Takeley Chapel

Reflection on Imperfection

Posted on Aug 5, 2018 by M Emlyn Humphries

Ephesians 4:1-16

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

…We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

John 6:24-35

….Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

… Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

In our lives as Christians, if my life is anything to go by, we will encounter lots of people who believe they have the perfect set of beliefs, the perfect church government and the perfect right to tell us what to do. Much energy will be spent defining status and defending hierarchies instead of living the life. In my experience I have encountered trickery, craftiness and deceitful scheming. A lot of actual church life is very good as it draws us into a community of love, God’s rule.

It is important that we are taught to live from our relationship with God; that we work to know him. We come to know him in doing as he does: loving. God’s essential nature is love. We are to love him and love our neighbours. Our lives are founded on the life and work of Christ; Jesus fills us and nurtures us through prayer and study, humility and gentleness, and community.

We may be painfully aware of our failings but in our loving and serving God and our neighbour we will know redemption. We will pray: forgive us our debts as we forgive the debts of others and find our identity in Christ, bearing with others in patience and love. Our faith will produce good works and we will know ourselves being changed. Our weaknesses will become strengths.

Posted in meeting, News, Teaching | Tagged church, love, prayer | 2 Comments

Reflection on How the Life We Live Matters

Posted on Jul 22, 2018 by M Emlyn Humphries

Ephesians 2:11-22
…He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, … he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father…

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
… And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Through Israel, God teaches about holiness and how the life we live in the here and now is a consecrated life, a life made holy by God’s presence in their practices. This was for the blessing of the nations and God’s way of showing how each life matters as does each community; it didn’t bring them merit but was the message of the Kingdom of God that bound them together.

The life we live matters; how we treat our bodies, the food we eat, caring for the land and creatures we share creation with. The people of the covenant, Israel, knew that they were accepted by God and that he had provided a way so that they could know the truth and live a life of blessing.

Jesus came to his own and taught and healed. Many were drawn from across Syria and Jesus had compassion on them all. What does the new life he offers look like? Impossible; full of dos and do nots? The people reach out to Jesus and are healed in their act of faith, which did not depend on where they were from or the life they lived.

Life is complicated, much separates us one from another; Jesus offers peace to all. We need peace to live a life of blessing. Paul’s gospel is, we have peace in Christ and are called to a life of blessing. The blessing is in Christ in all circumstances, who opens our eyes and ears to the blessings of God so that here and now we can live in the Kingdom of God, bound together in forgiveness and empowered by resurrection life of Christ. This peace leads us to treat our bodies with reverence, love one another, share food and water and care for all creatures.

We find ourselves following Jesus into the place of prayer, alone with God, studying and learning from him, looking to find him in the scriptures. And as Jesus is formed in us by the narrow way of compassion and a love. The wide way of pride and violence leads to destruction. Christ is formed within us as we live in the Kingdom of God, the rule of God, with faith, hope and love.

The life we lead will be a blessing and, as others find Jesus in us, they will reach out to us as they did to his cloak, and we will see the healing of the nations. The life of the rule of God releases healing power. God will bring people to us and as they touch Christ in us they will be healed. Our place is to live the life of Christ within, a consecrated life, a life made holy by God’s presence in our practices.