There have been many comments made about my feet.... two left, ridiculously pointy, why do they call it 'athletes' foot...etc. but nobody has ever, ever called them beautiful! It's got me thinking about those people with 'beautiful feet' in my life that got to deliver good news. The driving examiner, a course tutor, the minister at my wedding, the midwife.... I can't remember much about their feet but I'm sure they were beautiful!
So what's this thing with feet, why not heads or arms or err..other bits? It's a lovely picture isn't it...you get to work one morning and everyone is huddled around the door...waiting, jostling, hushing each other saying "how fantastic in the car park are the feet of him who brings good news". They can't wait for your beautiful feet to get through the door to hear what you so desperately want to tell them.......
Originally the feet mentioned in the bible passage were those of a messenger bringing news from the battlefield. The thing with feet is that it takes effort to make them work! Delivering the good news might take a long walk, it may sometimes feel like a battlefield and the news often isn't welcome. As Terry pointed out though, let's share the good news, Not just taking stands for the sake of it but sharing why we're different.
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Code III study 12 - What a tough prayer to pray ......
ReplyDeleteFather, will you bring people into our path this week and help us share the word of truth by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
It is one of those prayers that we know we should pray ... but somehow struggle to pray honestly, fearful of the consequences ... or maybe we are gripped by apathy for others? I am sure we recognise our shortcomings ... however sharing the Good News is not about us, it is for those with whom we share by our lives (actions and words). Perhaps before we pray the Codelife prayer (above) we should maybe consider another "pre-prayer prayer" .... along the lines of - Lord give me a heart, a compassion, a love for my fellow man that makes it impossible for me not to share about you. Save me from apathy or self-thinking and motiviate me by the love I have received to show your love to others" ..... just a thought!
Well,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how I feel about this. I listened to a podcast from The Meeting House a while ago that talked about, if you are not ready to want God's will for your life the pray that you want to want God's will.
But at what point does this prayer turn to action - do you need to take the opportunities that God presents you with, rather than waiting for Him to do it all?
Going back to the quote from Penn Gillett that was referenced in the Beachy and Willmot podcast - "If you really believed this, how much would you have to hate someone not to tell them?"
This is an atheist questioning the strength of your convictions with a very challenging measure. If you are able in your head to believe that people you love are going to face eternal separation from God, but not enough to really trouble them or your self by talking about it, then you have to question whether you really believe this. Or is it just a story that fits well with your life because it puts you 'in the loop' (for want of a better term).
I agree totally with the sentiment of Paul's suggested prayer, but I would say that if you are still praying this after having professed to believe in what Jesus has done for you (maybe 2, 10, or 30 years ago!) then you need to examine your heart to find what you 'belief' actually means.
Think about Matthew 7 v21.
Please feel free to post any caveats you wish to moderate this post.
I never posted about the conversation we had about hell at Codelife a few weeks ago. One comment that stuck with me was that hell should be what motivates us to share the gospel not what we use to try and scare people into the kingdom.I know this is a bit simplistic but it's made me want to readdress what the bible says. A few days later at a Christian Resource exhibition I met a sincere couple who don't believe in eternal punishmet or even annhialation but that all will be saved' (I think Universalism is the correct term) I think they're wrong, but bought the book anyway to try and work out why!
ReplyDeleteI think that if we asked everyone in church what they believe in about hell there would be some spurious stuff and a fair bit of denial.
I think that denial is understandable (if not right) as the ramifications of the truth are so painful.
I'll let you know when I've got all of the answers!!!
I watched a great sermon this week (part of a great series) that contained the pearl:
ReplyDelete"Guilt is a great indicator, but not a great motivator"
He was saying that we don't do these things just to show our faith to others, but also because it makes our faith real to us. Giving life to others gives life to us too. So whichever side of this current theological potato you are currently holding, the resulting behaviour should be the same.
Here is a link to the message if you want to watch. If you see beyond the hair cut and the accent, the message is fantastic:
http://www.vimeo.com/19685835
Be warned, it made me cry (although as you know, that is not to uncommon these days).