Annoying Children and Their Mothers

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Luke 18:16

Holman Christian Standard Bible

¹⁶ Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

 

In rural Africa where I grew up, we used to drive to many places that you won’t find on any map. This would sometimes be on footpaths or even bundu-bashing. Often, we would decide to stop and eat lunch, choosing a spot a long way from any visible human habitation and with no telltale crisscrossing footpaths to indicate that people passed that way. Or, fortunately less often, we might puncture a tire and have to stop in order to replace the flat tire with the spare or, even worse, have to patch the tire.

When this happened, we would sit there, quietly minding our own business. We were making no noise, not even a blaring radio, and our conversation would be at normal levels, if at all. Yet, after a few minutes, someone would look up and see a child standing some ten or twenty feet away (3–6 m). A few minutes later there would be five children. Each would be wearing a short skirt or pair of short pants and maybe a well perforated top, all roughly the color of the earth around us. All were barefoot with skin also the color of the surrounding dirt. Typically, they had flies swarming about their eyes, which they never shooed away. They would stand there absolutely still, just like statues. And like little statues, they stood in absolute silence and simply stared.

The longer we lingered there, the more children would appear until we had a ring of children all around us. They stared expressionlessly at this strange sight of a stopped vehicle and strangers apparently amusing themselves.

This is how I imagine Christ’s travels were. Most people walked everywhere: there were no cars. They undoubtedly often stopped in the shade. And always there were children. At times the disciples would get a bit irritated with all these children clustering around all the time. Then when the mothers brought their children to Jesus, this must have been the last straw in their minds. Jesus put them straight, gently, and showed how much he respected the value of the little children.

Lord, help us remember the value of little children in Your kingdom.

 

 

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[1] https://thepreachersword.com/2012/07/09/jesus-loves-the-little-children/

Fellowship or Communion?

 

 

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2 Corinthians 13:14

King James Version

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 

I looked up this text in a number of English translations. The vast majority of the translations of the Greek word koinonia use “fellowship” where the King James uses the word “communion”. I asked myself what the difference between fellowship and communion is. Obviously, fellowship comes from the word “fellow” which indicates a person, in particular a friend, a companion. On the other hand, communion comes from “union” which indicates a much more personal, intimate, relationship.

When we think of Jesus Christ, the New Testament writers want us to think of a human being, so He would be a friend in a very real sense. In 1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,” the word fellowship is translated from koinonia because Jesus Christ is indeed our friend or brother.

When we think of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, we do not think of Him as a human being, but rather as a spirit. As such He would not be a fellow or a human friend, so His relationship with us is much more intimate, much more that of a true union. Paul is hoping that He will become a part of us. Therefore, the King James version probably captures Paul’s intention more accurately than the rather mechanical substitution of the majority of translations that I consulted.

Dear Lord, may Your grace and love and communion be mine today. Amen.

 

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[1] http://goministries.net/koinonia/

Great Things God Has Done

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Deuteronomy 10:21

Good News Translation

²¹ Praise him—he is your God, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that he has done for you.

Great and marvelous are Your works, O God.

 Sylvia and I drove over 8,700 miles or 14,000 kilometers through nineteen states during the months of June, July and August this year—without mishap. Closer to home, Sylvia was driving when each of our preceding two vehicles were totaled, yet she walked away from each accident. Last year she fell approximately 30 feet down a nearly vertical rock face and survived well enough so that, although she broke six or seven bones and gashed her head wide open, she is now living principally without pain.

 Cancer struck me some 16 years ago. I am still fighting it and keeping it at bay. The major reason for our trip this summer was to gain a new weapon in that battle. Since the cancer started, I have overcome West Nile Virus and have had COVID-19 and survived it well through the intervention of God and my being vaccinated. (I believe that God has given humans the wisdom and skill to develop the vast medical knowledge and skill we see in modern medicine today. He did this for our, your, and my comfort. Aren’t we denying Him if we choose to not avail ourselves of these God-given benefits?) I am also seeing, even though painful blindness struck me a year ago.

Indeed, I praise You, O God, for the great and astounding things You have done for me!

  

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[1] Sylvia in helicopter after her fall while Wil and our daughter Julia look on.

Aging Physically--Growing Spiritually

2 Corinthians 4:16

Good News Translation

¹⁶ For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day.

 

Recently, Sylvia and I were walking along the crest of La Sierra Hills in front of our home. We met a woman coming towards us who stopped, and we exchanged pleasantries.

She told us she had started her hike down by La Sierra University. She had come up past the flag on Two Bit, the hill behind the university, and then down and back up along this ridge to Pumpkin Rock. Now she was headed home the same way, although she would probably bypass Two Bit. That is a distance of probably 10 miles with lots of altitude gain. I congratulated her on the accomplishment.

“I’m 56 and having to work to keep up my fitness. It’s good to see you still climbing up here.” She complimented us. She couldn’t help but see that we were older than she.

“We’ve been doing this for 35 years now. In four more months, I’ll be 80.” I commented.

“I hope I’ll be doing as well when I get there.” She said wistfully

Yes, I do believe that our continued activity is beneficial. However, our physical being is obviously decaying. We are supporting more and more doctors. It takes us longer to go where we want to go. I used to take the Poop Rock Trail up to the top of the ridge in 13 minutes. I did that for years. I timed myself on the trail recently, and it took me 29 minutes. That’s more than double the time, but at least I made it in good spirits.

By the grace of God, my spiritual being is being renewed day after day as I allow it to be.

Dear Lord, thank You for not giving up on me! Help me in my spiritual journey day by day.

(The picture shows Sylvia and me on a summit in La Sierra Hills last January.)

 

 

 

Rejoice!

 

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Philippians 4:4

King James Version

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

 For months, well over a year, we have been watching our church services online—virtually. When we participated in our liturgical service, we would record the pieces we did, and Pastor Devo would splice all the pieces together to make a nearly seamless service. On occasion some of the pieces would get shuffled or omitted, which we always took in good humor. I missed hearing the organ. I really missed the interaction with other believers.

Things have changed. Hurray! Rejoice! For the last few weeks, we have attended in the actual sanctuary. At the church and the governor’s, request, we have been wearing masks. This does make recognizing each other a bit difficult at times. But we do get to exchange pleasantries, and more importantly, we do get to actually chat to each other. Almost everyone is full of happiness that they are back in church. They have good news to share about their own accomplishments, their families’ activities, successful medical treatments, and the like. Rejoice!

There are, of course, the usual few for whom nothing has gone well. Their car is acting up: it needs new bakes, maybe a new transmission even. Their shirt-tail cousin lost his lease on his house, or she had a bad time with Covid, or he wants a hand-out, or she won’t leave but wants to continue leaching. Their health is playing havoc with them: the back-ache just won’t go away, or their cancer is still growing after two interminable sessions of chemo.

I can’t tell these poor souls to rejoice! I can rejoice because it isn’t happening to me. But what if it is indeed happening to me? Even then I can rejoice in the Lord! I have the Lord and His promises. I rejoice that He has saved me by His grace! I rejoice that I am looking forward to better things. I can rejoice that He is working things out for me.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!

  

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[1] https://stmichaellivermore.com/blog/rejoice-midst-darkness