In my daily readings, I have reached Psalm 119, read alongside Jeremiah, both parts of the Bible which are not necessarily easy to read but which I find, perhaps because of my temperament, reassuringly honest and without platitudes. Ps 119 talks a lot about suffering and persecution, but even more about the comfort and help received from God’s promises. Tucked away in this psalm, I came across a couple of verses which stopped me in my tracks: ‘It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees’ (Ps 119:71) and ‘I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me’ (Ps 119:75).

So often, when suffering and affliction knock at our door, our first reaction is one of injured bewilderment. ‘Why me? Why now? Why this?’ No one relishes illness and infirmity; no one really wants to be afflicted, whatever form that affliction might take. Non-Christians might blame God for their trouble (even though they do not believe in Him), but Christians are faced with a truth which is both reassuring and uncomfortable. God is in sovereign control. Nothing happens without His knowledge. Nothing can thwart His plans. But when we are personally affected by affliction, that often makes us question either God’s sovereignty or His goodness.

Yet the psalmist talks about the positive benefits of affliction (‘so that I might learn your decress’, a sad reflection that most of the lessons we learn are learnt the hard way!) and about the character of God even in affliction (‘in faithfulness You have afflicted me.’) Instead of praying ‘God, get me out of here!’ the way we usually do, the psalmist prays ‘May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.’ (Ps 119:76-77)

Very often, we cannot change our circumstances. We may be suffering from a long-term illness, facing a permanent disability, trapped in a dead-end job, hemmed in relationships which stifle us, or any other myriad situations which cause us to despair. The enemy of our souls tells us that this is because we have sinned, because God doesn’t love us, because He has forsaken us. But Jeremiah reminds us ‘The “worst” is never the worst. Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.’ (Lam 3:30-33, The Message)

We can’t change our circumstances (God can, but doesn’t always), but we can change our attitudes. We can be like the psalmist and acknowledge the benefits of affliction: ‘My troubles turned out all for the best— they forced me to learn from your textbook.‘ ‘your testing has taught me what’s true and right.‘ We can choose to worship, no matter what.

‘When days are gold and life is good,
When the plans we make go as they should,
Or when the sky turns dark and heartache falls,
And a lonely painful season calls.

We will worship with all of our hearts,
We will worship all that You are,
Through the best, through the worst,
Jesus, we choose, we will worship You.’ (‘We Will Worship’, Kutless)

Garry continued his series on spiritual maintenance tonight, looking at 2 Tim 1:13, which urges us to keep as the pattern of sound teaching that which we have heard.

A pattern or example (see 1 Tim 1:16) comes from two Greek words meaning ‘under the seal’, an impression made which remains after something has pressed down, like a signet ring used to seal a document in ancient times. To be ‘sound’ is to be well, in good health. If we are to keep to sound teaching, we obviously have to be able to differentiate between this and teaching which is not sound. Unsound teaching often takes a verse out of context (eg Heb 8:11 or 1 Jn 2:27 being used to state categorically that we have no further need of teaching, because God Himself will teach us, ignoring other passages like 2 Tim 2:2 or Acts 13:1 which tell us there is still a place for teaching in the church.) Sound teaching will fit with the whole of the Bible and will not focus on one verse only.

To maintain our spiritual lives, we do have to be able to hear directly from God ourselves (see Heb 5:11-14, 2 Tim 3:6-7), but we also have to do more than simply cram Bible verses into our minds; we have to apply what we learn and live it out. We have to be like the Berean Jews who examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:10-12) and spend time reading and studying the Word for ourselves.

1 Tim 4:1-7 gives us insight into what makes a good teacher. A good teacher:

1. listen to the right sources (for there are deceiving spirits who would lead us all astray from truth)
2. needs sensitivity (our consciences must not be seared or desensitised)
3. must be nourished on truth and good teaching themselves
4. must be pursuing God themselves (1 Cor 4:14-17)
5. will leave what they teach (Heb 13:7 urges us to consider the outcome of the way of life of our leaders and imitate their faith)
6. will oppose what is wrong (1 Tim 1:3-4)
7. will promote love (1 Tim 1:5)
8. will seek to pass on the baton to others (2 Tim 2:2)

If we want to maintain our spiritual lives, we must respond to sound teaching. Jesus often said, ‘Whoever has ears, let them hear.’ (Matt 11:15) The process of application can be a slow one; we have to learn, understand and apply the principles we learn. We maintain our spiritual life by holding onto and treasuring the words God gives us which lead to eternal life (see Jn 6:66-68).

Stephen’s message this morning at Cherry Tree Court looked at 1 Jn 2:3-6 and asked the question, ‘Do you know God?’ Nowadays on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, we can have lots of ‘friends’, but many of these are little more than acquaintances. God doesn’t want to be that kind of friend to us; He is the friend who sticks closer than a brother! (Prov 18:24)

Close friends know us, know our strengths and weaknesses and are with us in the good times and the bad times. God wants us to have that kind of intimate relationship with Him. Our coming to know God is a learning curve, rather like a building project. When building, the builders start with empty land and then have to dig deep to lay foundations before they can build upwards. Often, we have to clear our lives of rubble and build on Christ as our solid foundation,.

The Bible is devoted to teaching us how to know God and how to build our relationship with Him. Our knowledge of and love for God are built through our obedience (see Jn 14:15). We are called to live as He did, in dependence on God, in obedience to God, in fellowship and faithfulness and humility, living in sacrifice and in the power of God’s Spirit. God’s Word becomes the building blocks for our relationship with God, knowing Him as Father, Son and Spirit.

These voices that whisper in the night

Can sound so amazingly reasonable,

So utterly sane,

So temptingly pragmatic.

They don’t sound crazy;

They don’t sound bizarre.

They are the voice of reason,

Of sense,

Of normality.

They are proactive, persuasive,

Offering practical solutions:

Ways out of the wilderness which lead to freedom.

What’s not to like about them?

But so often, these eminently sane, utterly pragmatic solutions

Lead us not into freedom,

But to the desolation of dead-end cul-de-sacs.

They obviate the need for faith,

Leaving us in the barren desert,

Abandoning us bereft and alone in the wilderness of disobedience.

How did we end up here?

We didn’t want to disobey.

But every time we choose sight over faith,

Every time we allow the persuasive voice of pragmatism to win,

Rather than standing defiantly on the promises of God,

We lose out.

Abraham holding Ishmael, not Isaac…

David lured into the mess of murder from following the lust of selfish longing and listening to the rationale offering excuses for normal human needs…

The Bible is scattered with evidence of the

Sin of pragmatism versus faith.

Faith is folly, the voices say.

It’s unreasonable to expect God to…

Indeed, it is.

Unreasonable to expect deliverance.

Unreasonable to hope for mercy over judgment.

Unreasonable to believe there’s a way out of Egypt,

To believe a Saviour could come from a virgin teenager,

To think a dying man can hold the keys of death and hell.

But we are called to live by faith, and not by sight.

Called to believe God has the right partner for us for life.

Called to believe God can bring reconciliation after a lifetime of distance.

Called to believe God can do the impossible for us.

We are called to turn from pragmatism to faith,

From Machiavelli’s ‘the end justifies the means’ to Jesus’ ‘die in order to live.’

It doesn’t make sense?

That’s O.K.

Miracles never did make much sense,

But are evidence, nonetheless, of God’s interest in us and proof that He is able to do more than we imagine, dream or dare to ask.

Live by faith.

You’ll be amazed at what you see.

Preparations for the Christmas Market include getting together all the prizes needed. I’ve been scouring shops for bargains for the Christmas tombola! We need prizes suitable for boys and girls (often available in Poundland and shops like that) as well as for adults – hand cream, toiletries, scarves and so on all make lovely prizes for tombolas. Please help us by donating prizes.

We will also be making up a Christmas hamper to raffle at the Christmas Market, so donations for this are also welcome, especially items like chocolates, biscuits, mince pies, crackers and other Christmas-themed foods, though tinned food and other practical items are also welcome. Local shops and market stall holders often donate lovely prizes for the raffle and we are grateful for everyone’s support.

You might not be able to donate prizes, but any craft items that can be sold will also come in useful (homemade cards, knitted or crocheted items, Christmas decorations etc.) and one of the most valuable things you can give is time. Please sign up to help, even if it’s only for an hour, anytime between 4 and 8 p.m. on Friday 9th December and please come along to support the community carol service at 6 p.m. if you’re able.