She had already made quite an impression on me during the worship service, and now, during the coffee afterwards she approached me for a talk. I hesitate to guess a woman’s age, but she was not, by any stretch of imagination neither young nor middle aged. And yet so full of life and spiritual vitality. She loved Jesus, and she could not keep quiet about it.

‘I was a missionary in India for ten years’ she told me. ‘We went into villages that had never heard the name of Jesus, and we saw people saved, healed and freed from evil spirits’. ‘Hallelujah’ I responded, leaving her room to continue. Continue she did, but I had not expected what came next. There was a twist in her story that through which the Spirit spoke to me and told me to share what I heard.

‘When I was 18 years old, God called me to go abroad as a missionary’ she continued her story, ‘but then other things happened’. She did not go, she got married and time passed. Later, she got ill and fell into a depression to the extent of being suicidal. For 10 years she was not well, but by the grace of God, she was brought out of her darkness and into his glorious light. And then, at the age of 58, she finally lived out the call God had given her in her youth, and spent the next ten years in India, proclaiming the gospel in word and power, bringing Jesus to the people and the people to Jesus.

58 years old – 40 years after God had called her. It was at that moment the Spirit spoke: Tell them that it is not too late!

For you, who heard a specific call from God, but somehow never got round to acting on it – It is not too late!

For you, who heard a call to apply, or maybe re-apply for officership, but never went through with it – It is not too late!

For you who live with a broken relationship, with a mother or father, a son or daughter, a previous precious friend, you can stretch out your hand in reconciliation - It is not too late!

For you, who have been paralysed not to act by the voice of the prince of lies telling you, over and over again ‘it is too late, you should have done it then’. Now, instead, listen to the voice of the Prince of Peace telling you: It is not too late!

I don’t know who ‘them’ or ‘you’ are, but I felt the Spirit said: Tell them that it is not too late. 

Paul said it this way: ‘I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.’

Yesterday is gone, and no amount of thinking or regretting can change it, but God’s love is new today - today is the day of salvation.

Tomorrow is dangerous, because often tomorrow never comes. Today you will say ‘Tomorrow’, and again tomorrow you will say ‘tomorrow’ and so push the time of God’s favour ahead of you instead of receiving it.

‘Forget the former things’ the Lord says ‘don’t dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’. The very next word through the prophet is ‘Now!’ It is today that is the time of God’s favour. God is stretching out his hand towards you today, inviting you to grab it, and telling you ‘It is not too late’.

With Paul I pray and plead: ‘Do not receive God’s favour in vain.’ Don’t postpone it till tomorrow, don’t wait for someone else to act first.

Make that call, write that mail, fill in that application – today is the day of salvation.

Now is the time of God’s favour – it is not too late!

Now may the God of peace…

equip you with all you need for doing his will.

May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

All glory to him forever and ever!

Amen!

2. Cor. 6:2

Isaiah 43:18-19

2. Cor. 6:1

Hebrews 13:20-21

Yesterday I found myself in a bar. Well, truth be told, I had consciously walked into the bar, looking for something I could not find anywhere else. My nerves were in shambles and as I sat down at the bar (in the bar) I gave in to the urge for a strong drink. I knew I shouldn’t, and even the bartender suggested I didn’t, but I could not help it. I have never done light, zero was in this situation out of the question, so I went for the real thing – calories and all.

The reason I was in the bar was because it was the only place in the airport showing World Cup football, and Denmark was about to play their opening match against Peru. The reason I needed a drink was to have an excuse to sit at the bar and watch the game, and the reason zero was out of the question was that the time for clean sheets was over, goals were needed too.

The game was a bit tenser than I would have preferred. Denmark did not play well at all, to the point of conceding a penalty – which Peru treated as a Rugby field kick – and at half time it was still 0-0. Apart from a man sitting next to me in the bar it did not seem like anyone else was watching the game, but they certainly realised something was happening when Denmark scored.

I punched the air several times shouting rather loudly ‘yes, yes, yes.’ I did not think about, it came very naturally, and honestly, I couldn’t care what people thought about me. Looking around I realised I had drawn some attention and smiles from the other customers. I looked around, held my hand up as apologizing and said ‘I’m sorry, but I am Danish’

Sitting in church this morning as two soldiers were enrolled and three adherents accepted, I felt the urge to punch the air and shout ‘yes, yes, yes,’ but I didn’t. When the gospel was laid out simply and clearly by our corps officer with an invitation to place your life in God’s hands, I wanted to punch the air and shout ‘yes, yes, yes,’ but I didn’t. As we left the corps, after a service full of blessings and encouragement, maybe I should have punched the air and loudly shouted ‘yes, yes, yes,’ but I didn’t.

Wonder what would happen if I, and maybe others with me, stopped behaving so nicely and well trained, stopped trying so hard not to cause offence, and rather gave room for expressing enthusiasm and joy over Jesus, what he means to me and what he does in people’s lives? 

Wonder what would happen if I began to just let it out, not first thinking about the situation and surroundings?

Wonder what would happen, if I more often would live in such a way, that I would have to look around the room, hold my hands up and explain my actions by a simple ‘I am sorry, but I am a Jesus follower?’

Wonder if not people might smile a bit at me, and yet find it appealing and maybe even attracting?

Wonder what would happen, if we began behaving in such a way, that would demand an explanation?

As you enter a new appointment you are not beginning a new book. There already exists a book where you are going, and many chapters have been written before you arrived. Rather, you now need to become part of that ongoing story. For that to happen you need to be accepted into the story by the people of the story, you cannot force your way into it. This requires listening, asking questions, trying to understand - getting to know the stories that has become part of the book so far.

At the same time, when you arrive a new chapter is to be written of this ongoing story. A new chapter begins with a blank sheet of paper. It follows on and continues the previous chapters, and yet it will be different. It is an opportunity for a new beginning, a chance to explore where God is leading in this new era. 

The important thing to recognise is that you are not the sole author of this new chapter, it is a community exercise. Together with the fellowship to which you are sent, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will be part of writing God's story. You will be able to influence the story to the degree you are open to be influenced by the fellowship and the Spirit.

Finally, a new chapter is to be written in another book - your book. Also here, many chapters have already been written, full of experiences, joy, pain, victories, defeats. While never denying what has gone before, as this is what has made you what you are today, you also need to start on a blank sheet of paper. This means being open for new things, new relationships, and not letting yourself, or your surroundings, be tied unnecessarily down by your past.

It is a new day and a new God-adventure awaits you. Embrace it in faith, let God guide your hand as you write, and may you experience how God will not only guide and sustain you, but surprise you abundantly.

Easter is over.

It probably will not have escaped any readers of this that Billy Graham last week went from life to life or, as we say in The Salvation Army was promoted to Glory. Many have written tributes to this great man of God and I have no intention of adding to this. Actually, I have never heard Billy Graham speak nor read any of his books, and yet he has for me always been the almost ultimate symbol of a Christian with such a high level of integrity that even the world had to acknowledge it.

One reaction differed from all the others I read. In an opinion piece in The Guardian Matthew Avery Sutton writes

“WhenBilly Grahamstands before the judgment seat of God, he may finally realize how badly he failed his country, and perhaps his God. On civil rights and the environmental crisis, the most important issues of his lifetime, he championed the wrong policies.”

And he continues his opening of his piece with stating that “Billy Graham was on the wrong side of history.”

Reading through the piece I think it would be fair to say that the writer’s opinion is based not so much on what Billy Graham did, or did not do, but that he did not fit in to the agenda of Matthew Sutton. There is little doubt that racial tension and global warming are very important issues, which also can, and should, be addressed from a Christian perspective. I do wonder, however, that if Billy Graham had spoken and written extensively on these matters, but never stressing personal salvation and holiness, whether Matthew Sutton would have questioned this?

This made me think of the danger of judging Christian leaders on what they do not say or do, rather on what they do say and do. Billy Graham was convinced, I am sure, that his call was to present the gospel of Jesus Christ and lead people to accept Jesus as Lord and live in obedience to him. He pursued this calling to the extent that he ‘kept quiet’ and probably away from many other important issues. It does not necessarily mean he had not opinions about other issues, nor that he believed they were not important also from a Christian point of view – only that he was focussed on what his calling was and probably saw the danger that, if he involved himself in other issues, would lose, or at least diminish his evangelistic impact and authority.

Maybe he did not march with Martin Luther King, but he did refuse to segregate the crowds in his crusades back in the fifties. Neither did Graham, as far as I know, publicly ever question Luther King’s evangelistic commitment, nor address what to him almost certainly was the questionable sexual morality of Luther King. He did not see that as his calling, but probably millions of people either are in or on their way to heaven due to his ministry. And millions upon millions of people of all races live in a different world due to the ministry of Luther King, who was as focussed and committed to his calling, as Graham was to his.

No one can be all things to all people, and we serve our Lord better by being focussed and committed to what he is calling us to do and be, rather than being diverted to what others might see as an important agenda. Even if it is important, it does not mean it is right or necessary, for us to get involved, as we otherwise might find ourselves ‘beating in the air’ and ‘running aimlessly’ (1. Cor. 9:26).

We serve Jesus best by discerning ‘what is best’ (Phil. 1:10), by being 100% committed and focussed on what he is calling us to do, and then bless those that have another agenda (or calling) rather than questioning why they are not following ours. Let us focus not on what other do not say or do, but what they do say and do and, when it is according to the plan and purpose of Christ, bless them.

We are all just single members of the body of Christ, but when each part plays his part, according to their calling, then the whole body is built up and God’s kingdom manifested and extended in this world. If the ear tries to function as a mouth, or a foot as a finger, Jesus is not glorified, nor will his Kingdom be manifested.

I am grateful to Matthew Sutton for making me think and realise that what I should do is to once again commit to what it is Jesus has called me to invest my life in. I will focus on that calling and not be diverted to other (good) causes, which is not part of my calling. And at the same time, I should stop judging others just because they do not live according to my calling, but bless them, as they respond to their calling, and rejoice that as we join together, we can be a mighty Army fighting for the King and his kingdom.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/21/billy-graham-wrong-side-history?

I am aware that Paul says he has ‘become all things to all people’, but that was exactly so he ‘might save some’ – focussed on his calling

Christmas is a time of joy – or at least it is supposed to be. Right from the beginning, the angel told the shepherds: "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10b) and when the wise men arrived at Mary and Joseph they were "overjoyed" (Matt. 3:10). While there also is pain in the Christmas story, as in the senseless slaughter of all male boys below the age of two in Bethlehem, or the, though not explicitly mentioned, but surely very real pain for Mary in giving birth, the overriding message is joy. The story of how God in Christ emptied himself of all his glory and was born as a vulnerable baby right into our world is not only an amazing but joyful story.

There is, however, also an element of sadness in the Christmas story, as John tells it in his gospel. John writes, not as a reporter at the scene describing the events as they happened, but as a theologian, looking back and explaining the meaning of the events, telling what really happened and what might get lost and forgotten behind angels, shepherds, wise men etc. In a few verses, he captures the essence of the Christmas message ending with the utterly amazing and totally mind blowing statement that

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only true Son,

who came from the Father full of grace and truth.

Even when only partly understood, and I doubt any of us has the ability to fully understand the depth and richness of this truth, it cannot help but fill us with joy – especially when we can add our own personal 'Amen' to when John says "We have seen his glory!"

I need, however, to get back to the sad part, not because I want to spoil the joy, but to remind us of the stark reality John also portrays. Just a few lines before John penned the statement above he tells that, "He came to that which was his own" and then continues with the sad dimension of the Christmas gospel

But his own did not receive him.

This, of course, is not a reflection solely on the events of Christmas, but written as a reflection of the life and ministry of Jesus between his birth and ascension. This sad summing up does not reflect upon Jesus, but on his people, his own people. God himself came to them, walked in their midst, reached out to them, wanted to ‘gather them as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings' – but they were not willing (Matt. 23:37).

Jesus was not what the Jews leaders had expected, he did not fit into their ideas of how the Messiah should look, act and speak. They were not able, or rather willing to let go of their preconceived ideas, their traditions, not to mention their positions, and so they did not see the Son of God. They did not behold his glory but saw only an annoying and troublesome Galilee, whom they wished would go away.

It is easy, with the benefit of hindsight, to shake our heads in disbelief over the people. The truth, however, is that we, as they, stand in the danger of not recognising, and therefore not receiving, God when he comes to us. We risk being limited, maybe even bound, by our ideas and beliefs, our past experiences and understanding, our fear of stepping into the unknown, with the danger of losing position, respect and, maybe more than anything else, control and so, as the Jewish leaders, turn our back to God, not receiving him when he comes to us.

Many years ago, I participated in a church planting conference. As I arrived at the church where the conference was held a young man caught my eye. He looked a little bit scruffy, at least compared to all the leaders arriving for the conference. His jeans were well worn and his T-Shirt washed more than one time too many. His hair was somewhat long, some days had passed since his last shave and, maybe worst of all actually wore an earring. As I smiled at him I concluded that he had come to see someone from the church, and rushed past to avoid being approached by him.

It turned out he was one of the main speakers, a leader of a radical church planting ministry that was reaching into areas where no established church dared to go! He did not fit my expectations, my mind was closed, and I almost missed the blessing of his ministry, because surely God could not come through someone like him?

As we celebrate Advent, let us remember that God not only came, he will not only come, but that he is coming, again and again, to his people. Rather than close our minds and hearts, let us, as Oswald Chambers said

"Live in a constant state of expectancy,

and leave room for God to come in as He decides."

Let us change our mindset from a default position of ‘This cannot be God' every time something different or new happens in or around us, but rather ask ‘Is this you God?". When we are willing to be open our door, to take the risk, then he will come in and share fellowship with us. We will then see ‘his glory, the glory the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truths" in unexpected ways, unexpected places and through unexpected people.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus – and let us be ready to receive you.

Happy Advent.