Full and empty

Looking at our hearts

Today I am extending yesterday's reflection of us exuding the pleasant aroma of Christ. What is of utmost importance is what is emitted from our hearts and that of others. We might initially be attracted to outward appearances but let us follow God's example, in both our attitude and behaviour. In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read, "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart". Apostle Paul was apparently of no great appearance (see 2 Corinthians 10:10). We have absolutely no physical descriptions of Jesus in any of the Gospels - all that was relevant was what He said and did . 700-800 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Isaiah the prophet prophesied His coming and said that "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him ..." (See Isaiah 53:2b). As Jesus came to save us and to be an example for us, then let's concentrate on developing the fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control.

A pleasing aroma

Today, I continue contemplating yesterday message on the grinding of coffee beans and the appealing aroma that that brings. That leads me to thinking on the pleasing aroma of Christ that we exude, as followers of Christ, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15:"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ ..." In verse 16b, Apostle Paul asks the rhetorical question, "And who is equal to such a task?". No one can bring another into God's kingdom, only God through Christ, but we can spread the aroma of His existence and love in our lives, with the developing fruit of the Holy Spirit, which are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control.

A coffee grinder

Today I have been reflecting on how a coffee grinder needs to have its handle turned in a clockwise direction, where it meets resistance, in order to effectively grind the coffee beans. Similarly when we receive Jesus with His Holy Spirit residing in us, we may feel resistance to corrections and/or changes being encouraged in us, to develop the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self- control. Let us be grateful for the positive effects and changes in us, remembering that, "no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). The beautiful aroma of coffee beans draws people. May we be prepared to be changed and to draw people to Jesus.

The gift of faith

Today I have been excitedly thinking about the gifts that the Holy Spirit delights to bestow upon us and does so when and how He wishes, to bless us and others (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11). There are the Revelation gifts (when you know that you know) , the Utterance gifts (when God speaks through you into others' lives) and the Power gifts in which God's supernatural powers operate - the Gift of Faith, the Gift of Miracles and the Gift of Healing. Well, I was diagnosed with a chronic medical condition for which I was told I would need life long treatment, to ensure normal rhythms of sleep. However I sensed for months that I wouldn't need this treatment and that something less disruptive would be effective. I had told the doctor for a few months that I was expecting this miracle. Last night she told me that I have my miracle and no longer need the night appliance! I thank God for not only the miracle but also the gift of faith He had given me to confidently believe in His extraordinary provision in this particular situation. The miracle was not to do with my own strength and my own positive thinking. To God goes all the glory. 1 Corinthians 2:12: "Now we have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God".

Your Kingdom Come

Today I am reflecting on the verse in the Lord's Prayer, "Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done". God's Kingdom is His spiritual Kingdom. In Philippians 3:20 we are reminded that we are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. This does not mean we are to lose the reality of us living on this earth as one Body, encouraging and supporting each other with the various gifts God's Holy Spirit endows us with. Let's not be proud or compare ourselves to others. We can all so easily occillate between God's spiritual Kingdom and this world, being distracted and discouraged away from the spiritual. We are all on different journeys but can support each other. I believe that the Lord is asking us, encouraging us, exhorting us to spend more time with Him in the spiritual dimension. It will not make us weird and disconnected from others in this world but bring a deeper unity.