Gotta work on that limp!

This morning I was reflecting on a passage of Scripture from 1 Kings 18, just before old Elijah has the great BBQ challenge with the prophets of Baal. I was struck with Elijah’s words to the people of Israel: ‘Elijah then came near to all the people, and said,” How long will you go limping with two different opinions?”’ 1 Kings 18:21

It got me thinking about some of the things that might cause me to limp. Then I kind of turned it round a bit for my old brain to handle the question, and I considered some of the things that helped me NOT to limp as often as I might.

READING / REFLECTION – I read for enjoyment but I also need to read so that I can walk confidently. Over the last six to eight months I have put in place a ritual of reading the Scriptures as a reflective exercise. Rather than just getting the words of the Bible in me, I deliberately seek to get me into the Bible. Does it make a difference? I don’t seem to limp as badly as previous.

PRAYER – Flowing out of the above ritual has grown an enhancement of my prayer life. I read, reflect and then allow my reflection to flow into a time of personal worship and prayer. I am not the world’s best pastor but be assured that each week you and your family are prayed for at least once and often more than once as I bring the church that God has given me responsibility for, before him in prayer. I don’t seem to limp as badly when I pray and who knows, others my walk a little better because of my prayers?

PRIORITIES – Over the last twelve months I have become very mindful of the issue of priorities. There are any number of things that call upon my time, and many of them are good and positive things; but I have had cause to be more ruthless about the many things that invade my life. A check of my birth certificate indicates that unless my dad was called Methuselah, chances are I have lived much longer than I am going to live!

Being pastor of a young church is fun .. and exhausting! Increasingly there are many ‘good and worthy’ things that I do not attend. Last night was a combined churches prayer meeting for the Jesus All about Life campaign. A great initiative, but I do quite like my wife and I like to rest and have almost forgotten what a night at home during the week is like. So I stayed home.

I was asked to attend an ‘important’ meeting this coming Saturday morning and said no, simply because Ronnie and I enjoy a slow relaxed start to a Saturday that is invariably a busy one for me. Taking some control of my priorities has helped me to walk a steadier gait.

WORSHIP - Some months ago I was at a meeting where I was asked; ‘John, if you didn’t HAVE to go church on Sunday morning, would you still go?’ My answer was simple – it was an emphatic yes. Corporate worship has been my life support for more than 26 years. I get such a buzz out of the gathering of people for worship that I don’t understand why more people don’t sign up for it! I love the preparation and then the occasion and the after party!! Wouldn’t miss it for the world and I have no doubt that it helps me to walk straight.

PEOPLE – The key to my growth in faith apart from the grace of God has without doubt been other people. My world is so much bigger than it used to be. As I have consistently risked building new relationships the blessings are way ahead of the train wrecks. Every person reading this piece of trifle has contributed to my life in some positive way. We may have had our moments but that is part of relationships.
Knowing that every single person is created in the image of God has been a life changing truth for me. In one way I always walk with a limp because I am as broken as the next person; and yet in another my commitment to follow this Jesus and hang in with some of his strange mates has given me new strength and hope - but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Thanks for helping me walk straight - John