Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Journeys – on a foal of a donkey!

Matthew 21v9 “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’.”

This Sunday is Palm Sunday! The King of Kings entered Jerusalem on a donkey. A simple affair with no security guards or cavalcade. A man, a donkey and a few disciples.

But something was happening. An enthusiastic crowd gathered and sang their best songs of joy and praise. They waved branches and put their coats on the ground to be walked over. Why?

Because Jesus was coming in fulfilment of the prophecy of 500 years before: “See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9v9) Could it be that this Jesus is going to bring salvation? The crowd excitedly thought “yes”. Their expectations for what that salvation would look like may have been mis-aligned, but let’s join them in their enthusiasm as we gather to worship the King of Kings!

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Journeys – The King goes to be crowned!

Luke 19v12 “He went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.”

Jesus left the transformed Zacchaeus in Jericho and continued towards Jerusalem. What huge success! He was aware of a significant problem though. It was a problem of people’s expectation: “the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.” Many were going to be bitterly disappointed as they saw Jesus crucified. Their hopes and dreams would be dashed: Why? Because they had not appreciated God’s ways, they had not appreciated that God’s victory is often won through suffering. It is always best if our own expectations are aligned with God’s plans or we will be disappointed.

Jesus counters their false expectation with a parable. In the story, a prince goes away to be made king. Before he goes, he gives each of his servants 3 months wages and tells them to “put it to work until I come back.” When he returned as king, he asked each of his servants to account for what they had done with the money. The first two had done well: they had put it to work in faith and it had multiplied and the king rewarded them accordingly. Unfortunately, though, one of them had simply laid it away in a cloth to preserve it: there was no multiplication, no risk taken, and so even what he had was taken from him. (Luke 19v5-27)

I take two key things from this. Firstly, as Jesus headed to Jerusalem he knew he was going to the cross, but he also knew that cross would mean resurrection and his ascension into heaven. There he would be made king of the universe and be ready to return to hold people to account. Jesus looked through the suffering in reliance on His Father, and he calls me to do likewise.

The second is that while Christ is already king, his kingdom is not yet fully implemented. Theologians sometimes refer to this as a “now and not yet kingdom”. We would love Jesus to just speak the word and have everything sorted in this world, but the reality is he is sorting out our hearts as we allow him to have his way. The whole world will only be sorted at his return. In this story, Jesus is managing the expectations of his disciples: Jesus is King, but it is not completely implemented yet.

May God enable us to do as Paul writes in Colossians 3v1-4: “set your hearts on things above … and set your minds on things above … for when Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Journeys – Zacchaeus!

Luke 19v5 “Jesus looked up and spoke….”

Luke 19 begins, “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.” (19v1) He was on his way from Galilee to Jerusalem. He was deliberately on his way to be “mocked, insulted, spat on, flogged and killed” (18v32), and Jericho was just a town on the way.

But Jesus was easily diverted by the Holy Spirit to crucial encounters. There are crowds of people lining the streets to see him, and so Zacchaeus has climbed a tree to get a good view. But when Jesus reached that tree, “he looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus … I must stay at your house today.’” (19v5). Jesus was sensitive to the Spirit.

Jesus proceeds to take time out from his journey to meet with this man who was renowned for greed. Despite the inevitable emotional needs Jesus must have had, he chose to chat over a meal with this man who was despised by others. Jesus cared for the “lost”.

The result is Zacchaeus is transformed from greed to generosity. And so Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house.” (19v9). Jesus bore spiritual fruit.

It seems that if we are to walk the way of Jesus, we also need to be alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, to be ready to stop like Jesus and to take time out to care. Who knows what God might do!

Lord, may my priorities be aligned with yours, may my ears be open to your voice, and may my heart be ready to follow.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Parable: A mighty harvest!

Matthew 13v8 “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop.”

What crop is God’s Word in your life?

Today we consider the final part of the parable of the farmer sowing his seed. The whole text relating to this part is:

“ ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown..… ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Why do farmers and gardeners sow? They are motivated by the expectation of a harvest. Similarly, the reason we share God’s Word is we anticipate a crop. I think there two ways we can apply this passage:

• The first is a challenge in my own life. What impact is God’s Word having in my life? The impact can only come when I both hear it and understand it (v23). There is a huge value in not just reading a passage, but really thinking about it, meditating on it, discussing it in a group, hearing what others are hearing and, in all this, listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying to me. It is not so much a theological understanding that is required, but a practical understanding: what am I to think, do and say? We are nearly three months into this year. What has God said to you so far this year? What have you done with that?
• The second is the encouragement to spread the word of God widely. Jesus tells us through the parable that not everyone is going to respond positively. Even those that do, may well slip backwards in time. But when fruit comes, there is an abundance – many times what was sown. The positive response outweighs all the negative responses. If we apply some maths based on Jesus’ parable then ¾ of the people we share with about Jesus are not going to respond, but the ¼ that do are going to produce typically 60 times over. Keep sharing the gospel until you find someone who is responding and you will reap an abundant harvest.

Praise God that in Zambia this year (see picture) a harvest is just starting to be reaped. Each seed produced nothing the last two years, but this year is producing many times what was sown. May God’s Word produce an abundant harvest in your life.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Parable: Seed among thorns!

Matthew 13v7 “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.”

What is competing with God’s Word in your life?

Today we consider the third part of the parable of the farmer sowing his seed. The whole text relating to this part is:

“ ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.… ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Jesus is saying it is possible for me to make a positive response to the gospel, but for it then to be crowded out by other things. That means that there is never much fruit. What is the point of an apple tree with no apples, or a tomato plant with no tomatoes?  Jesus has called us to bear fruit.

Thorns can be quite pretty – I think of the flower on a Scottish thistle. They can also grow their own kind of fruit – I think of blackberries growing on thorn bushes. So, the things of this life and the idea of wealth can look attractive and productive. But these are not going to help us in spiritual growth, and it is only by spiritual growth that we are going to produce the fruit that God has appointed us for.

What needs cutting back in my life to allow God’s fruit to grow? Maybe there are even things that need uprooting, to allow the Word of God to grow in us without competition.

Lord, help us to identify the things which are actually causing us spiritual harm. Give us the wisdom, courage and power to get rid of them, and may our lives be productive for you.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Parable: Seed in rocky soil!

Matthew 13v5 “Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil.”

How deep has the Word of God gone in your life? Has it established firm roots in you?

Today we consider the second part of the parable of the farmer sowing his seed. The whole text relating to this part is:

“ ⁵ Some [seed] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  …   ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

Jesus is saying it is possible for people to make an issue positive response to the gospel, but to then fall away. It applies generally to believers too. We can hear God’s Word, respond initially to it, but then later lose faith.

For a plant to withstand the weather – whether sun or storm – it needs good roots. Here’s the question as we reflect on this verse: are there rocks in my life which are stopping the Word from really going deep? Maybe there are some elements of God’s Word that I resist because I am concerned about the implications. Do you find that your relationship with God is impacted by circumstances? Maybe there are rocks that need to be removed or crushed into soil to allow God’s Word to go deeper in you.

Holy Spirit, help us to identify the rocks in our lives that are preventing your Word penetrating fully. May God enable us to remove them and may your Word go deep.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Parable: Seed on the path!

Matthew 13v4 “Some fell on the path and the birds came and ate it up.”

Many Christians find it helpful to use Lent, starting next week, as a time for reflection. As we journey towards the events of Easter, I am intending to reflect on some of Jesus’ parables.

During these weeks, Jesus headed towards Jerusalem, knowing that he was going to face the harshest of deaths. This was a challenge for Jesus, as shown by his prayers in Gethsemane, but he was resolute and kept going. Jesus often used parables to challenge his hearers to think differently.

Today we consider the parable of the sower which has four scenarios. We will just look at the first this week. The whole text relating to this is:

 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. … [Jesus continued] ¹⁸ ‘Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ when anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”

I reflect on the following two things:

• The farmer was very liberal in his distribution: so liberal that it fell on the path where it would never take root. God’s heart is very generous. He wants everyone to know the good news about the kingdom of heaven, he wants no one to perish, he wants everyone to produce good fruit. But why will people not respond? Because the Evil One snatches it away! When the seed is sown, there is a spiritual battle going on between the liberal farmer God and his enemy the thieving Devil! We need to both pray and sow liberally!
• This part is usually applied to those who are “outside” the church. But, I think we can ask ourselves this question: Are there points of God’s gospel message that we are not taking to heart? Could it be that we are not understanding it and so the Evil One is snatching it away? That would be absolutely tragic: we are denied the chance to produce the fruit God so wants for us. It is vital for us to understand God’s Word. Don’t just read or listen to it, but develop understanding. But how can we do this? Firstly, the Holy Spirit illuminates our hearts with its meaning as we meditate on it, and secondly the Holy Spirit often uses others to do this as we reflect on God’s Word together in community. This is why small groups are so useful to our spiritual life. It is also why it is helpful to have some kind of “commentary” which gives explanation. That may be a book, some notes, or the application of someone with good understanding of the Bible.

May the Holy Spirit bring you understanding of God’s Word through other believers in community and so bring much good fruit in your life.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Promise: You will bear much fruit!

John 15v5 “If a person remains in me and I in them, they will bear much fruit.”

We all want to leave some positive mark on this world. When we find some work brings no fruit, we get frustrated. Jesus speaks of our fruitfulness three times in this passage where he uses an illustration of a vine.

• “If a person remains in me and I in them, they will bear much fruit.” v5
• “This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit…” v8
• “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” v16

God has a real desire for you to be fruitful in life. God’s very first words spoken to human beings in Genesis 1 are “Be fruitful”. In the last chapter of the Bible it tells of an abundance of fruit in the new creation as the tree “yields its fruit every month”.

Don’t let your mind think God is stingy or wanting to put you down. He is wanting to lift you up and enable you to be fruitful. Of course, my idea of fruit may not always be the same as God’s! We need our hearts aligned with his heart, so that we seek what He seeks. This is why Jesus says, ““I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” (John 5v19)

Jesus makes this “You will bear much fruit” promise conditional: “If a person remains in me and I in them …”. A branch cannot produce fruit separated from the vine. And so the most vital thing for me as a believer is to “remain in Christ”: that is to keep close to him in prayer, worship, and fellowship with others. It is vital we are listening to Him and ready to do what He says.

May God enable you to remain in Him and produce much good fruit in your life.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Promise: You will have trouble!

John 16v33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus does not give rash promises: each word of each promise is carefully thought out. Jesus is not an optimist with unrealistic expectations, nor is he a master of positive thinking, but rather, a master of the truth. Hence Paul, writing to the Philippians, when talking about anxiety and peace says, “Whatever is true … think about such things… And the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil 4v8-9). In God, the truth is good news.

Realistically and with accurate foresight, Jesus promises trouble. But it is limited: limited to this world. There is a world beyond this one, for which we are destined. In that place, there will be no trouble. And so, in all our troubles, we can “take heart”, we can be encouraged, strengthened and hopeful. This trouble is temporary: Jesus may take it away sooner, but the longest it can last is until death separates me from it or until Christ returns.

And here lies our peace even in the present. The whole of John 16v33 is, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” Our peace lies in these truths:

• Jesus told us we would have trouble, so this is not a surprise.
• Jesus went through trouble including a horrible death and was raised to life.
• Jesus has thereby overcome the world and what it brings.
• Jesus has promised the great resurrection to eternal life in His new world for all who trust in Him.

I pray that God will limit your troubles and even set you free from them right now. But this I know for sure, in the words of Paul, “We are hard pressed on every side, but … we do not lose heart … Though outwardly we are wasting away … Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4v8-17)

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Promise: I will send another Counsellor!

John 14v16 “And I will ask the Father and he will send another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.”

Last week we considered Christ’s promise to return. But Jesus is also adamant that he will not leave us alone in the meantime:

• “I will not leave you as orphans …” John 14v18
• “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth ..” John 15v26
• “It is for your good I am going away … If I go, I will send him to you.” John 16v7
• “But when he, the Spirit of Truth comes …” John 16v13
• “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28v20

Jesus’ promise was not a casual, offhand remark, but a firm, considered statement of fact. He would send the Holy Spirit when he left. The Holy Spirit is referred to as a “Counsellor” in many translations. The Greek is “paraclete” meaning “one who comes alongside”. This could be used in a variety of contexts, but all of them are about someone who cares, loves, supports, advocates for, advises, and is just with you. This is the Holy Spirit: he comes for your good. He comes to enable you, empower you and equip you in God’s way.

Jesus describes him as “another Counsellor”: he is going to replace Jesus and be like Jesus as we continue to live out life on this earth. Jesus is absent in body, but he is present by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has the same character as Jesus: holy, pure, loving, compassionate, connected to the Father.

I invite you to invite the Holy Spirit to have a greater impact in your life today. You are simply asking Jesus to fulfil his promise.

With love and blessing,

Roland