Reflection Day Fifty National Lockdown Friday 15 May 2020

Acts 15:22-31    Psalm 57:6-12    John 15:12-17

Good day dear friends, 

Having decided that circumcision should no longer be forced on non-Jewish converts, the community leaders together with the whole church gathered in Jerusalem to promulgate their decision to the wider Church and the first ever Synod came to an end.

They sent a delegation to Antioch in Syria of both Jews and Gentiles, including representatives from the Jerusalem community namely Judas, Barabbas and Silas.

With them went Paul and Barnabas, who represented the outer limits of the Church and who had raised the issue in the first place. Apparently there was common agreement with both the choice of messengers and the contents of the letter which they carried.

They then made a momentous statement: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us…” Not only are they speaking unanimously in their own name but they know they have the full commendation of the Holy Spirit in their decision. They then list the four exceptions namely eating meat sacrificed to idols, abstaining from blood, the meat of strangled animals and “illicit” sexual union. Yet this shows the need for a sensitive balance between the feelings of the Gentiles and those of the Jews.

We should note the interesting process that is being described during the past three days’ readings. The Spirit is with the whole Church and communicates its faith with the centre. The centre then discerns and recognises where the Spirit is working and issues an authoritative statement giving confirmation under the guidance of that Spirit. The Church still works this way. The Archbishop of Canterbury is not the one who tells the Church what to believe; he tells the Church what it believes after listening to the faith of the whole Church. This listening process on the part of Canterbury is crucial for the growth and development of the Church in so many different areas with very different needs and aspirations. 

This psalm was written when David was both in dangers of trouble and in temptation to sin.

1. It begins with prayer and complaint although not without some assurance of speeding in his request and concludes with joy and praise (v. 7-11). So that hence we may take direction and encouragement, both in our pleas and in our thanksgivings, and may offer both to God, in singing this psalm.

David’s prayers and complaints, by the lively acting’s of faith, are here, all of a sudden turned into praises and thanksgivings; “his sackcloth is loosed, he is girded with gladness, and his hallelujahs are as fervent as his hosannas”. Observe,

1. How he prepares himself for the duty of praise
2. With reference to God’s providences.
3. With reference to the worship of God.
4. How he excites himself to the duty of praise (v. 8): He will awake early to this work, early in the morning, to begin the day with God, early in the beginnings of a mercy.

III. How he pleases himself, and even prides himself, in the work of praise; so far is he from being embarrassed to own his duties to God, and dependence upon him, that he resolves to praise him among the people and to sing unto him among the nations.

These intimates,

1. That his own heart was much affected and enlarged in praising God.
2. That he desired to bring others in to join with him in praising God. David, in his psalms, which fill the universal church, and will to the end of time, may be said to be still praising God among the people and singing to him among the nations; for all good people make use of his words in praising God.
3. How he furnishes himself with matter for praise. God’s mercy and truth are praised even to the heavens, while David, on earth, is endeavouring to spread his praises to the furthest.
4. How he leaves it at last to God to glorify his own name (v. 11): Be thou exalted, O God! In the praises of the church triumphant thou art exalted to the heavens, and in the praises of the church militant thy glory is throughout all the earth. Lord, exalt thyself above the heavens and above all the earth. Father, glorify thy own name. Thou hast glorified it, glorify it yet again.’ 

In the stories we read in the Gospels we see Jesus interacting with all manner of people in all manner of situations, loving them, healing them, encouraging them. He embraces all the disorderliness of our lives and loves us, just as he loved those people he met in the Gospels. We need only to abide with Jesus to see what his love means. The more we become aware that we are infinitely loved, the more we are able to share that pool of love with people who need it. ‘I call you friend!’ I let the Lord breathe that precious word across the space between us.

“I have called you friends”. We too are called friends of Jesus. We are highly favoured; we are all in our own ways unique and very special. Jesus wants us to know what is most important to him, what is closest to his heart. We need to take time to hear Jesus address us as friends.  Jesus reminds us that it is he who has chosen us.

A sign of love is that we share everything with “the beloved”. Jesus holds nothing back from his disciples; he shares with them everything, even his most intimate secrets that were revealed to him by his Father, thereby giving them the dignity and privilege of being friends. He would even lay down his life for their well-being. Jesus still invites us today into friendship with him – He wants to reveal even more things the Father has revealed to Him.

Imagine Jesus asking you repeatedly “Would you be willing to let me be your friend” and notice your response. 

Let us pray: 

Lord, you are inviting us, choosing us, to be your intimate friends, to go out in your name and to make an impact on this precious world, and bear lasting fruit.

Jesus our friend, in your company we can relax, be silent or talk, grumble or boast, gives out and complain, or feel thankful and light-hearted. You know our heart, and make allowances. We do not have to pretend. Lord, you are inviting us, choosing us, to be your intimate friends, to go out in your name into the world in which we live, and bear lasting fruit.  Amen.