Verse-a-day 8 April 2013
- Our kingdom versus God's kingdom
Hennie Symington
It was he who “gave gifts”; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12
“A man for others”
“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main, you are part of the whole,” are the prophetic words of John Donne, the 17th century poet and preacher. John Wesley, the father of the Methodists, said much the same when he described the Christian faith as a "social" religion based on the fact the Old and the New Testament is primarily about the people of God, of community, of caring for each other and of showing solidarity with one another. It’s not for nought that we follow the One, Jesus Christ, whom Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the 20th century Christian martyr, described as "a man for others".
When you become the centre of your world
Cocooning is a typical instinct of people who feel threatened in a world that has become to too complex or too harsh for them. Sometimes we all wish we could create a self-sufficient little world where we can protect and cherish our loved ones with no thought or care for the world out there. Sadly, any sociologist or anthropologist will tell you, communities that are so self-absorbed, seldom develop and thrive.
Instead of romanticising life in a glass bubble we need a spirituality that shows that God is present in our world and that his Word has something to say to people of today. We should feel sad that so many Christians see opting out as the best option for practising their spirituality. In effect it can be seen as a motion of no confidence in God if you, despite of what you profess to believe, do not think that your faith can make a difference in society. Instead, shouldn’t followers of Christ roll up their sleeves, and do something? I believe that’s what Christians do.
Prayer for today:
Lord, you are my protector and my salvation. I shall not be afraid nor hide from the world where you placed me to make you kingdom real to a world in need. Amen