Abraham and Sarah both laughed at God's reaffirmation of His promise that in their old age they would bare a son and through Him blessing would come to the nations, fulfilled ultimately in the Messiah. The situation was absurd to them. Daft.
Nevertheless, God fulfilled His promise to them and Isaac was born to them at an age reserved for Great Grandparents! This for me, is one of the most powerful and encouraging accounts of God's covenantal nature in Scripture. Absurd it may seem but God we must remember is super-(above) natural!
Then the most unexpected and agonising part of the story unfolds in God's instruction to take Isaac, the child of promise, to the mountain (Moriah) and offer him as a sacrifice (he didn't know this at the time but this prefigures the atoning sacrifice of God as Father sending His only Son to the cross) How understated to read these accounts from a page! What agony of soul must have prefaced and been felt on this long walk?! Abraham's obedience, even in this extremity, was not required. God did not want this sacrifice, he loves children!
The thing that has been grabbing me this past week is this, can we just BELIEVE God - period? Is our belief based on probability factors, what happens when all seems lost - what left then to believe in? Nothing unless we are 'fully persuaded'. God wants His children to BELIEVE...
The Book of Hebrews sheds light on this further where it states,
"Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death". Hebrews 11v19
Abraham got to the place, beyond incredulity and laughter, where he really and truly BELIEVED in and trusted God. Romans tells us that he was 'fully persuaded' that God had the power to do what He had promised - however absurd! Less reasoning, more believing and resting and leaving God's work to God. This was a major shift, worth the pain.
Abraham's 'journey in faith' is an extreme one but he is the 'father of us all' in terms of faith. It seems that faith beyond reason is the foundation God desires to build on. Today, as you hear this word, may you realise that no matter what your situation looks like, however absurd or laughable, there is a place of rest and certainty beyond reason that is utterly reasonable.
Any comments??
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Winter that doesn't want to leave?
As I write snow is falling hard in the longest, most persistently cold winter I can remember. It got me thinking....If after pleading with God to take you out of a situation (like waiting for Spring?) is it possible that He wants you to be as you are - for now, to experience hope and peace in the midst of chill, and then to distribute it to all the others who can identify with you in the same situation? It doesn't mean its forever! Strength in weakness speaks volumes of an inner Grace, often louder than words. Ever spent time and effort in feverish intensity of effort to position yourself in the brightest possible position in life or any season (especially Winter!)? Could it be that as we try to place ourselves in strength God spends time repositioning us in weakness? Have we missed something? Is there a deeper agenda here than external comfort and internal control? Its only in the vulnerable place that we really need Him, that we truly learn to reach out for the anchor (hope) of ours souls and allow faith to grow from seed to harvest - no matter what the chill of our spiritual environment...Any comment?
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Believing is Seeing
Put yourself in old Abraham or Sarah's shoes....no heir as indicated and promised by God, bodies 'as good as dead' (love the descriptive language of the Bible!) and the fertility prospects of a eunuch!Three options were open to Ab and Sarah. One, believe God and wait. Two, wait as long as you can stick it and then make your own plan (sound familiar?). Three, just give up and settle for whatever 'the cards' are dealing you!!
Abraham and Sarah eventually arrived at non-negotiable believing via a journey in 'the flesh' making pragmatic haste through Hagar, the servant help to Sarah. To criticise this lapse in faith and patience would be harsh knowing our own frailties as we do, but interestingly God EXPECTS us to believe Him ('And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him' Hebrews 11v6)
The world that we live in abides by the mantra of 'Seeing is believing', this walk with Christ is such that His order is reversed to 'BELIEVING IS SEEING'!
Over some years of pioneer mission and ministry in the Indian-Sub Continent and Ireland, I have to say that I have found that the rational mind has little to do with my ability to stay on track through 'Faith and Patience' and avoid 'Hagarisms' and stay moderately sane!! (ask Ali for confirmation!!) So many circumstances we face(d) contradict the desired outcome and Promises of God's New Covenant in which we 'stand'. Hindu tradition, extreme poverty, idol worship, traditional, nominal and institutionalised 'christianity', materialism, apathy, hedonism, moralism, relativism, self-sufficiency, to name a few. Trying to 'manage outcomes' ( a la Hagar/Ishmael) in our own strength just does not work and leads to problems. God has initiated His love toward us in that while we remained in a 'lost' condition He died for us (on behalf of us) This is the Grace through which we 'enter' and by which we 'walk'. Will we dare to believe?
Having done all, God calls us to continue to stand and to really believe, to know that He is FOR His children and to defy logic and circumstances - which can have no solid basis for ongoing belief. The rational mind is at emnity with believing, trusting faith, the faith of a child who knows that Father God won't let His kids down!? Any comments??
Abraham and Sarah eventually arrived at non-negotiable believing via a journey in 'the flesh' making pragmatic haste through Hagar, the servant help to Sarah. To criticise this lapse in faith and patience would be harsh knowing our own frailties as we do, but interestingly God EXPECTS us to believe Him ('And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him' Hebrews 11v6)
The world that we live in abides by the mantra of 'Seeing is believing', this walk with Christ is such that His order is reversed to 'BELIEVING IS SEEING'!
Over some years of pioneer mission and ministry in the Indian-Sub Continent and Ireland, I have to say that I have found that the rational mind has little to do with my ability to stay on track through 'Faith and Patience' and avoid 'Hagarisms' and stay moderately sane!! (ask Ali for confirmation!!) So many circumstances we face(d) contradict the desired outcome and Promises of God's New Covenant in which we 'stand'. Hindu tradition, extreme poverty, idol worship, traditional, nominal and institutionalised 'christianity', materialism, apathy, hedonism, moralism, relativism, self-sufficiency, to name a few. Trying to 'manage outcomes' ( a la Hagar/Ishmael) in our own strength just does not work and leads to problems. God has initiated His love toward us in that while we remained in a 'lost' condition He died for us (on behalf of us) This is the Grace through which we 'enter' and by which we 'walk'. Will we dare to believe?
Having done all, God calls us to continue to stand and to really believe, to know that He is FOR His children and to defy logic and circumstances - which can have no solid basis for ongoing belief. The rational mind is at emnity with believing, trusting faith, the faith of a child who knows that Father God won't let His kids down!? Any comments??
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Six Nations predictions
Six Nations results this week-end
Shiels prediction
Scotland to beat France (sorry Seb and Elvina)
Ireland to make spagetti from the Italians
England to beat Wales (this will be tight)
Tournament Prediction:
1Ireland
2France
3England
4Scotland
5Wales
6Italy
Shiels prediction
Scotland to beat France (sorry Seb and Elvina)
Ireland to make spagetti from the Italians
England to beat Wales (this will be tight)
Tournament Prediction:
1Ireland
2France
3England
4Scotland
5Wales
6Italy
Filling the National Stadium
April 21st this year I turn 40 ;-) On that night I am delighted to announce that we will be fully involved in 'There is Hope' a city wide outreach to Dublin involving ourselves and the other Arise Dublin churches www.arisedublin.com
This night will feature Life stories (one of which is from my brother in law Dave), Multi-media, well known boxer Katie Taylor, and we hope some rockin' music that will blow a few stereotypes to smitherenes (is that how you spell it???) including Moya Brennan and perhaps Bluetree (God of this city). There will also be a speaker communicating Christ - the Hope for Ireland, that is Tony Stone, a 70 yr old man that we know will do the event justice. We as city leaders are teaming together in expectation of great things!
Not a bad way to spend my 40th I reckon!!! ;-)
This night will feature Life stories (one of which is from my brother in law Dave), Multi-media, well known boxer Katie Taylor, and we hope some rockin' music that will blow a few stereotypes to smitherenes (is that how you spell it???) including Moya Brennan and perhaps Bluetree (God of this city). There will also be a speaker communicating Christ - the Hope for Ireland, that is Tony Stone, a 70 yr old man that we know will do the event justice. We as city leaders are teaming together in expectation of great things!
Not a bad way to spend my 40th I reckon!!! ;-)
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