"You can't trust anybody."

The expression "You can't trust anybody" sounds a bit cynical, stated so baldly. But from some points-of-view, it is simply realistic. On the one hand, each of us has hidden depths in our psyche; on the other hand, we don't know what we are going to do in a strange situation till we have been in it.

In putting the Gospel onto action Jesus lived out this principle. We are told: "Jesus knew all people and did not trust himself to them." (Jn 2:24)

Whatever our hidden weaknesses are, when we put the Gospel into action, we are likely to be tested by Satan. Jesus was aware that even his closest follower, Simon Peter, could falter during such testing; so he prayed for him: 'Simon, Simon! Look, Satan has got his wish to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail; and once you have recovered, you in your turn must strengthen your brothers.' (Lk 22:32)

A cynical expression? Maybe, maybe not. But certainly, we have good reasons to watch out for and to pray for one another.

Rejoice always!

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." [Philippians 4:4]
What is the bible passage saying to us? Is it easy?

I was chatting with our housekeeper at the clothes line the other day. We were talking about people complaining. She said, "Complaining, it is the default position." I agreed.

She then said, "If people are being positive all the time, others think that they are 'up themselves'; they have an easy life; they deserve to be taken down a peg or two."

Realizing that we were complaining , she said with enthusiasm, "But its a good world!"

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

“Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called ‘children of God’.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt 5:7-10)
What is Jesus says?
What are we doing?

******
As the saying goes, “The action is where the rubber meets the road” and that is certainly shown in the second four Beatitudes. In our discussion, we worked through these sayings of Jesus.

People talk of having a “positive attitude”. We draw our positive attitude from the mercy of God which he wants to flow through us to others.

We don't find it easy to be “pure in heart” when, all around us, people are being devious and deceptive. Yet it is when we do examine and purify our motives that we find it easier to experience God. In our discussion we noticed that our "seeing God" was more striking early on, whereas our experience now is more of God's abiding presence.

We like being peacemakers but our group find that it is hard to be a peacemaker when we have to be firm with others. It can also be hard when each side in a dispute thinks that we are lining up with the other side. “You cop the flak from both sides.”

When we try do the right thing all the time, we may not experience direct persecution, but we have been “passed-over” by bosses and “left-out” by workmates and be made to feel uncomfortable by the social group.

But, as they say, "The action is where the rubber meets the road". And there is no action when you have lost your traction.

Confronting the Big Boys

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the gentle: they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall have their fill.”
(Mt 5:3-6)
Do we rely on God like Jesus did?
Do our actions attract kingdom blessing?
******
Our discussion on the first four Beatitudes took an interesting turn. While acknowledging that the Beatitudes are characteristics of Jesus and that they are based on the Old Testament understanding that the 'poor in spirit' are those who know that they need God, our discussion centred on work place bullying.

The way to handle bullying is not to retaliate, but to address the issue. This approach fits so well with the balance between the two Beatitudes "Blessed are the gentle" and "Blessed are those who...thirst for that is right."

Jesus, himself relied on the strength of his Father's Spirit as he confronted Pharisees, Saduccees, unresponsive crowds and Roman occupiers. Like the boy in our photo, confronting the sumo wrestler, Jesus was used to the "David and Goliath Situations."

Liberators

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recover of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.' (Lk 4:18)
How did Jesus liberate?
Who am I setting free?

*****

Firstly, we got into a discussion about 'anointing'. We noted that the movement of the Spirit is like oil moving over and penetrating the skin. The Spirit acts with that sort of closeness when he moves our conscience to do good and repent of evil.

Then looking at 'upon me' we discussed what Jesus did and that each of us can "do greater things" (Jn 14:12) . This led us to talk of the miracles that we had witnessed. But we had to admit that none of us have been involved with miracles like in Jesus' time. Perhaps it is because we analyse things too much.

When it comes to liberating people we don't need too much analysis. When someone falls in the street, we analyse the situation enough to see what can be done and then do it.

Then we talked about 'setting free' our neighbours, work-mates, family members, by treating them as Jesus would. Jesus got down beside us, like the mountain-rescuer in the photograph.

Light of the World

Discuss this:
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.”
(Mt 5: 14-16)
What is Jesus telling us about ourselves?
What are we doing about it?

*****
In our groups discussion, we were 'wowwed' by Jesus calling us "light of the world" and it was quickly pointed out that darkness needs only a little light!

When we looked at "seeing your good works", we realized the importance of maintaining and encouraging good work standards.

For people to "praise your Father in heaven", they need to understand our motivation. So, using appropriate ways, we need to let people know what motivates us.