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More thoughts...

As some of you are aware, I have ridden a motorbike for several years. I guess that puts me in the category of experienced motorcycle rider. Imagine my surprise when,

for the first time in 29 years, I found myself dumped on the tarmac with my leg ably protecting our 1000 CC motorbike from further damage. If any of you have fallen off and motorbike before, I'm sure this will bring back vivid and probably painful memories.

For all my experience of road situations and how to control a large motorbike (e.g. through foot peg pressure, counter steering, body positioning etc.), it was not enough and I suffered. Damage was done, to my leg, protective clothing and wallet (as I had only just changed to third party insurance). I had learnt much over the years, but it was not enough and my knee still reminds me of this!

But how do we keep ourselves safe? How do we have that sense of peace within our hearts as we try to navigate through the sometimes rocky terrain of our life journey? And then there is a deeper question is still. What about our future when this body of ours meets its end?

It is quite right that we want to be safe, that we want to protect ourselves from damage; be that to our wallets, property or body. And so, of course, many of us pray to God that He will affect our situations and keep us and those we love safe. I am sure that could well be the case for some of you as well. But is it enough, or is it a bit like my many years of motorbike experience (helpful but not enough)? Let me give an illustration/symbol that the Lord Jesus gave.

He commanded Christian people to take communion. This means eating some bread & drinking some wine with other Christians whilst specifically remembering when His body (bread) was broken for us, and His blood (wine) was shared for us.

One of the things He was saying by this is that - as wonderful as it is for God to affect our situations, at the end of the day it is not enough. A more committed response is needed from us. As wonderful as it is for Jesus to affect and change our situations, we need to keep receiving Jesus (bread/wine, body/blood) into us. We need to honestly and humbly keep asking Jesus into the very centre of who we are and change us from the inside out. This is a huge step of trust from us, and an incredibly generous attitude of acceptance and love from the Lord Jesus towards us.

So, please know this. Jesus loves everyone and there are countless instances of his supernatural help to so many of us. But that is not enough. We need to keep inviting Jesus to have His way in our lives. We need Jesus changing us from the inside out. He wants to do this, and, as we decide to receive Jesus into ourselves, He will help us, and,,, it will be enough.

Always in love and with respect,

Revd. Graeme.