Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
6 December 2009
There's never any real joy when we have to listen to predictions ………….
For there is always someone 'going on about this or that or the other …', and sooner or later you have closed your ears to the whole scenario if you have not as yet walked away. It would seem however that the one charged with making such pronouncements is convinced of its credibility that they place their heart and soul at the very centre of what they are seeking to do.
So, what of the predictions of John the Baptist?He was 'charged' with demanding from the People of God the completion of a task before the expected Messiah would make an appearance and before anything of God's rule would enlighten the earth ………… the 'demand' being very smartly followed up with a warning of what this being was going to be like . Shall we REALLY bother then, for we are being asked to place our lives into his hands and accept the consequences of our actions ………. In a word, there is CHANGE in the air, and that was and still is a very naughty word in anybody's language, and especially when it comes to ecclesiastical matters: there is a status quo to be upheld and why should ANYONE wish to alter it in any way …….. after all, it has worked for …………
Now, that's where we begin to differ ………. For, has it REALLY worked: all OUR effort for what?The whole purpose of the prophet 'machine' as I understand it, is to bring the Word of God to His people and to bring it in such a way that it causes folk to STOP: THINK: ACT and REACT, but it is aimed at something happening, and not a scenario of 'simply doing nothing'
- So, where does our 'PREPARATION' manifest itself?
- Where does our re-orientation to Kingdom work BEGIN?
- What are we going to allow to be changed within us so that others will ask the question: 'WHY?'
- How are we making ourselves READY to receive the 'King of Kings' and 'Lord of Lords'?
- OR, are we simply prepared to 'walk away' from the message that gives us all another chance 'to begin again'?