The phrase ‘to invest in one’s own future’ means to do things which are ultimately beneficial to oneself, even if there is a financial cost. This would seem so obvious a to need no further instruction, but in actual fact most of us are so immersed in the now that we rarely have time to ponder the future, let alone invest in it.

This living-in-the-now is not the same as trusting God and savouring the present. This kind of careless living is focussed on short-term pleasures and selfish gain, failing to take a ‘long view’ regarding goals and plans. It’s actually an inevitable way to invest in failure; the saying goes that those who fail to plan actually plan to fail…

The Bible urges us to ‘give careful thought to your ways’ (Haggai 1:5, 7, 15, 18). Prov 4:26 says ‘Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.’ We need to invest in our spiritual future, not simply feathering our own nestss but seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matt 6:33-34). We need to make strategic plans for our own spiritual growth, investing time, energy and money into our relationship with God, and seeking innovative ways of serving others. There’s nothing wrong with planning and investment per se, but the key is where the heart is.

We’ll be looking at how to build well in the church at a special meeting on Saturday 2nd March at 4 p.m. and hope that many of you will join us for this important chance to talk, pray, plan and look at how we can best serve God in our community.

The Dearne Community Arts’ Festival will be back later in the year! This local festival aims to champion creativity and celebrate community and is back for its third year. This year, the festival will be on Saturday 28th September from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will again be at our local secondary school, Dearne ALC. This large building has oodles of room to showcase local talent, and as usual, the festival will give opportunities for exhibitions, performances and workshops and demonstrations.

Come and browse…

Local people will be exhibiting all kinds of creativity in many different guises. Artwork, photographs, crafts, sewing, knitting, woodwork, writing and much more will all be available to admire, and in many cases, there will be the opportunity to buy goods. Many of those who took part in last year’s festival will be back, showing off their creative talents. It’s an ideal opportunity to buy Christmas presents early and to see what local community groups get up to throughout the year!

Come and watch…

Creativity is about more than painting and drawing. We’ll also have the opportunity to watch the performing arts in the fantastic main hall. Our local ukulele class will be performing, along with other musicians, a local dance class and (hopefully) a circus act! There’s so much local talent that it’s great to enjoy these performances, entirely free of charge. Local author John Irving Clarke will be doing a book reading and talking about his works, so there’s something for everyone.

Come and do…

We want to encourage people to have a go at different things and so will be running demonstrations and workshops where you can learn a new skill! So far, we have hot wax painting, henna patterns, creative flower making from plastics, willow weaving and country crafts, card making, origami books and sand art booked in and we’re sure there’ll be lots more! Children’s author Jeannette Ayton will be running story-telling sessions and John Irving Clarke will also be talking about the writing process. So if you fancy trying something new (including having a go at circus skills, we hope!), come along and have fun – you never know what may inspire you in future!

Love has to be the identifying mark of every Christian, because love is the identifying mark of God (1 John 4:8, John 13:35, 1 Cor 13:1-8). John reminds us that love is the thing that marks God’s people out as children of God and children of obedience. He says, ‘We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.’ (1 John 3:14) He tells us that love is involved in practical action, helping those in need (1 John 3:16-18). Love is action, not just feelings!

God’s love is focussed on others – therefore ours should be too. Paul tells us how Christ demonstrated His love: ‘just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’ (Eph 5:2) God’s love is so much more than a feeling; it compelled Christ to leave His heavenly home and take on human flesh. There was a practical and outward focus to God’s love. Instead of being content with the love between the persons of the Godhead, God’s love looked at humanity and wanted to bring reconciliation. ‘God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’ (2 Cor 5:19) He was doing something practical about the problem and now He has entrusted that message of reconciliation to us. Paul says, ‘Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.’ (2 Cor 5:14-15)

God’s love is not cautious and careful, but extravagant and lavish. It is a holy love, not ignoring sin, but it is also a positive force which is manifested in action. The message of the Gospel is one of God’s reckless love for His people. We have to understand His fierce, jealous, all-consuming love, the love that made Hosea persevere with Gomer, even after she left him and was unfaithful to him, the love that bought her back after adultery and nurtured her. (Hosea 1-3) We have to dip into the passion of the Song of Songs and not flinch from its endearments and fervour. We have to put aside our reticence and our cynicism and our disillusionment and disappointments and come back to the start of it all, back to our first love, back to that place where the love of God melted us. Only then can we hope to follow God’s example of love and live a life of love which people will recognise as not natural but supernatural.

Paul’s challenge to follow the example of God and live a life of love is pretty mind-blowing for us to take in. We are all too aware of our sinfulness – “but I’m not like God!” How can we, imperfect people that we are, hope to witness to the love of God in such a way that leads others to Him? All too often we identify with the comment of Mahatma Gandhi: I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”  

Paul does not want us to be hypocrites, pretending to be like God when we are not. He wants us to live out our God-given identities as ‘dearly loved children’ (Eph 5:1). God is love and His love is lavished upon us. As Peter reminds us, the Christian life is not meant to be lived in our own strength; rather, we become those who ‘participate in the divine nature.’ (2 Pet 1:4) God lives in us by His Spirit. The Message version of Eph 5:1-2 says, ‘Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love.’

Children learn by imitating others. They make plenty of mistakes on the way, but there is ongoing change and transformation. The average vocabulary of a 3 year old is 200 words, of a 5 year old 2000 words! How does the child learn? By listening, hearing, repeating and talking. A toddler learns to walk by attempting this solo effort again and again, copying what they have seen others do. We don’t expect instant perfection from our children, but give them encouragement and urge them to persevere. In the same way, God reminds us that we love because He first loved us; the family resemblance is there, however often we fail. Just as the heavens opened at the baptism of Jesus and He heard the words, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’ (Matt 3:17); just as on the Mount of Transfiguration, the words were heard, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’ (Matt 17:5), so too we need to hear the words that God loves us with the same kind of unfailing, unchanging love. Only people who know they are truly loved have the freedom and courage to love like God loves.

When a new baby arrives, there’s always the rush from doting family members to decide who the baby resembles: ‘he’s got his mother’s nose!’; ‘look at her daddy’s eyes!’ Family resemblances can be a blessing (though at times I am not grateful for the ‘Chafen calves’ which mean my legs will never be sleek and svelte like a model’s…), and as God’s dearly loved children, we are urged to live in the blessing of the family resemblance and imitate our heavenly Father. (Eph 5:1-2)

Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery, and certainly we learn best from imitating: ‘copy God and follow His example,‘ as the Amplified version puts these verses.The earliest name for Christians was followers of the Way. It was the way they lived that singled out God’s people and very soon they earned the name ‘Christians’ (Acts 11:26 tells us that ‘the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch’), which essentially meant ‘little Christs’. God’s people are called to be like Him, to reflect His nature, to copy His behaviour. After all, John reminds us, no one has ever seen God (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12), but people see us. God’s master plan is that by seeing us, people see Him and come to know Him (see also Matt 5:43-48).

We are called to show off the ‘family resemblance’ by being like God – an awesome (and slightly terrifying!) thought. Aspects of God’s character which need copying include:

• His capacity to forgive and keep on forgiving (Ps 103:11-12).
• His mercy, which doesn’t treat people as their sins deserve but instead offers favour and gifts: the fact that while we were still His enemies, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)
• His faithfulness, which perseveres, long after everyone else has given up and walked away. (Ps 36:5)
• His justice and righteousness and truth (Ps 50:6).
• His compassion and kindness to us all. (Is 63:7)

As we reflect God’s character and light, others will be curious and want to know more. We are the living letters, Paul says, that others will see and read. (2 Cor 3:1-3).God’s master plan is that by seeing us, people see Him and come to know Him.