The local school has changed its assembly day from a Thursday to a Tuesday. Mainly, I think, to suit the availability of the PE teacher.It means a Thursday's not so full of the school, so far as I'm concerned. Just the Scripture Union group, which was starting up again today after their mid-term break last week.
The numbers were down just a bit on what they've been - but still pretty good. Almost 20 children, some of them high as kites as they're off tomorrow to an SU weekend away. Thankfully I've two other folk to help me - otherwise we might have been veering towards a scenario reminiscent of Egypt or Libya.
It verges on chaos at times - but it's a very happy chaos and I hope that bit by bit they're learning from the Bible and discovering how to live.
We were learning again today about how to handle those who've done you harm.
A situation most of us face, at least from time to time. And, of course, we also do a lot of harm ourselves sometimes. We're none of us perfect yet - that has to wait until heaven. And as a result, we're always rubbing rough and ready shoulders with a load of other rough and ready people. It's often really painful, sore, upsetting.
Forgiveness is easy - until you need to show it! That's where the cross of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit start to kick in.
Discipleship starts at the cross. Always.
Discipleship's really the cross of Jesus being ingrained through every fibre of our being. Not just his cross as an ornament slung around our necks.
But as a 'dye' (or more truly a 'die') shot through every single cell within our being.
"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus," declared the apostle Paul.
The call to 'die'. Daily. Wholly.
In body, mind and spirit.
In conduct, speech and attitudes.
The 'die' of the cross ingrained through all my being.
How many of us try to live as a 'scipl'?
You're wondering about that strange little word 'scipl'?
It's just disciple without the 'die' involved.
It doesn't work. It doesn't make sense. It can't be done.
We're learning to live by learning to die.
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1 comment:
Jerry, Greetings from South Florida. I happened upon your blog after diving into the 40 days prayer guide. (Our church begins this Wednesday.) Just wanted to encourage you that a pastor from 'across the pond' appreciates your gospel-centered words--"learning to live by learning to die." Well said. I'm sure you have read or at least heard of Elisabeth Elliot's biography of Amy Carmichael. The title is taken from a quote by "Amma" to a prospective missionary. She was trying to dispel any romantic notions of missionary service the young candidate had. She described it as "a chance to die."
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