Removing the Plank

 

Recently a friend wrote to say that God had spoken to them. The gist of the email was the need to ‘remove the plank from your own eye’. The phrase comes from the teaching of Jesus, when with characteristic hyperbole, he stretches the illustration by saying all too often we concentrate on the failings of others, whilst overlooking our own. You can imagine the story. Here is a person with a huge piece of wood sticking out of their eye whilst clumsily they attempt to pick out the sawdust from someone else. When I’d read it, I knew exactly what they meant, since I too can give time to the issues of others whilst leaving my own to fester.

When through either ignorance or arrogance I live as if everything is fine, I run the risk of taking on a status that can leave me isolated and proud. When this happens it is easy to start to strive to hold a position that is beyond our grasp. The result is faith through achievement rather than by grace and the rest God promises to us soon evaporates. We end up in strife.

What I understand by rest is not necessarily the absence of work, but finding the rhythm to sustain us in life. Imagine the eagle as it soars on the current of the wind, mobile, active, and in motion, yet at rest; doing what it’s created to do. It is as we connect with our purpose and realign to the intention of our Creator that we discover true rest. Consider the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Getting to that place of rest is certainly a journey. Whenever situations come that challenge us, our rest can be taken and we know when it’s missing. God’s desire is not for us to live there – he has something better, but we find it not in removing specks from others, but in allowing God to remove the plank that distorts our own vision.

Turning Around

‘Wherever you go, there you are.’ 

It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? We might be able to fool others, but we cannot fool ourselves. It doesn’t matter where we go, when we arrive there we are!

In our second talk on Lent we covered the subject of repentance in the context of turning our lives around. This is really helpful since we cannot run away from who we are and so if we want to change we have to start within. Recognition is the first step to bringing about change. First you must see the need.

After recognition the next step is repentance. In the Bible repentance comes from the Greek word ‘metanoia’ which means to have a change of mind. Afterwards, that change of mind leads to a change in behaviour, which in turn leads to a change in actions.

Here are some questions for you to consider that arose during our talk:

• In what areas of life do you need to change your mind or attitude to a person or situation?
• What is meant by the phrase, ‘Wherever you go, there you are’? How does this make you consider decisions you might have to make in your life this week?
• In the Nooma DVD by Rob Bell, he used the phrase, ‘Sometimes it’s easier to run up stairs than face the truth.’ Is there anything that you are running away from which you need to stop and face?

I know, they can be tough to answer, but then any change that is worthwhile will be challenging…but worth it! Feel free to let me know how you get on. And don’t forget, you can post your comments here, or link through to the Lent Forum at http://www.charislife.org.uk/forum.html

Living through Lent

 

We don’t normally practice Lent at Charis. However, this year we have made an exception and we are using the season to strengthen our faith by looking at themes which take us back to the basics. So yesterday, we started with a reflection based round the thought that God’s purpose in Christ was to unite the world to himself.

We see this unity or connection in three clear ways. We are connected with the Creator, the creation and the community of humanity – a principle established in the Garden of Eden but then spoiled through temptation and rebellion (cp 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Jesus enters into this temptation during his testing in the wilderness and begins through his life and consequent ministry to take back from the devil what he had stolen from God’s world.

Along the way, Jesus is tempted by the devil at three points, all of which, if succumbed to would abort his mission.  At the point of his identity, he is questioned about his Sonship, ‘If you are the Son of God’. In the area of trust, when the devil takes Jesus to the highest pinnacle in the temple he says, ‘throw yourself down,’ and see if God will catch you! And at the place of purpose, having shown him the kingdoms of the world he says, ‘All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus path was one of love and sacrifice rather than power.

For our part, we might ask where we enter into the temptations of Jesus? Are you struggling to see yourself in the image of God and to walk as his child? Are you failing in areas of trust, stepping in to assert your own authority over the rule of God? Or are you giving into the temptations of other things, settling for second best rather than God’s best for your life?

Lent is a good time to stop and consider these questions for yourself and to take time answer them with openness and honesty.

Also, we now have a forum section opened for Lent so you can go and post your thoughts, ideas, prayers, verses about what you are learning and hearing during this time. You can find it via Charis Explore or simply follow this link http://www.charislife.org.uk/forum.html.