Seek Wisdom; Pray Big
“If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1: 5 James 1: 1-12 As lockdown eases in some countries, and in some Provinces here in Canada, the reactions to the developments have varied. There have been limited demonstrations against the lockdown and a greater amount of comment that the easing is coming too soon. Governments surely have difficult decisions in this area looking to the health of their people and their economies. The situation is certainly more complex than an either or decision as the two issues are so closely entwined. A third major issue can be added into the mix; the environment. The International Energy Agency have announced a CO2 reduction of 8%. Opinions vary as to whether this is all good or whether it includes a difficult message for the global economy (the documentary ‘Planet of the Humans’ has further stirred the pot on this matter). Social justice, poverty, freedom, globalism and protectionism are other major realities; there are more! So as the Church what is our role, how are we to react; what is God calling us to do? In one simple answer we are to fulfil our Baptismal Covenant (p158-159 https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/BAS.pdf). To aid us in this mission, to help us understand how to keep our promises, there is encouragement from James in our reading today. Firstly he calls us to be intentionally joyful when facing trails and difficulties as God is working in us to develop us through them (vs. 2-3). Then he challenges us to persevere so God’s work will be completed (vs. 4). As we find and face difficulties and confusion the encouragement is to ask God for His wisdom rather than immediate relief from that which we are facing. Once we receive His guidance we are to hold onto it without doubt, this gives us an anchor in our circumstances so that we are not tossed like a wave on the sea in doublemindedness (vs. 5-8). In this approach there is one final gem of guidance; we are to hold onto the bigger picture of God’s love and sovereignty rather than focus intently on the problems; there are eternal purposes at play (vs. 12). This will enable us to find the Lord’s wisdom and pray ‘big’ in the way that He asks, guarding us against a ‘me’ centred, small focus reaction (1 Timothy 2: 1-6). To Ponder: What do you think about the easing of the lockdown and Government decisions? What does your answer reveal about your perspective? Apply James’ guidance to the Baptismal vows – how do you now view and pray for the situation? Prayer: Almighty and everliving God, let your Fatherly hand ever be over us your servants; let your Holy Spirit ever be with us; and so lead us in the knowledge and obedience of your word, that we may serve you in this life, and dwell with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the BAS Baptism service) Praise: The Perfect Wisdom of our God Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSnzYnOe6kI Forty-three years ago, I was in Britain, about to go by bicycle around Britain and Europe. I was 24 years old, had been a Christian for one year, and had made money selling murals to the new Calgary Airport. I was on one of the many treks of my youth.
As soon as I stepped off Freddy Laker Airways in London, from every speaker the same #1 song was blasting out to a reggae beat: "By the rivers of Babylon There we sat down Yeah we wept When we remembered Zion... Now how shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" Being a new Christian, I didn't know that this pop hit was using the words of Psalm 137. Strange land, indeed. Three thousand years prior to this, Israel was in exile in Babylon for 70 years. They were a defeated and homeless people, asking themselves and God why this disaster happened. How could they remember Jerusalem if it was wrecked? How could they still have faith if the Temple was gone? How could they sing the Lord's song in a strange land? Psalm 137 ends by asking God to destroy their enemies with violence. The exile did end. Israel did eventually return and rebuild. But nothing was the same as before. The exile and afterwards turned to be one of Israel's most fruitful times for its faith in God. If God could get us through that, then even if we were being punished for our sins, God restores and forgives. Life with God goes on. There is always the promise of God that redemption and even better times will come. Slowly this became the hope of a Messiah who would once and for all trounce Israel's enemies. Things would be even better than they were under King David. God did send his Messiah. It was Jesus. But in many ways he was not who people expected. His new kingdom was not about human power but God's grace, not about defeating enemies but forgiving them. We are going through a short exile from what is familiar: barred from gathering with others, no longer worshipping in our familiar temple we call church, not to mention some lives lost due to the Covid 19 virus. While I don't see this time primarily as a judgment on our sin, I do see this time as a dislocation, an exile from how things were. And I even see this time as fruitful, as Israel's exile was fruitful in hearing God's word, reflection on our common life, and in realizing again how important family and church really are. Will what matters most survive our present exile? The new normal ahead of us may well challenge old habits we hoped to return to. Here's what I remember from that summer of 1978: We CAN sing the Lord's song in a strange land. |
Preachers BlogIn 2024, each week's blog is a follow-up reflection written by the preceding Sunday’s preacher to dig deeper into the sermon topic and explore engaging discussion questions. Archives
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