Wideplace

Better known as Brother Lawrence, Nicholas Herman was by his own admission a clumsy oaf who struggled to do anything well. As a result he turned his attention to doing whatever he did in the conscious awareness of being in the presence of God.

The collection of his words and letters is entitled The Practise of the Presence of God and is one of the must have reads for the believer. (The best translation that I have found is that by E. M. Blaiklock and is readily available online).

Here is a brief quotation that I think summarises his attitude to this practise:

“What can God have that gives him greater satisfaction than that a thousand thousand times a day all his creatures should thus pause to withdraw and worship him in the heart.”

This simple, yet profound statement by a humble lay brother of the barefoot Carmelites, who is now closer to God than before, is well worth meditating on and applying to our daily lives. Better still, read the book, it’s simple, honest and will be a real source of blessing.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God – Matthew 5:8

If the objective requirement that God demands purity in His people is not enough (although it should be), this beatitude should persuade us.

It is the pure in heart who will see God. Of course, one day we will all be transformed, and we will all stand arrayed in pure robes before His majesty, but, until then, our sanctification determines our ability to see Him.

Seeing God is the answer to our purity, God’s loving response. Just as those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied, so the pure in heart will be able to see Him in His purity more perfectly.

Surely this should drive us to become more pure in heart.

Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? – Job 1:8

In the introductory scene of the book of Job God tells Satan to consider Job: blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. This is an incredible statement to make about an individual, all the more so when you realise that it is God Himself who makes it!

The question is: could God say this of you?

If not, consider carefully what in your life is the barrier to this description applying to you; God knows all that you do, think and are. Once you have established what that barrier is, then ask God to give you grace to remove it from your life.

Wouldn’t it be great if knew that God could apply His description of Job to you?

And they watched Jesus … so that they might accuse him

The lines were drawn from the outset. The Pharisees were watching Jesus to see if He would ‘break’ the law. Jesus in turn was watching the Pharisees, looking for a glimmer of love, or willingness to help rather than hinder, to use their religion to heal rather than to harm.

This story illustrates all that is wrong with religion that is devoid of God’s love. Following the rules was more important than actually loving and helping one another.

When Jesus questions them it is not on a point of  law, but a challenge to their hearts. Jesus calls the man to Him and brings a single specific act of healing to the floor. How Jesus frames the question is vital. This is not a theological question but a philanthropic one: is it lawful to help, to heal, to do good?

It is their silence that angers Jesus. They know what is right, but their religion is more important to them than their fellow man, than loving their neighbour. The would rather leave a man maimed than revise their religion.

Jesus’ act of healing is a stern rebuke to the Pharisees and to all who allow religion to take precedence over love. Too often we’d rather allow someone else to be hurt than to back down or rethink our motives.

My aim for 2009 is to my fellowship of believers built up and blessed in every way, to refuse to use religion as a weapon against the body of Christ, and not to remain silent when Jesus challenges me or others about healing rather than hindering.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God

I can picture the scene in heaven. God has assembled the heavenly host. His Son is about to be born into His own creation. God asks the question: “Who wants to make the announcement?” In an instant every angel arm is raised aloft, determined to be the one who gets to tell the world about Jesus.

“I only need one of you” God tells the assembled multitude.

Later as the chosen angel appears in the sky over the Bethlehem fields the rest of the heavenly host watch with bated breath while the announcement is made. Barely able to contain their excitement they listen intently as the message is given. And then, they can contain themselves no longer and in an instant the poor shepherds see the entire heavenly host, revealed in their glory, worship and adoration saying as one:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased”

This story was too big for them not to be a part of! They couldn’t stay away from it. This story is too big for us not to be a part of it. We need to play our part with the whole host of heaven in worshipping our great God and Saviour this Christmas, and every day as we enjoy the fruits of His incarnation in our lives.