Before/After Time

Do not behave in the way that you liked to before you learnt the truth; make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.

1Peter.1:16

The apostle Peter is writing to early churches made of converts from paganism.  The churches are suffering times of trial and Peter is encouraging them to have fortitude under persecution.

I am a convert and I still recognise a before/after divide in my life.  My children identify it as Dad BC (before Christ) and Dad AD.  This divide identifies the time of grace in my life, the time when Jesus tackled me to the ground as I was trying to run away from Him and then poured His undeserved favour into me.

It’s good to remember the before/after time in my story when I start drifting back into my BC behaviour.  It reminds me to be thankful and then to move on, being Holy as the Lord my God is holy.

Thank you Jesus for your underserved favour with which you continue to drench me.  I recommit myself to You.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Veni Sancte Spiritus 

My Story is My Story

Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved (John) following them… Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.’

Jn.20:20-22

The resurrected Jesus is walking with His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias when this conversation takes place.  It is almost a casual setting.  They have just finished the breakfast Jesus had prepared for them and are now strolling along the lake shore. 

The conversation establishes for Peter who is; one forgiven and the one authorised to lead the fledgling church.  But Peter starts straying outside what he needs to know.  John’s story is John’s story.  Peter’s story is his story and the only one he need concern himself about.  “…what does it matter to you?  You are to follow me” says Jesus.

How often do I stray outside what I need to know?  It’s always tempting to second-guess the Lord’s plans for other people.  This quickly degenerates into judgement.  Their story is their story.  My story is my story and the one I need to concern myself with… and my story is one about following Jesus.  How am I going to do that today?

Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I concern myself about other people’s story when it’s not my business.  Lord, today I focus my eyes on You.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Him in Me

With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me…

Jn.17:21

Jesus continues His Priestly Prayer for the whole church, present and future. His prayer is for unity… “May they all be one”.

This is Jesus’ final prayer with His disciples before His passion and death, it covers the essentials of what He desires for the church after He has ascended and unity is a biggie.  “You in me… me in You… I in them…” is prayed over and over.  It’s important.

Unified is not only a joyful way to live but, according to Jesus, it is the greatest witness for God the Father.  Conversely, disunity is the greatest denial of God the Father.

The church is not good at witnessing unity.  I am not good at witnessing unity.  I need to stop judging and criticising and start loving my brothers and sisters.

Come Holy Spirit of God.  Give me a loving heart to overlook the imperfections of my brothers and sisters that I may become perfect.  Lord, give us unity that the world will realise it is You that sent us.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

In the World but not of it

I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one.

Jn.17:15

Jesus continues His Priestly Prayer for His disciples at the Last Supper.  He is praying not only for those in the room with Him but for all the Church.  He’s praying for me.  I am in the world, which is where Jesus wants me, but I am not of it.  How? …because I am protected from the evil one.

This “other worldliness” of believers creates a tension.  I don’t want to be so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good.  Jesus wants me in the world to be His witness.  That means I have to live amongst brokenness, sin and yes, temptations.  But I don’t have to go with the worldly flow; in fact I have to go against it.  As Jesus says, this results in the world hating me. 

But I have the antidote to the world’s hate… God’s love.   This is what protects me from the snares of the evil one.  God’s love defines who I am, not the world.  I am a beloved son, a son of the King and that makes me a prince.

Thank you Lord for protecting me with your love.  Let my witness as a beloved son draw others to You.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Eternal Life from Knowing

And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  

Jn.17:3

Jesus is praying His Priestly Prayer for His disciples at the Last Supper, knowing His passion and death are imminent.  This is His last moment of intimacy with the Father before He is glorified with Him in heaven.

Jesus defines here what eternal life truly is and it is something quite simple… to know the Father and to know the Son.  How do I get to know them?  Well, the same way I get to know anyone I guess, by spending time with them. 

Here is the difficulty… spending time.  My life is so “busy” with things to do, places to go, people to see.  And yet this busyness is not life-giving.  In fact it is often life taking.  Spending time with God is the antidote.  It slows me down and connects me with my life source.

It’s time for a recommitment to daily time with my God.

Lord Jesus, my life is in You Lord.  Thank you for the promise of eternal life that comes with knowing You.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Joy of Love

If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.  …what I command you is to love one another.

Jn.15:9,10,17

Jesus at the Last Supper is summarising why He came and what He is leaving for the Church to do.  He came to love…  He commissioned us to love.  And the promise?  Our joy will be complete.

When I think of great saints of I have read about and even faith-filled people I have met, a common denominator is a joy that they radiate.  Even though they may have troubles, they seem right with the world.  They have a joy about them.  I find this incredibly attractive.   

The key for my joy then is to be a great lover… starting with the people I met today.

Lord Jesus, help me today keep your commandment to love.  Some people aren’t lovely Lord, but everyone is loveable.  Help me love, that my joy may be complete.

Little Flower, please pray for me.