Skip to main content

Advent Challenge Day 17

Luke 17

This is a very challenging passage, containing teaching that should affect every single breath we take and action we make.  The conversation regarding faith, forgiveness, and service teaches us that to lead anyone astray would bring hell and damnation to us immediately.  While it is easy to say that we forgive someone for harming us once, maybe even twice – but could we do it continuously, yet that is what Jesus demands of us.

Our call to service is often considered as serving God, but Jesus clearly shows us that we are called to serve each other, not considering it beneath us, but rather as a call directly from God.  Could we do this, often without recognition or reward?  Could we put others needs first, and not complain when we do?  I think that this is one of the most challenging parts of being a Christian – but it isn’t an optional extra, it’s the very core of our call.

The grateful leper, a Samaritan, had returned to Jesus to thank him for his healing grace, recognising the source of the miracle.  The other nine had vanished back to their lives, without comment or note of thanks.  How often do we receive miracles or blessings from God – but accept it without thought of thanks?

The final coming, the end of days, the Apocalypse, the return of the Lord — call it what you will, but the end of life as we know it has fascinated philosophers, religious and political leaders, and even ordinary folk with next to no religious beliefs since the beginning of time, before even Jesus preached about it!  When asked about the last days, Jesus described the different aspects of civilisation that would signal the end.

He compared the end of the world with the days before Noah and the Flood.  Just as that people had turned their back on God, and lived to please themselves, so it would be again at the last days.  Although this sounds familiar, the end days could come at any time – today, tomorrow, this week, next week, next month, next year, whenever!  We need to live our Christian life as if it could be today, looking to bring others into God’s love NOW!  We don’t have any time to waste.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Summer Readers

 Hi folks As we enter our summer period, please find our readings and hymns for July 2025. Each Sunday there will be a selection of parishioners reading our lessons - as shown on our list. If you're not available for the given Sunday, please feel free to ask someone to cover - and our church wardens and clergy are always available as a backup on the day. Alternatively, if you would like to read a lesson in Church, drop me a message, comment on Facebook, or speak to us at the services. We would love to add new readers of all ages, Gid's Word is for us all.  Blessings Johnny  
Post a Comment
Read more

August Hymns and Readings

 Hi folks Here's the next list for the readings, readers and hymns for our services throughout August. There are five Sundays this month, and in our normal pattern, our fifth Sunday will be a Cafe Church service in the Parish Hall. As ever - this is just a guide, if you need to swap your date - just let someone know. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to read each month, and if you'd like to join the list, please let the church wardens or the Rector know. If we need to do so, both David and the Rector are more than happy to fill in for any given reading! 
Post a Comment
Read more

AccessNI Check process

 Hi folks Please see the following pages for the process of getting our AccessNI accreditation for our Sunday School and GFS leaders and helpers. You will need to print out the pages and keep a special note of the long number provided to you by email and let me know as soon as possible. We require an Enhanced check for everyone - and use the PIN number 918066 as detailed on the first page. The second page details the forms of identification you will need to provide - one from the first group, and two from the second group. The quicker we can all get the checks completed, the sooner we can get everything back to normal and put this whole process behind us for another three years! If you can photograph yourself (by smartphone or tablet) and email (revdjohnny@gmail.com) or WhatsApp (07488371680) them to me, that'd be great. I will also be available at the Parish Hall on Monday evening from 7pm to 8pm to help you with anything you would like assistance with! If you need any help at all...
Post a Comment
Read more