While discipline is necessary, the word repels many of us, and we worry about harsh demands that will make us feel guilty. We feel we’re doomed to failure before we start. So, let’s build a foundation of knowing that, firstly, as we engage in spiritual practices, we are responding to Jesus’ winsome invitation: ‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me’ (Matt. 11:29, NIV).

As Jesus spoke about a yoke, this would have triggered three images in his listeners’ minds. For them, the yoke meant work: the yoke was a wooden frame joining two animals, usually oxen, to haul heavy loads.

The word was also used as a metaphor for oppression, a symbol of servitude to a conqueror (Jer. 27:2–7). Thirdly, the word spoke of a body of teaching. People would speak of the ‘yoke’ of the Pharisees, which Jesus condemned as burdensome, insisting that the religious barons placed heavy loads on the common people that they were unwilling to carry themselves. But Jesus ‘yoke’ is easy, not because the Christian life is easy (on the contrary) but because He calls us to walk with Him and live daily in His strength and power. His yoke doesn’t lead to a backbreaking trudge, but to a restfulness of soul. Trying to live Christianly without walking with Christ is extremely hard work. As we consider the various spiritual practices, let’s remember this beautiful call from Jesus to be with Him. Prayer: I want to respond to Your beautiful invitation today, Lord Jesus. Amen.

43

WEEKEND 13-14 AUG

WHAT SPIRITUAL PRACTICES ARE NOT

READ Hebrews 2:5-18 Hebrews 4:14-16

We saw yesterday that the idea of spiritual ‘disciplines’ can evoke a negative reaction in us. When we embrace spiritual practices, however, we are opting for a rhythm and lifestyle, not embarking on a fast-track course to growth and maturity. We must avoid what Richard Foster describes as ‘soul-killing legalism’, where we fear failure.

We choose good practices because God loves us, not to earn His love. And we must know that we are all, as ordinary people with everyday pressures, called to experience the intimacy and rest which spiritual practices bring. To walk this way is not reserved for the super-saintly: God has always intended it for all humanity. Just as the Lord walked with the first couple in Eden, so He has designed and shaped every human being to journey through life with Him. And as we consider these practices, we should know that we are navigating life in the same way as Jesus. We should not think He had a special advantage over us, as if He looked like a man, but inside He was like a superman. That would make His temptations a sham. He was tempted in the same way as we are and relied upon the power of the Holy Spirit in the same way that we do (Luke 4:1, 14, 16-18). Jesus lived served, taught, prayed, and did miracles, all in the power of the Spirit, and as we’ll see, He embraced healthy spiritual practices. Life in the Spirit, and choosing spiritual practices – this was Jesus’ way, and is meant to be ours.

To ponder: What happens to us when we try to earn God’s love instead of resting in it?

44

MON 15 AUG

EVERYTHING IS SPIRITUAL

READ Colossians 3:1-17 1 Corinthians 10:31

FOCUS Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Always give thanks to God the Father through Christ.

Colossians 3:17

He was a faithful churchgoer, diligent in prayer, and he knew the Bible well. He had some leadership responsibilities in his church, and was well respected. And, as it was later revealed, he regularly physically assaulted his wife and had a long-term extra-marital affair.

Somehow, he managed to compartmentalise his life; his so-called ‘spiritual’ activities didn’t make any impact on his everyday behaviour.

As we think about spiritual practices, we should know that the idea of a ‘spiritual’ life separate from the rest of life is misleading.

The Hebrew Scriptures never use the word ‘spiritual’, because Jewish thinking saw every part of life as spiritual. Work, eating, loving, play, relationships: all of this was to be done as unto the Lord. Nor did Jesus talk about having a ‘spiritual life’. To be human is to be spiritual, because Scripture reveals that God has breathed His Spirit into humans alone. So, let’s not view some elements of our lives as especially important to God (praying, fasting, reading Scripture) while other areas (like playing golf, or sharing a relaxed evening with friends) as less interesting or valuable to Him. To paraphrase Paul, in all that we are and do, we can honour God. Tom Wright outlines a wonderful call with a promise: ‘Whatever you do or say must be able to stand having these words written above it: "In the name of the Lord Jesus".

Settle that in your hearts and minds and a great deal else will fall into place.’9 Prayer: In all that I say and do, be glorified.

May my whole life reflect my love and commitment to You, Jesus. Amen.

Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004) p183

9

45

TUE 16 AUG

KILLJOY ‘SPIRITUAL’ CHRISTIANS

READ 1 Timothy 6:11-17 Acts 14:8-17

FOCUS He richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17

Let’s continue the thought we began yesterday.

I love laughter. Anyone who has heard me preach will know that I enjoy combining humorous storytelling with (hopefully) amusing asides to illustrate truth and make listening to the sermon more enjoyable. But that has got me into hot water with ‘serious-minded’ Christians who view this as frivolous and inappropriate. ‘We don’t have fun in this church, we have joy’, remarked one poker-faced gentleman after I’d preached. One look at his demeanour suggested that he had neither.

Many have the impression that Christians who engage intentionally in spiritual practices are not allowed to play, relax and have fun. Nothing could be further from the truth: this is surely a devilish device to deter us from pursuing a more disciplined lifestyle. Lewis Chafer puts it beautifully: ‘Spirituality is not a pious pose. It is not a “Thou shalt not”, it is “Thou shalt”. It flings open the doors into the eternal blessedness, energies and resources of God. It is a serious thing to remove the element of relaxation and play from any life. We cannot be normal physically, mentally or spiritually if we neglect this vital factor in human life.’10 As Paul encourages Timothy to teach the rich not to put their hope and trust in their wealth, he speaks of a God who provides for our enjoyment – a comment most commentators skip over! This is not about self-indulgence, but a reminder that God is the source of all that is good – including fun.

Prayer: Lord, I want to live a rounded, healthy life, enjoying all that You have so lavishly provided. Thank You, Father. Amen.

46

Lewis Sperry Chafer, He That Is Spiritual (Finday, Ohio: Dunham, 1918) pp69-71

10

WED 17 AUG

THE THREE MILE AN HOUR GOD

READ Philippians 1:1-6 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

FOCUS I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed.

That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Christian drivers often sport this sticker on their cars: ‘Be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet.’ I’d like us to turn it around and encourage us to be patient with ourselves. The work of change and transformation is lifelong.

God could bring us to a place of maturity in a moment, but instead He chooses to use the academy of life for His daily work in us. Francis De Sales says this: ‘Purification... whether of the body or the mind, takes place only little by little, by passing from one degree to another with labour and patience. The soul that rises from sin to devotion may be compared to the dawning of the day, which at its approach does not dispel the darkness immediately but only little by little.’11 We’ve become very used to everything being delivered at high speed. In certain parts of the country, we can order groceries online and they will be delivered within the hour. Low internet speeds frustrate us because they rob us of seconds of our lives. Drive-through fast food outlets deliver mostly unhealthy food without asking us to exercise by getting out of the car. But God, who theologian Kosuke Koyama describes as the ‘three mile an hour God’, works steadily and purposefully throughout our days. Love has a speed, he says, and that speed is slow, gentle and tender.

We can be tempted to give up on ourselves, exhausted by what we see as an impossible project, but we need to hear Paul’s encouragement: God will complete the good work.

Prayer: When I feel overwhelmed by my shortcomings, and disheartened by lack of growth, help me to remember Your patient commitment to me. Amen.

Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, trans John K. Ryan, (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Image Books, 1957) pp43-4

11

47

THU 18 AUG

IN THE GYM

READ 1 Timothy 4:1-16 1 Corinthians 15:10

FOCUS Don’t have anything to do with godless stories and silly tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

1 Timothy 4:7

I love the gym and enjoy the process, as soon as I’m actually powering away on the treadmill or the elliptical machine. It’s just getting into the gym that’s the struggle.

My mind and body conspire to complain.

Negative thoughts multiply in my mind: I’m too tired, too busy, and who knows, if I overexert myself, I might have a heart attack...

Yesterday, and throughout our study, we have seen that change is a process, and we need to be patient in it. To echo that truth, notice Paul used the illustration of a gym in his encouragement to young Timothy.

Physical fitness was seen as a high priority in Paul’s day, as we have seen. Often rich people would be on the streets, working out with their personal trainers. And so, Paul uses that familiar sight to encourage Timothy to train himself for godliness (the word is gumnaze, which obviously is the root of our word ‘gymnasium’). Paul was not decrying physical fitness – he just elevates knowing and walking with God as the highest priority in life – more important than the bulging muscles and six-pack that I aspire to but don’t have!

I am labouring the point here because it’s important to restate this foundational truth: godliness doesn’t come automatically or quickly. It is the result of us making good daily and lifelong choices. As we turn now to examine some of the ‘equipment’ in the gymnasium, let’s realise the pathway to maturity will not be easy, but it is the most valuable pursuit in life.

Prayer: I want to put Your kingdom first, Father. May walking with You be my priority, my consuming desire. Amen.

48

FRI 19 AUG

SOLITUDE

READ Matthew 6:5-6 Galatians 1:11-17

FOCUS When you pray, go into your room.

Close the door and pray to your Father, who can’t be seen.

He will reward you.

Matthew 6:6

It’s a blessing and a curse. Our smartphones mean we are continuously connected. If nobody calls us, we can connect through the various social media channels, to be entertained, informed, updated. And the curse is that we are continuously connected, driven by a fear of missing out, distracted by a limitless flow of mostly useless information.

Drowning in trivia, we are convinced of our own sophistication.

We tend to view solitude – withdrawal from human company – negatively, not least because solitary confinement is a cruel and dangerous punishment in prison systems. We were created as social creatures, intended for togetherness. Enforced disconnection from human company is a serious threat to mental health. But if we are to walk in the way of Jesus, we will need to create times to withdraw from the relational and digital clamour that threatens to overload our hearts and minds. It’s been said that ’Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfilment.’

It seems the apostle Paul spent an extended period alone before fully engaging in ministry, ‘not talking with anyone’ and spending time alone in the Arabian desert.

As an introvert, nevertheless I still thrive on company, and find solitude difficult. But I know that sometimes my busyness can be a defence mechanism, protecting me from seriously engaging with challenging issues in my life. If we are to grow, we need to learn to be comfortable with making space for just us and the Lord.

Prayer: Enable me to be comfortable with being alone with You, and to prioritise times of withdrawal. Amen.

49

WEEKEND 20-21 AUG

STRENGTH AMONG THE SAND DUNES

READ Luke 4:1-13 Psalms 63:1-11

I have spent a little time in the desert – but mine involved careering across the sand in a jeep in the company of some fellow pilgrims to the Holy Land and Jordan! When we see Jesus heading into the wilderness, we tend to think of Him in a place of extremity, fasting for six weeks, weakened by the relentless heat and emotionally drained by the barren landscape. But surely, He was led by the Spirit there, because the solitary wilderness was actually a place of strength for Him. And Jesus made solitude a pattern and priority in His life, withdrawing at the beginning of the day (Mark 1:35), and spending time in the mountains (Mark 3:13). At the height of His popularity, when crowds were clamouring for His attention, His disciples had to go looking for Him, and then complained, ‘Everyone is looking for you’ (Mark 1:37). In Luke’s gospel, we see Jesus withdrawing no less than nine times; it seems that the busier He became, the more He sought time alone with His Father. Taking time to be alone is not escapism from the world, but it can equip us to live healthier lives in our busy, frantic world. For most of us, an extended retreat is impractical, but we surely can take baby steps that include taking an hour to be alone, enjoying that first cup of tea or coffee in the morning, or going for a solitary walk.

As Richard Foster says, ‘If we possess inward solitude, we do not fear being alone, for we know that we are not alone.’12 To ponder: In your schedule, what small steps might you take to make time for solitude?

50

Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, Special Anniversary Edition HarperCollins Kindle Edition, p67

12

MON 22 AUG

SOLITUDE: THE WHISPERING GOD

READ 1 Kings 19:1-18 Revelation 3:22

FOCUS And after the fire there was only a gentle whisper.

1 Kings 19:12

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

There’s a difference between solitude and depressive isolation, and it’s probable that, as we see the mighty prophet Elijah holed up in a cave, he was engaging in the latter. A man whose only prayer is one of complaint (and includes a death wish) is hardly a model of embracing healthy solitude, and God called him to come out of the cave. Nevertheless, it was in that place of solitude and silence that Elijah heard the ‘gentle whisper’ (throughout the centuries Christians have referred to it as the ‘still small voice’ of God.) Why does God whisper? Perhaps it’s because to hear a whisper, we have to quiet any distractions, and more importantly, draw close to the person who is whispering. God calls us not just to hear from Him, but to enjoy intimacy with Him. And all of this is not just for our own spiritual development – that would ultimately lead to spiritual self-indulgence. The earliest monks insisted they withdrew from the world for the sake of the world – their times in the desert strengthened them to re-enter it with renewed strength and refreshed vision. So it was that Elijah was told to go back the way he had come, back into the place of conflict and threat, but that came after Elijah had been refreshed by extended sleep and food.

God knows that our physical well-being affects our mental health.

I often wish God would shout, or at least speak up a little, but surely, I am most likely to hear His heart when I have put myself in the right place to hear a whisper.

Speak, Lord, even if it is in a whisper. I want ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying.

Amen.

51

TUE 23 AUG

FINDING PEACE

READ Romans 12: 1-8 1 Peter 1:13-16

FOCUS Don’t live any longer the way this world lives.

Let your way of thinking be completely changed.

Romans 12:2

52

In life, everything is affected by the space between our ears – our minds, the way we think, and then the knock-on effect that our thinking has on our emotions. And too often our capacity to think is hijacked by noise and busyness. I’ve been guilty of hiding behind a crammed schedule, resisting the opportunity for silence. Our world is full of noise. We make a phone call, and while we wait, maddening music irritates us, even if it is intended to rescue us from even temporary silence. Trains are crowded with people who are plugged in to earphones that lull them with music. Paul (writing in the original Greek), is calling us to refuse to conform to the world’s ‘schemes’, and we see we are called to live differently, in a divinely alternative way.

This will take huge determination as we rebel against the dictatorship of noise. Thomas Merton, an American monk, writer and theologian, went further and stated that we believers should be prepared to make 'a protest and reparation against the sin of noise.’13 Ultimately, we have to choose what we will serve. Every day, every conversation, everything we watch, every commercial we see, as well as our education, our experiences, our upbringing, family life and friendships – they all shape us. Dallas Willard said, 'Everyone gets a spiritual formation. It’s like education. Everyone gets an education; it’s just a matter of which one you get.’14 Solitude will be a vital part of a positive education.

Prayer: Lord, show me where I unconsciously adopt lifestyle habits in step with the popular consensus, yet obscure my vision of You. Help me to break step. Amen.

Quoted in Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, ibid, p137 www.allgreatquotes.com/quote-92364/

13

14

WED 24 AUG

DIGITAL SOLITUDE

READ Psalms 46:1-11 Isaiah 26:1-4

FOCUS He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ Psalms 46:10

Once, when we stood in a queue, we just waited. Back then, we didn’t have the opportunity to check our email, get an update on the weather, lament the fall of the stock market, or post a photo of us standing in the queue on Facebook to amaze our friends.

A recent Microsoft survey said that 77% of us admitted that when nothing occupies our attention, we automatically reach for our phones. John Mark Comer said, ‘All moments of quiet have been swallowed up by the digital carnivore.’ The ever-present smartphone also excludes us from being mindful, available to the needs of others and the whispers of God that we alluded to earlier.

One of the other challenges we face is the impact of being connected to information 24 hours a day. We are alerted to terrible newsflashes regularly, which means that we are conditioned to take on the burdens and cares of the world. I’m certainly not advocating a head in the sand, selfish approach to life, but we’d do well to consider simply catching up on the news once a day, to fuel prayer, rather than being constantly dripfed updates that can nudge us into despair.

It’s been said that the greatest threat to faith is not hedonism, but distraction. Ronald Rolheiser puts it this way, ‘We are distracting ourselves into spiritual oblivion.’15 So one way to take a step towards solitude would be to have phone sabbaths, of hours, days or even longer, because to be permanently engaged with our smartphone isn’t... smart.

Prayer: Father, teach me to be fully present in the moment, in the place, in each second of life. Deliver me from the curse of shrill distractions. Amen.

Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality, (New York: Doubleday, 1999) p45

15

53

THU 25 AUG

SOLITUDE: A CAUTION

READ Psalm 25:1-22 Isaiah 41:10

FOCUS Turn to me and show me your favour. I am lonely and hurting.

Psalm 25:16

Before we move on, I feel that a word of caution is needed as we consider the value of solitude. For some of us, retreating for any extended time could be unhealthy, and might be a symptom of depression rather than a positive step in creating a spiritual practice.

This shows embracing spiritual practices is not a ‘one size fits all’ programme. We are all wired differently – John McQuiston says of the disciplines, ‘Each learns in disparate ways, and finds distinctive paths.’16 When I battled against depression (I spent a year in clinical depression some years ago, and the last couple of years have been hard), I knew an extended time alone would not have been good for me. At times, I would feel simply too exhausted to engage with others and needed to discipline myself to be in company.

If these comments resonate with you, perhaps your exploration of solitude should be limited, at least initially, to the so-called baby steps that I mentioned earlier. And don’t be too hard on yourself, because at first, even short periods of solitude might feel uncomfortable and alien. In our hyperconnected world, disconnection can feel strange. But being alone can strengthen us, as we realise we don’t need the endorsement and engagement of others to enable us to thrive, and we are not afraid of being alone, with God, with our thoughts.

I offer these thoughts because I want our venturing into unfamiliar practices to bring liberation, not tyranny.

Prayer: Father, when I am too tired to engage, but need to be with others, help me. When retreat would bring health, help me. May I know the difference. Amen.

54

John McQuiston II, Always We Begin Again (Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing, 1996) p26

16

FRI 26 AUG

SILENCE

READ Psalm 141:1-10 Ecclesiastes 3:7

FOCUS ‘Lord, guard my mouth.

Keep watch over the door of my lips.’

Psalm 141:3

I confess that when I started thinking about the practice of silence, I didn’t feel enthusiastic, for two reasons. First, I love talking and conversation, and the idea of intentionally being silent for periods invoked images of glum monks, tight-lipped (literally), sitting around a table eating unpalatable food. But then as I’ve reflected, I’ve realised that silence and solitude are intertwined (it’s hard to have a lengthy chat when alone!), and how words, spoken or heard, can clutter our minds. We use words to respond, impress, convince, even to control.

Too many words: hastily spoken, can land us in deep trouble. Words spoken in anger can bruise; words used to overpromise can disappoint. God even has to tell Peter to be quiet – he couldn’t stop talking, even in the midst of a cosmically historic event like the transfiguration of Christ!

Times of solitude and silence release us from the need to constantly respond to the stimulus and demand of conversation, help us make better, thoughtful decisions, and enable us to tune into the voice of God. It’s been said that social interaction is like a game of chess: we react, pivot, summon a witty comment, offer a defence, construct an argument. When we are silent, we are no longer looking for approval or to impress.

Why not take a 20-minute break at some point in the day, when we determine to say... nothing? It’s been said that without quiet, it is impossible to live the spiritual life.

Prayer: Lord, may I be at home with my own silence. Save me from the need to use words to impress, prove that I’m right, or focus attention on me. Amen.

55

WEEKEND 27-28 AUG

HOLD THAT TONGUE

READ Mark 14:53-65 Luke 23:1-9

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

During His three years of ministry, Jesus was constantly stalked by people who demanded a response to their questions. The Pharisees posed theological conundrums, thinly veiled traps to trip Him up. And they bombarded Him with accusations, tagging Him as a blasphemer, a Sabbath breaker, and suggesting He operated under satanic power.

Usually, He responded with a few well-chosen words – and sometimes He just chose silence, or just shut the conversation down.

When we’re falsely accused, we tend to rush to words – to deny the charge, defend ourselves, and prove the indictment is wrong.

But Jesus often chose to hold His tongue, a masterful exercise in self-control. Part of embracing the discipline of silence is being deliberate and thoughtful with our words, especially when we’re under pressure. Earlier we saw that James emphasised control of the tongue as a symptom of Christian maturity – he calls us all to be ‘slow to speak’ (James 1:19).

Surely the discipline of silence can be practised, not only in times of deliberate withdrawal, but in the holding of our tongues in the cut and thrust of everyday interaction.

Another aspect of this would be our refusal to join in with gossip, or not using swearwords in everyday conversation, something that is increasingly noticeable among Christians.

Some defend loose talk as an expression of their freedom when it’s actually just laziness and a lack of self-control. Sometimes, silence really is golden.

To ponder: Can you recall a situation where you successfully held your tongue in a moment of pressure?

56

MON 29 AUG

SECRECY

READ Matthew 6:1-18 Matthew 23:1-7

FOCUS Your Father sees what is done secretly.

Matthew 6:18

Spirituality can be a great way to draw attention to ourselves, as we practise ‘pray and display’ religion, as my friend Gerard Kelly calls it.

Insisting that seeking God should never be used as an opportunity to impress others, Jesus called for disciplines to be practised for an audience of one, and He used the term ‘hypocrites’ to describe the self-promotion of the Pharisees. At that time, the hypokrites were travelling bands of skilled actors. As they plied their craft, they wore vividly painted, grossly exaggerated masks. It’s possible Jesus might have seen these theatrical companies in action – the remains of a theatre have been discovered in the area where He was raised.

The Pharisees used religion as a performance, their lives a well-rehearsed, pious masquerade.

The street corners became their stage as they prayed loudly. They invested heavily in the wardrobe department, with their dress-toimpress gowns and dangling phylacteries (leather-bound Scriptures) tied to their arms.

This was obedience, but with the wrong heart motivation. But they were hypocrites who taught a way of life that they didn’t embrace themselves.

Jesus called His followers to practice their spirituality in secret, (prayer, fasting and giving are examples) because the Pharisees’ behaviour shows there is a temptation for all of us to use spiritual practices to impress others rather than truly connect with God. As we will see, that doesn’t mean we should never gather to pray or have times of corporate fasting, but it does challenge us to watch our motives as we walk with Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, even as I seek You, there are subtle temptations. Save me from ever using spirituality as a badge to impress others. Amen.

57

TUE 30 AUG

CORPORATE FAITH

READ Acts 13:1-3 Matthew 17:14-23

FOCUS While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke.

“Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me,” he said. “I have appointed them to do special work.”

Acts 13:2

58

Visiting a church which was engaged in an extended season of corporate prayer and fasting, a rather unhappy gentleman approached me. ‘I don’t get all this public praying and fasting’, he complained. ‘Surely, we’re supposed to do all this privately, aren’t we?’ At first his argument seemed quite plausible, but then I quickly thought of the Early Church, who regularly joined together in communal acts of prayer and seeking God. And the Old Testament is filled with moments in Israel’s history when they joined together, not only for regular feasts and festivals, but also in repentance.

In His teaching about secrecy, Jesus is not prohibiting public expressions of spiritual fervour, but wants us to approach fasting and prayer with pure motives. We are challenged to break the drive that we can all feel to be approved of by others. How easy it is to drop a comment into a conversation, ‘When I was praying at 5am this morning...’ Or, invited to pray in public, we weave together a beautiful string of sentences that are guaranteed to impress, more a speech for a human audience than a heartfelt cry to God. In first century Jewish culture, personal piety was valued in a way that is not the case today, and so people perceived as ‘holy’ were honoured. Within the church community, we rightly respect others who are more mature than us – but as we’ve seen, that can nudge us into showing off. Let’s gather to pray and fast, but be cautious as we do so.

Prayer: When sharing in seasons of prayer and fasting with others, guard my heart, and may my sacrifice and offering be pure in Your sight, Father. Amen.

WED 31 AUG

SECRECY: WHEN THERE’S NO HUMAN APPLAUSE

READ Philippians 2:1-11 John 5:16-30

FOCUS Don’t do anything only to get ahead.

Don’t do it because you are proud.

Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3

It was decades ago, but I still remember the devastation that I felt. I had spent a year leading a working group that oversaw the development of a significant church building project. We had all shouldered a huge burden of responsibility and were relieved when at last the great day for the new building opening arrived. It was a great celebration.

When it came time for various people to be honoured for their contribution to the project, I was noticeably excluded. Afterwards, others came to me, knowing the part I had played, disappointed it had not been recognised.

It might be argued that the church leadership was at fault that day – encouragement and appropriate recognition and appreciation are all healthy – but that’s not my point. I had to face the truth that I was too dependent on human recognition and applause. Today, there are countless faithful people who are serving, without applause, in food banks, debt counselling services, and other community and local church-focused initiatives. Many of them quietly get on with their work even when they least feel like it, and do it as a labour of love and an act of worship for the Lord. Reverting back to Jesus’ renouncing the attitude of the Pharisees, He remarked, ‘They have their reward’ – the term means ‘They have been in paid in full’. When we serve in secret, we demonstrate who it is that we are ultimately serving – the God who sees all. When humans don’t applaud, the One whose approval really matters does.

Prayer: Thank You for those who serve faithfully, often without encouragement, Father. When I become one of them, help me to be faithful. Amen.

59

THU 01 SEP

FRUGALITY

READ Hebrews 13:1-6 James 4:1-3

FOCUS Don’t be controlled by love for money.

Be happy with what you have. God has said, ‘I will never leave you. I will never desert you.’

Hebrews 13:5

60

Before commencing this study, I viewed the word frugal with suspicion. People I’ve met who claimed to be frugal were generally mean. Far from being freed from the love of money, their affection for it drove them to hug it ever closer. Ebenezer Scrooge, the lead character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, comes to mind. Dickens describes Scrooge, the wizened old skinflint, as a ‘squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner’. Hardly a handsome portrait. True frugality is when we develop a healthy attitude towards money: we have it, but it does not have us. We are grateful for provision, but we don’t need to endlessly acquire in order to be content.

In these days of economic pressure and rising inflation, with the poorest suffering the most, I’m not making a blanket statement condemning the use of debt. But we can all be lured into excessive and unmanageable debt if we are hungry for things we don’t need.

Bombarded by marketing that insists that we need to sport that designer label in order to be ‘somebody’, we become slaves to stuff.

Frugality doesn’t always mean cheap: it calls us to buy wisely. A friend of mine insists on only buying good quality (and therefore higher priced) shoes. The extra investment means his footwear lasts much longer than a cheaper pair, and so is a better use of his money. Frugal people are stewards of their money, not owners, and buy thoughtfully, not impulsively.

Prayer: I want to live as one who owns nothing, but is a steward of everything, Father. I am grateful for Your good gifts.

Amen.

FRI 02 SEP

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

READ Luke 12:13-21 Psalm 62:1-12

In serenading a few of her favourite things in the classic ‘Sound of Music’, Julie Andrews sings that great joy can be found in experiences that cost nothing, such as roses with raindrops on them, the faces of kittens and other natural beauties. Those who embrace the discipline of frugality know that while we all need money, many delights available to us are free! Walking on a pristine beach recently, I pondered the beautiful homes that overlooked it, and suddenly envied their owners, living in such a delightful spot. Then I realised that I was able to enjoy the beach for free: we can enjoy things without owning them – and that’s true of parks, and the scenery, with its footpaths and trails to explore. A shared moment with friends watching the sun go down; the sight and scent of wild garlic in the woods near our home; a joke shared with our grandsons – all these can be a tonic to my soul, and no credit or debit card is dented in the experience!

Let’s all beware of the trap of so-called ‘retail therapy’, where we spend money that we don’t have to gain a temporary surge of pleasure, long gone before the credit card bill arrives.

FOCUS Then he said to them, “Watch out!

Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.”

Luke 12:15

Recent global challenges have renewed my perspective on what I need. As we have watched with dismay the heart-breaking scenes of war, I have found myself grateful for what I can too easily take for granted – a hot shower, clean drinking water, a warm bed at night. Let’s be thankful – and fight the temptation towards greed.

Prayer: Greed is a mirage, Father. It promises much, but is never satisfied. Help me to live with what I have in a way that pleases You. Amen.

61

WEEKEND 03-04 SEP

BEING CONTENTED

READ Philippians 4:10-20 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

The wise and witty G.K Chesterton offers us some great advice about living contentedly.

‘There are two ways to get enough; one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.’ And as we’re considering frugality, this applies to more than money.

It’s easy to waste time wishing we had somebody else’s existence. We can spend our days regretting that we are not that other person who is richer, thinner, betterlooking, smarter, or more successful. We devour magazines devoted to photographing and chronicling the lives of air-brushed celebrities, with their enormous homes, designer gardens and latest model of cars.

Are we fascinated with the well-heeled and famous because we’d just love a slice of their life, which surely must be happier than our own? That craving can lead us into disaster, as we fritter our days away with ingratitude, longing for someone else’s life. Perhaps that’s why, when God chose just ten things that He wanted to say to humanity, a strong warning about coveting one’s neighbour’s stuff appeared on the list.

Surely true success is found in being contented, an attitude the Apostle Paul learned to embrace. He had a rougher life than most, and would never have made the pages of Hello magazine. Everywhere Paul went, there was a riot. Assassins pledged to kill him. He tasted deep despair. But somehow, he was content. By God, literally, I’d like to learn that lesson too. I’m asking the Lord to enrol me in the contentment academy today.

To ponder: How might we ‘learn’ to be contented?

62

MON 05 SEP

GENEROSITY

READ 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Ephesians 4:17-28 FOCUS Command the rich to do what is good.

Tell them to be rich in doing good things.

They must give freely. They must be willing to share.

1 Timothy 6:18

GOING DEEPER

lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper

A recent sociological survey featured in the book, The Paradox of Generosity, revealed that generosity is very good for us, and not in a silly ‘Give and God will make you rich’ way.17 The research revealed that the more generous we are, the more happiness, health and purpose in life we enjoy. Generosity not only blesses others, but brings a smile to our own hearts.

Generosity changes the world. The early Christians profoundly impacted their culture with their giving lifestyles, even though most of them were poor. In their day, generosity was not widely valued; Roman society embraced a system called Liberates. Simply put, the code went like this: you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. A tidy arrangement, unless you were poor and had nothing to give. Widows and orphans found themselves stranded at the bottom of the social food chain.

In beautiful contrast, the early followers of Jesus gave their service, money, goods, time, safety, creature comforts and reputations. It wasn’t a series of isolated, unusual actions, but a way of life. They scattered good everywhere. When terrible pandemics hit, and those who could afford to fled, abandoning the sick, the Christians stayed behind, nursing the ill back to life. Some of the carers died in the process.

It’s been said we are most like God when we give. Those early believers didn’t just share words and ideas about God, but showed a confused world what the giving God looks like.

Prayer: As I am able, help me to experience the joy of blessing others, giving, loving Father. Amen.

Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson: The Paradox of Generosity, (New York: OUP, 2014)

17

63

TUE 06 SEP

CHASTITY

READ Hebrews 13:1-4 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

FOCUS All of you should honour marriage.

You should keep the marriage bed pure.

Hebrews 13:4

Put the word chastity into an Internet search, and you’ll get some rather strange results.

References to so-called ‘chastity belts’ (which probably never actually existed) will appear. The word chastity seems quaint, outmoded, and even oppressive. But the call to chastity is a biblical call. It is not the same as virginity – all followers of Jesus, married and unmarried, are called to sexual purity.

The Early Church was birthed in a hedonistic culture – immorality was rife in GraecoRoman society. The Christians, with their high view of marriage, were a sign and a wonder, and when their moral standards were eroded, as happened in the congregation in Corinth, the apostle Paul rebuked them in the strongest terms.

In our day, ‘recreational sex’ is routinely accepted, and what used to be considered soft pornography is now available not only on Netflix and Amazon Prime but also the mainline terrestrial channels.

So much hurt is caused when the beautiful gift of our sexuality is poisoned by misuse.

In calling us to purity, God is no killjoy, but wants to protect us from the pain caused when we use people as objects for our selfish satisfaction. And we Christians believe our bodies no longer belong to us, but we are now temples of the Holy Spirit. Often immorality is presented as an expression of liberation, but it is anything but. Paul’s argument is simple – true freedom is when we are in control of our bodies – not when they control us.

Prayer: My body belongs to You, Lord. May I glorify You in all my thoughts and actions.

Amen.

64

WED 07 SEP

CHASTITY: MARY GOT IT RIGHT

READ Colossians 3:1-14 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

FOCUS So put to death anything that belongs to your earthly nature.

Get rid of your sexual sins and unclean acts.

Colossians 3:5

I was surprised when I saw a recent headline on BBC news: ‘Was moral campaigner Mary Whitehouse ahead of her time?’ For any readers unfamiliar with her name, Mrs Whitehouse was a tireless campaigner against the evils of pornography. She coined the term ‘sexploitation" and saw porn, not as freedom of expression, but as ‘the dirty face of capitalism’. An Ofsted report in June 2021 found that 80% of girls in the UK have been pressured to provide sexual images.

And as I write today, it’s been announced that specialist policing is needed to prevent sexual harassment on Britain’s trains and in railway stations.

Mary Whitehouse’s campaign cost her dearly.

She received death threats, verbal abuse, physical assaults and, in one case, students lowered an effigy of her on a rope as she spoke. The BBC reporter ended her article with these words: 'Mary died in 2001 at the age of 91. Although some of her religious beliefs were very out of step with modern Britain, she would see the impact of internet pornography on the young as exactly what she'd been warning against, and support the current efforts to finally get it under control.’18 The crowd is often wrong, and clear, kind and compassionate lone voices can be prophetic.

The way we live our lives as apprentices of Jesus can point the way to our lost, broken culture. And that way – God’s way, lifestyles of purity, integrity and respect is the best – His design for all humans everywhere to embrace.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.

bbc.com/news/stories-60556060

18

65

THU 08 SEP

A LIVING SACRIFICE

READ Romans 12:1-2 2 Samuel 24:18-25

FOCUS Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. Romans 12:1

As we return briefly to Paul’s words to the church in Rome, we see we are all called to offer our lives, all we are and do, to God – all can be like a sacrificial offering. Surely that includes times when we give, love and serve in extremely costly ways. We can be intentional about that as we look for opportunities to exercise the discipline of sacrifice. I think of a dear friend who stepped away from a very lucrative career as a top surgeon in order to use his skills on the mission field. And there was the bright and beautiful young woman who attended Bible college at the same time as me. As a missionary midwife, she forsook the chance of marriage, security and the comforts of home to work in arduous conditions in Africa – and her decision ultimately cost her life.

But sacrifice also has a place in the daily humdrum of all of our lives in small moments of costly giving. In the midst of a busy and pressurised day, we take time to listen attentively when a friend shares their struggles, we step up when a volunteer is needed to help fill a gap, or find a way to express encouragement creatively to someone who has done well. We check in with that friend we haven’t seen lately. We sacrifice our time and energy by simply serving, or facing each other’s faults and foibles, as we ‘put up with one another in love’ (Eph. 4:2). In church life, we can give money to help others, and let go of our preferences for worship that has to be to our liking.

Prayer: Jesus, You sacrificed everything for me. May I, like King David, refuse to offer you that which costs me nothing. My life is Yours. Amen.

66

FRI 09 SEP

SACRIFICE AND FASTING

READ Matthew 6:16-18 Acts 13:1-3

FOCUS When you go without eating, do not look gloomy like those who only pretend to be holy.

Matthew 6:16

We are surrounded by ‘temples’ dedicated to food consumption, and these days, we don’t even have to visit one in order to ‘worship’ – the food can be delivered to us! When we fast, we also embrace an expression of the discipline of sacrifice. We go without food, not to bribe God, but to focus on Him and give ourselves intensely to prayer. Jesus assumed we would fast, saying ‘when you fast’, not ‘if you fast’, and in doing so, we are in the good company of Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Paul, and of course, Jesus Himself. Fasting isn’t dieting, and is usually a private matter, although as we said before, a church community may engage in a shared fast together. Such fasts are found in the Old Testament (Lev. 23:27) as an act of repentance, or in a time of national emergency (2 Chron. 20:1-4). As with all of the disciplines of abstinence, the intention is not to focus on the discipline itself, but to use it to enable us to engage more deeply with the Lord. If we fast for fasting’s sake, we have totally missed the point. God wants our fasting to be directed towards Him. As Richard Foster puts it, ‘In experiences of fasting we are not so much abstaining from food as we are feasting on the word of God. Fasting is feasting!’ Jesus identified fasting as one of the disciplines that can be abused, with a ‘show and tell’ approach. But He did not call his followers away from fasting, but taught them how it should be done correctly.

Prayer: Grant me an intensity in my praying, Grant me an intensity in my praying, Lord, and a real hunger for more of You. Amen.

Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, ibid, p55

19

67

WEEKEND 10-11 SEP

FASTING: A FAILED ATTEMPT

READ Psalm 86:1-17 Romans 15:1-7

As we continue to consider the classic spiritual practices, with our brief look at fasting, allow me to confess an embarrassing failure. I try to preach as a flawed fellow traveller – Christian leadership is about being an example, but that doesn’t mean projecting a false image. Some leaders share their successes and stay silent about their failures.

So here goes...

It happened at the beginning of my ministry.

As a church planter, I met with other young leaders in our city, and we decided that we would get together in a house, to fast and pray until we had a sense from God that we would see breakthrough in our city. We duly packed our things, and I told Kay that I was not sure when I would be home. This was serious business.

About four hours into the first evening, one of our group announced that he felt that our work was done, and we could return home, to families and (joy!) food. Clearly, our proposed lengthy travail in fasting and prayer hadn’t lasted very long.

And by the way, the person in the group who announced our work was done was... me.

I share this to remind us again that God is patient with us in our flawed and failed attempts to seek Him, and He encourages us in our efforts. Paul speaks in Romans 15 about the strong and the weak, and the need for us to be ‘built up’. Building takes time and consistent effort. The pathway of spiritual formations winds through the rest of our lives, and He is committed to walk the journey with us. Thank God! To ponder: Do you find it easy to think of God as patient and encouraging?

68

MON 12 SEP

THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER

READ Matthew 6:5-13 Matthew 7:11

FOCUS This is how you should pray. ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured.’

Matthew 6:9

So much has been written about prayer, I’ve decided to distil my thoughts down to a few important truths – what I, from my extremely limited perspective, want to share about this vital discipline. As Jesus begins His brief teaching about prayer, He shows us an absolute priority in His ‘model’ prayer – that we come to God as our Father. The Early Church struggled with His invitation to such intimacy, fearing it was presumptuous to simply call God ‘Father’. They added the words, ‘Grant that we may dare to call on Thee as father...’ God doesn’t want us to hesitate, however, but to draw near to His heart with complete confidence in His welcome, as the writer to the Hebrews makes plain.

Some teach that Jews in Jesus’ day never addressed God as ‘Father’, but that is not entirely true – it’s just that using the intimate language of fatherhood was not their general practice. Jim Packer says this: ‘If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much they make of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as their Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls their worship and prayers and their whole outlook on life, it means that he or she does not understand Christianity very well...’20 Let’s pray that God will give us a greater grasp of His perfect Fatherhood. Jesus never taught that God is like an earthly father, but that His fathering is like nothing we have ever experienced in our human relationships.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please lead me into greater security and knowledge of Your unique and beautiful parenting and care.

Amen.

Jim Packer, Knowing God, (Nottingham: IVP, 1993): thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/ j-packer-6-things-tell-every-day

20

69

TUE 13 SEP

FROM A DISTANCE

Jesus impressed upon his disciples that even though He was leaving them, yet they would not be alone – the Holy Spirit would be with them, the paraclete, the helper who comes alongside. In other words, the Son of God was going, but in the fulness of the mystery that is the Trinity, God would not be somewhere else, but with and in them. And then, His parting words reaffirmed this truth as He promised He would always be with them, to the very end.

READ Matthew 6:5-13 John 14:15-31

But when we pray, ‘Our Father in heaven’, we can get the impression that God is just out there, somewhere. As I have said before, that makes prayer feel a little like lobbing snowballs at the moon: hardly helpful in the development of a close, intimate relationship.

A better translation would be ‘Our Father in the heavens’ – plural. That means He is indeed out there, but as He is omnipresent – everywhere, all of the time – He is also in the air immediately surrounding our bodies.

FOCUS This is how you should pray.

‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured.’

Matthew 6:9

The idea of God being just ‘out there’ somewhere can be difficult to shake. It has been popularised by Bette Midler and Cliff Richard in a song, ‘From a distance’, which sadly perpetuates the misunderstanding that God is a long way away, simply watching us (which implies both removal and passivity, even a lack of concern). Next time we pray, let’s reflect on the truth that God is right here, in the room, at our side. Let’s talk to Him. He is close, around us, within us. That reality makes all the difference.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the promise of Your constant closeness and presence.

Whatever today brings, You are with me.

Amen.

70

WED 14 SEP

RESPOND: DON’T JUST REACT

READ Daniel 6:1-28 Psalm 63:1-11

FOCUS He went to his room three times a day to pray.

He got down on his knees and gave thanks to his God. Daniel 6:10

It’s time for confession again. I have written earlier about my conviction that sometimes we just react rather than responding thoughtfully. A few years into my life as a Christian, I felt burdened and shamed by the idea that I needed to have a ‘quiet time’ every day – a specific period, the earlier in the morning the better, set aside for prayer and Bible study. While nobody in our local church taught the idea, somehow, I developed the misconception that God would be angry if I didn’t stick rigidly to this practice.

Nevertheless, I abandoned the habit, insisting that we can all pray through the day – which of course we can. In that reactive decision, I lost out on the riches of being still, centred on God each day, consistently imbibing and reflecting on Scripture. Looking back, I wonder how often I might have avoided anxious seasons, or been prevented from making poor decisions, if that quiet time had been my habit. Certainly, I don’t want to advocate the practice of a quiet time as a law: God’s love and care for us is not dependent upon us ‘putting the time in’. But faced with the reality of permanent lockdown in the big bad city of Babylon, Daniel regularly met with God three times a day, to talk and listen to Him (Dan. 6:10). King David, famous giant-killer who became one of Israel’s greatest kings, often mentions his times alone with God (morning and evening) throughout the Psalms. A quiet time is a very good idea, not least because, as we’ll see tomorrow, Jesus was in the habit of prioritising time with the Father.

Prayer: Father, may I establish a rhythm of prayer that works for me. I want to seek and worship You, centring on You each day.

Amen.

71

THU 15 SEP

JESUS AND THE QUIET TIME

READ Mark 1:35-39 Luke 6:12-16

FOCUS It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone.

There he prayed.

Mark 1:35

72

In a world where busyness is often equated with significance, prayer can be the first casualty. But Jesus didn’t take that approach.

As demands upon Him increased, so He intentionally increased time alone with the Father. Mark describes a season when Jesus was extraordinarily popular because of His power to heal and deliver, and he very deliberately links this with Jesus’ rising very early and leaving the village to spend time alone. The word Mark uses means ‘wilderness’, but commentators believe this could not be a literal wilderness, because the area around Capernaum was cultivated.

Mark is probably describing a ‘lonely place’ – where Jesus could simply be away from the clamouring crowds. In his gospel, Mark only describes Jesus praying on three occasions; at the beginning of the story, when His ministry began (Mark 1:35), after the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:46), and near the conclusion of His ministry when He is in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32–42). The first two examples were in the midst of the pressure and demands of the crowds – and the third was when He found Himself under the incredible pressure of facing an imminent, agonising death. All four gospels note that Jesus withdrew to meet with His Father on a regular basis, in quiet, isolated places. It was His habit. With His help, we should make it ours. Martin Luther said, 'I have so much business, I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.’21 Prayer: In Your humanity, You sought the help of Your Father and the Holy Spirit through prayer. Help me to follow Your example, Lord Jesus. Amen.

azquotes.com/author/9142-Martin_Luther/tag/prayer

21

FRI 16 SEP

PRAYER, WORSHIP AND CHANGE

READ 2 Corinthians 3:18 John 15:1-17

FOCUS Our faces are not covered with a veil.

We all display the Lord’s glory.

We are being changed to become more like him so that we have more and more glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18

While on our first sabbatical recently, we spent extended time with some friends, and remarked we had unconsciously picked up some of their mannerisms. In being with them, we had become like them!

The same is true negatively. Writing to his friends in sinful Corinth, Paul reminded them that ‘Bad companions make a good person bad’ (1 Cor. 15:33). We become like those whom we spend our lives with, and that is true in our relationship with Jesus.

Surely the same is true of prayer. E. Stanley Jones, sometimes tagged as the ‘Billy Graham of India’, viewed prayer as a ‘time exposure to God’.22 It’s a dated metaphor these days, but Jones saw his life like a photographic plate which, when exposed to God, progressively bore the image of Him in keeping with the length of exposure.When we spend time in prayer, we are changed little by little to be like Him. Richard Foster writes: ‘To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us.’23 The ESV version of 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: ‘we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image’. As we contemplate – look at – Jesus by faith, we become more like Him. And prayer takes us intentionally to the source of change. Jesus used the imagery of a vine and its branches, calling us to a life of abiding or dwelling with Him – the key to the Holy Spirit being able to produce good fruit in our lives. Prayer can change things – and will change us too.

Prayer: In being with You, I anticipate becoming more like You, Jesus. Work in me as I walk with You. Amen.

E. Stanley Jones, A Song of Ascents (New York: Abingdon, 1979), p383 Richard J. Foster Celebration of Discipline, ibid, p33

22

23

73

WEEKEND 17-18 SEP

STUDY

READ Romans 10:2 Psalms 119:97-104

As disciples we want our minds, hearts and lives to be shaped by Scripture – the pure truth of God’s revelation to the world. That’s a challenge today when biblical illiteracy is widespread. Many Christians, when debating ethical issues, don’t refer to the Bible but their passion for human rights and inclusion. Their passion is commendable and vital, but the lack of a biblical foundation is lamentable, especially when they don’t bother to wrestle seriously with Scripture, unconcerned about their lack of a sure foundation. One translation of Romans 10:2 warns of the danger of ‘zeal without knowledge’.

We are not called to ‘study’ the Bible as we would dig into a textbook. We’re called to meditate on the words of truth. Some of us are nervous about that word meditation, but our fears are groundless – the call to meditate is issued no less than 58 times in the Old Testament. German martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, when asked why he meditated, replied, ‘Because I am a Christian.’

We don’t empty our minds, to create a vacuum in our heads, but chew carefully on God’s word, wrestling with difficult issues, asking the Holy Spirit to help us to apply truth to our everyday experience. David Watson, suffering from cancer as he neared the end of his life, wrote ‘As I spent time chewing over the endless assurances and promises to be found in the Bible, so my faith in the living God grew stronger and held me safe in his hands.’24 The discipline of study strengthens us.

To ponder: Why not take longer time to ‘chew over’ our passage from the Psalms today?

74

David Watson, Fear No Evil, (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1984) p39

24

MON 19 SEPT

FELLOWSHIP

READ 1 John 1:1-4 Ephesians 4:1-6

FOCUS We announce to you what we have seen and heard.

We do it so you can share life together with us. And we share life with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3

Fellowship – it seems an antiquated word.

Perhaps the picture of a group of pleasant people having cups of tea in a draughty church hall comes to mind. But it is a dynamic word, speaking of partnership and sharing.

In secular Greek literature, it was used to describe groups of lawyers, trade guilds, communal meals, and even sexual intercourse.

But it was never used to describe the human relationship to God before the Holy Spirit came to indwell the Church. It is an exclusively post-Pentecost relationship: us sharing life together with the Lord and His people.

The global pandemic has battered the Church with huge disruption and waves of global grief. As I write, most churches report that over a third of their people have not returned to physical attendance. Obviously, being able to share church online has been a huge blessing and resource, and continues to be for those who fear attending in-person services because of physically vulnerabilities. But some of us are not gathering simply because we have got out of the habit. Have we devalued fellowship? The New Testament church viewed fellowship as precious – priceless even.

A recent survey asked people what sentence they loved hearing most. Predictably, the top favourite was ‘I love you’, followed up by ‘I forgive you.’ The third? ‘Supper’s ready.’

Those three sentences describe church and fellowship. We are loved, forgiven, and now we are called to gather and celebrate at the table of fellowship.

Prayer: Jesus, I am grateful for the privilege of being part of Your family. May I see fellowship as precious, especially when it is challenging. Amen.

75

TUE 20 SEP

FELLOWSHIP HAS SHAPE

READ Acts 2:42-47 Ephesians 2:11-22

FOCUS They shared life together.

They broke bread and ate together.

And they prayed.

Acts 2:42

As part of a local church, years ago, with a vision to plant new congregations, we saw a stunning level of commitment to mission. In a time of negative equity, people sold their homes, sometimes at a considerable loss, to relocate and help plant new churches. Our worship together was passionate.

Then the network began to embrace teaching undermining the value of a gathered congregation; instead, we should just ‘do church’ in our workplaces and friendship groups. The gathered church was viewed as ‘centrism’. In my view, this teaching did untold damage. ‘We just get together with our friends in the pub and talk about Jesus’ was a typical comment. That might be an expression of kingdom friendship, but fellowship in the New Testament has defined shape: including certain essential elements, such as worship, leadership, discipline, communion, baptism, teaching, corporate prayer and fasting. All these are given to the Church to help us grow: they are not optional. And without Church, we lose the benefit of them.

In the Old Testament we see the stories of the twelve tribes – the epic exodus from Egypt and gathering together at Mount Sinai.

This was not just a rescue, but the birth of a community created for the purposes of God in the earth. The people of God then were called to be together for festivals – disruptive events that demanded costly time and travel. We are also called to togetherness and fellowship – not as an option, but as a discipline.

Prayer: Bless Your church globally, Lord, especially where Your people suffer for Your Name’s sake. Amen.

76

WED 21 SEP

FELLOWSHIP: A TARGET FOR ATTACK

READ Colossians 3:1-17 Galatians 3:26-29

FOCUS Put up with each other. Forgive the things you are holding against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

Previously, I mentioned how the Covid pandemic has affected churches globally, with many of us unable to gather in person for months. But it has also been a time when Christians have vehemently disagreed about our response to the virus. Some have opposed the use of masks, while others did not. Vaccination has been a hot topic too. Still others believed that the church should ignore lockdown restrictions, seeing them as an infringement on their religious liberties, and they clashed with the people who condemned any refusal to comply as lawlessness. Many of us were unable to disagree agreeably; unity has been a casualty in all the shouting.

Scripture calls us to put up with each other.

Rather than marching off in an angry huff when there’s conflict, we are called to the discipline of maintaining unity. When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus about this, (Eph. 4:3), the words he used speak of effort and diligence – Paul urges them to mount guard over unity as one would set a troop of soldiers to guard a city or treasury.

God loves His church; Jesus died for her, and prayed that we might be one. Therefore, Satan, the enemy of God, hates God’s family and seeks to divide us. It’s always been that way; in Genesis, there was a family – and there was a snake in the grass. In Revelation, there is a family, and there’s a beast to be slain. Let’s demonstrate maturity and faithfulness as we fight for unity rather than fight each other.

Prayer: Father, may I be an agent of authentic unity: putting up with others as they put up with me. Amen.

77

THU 22 SEP

CONFESSION

READ James 5:13-20 Acts 19:1-20

FOCUS So admit to one another that you have sinned.

Pray for one another so that you might be healed.

James 5:16

78

‘How do you do?’ or the American equivalent, ‘How are you doing?’ are just polite greetings, expecting the answer, ‘Fine.’ No one usually expects or wants any other response, unless they are a concerned friend. Perhaps that’s okay: when people greet us, they don’t usually expect a medical update. But we all need relationships where we can actually share how we are with bold authenticity. It’s been said that pretending is the common cold of Christianity. It has actually affected the whole of humanity, ever since Adam and Eve covered up their nakedness. What a relief it is to be known – to bring our sins, temptations and struggles to a trusted confidante – sharing and being accountable.

I have benefitted from such friendships.

Confession is a healthy and vital discipline.

Once again, however, there is very real danger here: while there is safety in accountability, bullying leaders can misuse this truth in order to control others. And some people think they are accountable simply because they are part of an accountability group or a friendship where authenticity is encouraged. The simple truth is this: we can lie to each other.

Richard Foster said: ‘Confession is a difficult discipline for us because we all too often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners... we imagine that we are the only ones who have not stepped onto the high road to heaven. Therefore, we hide ourselves from one another.’25 Prayer: I want to be known by some people, Father, to break the hold of any secrets.

Guide me to trusted friendships where I can be authentic. Amen.

Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, ibid, p145

25

FRI 23 SEP

FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE

READ John 13:1-17 1 Peter 4:10-11

FOCUS I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another’s feet.

John 13:14

We have a close friend – she would not be pleased if I named her – who embodies serving. If someone is sick, she is at their door with a gigantic bowl of her delicious chicken noodle soup. When she promises to pray about a need, I know she follows through. Her gift of hospitality is off the charts, and she is selfless to the point of even denying her own essential needs. As you can imagine, she is dearly loved by her family and friends.

As I consider the discipline of service, I’m reminded that serving is about heart and attitude as well as actions. How easy it is to become focused on our own schedules, preferences, demands and challenges. Either we become oblivious to what is going on in the lives of others, or we know but don’t care. Some, like my friend, seem to have personalities that are more shaped for serving than others. But all of us are called to think of others more highly than ourselves (Phil.

2:3). I’m not sure that Jesus instituted foot washing as a liturgical act – in a culture where sandalled feet got filthy, He was using it as an example of selflessness. And when we serve, we bless others, and wean ourselves away from self-centred living, growing as a result. We serve as we listen, as we guard the reputations of others, as we engage in small acts of kindness, as we encourage. As Richard Foster says, ’Service is not a list of things to do, though in it we discover things to do. It is not a code of ethics, but a way of living.’26 Prayer: You came to serve, not to be served, Jesus. Enable me to embrace actions of service, and the heart attitude of servanthood. Amen.

onelifeleaders.com/blog/celebration-of-discipline-week-8-service

26

79

WEEKEND 24-25 SEP

SERVING AND FAMILY

READ 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Galatians 6:10

Pausing while preaching, I looked around the congregation. Some were looking surprised, bewildered even. Others were shooting me suspicious looks. I realised I had touched a nerve. One sentence from my sermon had caused the consternation. ‘It’s time to give up attending your local church’, I’d said, and then paused. The silence was heavy. But then I added, ‘The church is a family. You don’t just attend a family – it’s part of you, on your heart, a real priority – it’s where you love when love is costly.’ Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as people realised that I was calling for greater commitment to church, not less.

We have looked at this before, but it is so important. When we just attend church, we’re in danger of becoming consumers (who get upset when things aren’t done the way we like) or worst still, critical spectators (like football supporters!) Being truly engaged means we will serve God’s purposes, both within the church and the wider community, as we can. The word ‘fellowship’ is primarily an action word. Used nineteen times in the New Testament, it is also translated as 'contribution’, ‘sharing’ and ‘participation’.

Fellowship is not just being together, it is doing and serving together.

The challenge is compounded by those Christians who repeatedly move from church to church, insisting the Lord is leading them.

God can nudge us to make a healthy change – but let’s not use His Name to endorse our lack of commitment.

To ponder: Are you a church attender or a family member?

80

MON 26 SEP

SUBMISSION

READ Hebrews 13:1-25 1 Peter 5:2-3

FOCUS Obey your leaders.

Put yourselves under their authority.

They keep watch over you.

They know they are accountable to God for everything they do.

Hebrews 13:17

In affirming the discipline of submission, let’s immediately distance ourselves from all forms of manipulation! Too many ‘Christian’ marriages have become abusive as a man has used warped teaching about submission to his advantage. And spiritual abuse occurs when leaders demand unquestioning allegiance from their followers and ostracise anyone who dares query them. When leaders are not servant-hearted, trouble begins. The Bible teaches mutual submission – an open, teachable attitude by all, leaders included, who need to remember that the church does not belong to them, but to the Lord. It is ‘God’s flock’ (1 Pet. 5:2) – whenever a leader starts to view a church as ‘their’ church, trouble begins.

The discipline of submission includes recognising those who are called to shepherd; we willingly offer them a sense of authority in our lives as they teach and preach. Healthy authority is always given, never taken: when we ‘obey’, we do not offer unquestioning obedience, but we do treat leaders as called by God. And the writer of Hebrews is quick to point out, leaders must treat their positions with great care, remembering they will give account to God for the care of His flock. Submission can be viewed more widely, as we listen to the opinions of others, not dismissing them because they don’t line up with our views. In friendship and family, we don’t need things to always be done our way, but we can submit to the larger consensus for the good of all.

Prayer: Bless and strengthen those who lead Your people, Father. May I make their task easier and not a burden. Amen.

81

TUE 27 SEP

CELEBRATE

READ Deuteronomy 14: 22-26 Leviticus 23:40

FOCUS Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God, and rejoice.’

Deuteronomy 14:26

82

Perhaps the most important question in life is simply, ‘Is there a God?’ If there is, then absolutely everything is different – the way we live our lives, the perspective we have on pain, the place we need to give to prayer – all are radically shaped by the truth that God exists. And the second most vital question for all of us to ask is ‘What is God like?’ What we think about God shapes the way we think about ourselves, and life itself.

Horrendous atrocities have been committed in recent years by people who are convinced the Almighty is a raging despot. And we Christians should remember our own history is marred by dreadful acts done in the name of Christ. Clarity about God’s character matters as much as confidence about His existence.

As we come to the discipline of celebration and discover that God was the planner of the feasts and festivals of the Old Testament era, we find this wonderful truth: at the heart of the Universe, there sits the ultimate party planner. You can learn a lot about a person by the kind of events they create; flashy, generous, immoral, or dull. The party speaks of the character of the host. While there was ceremony and even solemnity in some of God’s parties, there was also a great deal of joy. We walk with the greatest, most delightful host. Let’s make hearty, joyous celebration a discipline as we laugh, mark special moments, express appreciation to others and practise thankfulness.

Prayer: Save me from a gloomy, frowning spirituality, loving Father. Thank You for Your outrageous grace. Amen.

WED 28 SEP

LAUGHING

READ Exodus 15:1-21 Nehemiah 8:1-12

FOCUS Aaron’s sister Miriam was a prophet.

She took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her. They played tambourines and danced.

Exodus 15:20

Some agonise over the question: did Jesus ever laugh? I think we should take that as a given, not least because He was a popular party guest. As the agent of creation, Jesus invented laughter; our ability to see the funny side is uniquely human, an aspect of our being made in God’s image. Humourlessness is an unattractive trait, but we know Jesus attracted people to Him, as a much sought-after guest at dinner parties, and a firm favourite with children. He must have had a relaxed composure, expressed in laughter and fun. He was the example of total and complete flawless humanity – the ultimate human – and wherever He went, joy and laughter followed.

It’s been said that the Church should be like the 12th century legendary story of Robin Hood and his merry band of followers – in their celebrating, not in their thieving!27 In that story, the honourable and good King Richard is absent from the country, and so the land is ruled by his despicable brother, John. Harsh taxation and national oppression lead Robin, Maid Marian and a band of ‘merry men’ to go underground – or specifically, into the undergrowth of Sherwood Forest. Their acts of defiance and charity (robbing the rich to give to the poor) keep the knowledge of the good-King-to-come alive. And they are a mischievous, subversive lot, characterised by their playful ability to laugh in the face of suffering, because they know that the reign of evil is but temporary. As we delight in story, laughter, celebration and kindness, we become living signs of a reign of Christ that is here, and is but yet to come in its fullness.

Prayer: May I truly discover Your joy in my everyday life: help me to remember to celebrate – and strengthen me when gladness is elusive. Amen.

It was said by Graham Tomlin in his book The Provocative Church, (London: SPCK, 2014)

27

83

THU 29 SEP

THE HEART BEHIND THE CALL

READ Ephesians 3:18-21 Romans 8:28-39

FOCUS May you have power with all God’s people to understand Christ’s love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is.

Ephesians 3:18

84

Our journey of looking at how we change is almost over. We’ve spent considerable time looking at God’s vision for us, our partnership with Him, and some of the means by which we change, as we position ourselves for His work through spiritual practices. But let’s consider again God’s heart and motivation for all of this work. We are, to Him, far more than projects or missional vessels – we are deeply, unconditionally loved, and freely justified because of the finished work of Christ for us.

Unconditional love is as difficult to grasp as the science of the black holes that lurk out there in the Universe. No model of absolute, total, unconditional love exists outside of God. No matter how deep the love in a human relationship, it can be bruised and ultimately destroyed by abuse. Grasping that staggering love of God – beyond knowledge, as Paul says – comes as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts.

As a father, my greatest desire is to see my children live beautiful, joyful, healthy lives. I hope I would be willing to die in their place.

The God who calls us to transformation can point us to Jesus who has done that, giving His life so that we might live and become like Him. Just as we saw that being able to call God Father is the foundation of true prayer, so being secure in our heavenly Father’s love is the basis for change and growth. We are utterly loved now, as we are, and called to change as we walk in His love.

Prayer: Your love is utterly beyond me, yet, Holy Spirit, I ask you to enable me to grasp just a little more of this stunning love of God.

FRI 30 SEP

OUR FUTURE: GLORIOUS

READ 1 John 3:1-3 Romans 8:18-19

FOCUS But we know that when Christ appears, we will be like him. We will see him as he really is.

1 John 3:2

For three months, we’ve looked together at how we change – thank you for joining me!

So how will it all end for us, when our life is over, or Jesus comes back? Scripture offers us a hint of the breath-taking future, where we will see Jesus, face to face, and in seeing Him, we will be like Him. Suddenly, we catch a glimpse of God’s eternal plan. Humankind was created gloriously like God, made in His image. The first couple swallowed the lie that they could become as God, not just like Him. Because of the fall, all have sinned, and we’ve lost the glory – we now all ‘fall short of the glory of God’ (Rom. 3:23, NIV). But when we are finally home, we will be glorious once again because of Jesus, changed in that moment – no more sin or struggles. What a day that will be! ‘Everything God created looks forward to the time when his children will appear in their full and final glory’ (Rom. 8:19).

John also issues a call. He sees the future as the reason for us purifying ourselves today. Because of the wonderful change ahead, and the promise of being with Jesus, we can walk with Him and cooperate in being transformed today. Pastor Rich Villodas wrote: ‘God is committed to our transformation.

He is not in the business of simply improving our lives; he wants to infuse them with his life. Every day, he moves toward us in love, reaching, seeking, and pleading with us to pay attention.’28 Glory with Christ is ahead. Onward we go today, Christ with us, all the way.

Prayer: My wonderful future is in You, Jesus.

Enable me today to live in the light of what is to come. Thank You that You will never leave me. Amen.

28

Rich Villodas, The Deeply Formed Life, (Waterbrook, 2020) p19

85

Y L ON STATION THE

PLAYING

COLDPLAY, ADELE AND AVICII TOGETHER WITH REND, CROWDER AND LAUREN DAIGLE...

download the free app to start listening now!

021-28 KR 170x120 Print Advert.indd 1

04/10/2021 13:46

NOTES

N

13:46

NOTES

NEVER MISS A COPY WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO

PLUS Save £4 when you subscribe by Direct Debit with free delivery to your door Go online at LIFEWITHLUCAS.CO.UK or use the form on the next page

PLEASE SEND ME LIFE WITH LUCAS EVERY THREE MONTHS My details Name Address Postcode I consent to receive emails about products and special offers Email Please tick which edition you would like your subscription to start with: Jan-Mar JUL-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec

I’d like to pay by cheque or credit/debit card I enclose a cheque for £24 made payable to Novio Ltd Please charge my credit/debit card - £24 per subscription Cardholders name (in BLOCK CAPITALS)

Card Number Expires end

/

Security Code

I would like to pay by direct debit (Annual subscription £20 – saving £4) Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by Direct Debit

Service User Number:

1 8 6 1

1 0

Name(s) of Account Holder(s) Account number To: the Manager

Sort Code

-

-

Bank/Building Society

Address Postcode Reference Instruction to your bank or building society: Please pay BPS Re Life with Lucas, Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction, subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with BPS Re Life with Lucas and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Signature(s)

Date

Please fill in and return this form to: PO Box 3070, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6WX, UK

NEXT TIME… Joseph – that character from the Old Testament who sported an amazing Technicolor dreamcoat – had a blessed but a seriously tough life. Scripture says that God was with him, but he experienced years of trials that included false accusation, family betrayal and imprisonment. He’s not a perfect model for us, but there’s much we can learn and apply from his story. And as we explore together, we will also consider some of the similarities – and contrasts – with the life of that one perfect man, Jesus.

JOIN US NEXT TIME!

It’s a question that we all surely face, especially when we stumble into failure or find ourselves making repeated mistakes: can I ever change? Is it possible for me to see new patterns of more healthy behaviour in my life? The Bible answers that haunting question with a resounding 'Yes!' Going further, it challenges us with the expectation that, as we walk with Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, then change is not just possible, but inevitable.

This is not a ‘try harder’ message, but a call for us to cooperate with the Lord. Let’s learn and be changed!

Life with Lucas is written by Jeff Lucas, an international author, speaker, broadcaster and coach. Married to Kay, his passion is to equip the Church with biblical, practical Bible teaching, marked by vulnerability and humour. Jeff is a best-selling author of 34 books, and broadcasts weekly on Premier Christian Radio. He is a teaching pastor at Timberline Church, Fort Collins, Colorado.

JeffLucasUK

JeffLucasUK

lifewithlucas.co.uk PO Box 3070, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6WX, UK Tel 01903 732190