home > Pastor’s Desk > 2024 > January 5th > One Things I have to say
I’m always amazed at the really cool events I’d organised for my kids to experience, so that they might have happy memories – but now they don’t remember it except the random comment someone made in the car trip on the way there or what snack was eaten. Conversely, if you make a mistake, well that one is remembered! Once I drove Andrew’s car and just lightly hit something so it ended up with an annoying 2cm scratch. The mistake is (still) there in full view to anyone who looks. Is Andrew going to remember this above the years of my devotion to him? (Not likely, but some people do remember the wrong for way too long!) If you had the choice, what one thing would you want to be remembered for? What one thing would you want your family to remember? It’s not often going to be the thing you have in mind.
‘Famous last words’ comes from the hope that you’ll be remembered for them. If you were given the privilege of being able to articulate as the important thing to say, to be remembered by all, what would it be? Would it be a reflection on your love toward someone? Would it be a directive on how to have the best life? Would it be that you wished you had done something? Someone once mused, ‘would your dying words be that you’d wished you’d spent just one more day in the office’? (Not likely.)
At these times, I would suggest your values would surface, of which, your current actions most likely represent them. (Do you: stop to show compassion? want money more than church? spend time with family? exercise regularly? Do you accept the second invitation when you see it’s better than the first?) Well, for me, as the final instalment of the ‘One Things of Scripture’, one thing I would love to say is that a life following Christ will always be, by far, the most fulfilling. Pursue it with all you have; or, more briefly ‘Pursue Christ above all else.’
Solomon, in his backsliding, wrote an entire book – Ecclesiastes – just musing over how meaningless everything seems to be, that what goes round, comes around, and recognises seasons – a different time for everything. After all his musings he has a profound conclusion:
“There is only one thing to say : Have reverence for God,
and obey His commands,
because this is all that we were created for.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Solomon’s account perhaps puts legs on my thought. How do you pursue God? By revering Him and what He says. The link Scripture has between obeying and loving is interesting and frankly a little confronting.
“If you love Me, obey My commandments.
John 14:15
But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.
1 John 2:5
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
First John 5:3
By reading His Word regularly we renew your understanding of God and what He suggests, commands and asks, as well as grasping His deep wisdom, love and grace.
How are commands not burdensome? If someone commanded me to do something I liked, like going for a walk, eating chocolate, going out for a coffee, musing over the good things of life, it would definitely not be burdensome. For me, the more I know God, the more I realise how much He loves me and is looking for my highest good. I realise He’s so in control that I need not fear anything. I realise He is wise and nothing takes Him by surprise. He can solve my biggest problems without second guessing. When I follow each of His commands I know I’m living for a higher purpose. I get glimpses of what it means to love God as a child – complete trust and no fear. He’s got this. In difficult times, I can sometimes feel like I’m blindfolded holding Daddy’s hand. Occasionally I peak out to see Him looking down at me with loving eyes. I am His and He is mine. I’m His special girl. What a great life.
This is not uniquely for me, He wants you to be His special one also. Learn what He wants and have the security and love in life that can only be found in Him. Know Jesus better and enjoy life in abundance.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. [Jesus’] purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life’.
John 10:10
Your Executive Pastor,
Kim
Let me know what you think below in the comment section and feel free to share this someone who might benefit from this Pastor’s Desk.
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Well said
Thank you Kim. We are blessed with the greatest Father. You’ve reminded this child to hold His hand with more trust and less fear.
God bless.