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You Alone Lord (John 6:68-69)
Last time we looked at the injunction, "If
it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone".
We discovered that peace mustn't be sought
at any cost but must be balanced with the need to obey Jesus command to
tell the Good News and use to the truth to counter the error in our world.
Peace at the cost of truth is too costly and being agreeable is not the
same as agreeing with a lost world.
How often have we heard the complaint, perhaps complained ourselves, that
sinners we can deal with but Christians can sometimes try the patience
of a saint! It is a common complaint and one with which many can identify.
I have sometimes wondered how the apostles got along. A few fishermen,
a zealot, a hated tax collector and collaborator, etc. what a motley crew!
They were impetuous, reticent, courageous, cowardly, argumentative, ambitious,
competitive, and slow to learn, quick to condemn, unreliable, loyal, awed
and anxious - sound like any group of people you know?
Then consider the other followers, "about 120", "All
joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the
mother of Jesus, and his brothers" (Acts 2:14,15).
Here you had family as well as followers, disciples as well as apostles,
all praying for guidance. The only thing many of them had in common was
Jesus, their son, brother, Saviour and friend. Later they were described
as being together,
Having everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they
continued to meet together…They broke bread in their homes and ate together
with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of
the people (Acts 2:43-47)
This is our ideal picture of church, what we aspire to but seldom, if
ever, seem to achieve. Many know how a small number of people, embarked
on a new and exciting enterprise for the Lord, can work amazingly well
together and come close to the description of church above. The problem
is in the next verse:
And the Lord added to their number daily
those who were being saved
Problem? Surely numbers of saved added daily are a blessing? Indeed they
are, but they are also a challenge. If the twelve were less than the men
we might have hoped for in those first three years imagine what 120, or
12,000, or millions will be like! That is church and it is quite understandable
that, though we are challenged, even commanded to 'love one another' we
often can give a poor impression of what the lord intends. Whenever I
feel this way I remember three things:
Firstly, the cynic in me is reminded that Jesus, the Son of God, God the
Son, walked among people from whom it would be natural for him to recoil
because of his own perfect righteousness. Yet he walked among us, touched
us, loved and sacrificed his life for us. If he can do that for me it
does seem churlish to shrink from church because of something or someone
that irritates or offends me. Like Christ, I should look on others with
mercy and love, not least because that is how I need others to look on
me.
Secondly, I am reminded of a quote from Goethe, who said of some people
he had met:
"They were nice enough people, but if they
had been books I wouldn't have read them."
In twenty years as a Christian, while I have done my share of moaning
(and then some say my friends and family) I confess I have met dozens,
hundreds of people I would gladly read if they were books, over and over.
God is doing a wonderful work in people's lives and it would be ungrateful
not to recognise the profound effect they have had on my poor life.
Thirdly, I am reminded of the words of the apostles in our text. It is
popular these days to think you can get your truth, your comfort, your
bearings for life from a variety of sources, and people spend countless
hours exploring and experimenting with Mantras and meditation, retreats
and re-birthing, consumerism and contemplative living. Only the Lord,
however, has the world of eternal life and, with the disciples, I say:
"Lord, to whom shall [I] turn? You have
the words of eternal life. [I] believe and know that you are the Holy
One of God"
This week may God give a fresh vision of who Jesus is, how he has blessed
us with fellowship, and how enriched our lives are for rubbing shoulders
with the saints of God.