The first resort

In the late 1980’s I spent three years at Wesley College, Bristol, one of the then Methodist Ministerial training colleges.  At the end of that period, I and the fellow students in my year were sent out (‘stationed’, to use the correct terminology) to various places around the UK.  My family and I ended up in the village of Norton-le-Moors in the Potteries, and we spent a very enjoyable 5 years as I sought to learn the ropes of Methodist Ministry.

One of my fellow students was stationed in North Yorkshire, where he became minister of a number of rural chapels.  During his time there, one of his chapels developed a serious problem with the roof.  A special meeting was called to discuss the urgent issue and seek to find a resolution.  The cost of repair was potentially prohibitive.  After some time of discussion, without a great deal of progress, my friend suggested that they should stop talking for a while and have a time of prayer.  Immediately, one of the church stewards came back with the comment, “Nay lad, this is serious!”

I was reminded of that story when I was preparing for last Sunday’s service, which was based on one of the Bible passages for the day from the second chapter of St Paul’s first letter to his young protégé, Timothy.  In some ways, the world of the first century was not unlike our own society today. There was a widespread ignorance of God and God’s ways. Many were embracing behaviours and attitudes which grieved God.  Paul had ended the previous chapter of his letter by citing the cases of some who had deserted the Christian faith.  It wasn’t an easy time for followers of Jesus.  Paul begins the second chapter with these words, ‘The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Saviour God wants us to live’ (1 Timothy 2.1-3, The Message).

As I read the passage, I was immediately struck by Paul’s word, ‘The first thing I want you to do is pray.’  Too often we regard prayer as the place of last resort – if all else fails, we’d better pray.  But for Paul, it should be the FIRST resort.  I often think of the challenging words of 19^th century poet laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”  I firmly believe that one day we will be greatly surprised when we discover how wonderfully God has taken and used our prayers to accomplish his purposes.  Prayer really does make a difference, and if we neglect prayer then that has consequences.  John Wesley is quoted as saying, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.”  If that is true then we dare not neglect this wonderful gift that is prayer (even if we don't fully understand it!)

Note that Paul urges prayer particularly for those in authority.  Let’s face it, our government and parliament, as well as our nation, are in a mess.  We need to urgently pray for our leaders, for wisdom, courage and compassion.  We (and they) need God’s help.  We need to regard prayer as our first resort.

Firm Foundations

Many years ago, I was talking to a group of children about Jesus’ parable of the two house builders, one of whom built his house on rock, whilst the other built his house on sand.  I asked the children, "what is the first thing one needs before one starts to build?", hoping that someone would say that strong foundations were the first requirement.  I was rather surprised, therefore, when one little boy called out, “planning permission!”  Of course, he had a point.

Sue and I have begun to think about where we might be living when I retire next summer.  We have even looked at a few houses, trying to balance what we would like with what we can afford!  Having lived in a church manse for nearly 30 years, it is a long time since we owned our own home.  One of the houses which attracted our attention was up for auction.  We were a little wary of this form of sale, but the guide price seemed very reasonable, so we arranged to go and view the property.

We were able to obtain some details from the estate agents’ website, including a description and some images.  What we found rather strange was that although there were several pictures of the outside of the property and the garden, there were no images of the inside of the house.  When we were shown into the property by the agents’ representative, we soon discovered why.  Almost all the internal walls had significant cracks in them, one of which had created a gap large enough to see through the wall from the kitchen into the lounge!  Clearly the foundations of the building were in urgent need of reinforcement, and needless to say we didn’t pursue our interest in that particular property.

When the world and society around us seem to be in such chaos, it is vital that we find a secure foundation to our lives.  We live at a time where many people are filled with anxiety about the future, and everything seems so uncertain.  When troubled times come across our path, when we fact trials of differing kinds, we could easily sink under the pressure, if we don’t have that sure foundation, that rock on which we can stand firm.

In the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 28 verse 16, God says, ‘Watch closely. I’m laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true.’  The apostles Paul (Romans 9:33) and Peter (1 Peter 2:4–6) see these verses as referring to Jesus.  Jesus is, ultimately, the only sure foundation for life.  As the old hymn states,

‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand.'

At a recent prayer event which I attended, a number of small cards with Bible verses were placed on a table and we were encouraged to select one.  The card I selected contained the promise of Jesus which he gave to his disciples shortly before he left them: ‘surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28.20).  It is a promise which we find many times in the scriptures.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that whatever we face, God will be with us?  We are encouraged, ‘the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Deuteronomy 31.6). If you are going through a dark period at the moment, please find security in the knowledge that God is with you (even when you can’t sense his presence) and that ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God which is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8.28).