In this era where rights and freedoms are so loudly proclaimed and fostered, the Bible ideals of humility (humbling oneself) and servanthood (serving others) are often overshadowed. And so that while the idea that Jesus took upon Himself the role of a servant still has some credence, the suggestion that we should do likewise is dismissed or overlooked, even in the church. Far too often, by way of contrast, we see individuals who trumpet their own ideas or agendas or ambitions, sometimes with little thought of how they impact either those around them or the church in general. Interesting--and this should be an even greater shock to our system--is that, on occasion, the word used in the New Testament is not ‘diakonos’ (from which we get the word, ‘deacon’), which means ‘servant,’ but ‘doulos’, which literally means ‘slave’. Servants had rights, a place in the household, and had tenure. Indeed, it is interesting, and informative, that both Paul and Timothy described themselves as ‘slaves’ of Christ (Romans 1:1 and Philippians 1:1). This should give us pause in terms of how we think of ourselves and how we act toward others.

I sort of wonder at times whether people generally pray as much as perhaps they used to. And whether their prayers are ‘real’, that is, heartfelt and dealing with the ‘real’ issues that they are facing at that particular time. Here’s where the psalms really stand out. They certainly are heartfelt and certainly deal with some real issues. Perhaps we can borrow a page from them--and do likewise. Just an idea.

God, in His promise to Abraham and Sarah, stipulated, promised, that Israel would prove to be a blessing to the entire world. That was His original promise, one that I believe has continued for all time, even though often Israel failed miserably in fulfilling it. It is here that Jesus did succeed, and it is here that He asks--commands is more like it--to continue that mission. But here we must ask ourselves: just how well are we doing with this? Are we effectively spreading His message of love and forgiveness? And, are we actually being a blessing to those around us? Given all that God, in Christ Jesus, has done for us, it is only right and proper to consider anew what we have done in respond to that.

oday’s reading and meditation remind us of something that is highly overlooked in our modern world, namely that ‘our God is an awesome God’. Our God is able to work wonders, both in terms of world events and natural phenomena, and in terms of individual lives. Some Bible critics have looked at the several plagues that Egypt suffered under the auspices of Moses and concluded that all or most of them were simply natural occurrences, things that happened on a somewhat ‘regular’ basis. But, that beclouds a couple of details that set the ones in Exodus apart from any others. Firstly, they happened, more or less, in close sequence to one another. And secondly, they took place precisely when Moses invoked God. Surely, neither of these could be a coincidence!

Needless to say, in a world where people often ‘write off’ God, we need to recapture that conviction that He can, and does, work, and then to go to Him, expectantly and persistently, in prayer.

Today’s passage, as is far too frequently the case, left me puzzled initially as to what its meaning for us today might be. However, in meditating upon it I came up with the conclusion that it has to do with the tension between the Law, that is, measuring up or being ‘good enough’ for God, and grace, which is accepting that we can never ‘be good enough’ and therefore need to accept God’s free gift of salvation. And whether we truly accept that grace, or still strain mightily to measure up, is still an issue for many people today.

One of my father’s favourite hymns was “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”, also known as the Mariner’s Hymn. Most of its verses end with the phrase 'for those in peril on the sea’, and well might this sentiment apply to many of us, at least at times. We may not feel ‘physically’ at sea, but we may feel awash with conflicting thoughts and feelings and duties. We may feel quite overwhelmed at times, and so this hymn, and today’s psalm and meditation, can be quite appropriate.

Today’s Scripture passage is probably one that doesn’t get much press, simply because it is hard to see how this short episode from Jesus’ life applies to any of us. However, to me the mere fact that He was so eager to learn and grow in the faith--you’d think that because He was God, He wouldn’t need to--suggests to me that we should do likewise.

And then the last line about His growing in 'wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man’ (to quote the old King James Version) says something about a balanced approach to life. He grew intellectually, physically, spiritually and society, so shouldn’t this be a model for each of us. If it was ‘good enough’ for Him, it should be for us as well.

Most of us don’t go up on a mountain or into a desert, expecting to be whomped over the head by God. We may expect some sort of clarity or enlightenment, but nothing at all like what Moses experienced in today’s story. Not only did he experience the burning bush and hear the very voice of God, but he was given a commission that literally changed his life forever. That in itself is pretty spectacular, but what is even more incredible, was that he was open and ready for it--and therefore, said ‘yes.’ May that be true of each of us, no matter how or where or when God reveals Himself to us and speaks to us.

In today’s passage the apostle Paul gives us just one list of ministry gifts, just one list of several that we can find scattered through his various letters. As such, it is by no means exhaustive. For instance, I happen to think that playing an instrument can often be a God-given gift, or the ability to plan out projects, or the ability to set out or format a page for printing. As far as I know, none of these are listed by St. Paul. And there are a myriad of other gifts as well, hospitality for instance, or caring, or noticing a need and responding to it. Indeed, I would suggest that all of us have one or more gifts, gifts that are often unrecognized by ourselves or under-utilized. I would suggest that it is most important for our church and our world that we make use of these.

Be that what it may, perhaps even more important is that we apply them with love. Almost every gift or ability we humans possess can be applied in something of a ‘bull in a china shop’ manner, causing far more upset and mayhem than necessary, and not really contributing to our overall well-being. So, I bid all of us to find and use our gifts, but to do so in a loving, gracious and respectful way.

Do you find yourself being ‘bugged’ about events or people, or complaining about them, either silently or aloud? If you do, I think you are in good company, for even today’s psalmist was in this crowd. He found a solution to this in joining other people at worship. I would also suggest Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:4-9, which is to go to God with prayer and supplication (the more specific the better) and thanksgiving, and trust God to settle and safeguard our thoughts and emotions. I know that is is particularly addressed to the question of worries but I think that it applies to other things as well. All the best in this.

One of the sad things of our world, and particularly of the Christian church, is that many of us feel that we really don’t have much in the way of gifts that we can offer to others, and thusly, feel that what we have or can do isn’t worth very much. Fortunately, this is not true, at least for Christians. The apostle Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit has given gifts to every single one of us, and that these gifts are important and needed, in serving both God and others. So, our task, firstly, is to try to identify those gifts--sometimes others can be of help here, in pointing out gifts that we haven’t recognized, that we didn’t know that we had. And then, secondly, to experiment with putting those gifts to work. And, if it doesn’t come easy at first, not to worry. Trying anything for the first time, whether walking or riding a bicycle or anything else, always will have a few fumbles and mishaps. And know that that the Lord is there, leading, empowering and working in you.

I have often wondered; what would it be like for us if we took a less ‘worried’ attitude about our material things, in particular, our finances. I find that people in general, at least in the world that I occupy, take one of two approaches. Either they worry about where the next dollar will come from, or they worry that what they do have won’t last. Either way, it is not the lack of ‘carefulness’ about money that Jesus espouses with His talk about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field (see Matthew 6: 25-34). Both of these beings could seemingly just ‘relax’, relax in the knowledge that God was taking care of things. In a sense, that is what we find in the stories of Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000. Jesus was able to say to them, ‘just relax. You already have what you need.’ It is a wonderfully freeing feeling, and not one that I am particularly good with. With me it isn’t a matter of money, but just allow one of my books to get misplaced, and I’m more than frantic. So, maybe the answer is in being able to trust God more fully, very truly a work in progress.