Learning life’s lessons “as you walk along the road”

WHEN do you think you learn the most about how to follow God? I reckon most of us learn our biggest lessons "as we walk along the road" - as we chat through the everyday experiences of life (joys, trials, struggles, doubts, fears etc) with other believers. And that is how it has always been!

Most scholars believe that the book of Deuteronomy is one long impassioned sermon to the people of God just before they enter the promise land (Moses will not enter so these are his last words before Joshua takes over). And part of his sermon is a reinstatement of the law in Deuteronomy 5 (given first at Sinai in Exodus 20). Listen to what he says IMMEDIATELY after he gives the law

Deuteronomy 6.4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

What is the context for cementing and learning the greatest body of law that has ever been given to mankind? At home, at the gate, at the door, when you wake up in your bed, before you go to sleep, at the meal table….when you walk along the road! - that is how we “impress them on our hearts.”

Jesus was no different. When and how did Jesus do most of his teaching? It was in the context of ordinary and everyday life…literally as he walked along the road (the second half of Luke’s gospel is entirely based around Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and the cross - for example see Luke 17.11 or 19.1).

So why do I say all this. Well for two reasons, firstly, because it shows the importance of our Mission Groups, accountability relationships and general “hang out time with Christian friends”. Sunday teaching is great (I hope!!!) but for it really to be impressed on your heart you need to be discussing it and applying it during every day life.

But secondly, I say this because it has been bought home to me recently with the birth of Jacob - lots of things have been “impressed upon my heart” that I knew before but that have become much more real to me. It has been the context of everyday life experiences and discussions that I have learnt. Here are just some of the lessons (as you’ll see, I was reading through the Psalms during the time of his birth).....

(1) Psalm 103 talks about God being a father who cares for us. I have always known this and believed it. But to compare my love for Jacob as a fraction of the perfect love that the perfect father has for us his children blows me away. WOW! Thank you Lord.

(2) Psalm 139 talks about God knowing Jacob intimately way before I did. However much I know and love him, God knows and loves him more. In fact, there is no-where he (or I) can go to escape his presence. WOW! Thank you Lord.

(3) Psalm 145 (and many other places) talks about commending the works of the Lord to the next generation. I had never really appreciated the responsibility of raising children in the fear of the Lord before and suddenly I am looking at how other parents do it and asking for advice.

(4) In Luke 18.15 Jesus touches (probably holds) a baby (not a child, a baby!) and says to his disciples that they must receive the kingdom of God like a child. Why like a child? Well here are some thoughts I have had whilst holding Jacob (a) he has nothing to offer, he is just glad to be in my arms (b) he is weak and vulnerable and completely dependant on our care for him (c) he instinctively knows the difference between being held by one of us compared to being alone or in the arms of someone else. And there is lots more than that, but it does make me wonder if I have really got that childlike humility, trust, dependence & closeness to God.

I wonder what lessons God is wanting to teach you this week in the ordinary and everyday? I wonder what truths he wants to “impress upon your heart” as you walk along the road with others. Life circumstances (joys and trials) are some of the greatest teachers God has given us - listen to what the Spirit says as you walk along the road this week!

MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM EXODUS: PEOPLE OF PILGRIMAGE - 23/8/09

Yesterday Matt took us through Exodus 17.1-7 and the story of the water coming from the Rock. We looked at the story in 3 ways.

(1) THE OBVIOUS STORY. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10.1-13 that the Israelites are an example and a warning of what NOT to do as the people of God. The Israelites had hardened their hearts which meant they grumbled and complained against God and his leader, Moses.

(2) THE SUBTLE STORY. The Israelites wanted punishment. They were bringing a charge against Moses for bringing them into the desert where they would die.  God tells Moses that he will stand on the rock and Moses is to strike the rock. God takes the punishment on himself. 1 Corinthians 10.4 tells us that Christ was the rock. Christ takes the punishment as years later on the cross he cries out “I am thirsty (John 19.28).”

(3) THE PROFOUND STORY. Jesus in John 7.37-39 stands up and says “if anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink.” Not only is Jesus the real rock which takes the punishment, he gives us the real water that satisfies us - the Holy Spirit. Jesus offers each of us the gift, the presence and the drenching of the Holy Spirit so that we can have a real experience of God and be equipped to live the life God calls us to. The only prerequisite is that you say to God “I’m thirsty”!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

(1) Meditate on Psalm 42 and how David thirsted for God in his spiritual desert. Use this as a prayer to God for your own life.

(2) Pray together that God would fill and empower you with the Holy Spirit - that you would “taste that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34.8)

(3) Read 1 Corinthians 10.1-13 and discuss how Paul applies the Israelite story to the Corinthians and we can apply the Israelite story to our lives.

(4) When and why do you find that you grumble and complain (at God or other people)? If so, how do Jesus’ words in John 7.37-39 and Jesus’ experience in John 19.28-37 help you?

(5) Do you feel that the suffering and “wilderness experiences” in your life have meant you have hardened your heart to God? If so ask the Holy Spirit to soften your heart so that you can (a) trust God again and (b) taste his goodness and know the joy of salvation once again.

MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM EXODUS: PEOPLE OF PILGRIMAGE - 2/8/09

Rich Darnton took us through our next chunk from the book of Exodus, looking at the theme of "God The Rescuer" from chapters 4-12. He made 6 points from the passage.

(1) God hears the cries of his people and is concerned (Ch3.7).

(2) God loves impossible situations because he “gets to strut his stuff” (Ch6.6).

(3) Things can look like they are getting worse instead of better (Ch5.21 + 6.22).

(4) God rescues in ways that are completely different from what we expect.

(5) Faith is required to enter into what God is doing.

(6) It is not just rescue God does, it more than that….stupendous blessing.

Rich ended by issuing us with a HEALTH WARNING. Often in scripture God does not always want to take us out of our tough situations because he wants to use adversity to teach us. James 1.2-5 tells us we learn to persevere in trials which make us mature and complete. God uses adversity for the benefit of his children. So when faced with a tough situation we should on the one hand pray for God to move but on the other hand trust him that he’ll provide everything we need to persevere in the adversity. Often when faced with tough situations we can can stop crying out because you don’t think God cares. This passage reminds us not to make that mistake.

Questions for discussion
- Which of Richs 6 points did you find encouraging, challenging or comforting for situations you are facing at the moment? Why?
- How do you respond to tough situations? How does James 1.2-5 help you? (see also Romans 5.1-5, 1 Peter 1.3-8 + Hebrews 12.4-12).
- What can you learn from a situation you are currently in? How is God maturing you through adversity?
- How can you help each other (in future) to not to think God isn’t working when life is tough?