Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living in Holiness

1 Peter 1v16 “Be holy because I am holy.”

Holiness is not a popular idea today. Many consider it antiquated, fit to be replaced by words such as freedom and love. The word may create images in our minds of a list of “Do not”s .

Did you know that “holy” and related words occur nearly twice as often in the New Testament as in the Old? Far from Jesus doing away with holiness, he brings it in! Hence, he says to his disciples “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees … you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 6v20) The Pharisees were seen as the super-holy people of the day: they had all sorts of rules about right behavior.

Jesus went on to give the “Sermon on the Mount” where Jesus typically takes an Old Testament saying about behavior and applies it to our whole way of thinking. So for example, “If you even lust, you have committed adultery in your heart.” (Matthew 6v28).

This is a disaster for us if we are looking to get into heaven by our own efforts. We cannot. But Jesus has brought us holiness by taking all our unholiness on the cross. He took it all so that we could be set free. And he did this because he loved us. So to receive holiness is to receive freedom from guilt and to receive the most amazing love. Yes, freedom, love and holiness are linked.

But the New Testament goes further, because it says we are now “saints” (literally, “Holy Ones”). Our new identity in Christ is “holy”, and God calls us to live according to that new identity. “Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with. … count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6v6 & 11.

True holiness begins from within. It begins from a heart set free from sin and filled with God’s love instead. It means that true freedom and true love are not opposites of holiness, but actually lead to holiness. Just as “God is Love” and “God is Holy”, so we as his children are called to be full of both love and holiness.

May the Lord keep you in his paths of righteousness.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living with Mercy

1 Timothy 1v13 & 16 “I was shown mercy.”

This is Paul’s testimony, “I was shown mercy”. This experience is so central to his life-story that he repeats it twice in four verses!

Mercy is defined as “compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm” (Oxford Languages Dictionary).

Here is the reality: God offers us his compassion and forgiveness when he could have punished us. For those of us who are born again, we have received that compassion and forgiveness. As the Psalmist says, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve,” Psalm 103v10. God is able to justly do this because Jesus took all my sin on the cross. He bore the punishment in my place. Now, my heavenly Father turns to me and welcomes me with a smile and arms stretched out. Where Jesus said “My God, why have you forsaken me”, my Father says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

This is not just good news, it is “unbelievably” good news. Maybe a better word is “ridiculously” good news! Where God could have punished me, he chose to rescue me. Why? Was it because I was great or able to achieve some great thing for him? No, it was simply because “The LORD loved you” (Deuteronomy 7v8). There is nothing that merited his favour, but he has shown it.

What does this mean for me today? Well, first of all there is every reason to rejoice, celebrate and be glad! But there is also a consequence in our daily lives: Paul says “In view of God’s mercy…” as he introduces how we should live in Romans 12v1, and Jesus tells us the same in a parable in Luke 18. In Jesus’ parable a person owes millions, yet the master forgives the debt; but afterwards the person goes away and demands payment from someone who owes them a few notes. Jesus outright condemns such lack of mercy when we have been shown such mercy.

In the natural, we want some justice, and we want it now. But in Christ, we have been shown mercy and we are called to follow in His way of showing mercy too. We “do not pay back evil with evil” (Romans 12v17), but rather return evil with good. Why can we do this? Because we now live in the kingdom of mercy and we can leave any avenging to God (Romans 12v19).

Lord, help me to understand and appreciate your mercy towards me, fill me with the joy of your salvation, and enable me to show mercy to all those around me.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living in Patience

2 Corinthians 6v6 “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path … Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in … patience.”

God seems to me to be extraordinarily patient! As I have recently reflected on the accounts of Elijah and Ahab (1 Kings 16-22), following into the sequel accounts of Elisha and Ahab’s children (2 Kings 1-13), I am amazed at the patience of God. God delays reasonable retribution and repeatedly gives miraculous signs to provoke a change of heart and direction. The patience of God is shown as he does not give what is deserved, but shows grace instead.

This is precisely what is meant when we read the classic Old Testament description of God. It is repeated 9 times from Exodus 34 through to Nahum 1 “The LORD is slow to anger”.

So, when God calls us to be “slow to anger” (a mere 5 times from Proverbs to James), he is only calling us to model his patience.

I can testify that God has been patient with me. Unfortunately, I am slow to learn, slow to respond, slow to change. Must drive him nuts! But it doesn’t. He responds with grace, discipline, reminders, forgiveness and new chances.

So “living in patience” firstly means, living in the patience of God – wow, how blessed we are! Then, and only then, it also means showing patience to the people and situations around me. Afterall, if I do not appreciate the character of God, how am I supposed to copy it?

O Father God, cause us to appreciate your patience towards us, and so to model your patience with the people and situations we face.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living out Wisdom

James 3v13 “Who is wise and understanding among you?”

We might say someone is ‘street-wise’ or ‘money-wise’. When we do, we mean that the person knows how to operate successfully in that environment. Wisdom in the Bible is not an academic type of wisdom, but a very practical living-well-in-our-situation kind of wisdom.

God sees two types of wisdom operating amongst us: worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. Worldly wisdom is explained in James 3v16 “Such wisdom … is earthly … where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” Worldly wisdom is based on getting good results for me and my group. It is a wisdom based on comparison (that is ‘envy’). It is a wisdom which seeks to maintain my/our rights in each situation and advance my/our benefit (that is ‘selfish ambition’). It results in disorders such as falling out and war.

On the other hand, heavenly wisdom is explained in James 3v17, “The wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Heavenly wisdom is based on seeking the good of the other person/group. It is a wisdom that seeks to exercise my responsibilities towards others – even those outside my circle. This is very different to the worldly wisdom. Each of the descriptions in James 3v17 is a challenge to us. Godly wisdom is straightforward (“pure”, “sincere”), it is returning evil with good rather than evil (“mercy”), it is seeks mutual interest (“impartial”), it listens and takes account of the others person’s needs (“considerate”, “submissive”), it seeks harmony rather than division (“peace-loving”, “good fruit”). These are of course most supremely demonstrated in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Proverbs of Solomon, we are advised, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.” (Proverbs 4v7). But how are we to get wisdom? Paul prays for wisdom in the church in Ephesus, “I keep asking that … the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.” (1v17)  This ties in exactly with James who has said “the wisdom that comes from above …”. You and I cannot manufacture wisdom by clever thinking or erudite reading. We can only receive true good, godly wisdom from above. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom. Let’s turn to God and ask for wisdom.

O Father God, give us this wisdom, we pray. We pray too for godly wisdom among the leaders of this world in all the situations we face today.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living for Love

1 Timothy 1v5 “The goal of this command is love.”

Many people are seeking love. Some seek it in relationships. Some seek it in projecting an image they feel will attract love from others. Some accomplish dangerous pursuits in the name of love. It is all very well to think about what others are doing, but in the words of Jesus, “What about you?”.

In the above passage in Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul has commanded him  to ensure that only sound doctrine is taught and now states that his goal is love. This may be surprising to some in our modern age where a false dichotomy is presented between “sound doctrine” and “love”. For Paul and the New Testament, love and sound doctrine go intimately together. How can this be?

1. The first key doctrine Paul states in this letter is “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” 1v15. This is the vital doctrine of God’s love for us while we were still sinners and the demonstration of that love in sending Jesus to death on a cross. Appreciating this truth enables us to understand the extent to which we ourselves are loved. Whether I am the worst of sinners or the best of saints, Jesus loves me so much that he died for me. Appreciating this, leads me to the position where I do not need to pursue the receipt of love in the same way from others. Rather, we allow and even cry out to God for him to “pour out his love in our hearts.”

1. Secondly, Paul anticipates that God’s love in our hearts will flow out in love for God and for others. This means that the more we experience and appreciate God’s love, the more we will be able to love God and others. This is why we so often sing together of God’s love towards us. Jesus and Paul both have as the goal of their commands “love”. And so, Jesus can sum up all commands in “Love the Lord … and love your neighbour as yourself”, and further, his “new commandment” is “love one another as I have loved you.”  But, because our understanding of love is deficient, we need the other commands of the Bible to help us appreciate how to express godly love.

And so, we can say that the purpose of our lives here is love. But that is not so much to receive love as to give it, while recognising that the source of my love is not me, but God.

May God continue to “pour out his love in our hearts,” and our hearts be overflowing to others with love.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living at peace

Proverbs 14v30 “A heart at peace gives life to the body.”

Most people are seeking peace. We also know that this proverb has much truth: our “mental health” impacts our “physical health”. The problem is that we often seek for peace in the wrong places.

Jesus does not paint a pretty picture when he is foretelling the future of this world: “Many will come … and deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places … Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death …” Matthew 24v5-10

In amongst all this, Jesus says “See to it that you are not alarmed,” and Luke records Jesus saying, “Make up your mind not to worry beforehand …” Luke 21v14. Do you notice the emphasis of responsibility? It is for me to “See to it” and to “Make up my mind”!

So how can I exercise this responsibility to live at peace?

• Recognise that peace is a gift of God
• Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14v27). This is not a peace we can generate, but one we receive.
• The peace the world offers is based on circumstances: maybe a quietness, or no interruptions, or no problems … The peace Jesus offers is the one that enabled him to sleep in the storm. It is based on the complete assurance that whatever happens around me and to me, “nothing will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 8v39). God’s gift of Jesus is a gift of peace – peace with God, peace with ourselves and peace with others.
• Receive God’s peace

In Philippians 4v4-9, Paul has three actions for us to take to receive God’s peace.

• Firstly: pray to God. Taking your burdens, worries, fears and anxieties as requests to him. In prayer, we express our dependence and trust in God and so Paul writes, “with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (4v6). Handing our concerns to God is the first step to receiving peace, but don’t stop here!
• Secondly: meditate on godly truth. Paul instructs us to think about what is “true … noble … right … pure … lovely … admirable” (4v8). Meditating on the truths of the love of God shown in Jesus Christ is the second step to receiving peace.
• Thirdly: put the truth of God into practice in our daily living: “Whatever you have learned … put it into practice” (4v9). Living the way that God calls us to live and being obedient to him brings us His peace. This is what Jesus means when he says, “Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry …” (Matthew 6v33). If you are following God, of course he is going to provide for you!

I think we can often be inclined just to pray. We find release for a time and then the concerns bounce back. Let’s follow through with godly meditation and godly action, then, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” And “the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4v7,9

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living in Joy

2 Corinthians 7v4 “In all our troubles, my joy knows no bounds.”

Joy is a phenomenal asset. It changes our attitude and our perception of our situation. The inner disposition of joy enables a very different approach to life’s problems.

Paul describes some of his troubles in the subsequent verses of 2 Corinthians 7v5: “this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn – conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God …”. Do you sense a weariness, a harassment (whether by people or events), a conflict or a fear? It is in these feelings that joy can “know no bounds”.

Nehemiah tells the Jews in 8v10, “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (NLT). Joy gives us the strength to push through with what we would otherwise struggle to do.

What is joy?

It is an inner disposition of gratitude. A gratitude for God’s love towards us, his care and compassion. It is also based on an inner disposition of hope that anticipates a positive ultimate outcome because we trust God.

How do we get joy?

• Firstly, by the Holy Spirit – Luke records “Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit” Luke 10v21; and Paul describes joy as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5v22)
• Secondly, by hearing the truth of what God is doing – The above passage in Luke shows that this joy from the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus as he received the news of the disciples success in mission. Paul often records his joy at hearing about what God is doing in the different churches.

So, if you are lacking in joy, ask God to fill you with his Spirit of joy, and seek out the good news story of what God is doing despite the evils of this world.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy” today.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Living with Hope

Romans 15v13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

There are many reasons in this world to “lose hope”. At the global level, it seems that every week there is a new disaster of some kind. At the national level, there are many issues which seem incredibly difficult to resolve effectively. At our personal level, there are issues we face day by day.

No wonder many feel hopeless: and lack of hope is not good for you.

In Romans 15, Paul prays “so that you may overflow with hope”! It is possible for us to have hope – more than that, be filled with hope – even more than that, overflow with hope!! It is possible for us to have not just a bit hope, but a hope that spills out from us to the those around us. A contagious hope!

How can we have such hope? When it is dark, we like to switch on a light so that we can see. Is the light fueled by the darkness? No, it is fueled by its own power supply which is independent of the darkness. So we cannot expect to get hope from the source of hopelessness!

God is the source of hope. Indeed, in Romans 15, He is “the God of hope”. If you want hope, go to God! He fills you to overflowing with hope by imparting his joy and peace to you – a joy based on who God is, His love towards you, His salvation and His promises to you; and a peace that is based on the knowledge that God has the whole world in His hands.

Hope is not just a name for a church, it is a characteristic. We are people of Hope.

Paul’s prayer is for the God of hope to fill you. Let’s make that our prayer too – for ourselves and for one another. And I make that my prayer for you today.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Thought for the Week

Living by Faith

Hebrews 11v13 “ All these people were still living by faith when they died.”

As believers, we are called to “live by faith”. That is to live with a faith or trust in God. In Hebrews 11, there is a long record of people who lived by faith in God in the era before Jesus. As the writer says “All these people were still living by faith when they died.”

Someone said to me this week, “It seems to be a lot easier for us to have faith in God than it did for those who lived before Jesus.” I think it many ways they are right: we have so much history of God at work, we have the testimonies concerning Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit in us right now.  And yet still, we can so easily see that faith compromised, as things and solutions of the world attract us. Ultimately the solutions of the world will all fail. God says in Zechariah 4v6, “Not by power or by might, but by my Spirit.” That is how God accomplishes His work.

This autumn, we are going to be running a series entitled “Living by Faith”. There are going to be two perspectives to the series: the first is “Living by Faith in the World” as we look at the life of Elijah in 1 Kings; and the second is “Living by Faith in Church and Mission” as we look at the life of the early Christians in Acts.

So what priority should we place on living by faith? Well, Paul writes in Galatians 5v6 “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.”

I want to increase my faith and I find it helpful to read biographies of people of faith as their example and testimony helps increase my faith – what about you?

Let’s pray as the disciples prayed, “Lord increase our faith.” Luke 17v5

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Being Fruitful where you are

2 Corinthians 5v20 “ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”.”

The last few Sundays, we have been thinking about how God works through us on our “Frontlines”. By frontline, we mean wherever we are during the week whether we are among family, friends, work colleagues, customers, etc. We have been picking up 3 key principles for what we do wherever we are:

• Modelling Godly character – We show the fruit of the Spirit in the world in every situation. Galatians 5v22 says “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” They are called fruit of the Spirit, because it is the work of the Spirit in us. Galatians 5v22
• Making Good work – We recognise that the basis of both paid and voluntary work is service. In particular, for us, this is service to our Lord Jesus who will reward us at the appointed time. Colossians 3v23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
• Ministering Grace and love – Jesus has so loved us that he has given us what we do not deserve even when we were his enemies. So we are to show the same grace and love to those we find difficult. 1 John 4v19 says “We love because He first loved us.”

Just imagine what the places you go to during the week would be like if everyone exercised godly character, made good work and treated people well irrespective of what they deserve. Wouldn’t they be a fantastic place to be. You and I get to make a difference. We are salt and light in the world. We are ambassadors of Christ. We get to show the world a better way to live and to work.

You and I may not be able to change the whole world, but in the words of the old song “Jesus bids us shine, with a pure, clear light … you in your small corner, and I in mine.” We can each change the world for the better in the places we are. In the words of a very modern children’s song, “We are world changers”! – How exciting!

With love and blessing,

Roland