Search Results

Allow us to begin with a quote. One of the easiest ways to get a group of ministers to shift uncomfortably with guilt is to ask them how their families are coping with ministry. Craig Hamilton. Wisdom in Ministry . Ministry is a high calling, demanding immense energy, time, and emotional investment. The sacrifices a minister is called to make produce a very challenging question. How does the family fit in to such a life? Too often, ministers and their spouses are pulled in opposite directions, trying to be present for both their congregation and their children; sometimes feeling they are failing at both. As you can imagine (or you’ve experienced yourself), many ministers experience the sharpest tension on Sundays. For us, parenting four young children at church was so much more difficult than managing them at home or in the park! The demands of ministry—preaching, leading services, running programs, and engaging with the congregation—collide with the needs of young children. Let’s be honest, little ones often struggle to sit still; they feel the absence of their parent, who’s up front on stage, or they crave attention after a long morning at church. It’s especially difficult when those you’ve invited for Sunday lunch simply don’t engage with the kids or later, when your own children won’t help out with your efforts at hospitality. BEING THE CHILD OF A MINISTER Ministers' children often face unique pressures, shaped by both the expectations of the church and the demands of ministry life. One of the greatest challenges is unrealistic expectations . They are often assumed to be spiritually mature, well-behaved, and knowledgeable about theology simply because of their parents’ role. Many feel the weight of needing to ‘know the right answers’ and behave impeccably, leading to pressure or resentment. One of our children was once told by a church leader to ‘do better because you’re Gareth and Claire’s child’. It can also be lonely . Congregations may assume ministers' families are well-supported, yet they can feel isolated. People may be hesitant to befriend them, perhaps even feeling a bit intimidated by their position as a minister’s child. In addition, they often struggle to find peers who truly understand their life experience. Ministers' children often feel overlooked yet scrutinised . While their needs may be sidelined due to their parents’ responsibilities, they also live in a ‘goldfish bowl’, with their behaviour constantly observed. At the same time, they may hear criticism of their parents, leaving them unsure of how to respond to negative comments about someone they love. We’ve known of church leaders who’ve had to step down from their positions. What does that do to the child(ren)? How do they view God after such an experience? Their lives are shaped by someone else’s schedule . Pastoral emergencies and ministry commitments can mean missing out on family time or social events, reinforcing the feeling that church always comes first. One of our children once said to me (Gareth), ‘Dad, you meet regularly, one-to-one, with so many people. Why don’t you do that more with me?’. Ouch! Pastors’ kids may also struggle with the confidentiality factor , hearing sensitive information they must keep private without knowing how to process it. Finally, they may be forced into stereotypes , either expected to be perfect, or dismissed as rebellious. When a minister comes to understand these challenges, seeing them clearly and recognising their impact, they can take action to support their children with grace. They are better able to ensure their child(ren) feel valued not for their role in ministry but simply as beloved members of the family. SHIFTING THE PERSPECTIVE The goal of reflecting on these tensions isn’t to induce guilt but to encourage a healthier balance. Ministry will always be demanding, but it is possible to create rhythms that allow both church and family to thrive. More importantly, when we feel weak or we think we’re failing, we can rest in the reality that God’s grace is sufficient for us. Our struggles as ministry families are not signs of failure but invitations to rely more deeply on him. Here are a few key principles to consider. REFRAME YOUR CALLING Ministry is not just about serving the church—it also includes shepherding your family well. Your role as a parent and spouse is part of your ministry, not something in competition with it . When we reframe our perspective, we begin to see that faithfulness at home is just as significant as faithfulness in church leadership. When done well, in God’s strength, these twin roles can enhance each other. Parent and minister aren’t incompatible roles but mutually supportive. INVOLVE YOUR FAMILY IN MINISTRY, BUT WITH BALANCE Rather than ministry being something that takes you away from your family, look for ways to involve your children in ways that are age-appropriate and enjoyable for them. This could be small acts of service, being part of the church’s social life, or simply seeing their parents enjoy ministry. However, be mindful not to impose expectations on them that create pressure. BE HONEST ABOUT THE CHALLENGES One of the most powerful things ministry parents can do is to acknowledge the difficulties rather than pretending everything is fine. Talk with your spouse and children about the challenges, and give them permission to express frustrations and emotions honestly. It’s okay to say, ‘This is hard, and we’re figuring it out together.’ Claire is known in our family for asking, ‘What can I pray for you, darling?’ Unsurprisingly, prayer works and what’s going on in heads and hearts is brought into the light. FIND SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY Ministry can feel isolating, but you are not alone. Seek out relationships with other ministry families who understand the unique challenges you face. Encourage open conversations with trusted friends, mentors, or counsellors. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. MODEL GRACE, NOT PERFECTION Your children don’t need perfect parents; they need parents who model grace. When you mess up - when ministry gets too busy, when you snap under pressure, when you miss an important moment- be quick to apologise and show them what it looks like to rely on God’s grace. Demonstrating humility and dependence on God is one of the best gifts you can give your children. SUPPORTING YOUR CHILDREN IN MINISTRY LIFE Parenting while in ministry involves all the usual Christian parenting principles—grace, gospel-centred conversations, prayer, and nurturing faith—but with added pressure. The unique challenges of ministry life can amplify the complexities of raising children. Here are some things we’ve found helpful. TEACH KIDS TO LOVE THE CHURCH Children who engage with a diverse, multigenerational church family are more likely to remain faithful into adulthood. Ministry kids need a robust theology of the church, recognising it as a bunch of ‘sinners limping toward glory’, while at the same time vital, glorious, and part of God’s plan. Helping children appreciate this truth can shape their view of faith and community. PRACTICE SABBATH AS A FAMILY Ministry can be draining, making rest essential. Prioritising a family Sabbath—a time to delight in God, his grace, and creation—can restore joy to a family. Though challenging to implement, it’s a practice that models trust in God. RECOGNISE EACH CHILD’S UNIQUE JOURNEY Ministry impacts children differently—some thrive, others feel pressured, and some wrestle with faith. Parents must provide individualised support, recognising their children’s distinct needs and struggles. Proactively praying with and for them helps reveal their spiritual concerns and fosters open communication. At this point, it’s worth acknowledging that, sadly, our children’s journeys may sometimes lead them away from the Lord. Witnessing this can be heartbreaking and difficult, and it often exposes deep vulnerabilities in parents—especially those in ministry roles. It’s important to make sure our children know that they are loved, no matter the direction they’re heading, and we should remember that God is often at work in their hearts in ways we might not expect or choose. If you are a minister and your child refuses to attend church, be sure to engage in open dialogue. Take their personality, age, and stage of life into account. Pray for wisdom, and aim to respond thoughtfully rather than reacting purely out of emotion. EMBRACE SACRIFICE Good parenting requires sacrifices—less study time, allowing beloved quiet times to become ‘noisy times’ with family for some seasons, and clear boundaries with the congregation. These all help. Sometimes sliding off a tight schedule to allow for small, intentional moments of connection, like truly listening to a child’s concerns, convey deep love and security. When you make those kinds of sacrifices, they are worth their weight in gold. SEE STRUGGLE AS SPIRITUAL GROWTH Being a pastor’s child isn’t easy, but difficulties can lead to growth. Struggles drive kids to rely on God, strengthen family bonds, and deepen faith. Rather than fearing challenges, parents can embrace them as opportunities for spiritual formation. A FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT Ministry families will always face unique pressures, but they are not without hope. If you’re in ministry yourself, rather than shifting uncomfortably with guilt, may I encourage you to shift towards a healthier, grace-filled approach to balancing ministry and family. As you serve your congregation, I urge you to remember that your role is also to nurture the small church within your home. They are both a part of your sacred calling. If you’re struggling with these tensions, please know that you’re not alone. Seek support, pray for wisdom, and trust that God is working in both your ministry and your family. He is not asking you to choose between the two—he is inviting you to be faithful in both, resting in his unfailing grace.

Empathy. It’s one of the buzzwords of our culture right now. Everyone wants to receive empathy or to be seen to be empathetic. But what is it? And can we describe Jesus as empathetic? First, a definition from dictionary.com Empathy Noun The psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the emotions, thoughts, or attitudes of another. I FEEL YOUR PAIN I feel your pain . Really? Do you? This is our common understanding of empathy, but it’s mistaken. ‘Vicarious’ communicates the idea that we use our imaginations to participate in the experience of others. That’s not the same as actually  feeling my pain. It just isn’t. I wonder if you’ve ever desired to feel another person’s pain, and discovered that it’s not possible. I have. When my loved ones suffer, I experience an intense desire to feel what they’re feeling, so that I might in some way journey with them as they suffer. But I can’t. I can sympathise (feel sorrow for another) but I can’t actually feel their pain. It belongs to them alone. I can’t climb inside it and feel it too. If we give empathy the meaning so many of us give it—feeling the pain of another—then who can do this? Could God manage it? Certainly, we read that ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted’ (Ps 34.18) and ‘ We do not have a high priest (Jesus) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses’ (Heb 4.15a). But feeling our pain? In Isaiah, we’re given a hint of this extraordinary truth. In all their affliction he was afflicted . Isaiah 63.9a (ESV) This verse in Isaiah expresses the profound connection that God has with his people, Israel. The suffering they experienced, he also experienced. Building a theology on one verse is, of course, unwise, but could it be true that the Lord actually  feels my pain? What do you think? So, what about Jesus? How does he express empathy in the gospels? In so many ways. THE EMPATHY OF JESUS First, Jesus expresses his empathy through action. His healings show his compassion for those who are suffering. His exorcisms do the same thing, relieving the pain of a person possessed by an evil spirit. He also shows empathy through his words. In John’s gospel, when he’s praying to his heavenly Father, he describes the proximity and connection he has with his disciples. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. John 17.10 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one . . . John 17.23a But what about his teaching? Here, it’s easy to become confused. Frankly, there are many in our churches who want an empathetic Jesus to wrap them up in cotton wool. If he feels my pain, surely he will take it away . It’s easy to misunderstand Jesus. Does he say encouraging words? Certainly. Here are a couple of my favourite verses. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt 11.28-29 I could fill the rest of this post with similar verses. Our Lord knows us; he cares for us; he’s with us. All true. But if that means we see Jesus as touchy-feely, then we’re making a huge mistake. It’s essential, then, in our sermons and teaching, that we don’t mislead people into thinking that the primary aim of Jesus’ ministry was to remove pain and suffering, or to comfort and soothe. It certainly wasn’t intended to massage the egos of his listeners.       In the gospels, the purpose of Jesus’ miracles and the focus of his teaching isn’t merely the removal of pain. Though he does do this. He’s showing the world that he is the promised Messiah, and he’s launching the kingdom of the heavens. Jesus is more interested in teaching the truth about God and this new kingdom than anything else. By miles. Clearly, God cares for the poor, the marginalised, the suffering, there’s no doubt about that. But when Jesus calls people to follow him, he sounds anything but empathetic. Here’s a flavour. Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and  take up his cross  and follow me. Matt 16.24 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14.26   To the rich ruler . . . When Jesus heard this, he said to him,  “One thing you still lack.  Sell all that you have  and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Luke 18.22 THE IMPLICATIONS So, what are the implications for church leaders? There are many, but here are three. JESUS IS CLOSER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE We read in the Psalms that God is close to the brokenhearted. Which of us isn’t brokenhearted? Which church isn’t full of people, who have lost relatives, who suffer physical and mental anguish, who often feel lonely, fall out with relatives, struggle with finances, and, at times, feel despair. Beyond knowing, understanding, and comforting, might our God actually feel our pain? His knowledge is deep; in Jesus, his experience of human life is full and complex, and his love far greater than we can possibly understand. So, when we suffer, yes, he’s there with us. He is closer than we can imagine.    That’s our Jesus. TEACH THE TRUTH Jesus taught hard truths. He may have extended grace to sinners, such as Zacchaeus, but he was also highly critical of those who doubted or questioned his priorities and path. He called Simon ‘Satan’—not very empathetic—and we all know what he said to the Pharisees. In these stories, we never see ourselves as Pharisees. We are ever blind to the planks in our eyes. And we so easily take the easy path. We may want an ‘empathetic Jesus’ when in truth, we need the real Jesus, who calls us to a holy life. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.   For the gate is narrow and  the way is hard that leads to life , and those who find it are few. Matt 7.13-14 Not very ‘empathetic’, perhaps, but exactly what we need to hear. Most of all, we need the truth because we follow the Truth. REVERSE EMPATHY Finally, what we truly need is what I call ‘reverse empathy’. What is this? Instead of God feeling our pain, the New Testament speaks about our intimate connection with Jesus in his sufferings. In other words, we are the ones who need to ‘share his sufferings.’ That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings , becoming like him in his death. Phil 3.10 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings , that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1 Pet 4.13 This kind of empathy is one in which we are joined to our Saviour in his  suffering. What is the worst thing that can happen to us? Death, of course. Until we come to understand that in God’s glorious plan, it is death that gives us life. And not just the death of Christ, but our own deaths. The apostle Paul puts it this way. I have been crucified with Christ  and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2.20 This is what we really need. The commitment and courage to share in Christ’s suffering. It requires that we give up our lives, and when we do, we will discover that he returns them to us, whole and new and full of himself. Our greatest need isn’t empathy. Of any description. Certainly, there are times when we need to be comforted, but we have a deeper need. If you’re a leader, the people in the churches you serve have a deeper need. They need the real Jesus, the risen Jesus. The Jesus who calls them to follow him, to share his sufferings, to lose their lives for the sake of his glorious kingdom.                                   .

He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Nicene Creed He ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father. Apostles’ Creed For forty days after his resurrection, the Lord Jesus appeared repeatedly to his disciples. ‘He presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive’ (Acts 1.3a). During this period, he ‘spoke about the kingdom of God’ (Acts 1.3), after which he went with them to the Mount of Olives. There, he told them that they would be his witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit and was then ‘taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight’ (Acts 1.9). The bodily ascension of Jesus is a core belief of the Christian faith. It sets the pattern for the manner of his return, stated clearly by ‘two men dressed in white’. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1.11 The New Testament goes further, though. In the book of Hebrews, the writer assures us of his present exaltation. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Heb 7.26 Luke uses similar language in the book of Acts. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour . . . Acts 5.31a In John’s gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples, asking, ‘what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!’ (John 6.62). This was his position by right and one he held before his incarnation; he was merely returning there. Just as importantly, the ascension was also the culmination of the ‘great reversal’, described most succinctly by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He ‘humbled himself’ and ‘was obedient to death’ but of course, death could not hold him. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2.9-11 The New Testament emphasises three consequences that flow from the ascension of Jesus. THE SENDING OF THE SPIRIT Speaking on the Day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter says that it is because of Jesus’ ascension and exaltation that the Holy Spirit has been poured out. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God , he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Acts 2.32-33 The empowerment of the Church by the Holy Spirit for its mission of making Jesus known to the world was made possible by Jesus’ ascension. JESUS THE INTERCESSOR In the book of Hebrews, we read about Jesus as ‘our great high priest, who has ascended into heaven’. He sits at the right hand of the Father, as an exalted human being. As the writer to the Hebrews continues . . . For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Heb 4.15 Because Jesus is our High Priest and he knows our weaknesses, we can come confidently before God’s throne knowing it is a throne of grace and that, ‘we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Heb 4.16b). Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God, where he intercedes for us (Heb 7.25; Rom 8.34). Right now, the ascended Jesus is praying for you and for me and he invites us to join him in prayer. GRACE GIFTS In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul writes, But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” Eph 4.8 When he ascended, Jesus gave grace gifts to his people. When we think about spiritual gifts, we often think of abilities given to believers, but in this passage Paul describes people as gifts to the body of Christ. Specifically, the people whose ministry of the word equips others. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service , so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4.11-13 This is all made possible by Christ’s ascension. When he ascended he poured out the Spirit to empower his people and gave people to equip them for his service. These truths about the ascension frame Christian ministry. CHRIST IS THE HEAD The ascension of Jesus reminds us that the hope of the Church is not in ministers. We may be leaders, but we are not the leader. The head of the church is Christ alone. He is the Chief Shepherd of his sheep. All authority is his and he reigns supreme above all powers. When Christian leaders fail, it is such a great assurance to remember that the Lord of the Church is without sin. We may fail, but he never does. His perfection is our boast, and he will never disappoint us. His completed work of salvation, and his seat at the right hand of the Father is a powerful corrective to any activist tendencies we may have. We must remember that we do not achieve the salvation of any soul; nor do we sustain the Church by our activity. He is the Saviour and sustainer of all things; we merely bear testimony to this wonderful truth. PLAYING OUR PART At the same time, the ascension of Jesus reminds us that his work on earth now continues through his body and that ministers have a vital role to play. We do not save people—that is a gift of God’s grace received by them through faith and not due to their works or ours (Eph 2.8-9). Nevertheless, it is through the preaching of the gospel that God brings salvation. We do not determine how God’s people serve him—he prepares work in advance for them to do (Eph 2.10)—but it is through our teaching and the example we set that they can be equipped for this work. It is a marvel that Christians are both the workmanship of God—what God is making in this world – while at the same time being the instruments of God – the means by which he is accomplishing his work (Eph 2.8-10). Within this wonderful divine plan, those who preach and teach have a particular role to play. If you are a pastor-teacher serving Christ’s church, have you ever given thought to the fact that you are a gracious gift to the people you serve? Give thanks to God for the privilege you have of caring for, protecting, and teaching his people. Your ministry is Christ-ordained, so make sure it is Christ-honouring. If you are a member of a church, consider for a moment that those who lead you are a gift from Christ to you. Give thanks for them and be grateful for their care of you. Remember also that you have a role to play in making their service a joy for them. CHRIST THE CONQUEROR Christ ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He now intercedes for us and also waits . . . But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. Heb 10.12-13 He reigns as he waits for his enemies to become his footstool, showing that they have been completely defeated. Until then, there is work to be done, and he has given the Church a grace gift of servants, who are called ‘to equip his people for works of service’. Whether you are among those who lead, or you are one who is led, the charge is the same. We are all called to the work of extending the reign of Christ in the lives of those who bow the knee and confess that he is Lord. So, make this your confession today: ‘ I believe in the ascension’.

Picture the scene. We’ve just moved into our Midlands office, located on the second floor of a former town hall; it's now a church. While there’s a generously sized staircase and a lift connecting the ground and first floors, the second floor is only accessible via a narrow, winding wooden staircase. As part of our setup, we were generously gifted a large, five-foot-tall metal cabinet, with sturdy metal shelving. We were very grateful, but I’m sure you can already see where this is headed. Getting this heavy, unwieldy cabinet up that staircase was no small task. Thankfully, two staff members from the church and two from the neighbouring office graciously offered to help me. Well, ‘help me ’ might be a generous interpretation of my own role. To my embarrassment, I somehow ended up in the least load-bearing position during the cabinet’s ascent. Determined not to let others do all the work, I joined in, stretching to grab hold of the cabinet with one hand while awkwardly huffing and puffing with the strain of even that minimal contribution. And just when I thought I was making a difference, disaster struck. I tripped over my own feet, let go of the tiny portion of weight I was carrying, and went flying backwards into a wall! My ego took the brunt of the damage—don’t worry, I was fine—but while I was busy dusting myself off, my comrades powered through. They heaved the cabinet to the top landing, mounted it onto a trolley, and rolled it into the office, where it now sits in pride of place. So, why am I sharing this (rather mortifying) story? BEARING THE LOAD A few weeks later, I was praying to the Lord about some things that were weighing on me. Certain responsibilities were especially burdensome, and some tough relational situations lay heavily on my heart. I confessed to God that the weight of these burdens felt too much. Like Atlas in the Greek myth, I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders; I was straining, unsure how much longer I could keep going before I would be completely crushed. And then this cabinet-shifting memory came to mind and a question rang out in my heart. Who is really bearing the load? In ministry, as in life, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the responsibilities placed upon us. The Lord calls us to good works in his name, but in this fallen world, this work is never easy. Our labour is a struggle, and there is brokenness in our relationships—even in close ones with people we are seeking to love and serve. In addition, we are at risk of slipping into the belief that everything depends on us. We’re tempted to believe that if we don’t push a bit harder, do a bit more, and just keep going (even going beyond our own healthy limits), things will fall apart. This mindset is mistaken, and deep inside, most of us know it. Instead of bearing down harder, what if we stepped back a moment and reconsidered who is truly holding things together? THE TRUE BEARER OF ALL BURDENS The first thing we can do is turn to the Psalms. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. Psa 68.19 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55.22 (ESV) At times, we’re tempted to present an image of self-sufficiency. I can handle this. I can handle everything! But if we believe we’re the ones holding up the weight of the world, no wonder we feel crushed. Of course it’s too much for us! We were never designed for such a task. And, in fact, it’s an illusion that we’re doing it. This is what these beautiful verses in the Psalms remind us. It is the Lord who is the bearer of our burdens, each and every day. It is the Lord who carries the weight of all the things he’s given to us to do. It is he who lifts, steadies, and sustains all things (including us). Where your strength fails, his never does. Where you stumble, he remains firm. It is the Lord who really ‘gets it up the stairs’, even if he delights to have us ‘helping’. He is not asking you to carry a weight that only he can bear. He is inviting you to release your grip on that weight and trust that his hands are already firmly in place. ARE YOU FEELING THE STRAIN? What are you heaving up the proverbial staircase right now? Are you overloaded with ministry responsibilities? Is relational friction weighing you down? Are financial concerns or practical tasks feeling like too much? Today, remember this. You do not bear this weight alone. The sovereign Lord of the universe bears your burdens with you. When you face a daunting ‘staircase’, you can entrust the task to the Lord who is already at work with you and in you. He’s always there, always reliable and faithful. The responsibility doesn’t lie with you alone. He’s by your side, shouldering your burdens. Always. So, may I encourage you with the words of Psalm 55 again? Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you (Ps 55.22a). Knowing that our Lord carries our burdens gives us amazing freedom. And yet there is another truth that is just as precious. We too are being carried. Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you . I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Isa 46.3-4 These are prophetic words for the ancient Hebrews, but they resonate, don’t they? They contain so much encouragement that continues into the new covenant era. If you’re a leader, you have many responsibilities, that much is true. At times, it’s natural to feel burdened, but be assured of this. As you carry the weight of your obligations, he is carrying you. At all times. He will never, ever drop you. If this post has spoken to you, do join me in this prayer. Heavenly Father, I come to you today with tight fists grasping on to things that are weighing me down. I know I need to let go of them, but I’m struggling. [Take a moment to name some of the things that spring to mind.] Father, help me see afresh that you are the one who is bearing the weight of these burdens. Loosen my straining grip, and help me to believe and trust that they do not depend on me. Help me to rest in the liberating truth of your sovereignty. Give me eyes to see that you lovingly bear me, even as I seek to serve you and those around me with love and faithfulness. Amen

Don’t look at them, look at me! Over twenty years ago, I heard these words in a sermon, and they remain with me to this day. They have left an indelible mark inside me. In fact, my response to them—either in heeding them or ignoring them—has defined my whole life. Let me set the scene. I was living in Southern California with my wife and children, and we attended a Presbyterian church. The preacher, called Chuck (Charles), was the youth leader; he attended our homegroup. He is black, and was in his thirties at the time. I was not a close friend of his, which is an important detail. The impact of his words did not come from a shared bond of friendship. It came from the power of the words, their truth and relevance to my life, and the Holy Spirit. Though it might sound odd, he wasn’t the significant one. His words were. This is what happens when God chooses to speak. The one mediating the message is important, but not as important as the God who is speaking. THE STORY Chuck told a story about an incident in a car park. He was with his white girlfriend, and a gang of youths started taunting him. A black man with a white girlfriend was quite capable of stoking racist attitudes in the U.S.A. back then, and sadly remains so. He was becoming agitated and was about to shout back at his tormentors, when his girlfriend took hold of his face and turned it gently towards her. ‘No, Chuck, don’t look at them, look at me!’ In other words, ‘Look at the face of the one who loves you. Stop wasting energy on people who mean you harm. There is nothing to be gained by doing that. When you look at me, my love will be all you need. So, look at me!’ And that’s what he did. He gazed into the eyes of his girlfriend. His girlfriend became his wife, and they have lived together happily as man and wife to this day. So, what did I learn from this story? DISTRACTIONS Like many Christians today, there are times when I have been ‘Laodicean’ in my approach to my faith. Luke-warm. Neither hot nor cold. At times, I have deserved to be spat out. The principal reason for this can be summed up with one word: distractions. I have been distracted by the cares of this world. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. Matt 13.22 It is not uncommon in our churches to find swathes of people seduced by what I call the ‘There’s nothing wrong with . . .’ affliction. (A post on this coming later). Enjoyable pastimes that aren’t classified as sins (watching TV, children’s sports, repairing our homes etc), that are all well and good, except that they gradually swell to engulf not just some of our time, but almost all our time. The flame flickers and gradually dies, though we pretend that Sunday church attendance still keeps it alive. Don’t look at them, look at me! Before writing about the descent towards ‘Nothing’ (the complete frittering away of our time), C.S. Lewis includes this line in his Screwtape masterpiece. He will want his prayers to be unreal, for he will dread nothing so much as effective contact with the Enemy (i.e. God). His aim will be to let sleeping worms lie. The Screwtape Letters: Letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil (i) Our hearts become cold when the contemplation of the Lord becomes something we fear. We avoid ‘effective contact with the Enemy (God)’. Distractions then function as suitable methods by which we avoid intimacy with him, because . . . well . . . why? There’s a question. Perhaps, in part, because we haven’t properly understood grace. Or maybe because prayer and worship require concentration and effort, and we have never trained ourselves to focus for longer than a few minutes at best. THE BEATIFIC VISION In The Divine Comedy, Dante imagines the soul’s journey towards God. Regardless of your view of Dante’s theology, he has the right destination in mind. He does understand that the ultimate goal of all believers is to experience the ‘beatific vision’. I particularly like these lines in the final Canto. I remember I grew bolder for this reason In bearing up with it, until I merged My gazing with the infinite Goodness. O grace abounding, by which I have dared To fix my eyes through the eternal Light So deeply that my sight was spent in it! Divine Comedy. Paradiso. Canto XXXIII. Lines 79-84. The ‘beatific vision’ of Dante’s conception is considered to take place after death, but the apostle Paul believes that our contemplation of the Lord is something that changes us here and now. Two verses come to mind. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory , are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3.18 Paul acknowledges our current limitations, even as he longs for perfect vision. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face . Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 2 Cor 13.12 The contemplation of the Lord’s glory. The Westminster Confession puts it this way: ‘To glorify God, and enjoy him forever’. This is our destiny. I think this is why Chuck’s sermon has left such a mark in me. For me, his story encapsulated exactly what God is saying to me every day of my life. Trust me. Love me. If you gaze upon me, you will see that I can be trusted to give you all you need right now. Don’t allow anything out there to take your focus away from me, because when you look at me, you will see that I love you. And that’s all you need. So look at me, and know that I love you. TRUST Implicit in these words is a link between faith and love. While Chuck was becoming distracted by his tormentors, his girlfriend was inviting him to trust that she knew what was best for him. When he turned to gaze into her eyes, it was an act of faith. Faith and love are inextricably linked. To love God is to trust him. And when we trust him, we will turn to him in worship. Every morning, we all awake in that car park. Every morning. The world is screaming for our attention. It is dragging us down or it is telling us lies. It may also be filling us with so many enjoyable pursuits that we no longer desire to gaze in the face of the one who loves us. We have become distracted or we don’t really believe the words of the one who made us. Yet, our beloved stands before us, pulling our face towards his. He asks us to trust him. He wants our attention; he wants us to catch a vision of his glory. MOSES’ SHINING FACE It is said that Moses, on coming down from Mount Sinai, had a face that shone (Ex 34.29-35). His contact with the Lord had left a physical mark on him. That mark was light. So he put on a veil to cover his face. It was too much (too bright?) for others to bear. I’d be surprised if the apostle Paul didn’t have the Exodus account in mind when he wrote to the Corinthians. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory . We, like Moses, are invited to contemplate the Lord’s glory. What an astonishing thought. No mountain. No tablets of stone. No veils. Just a vision of the believer who worships, who gazes upon the Lord’s glory. So, a few questions to finish. Do you trust the Lord? With all your heart and soul? Or have you become distracted? Are you listening to him when he pulls your face towards his? Don’t look at them, look at me! The Lord says this to me every day. Does he say it to you? Look at me. Enjoy me. Worship me. Love me. When you look at me, you will see that I love you. And that’s all you need right now. So look at me, and know that I love you. (i) Letter 9. The Screwtape Letters: Letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil. C.S.Lewis. 1942. Bodley Head.

The third day he rose again Nicene Creed   On the third day he rose again Apostles’ Creed Jesus’ resurrection is a unique event in history. It’s a critical historical event, foundational to Christian belief. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins’ (1 Cor 15.17). No wonder, then, that it’s mentioned in the creeds. So, too, is the resurrection of all believers (more on that in a later post). Today, we’re focusing on the significance of Jesus’ resurrection for Christian leaders. The Bible tells us of a handful of other people who died and returned to life [1] , but, remarkable as these miracles were, they were not the same as the resurrection of Jesus for two important reasons. HUMAN AGENCY INVOLVED First, in these other cases, the miracle happened through the words or actions of another person—Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, Peter, or Paul. By contrast, when Jesus rose from the dead, no human agency was involved. God the Father raised Jesus to life. In doing so, God declared Jesus’ identity as the ‘Son of God’ (Rom 1.4). It was the same declaration God the Father made at the baptism of Jesus (Matt 3.17) and his transfiguration (Matt 17.5). In life and death Jesus was fully pleasing to his Father. In raising him from the dead, the Father declared that he was eternally pleased with his Son. UNIQUE Second, in the other cases, the person who returned to life went on to die at some later date. Life returned to a dead body, but that body remained perishable. By contrast, when Jesus rose from the dead, he had a unique kind of body, one that could not die again. As the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again ; death no longer has mastery over him. Rom 6:9 His resurrection body was imperishable. Jesus’ resurrection was more than a temporary reprieve from death; it was death’s decisive defeat. Writing to the Corinthians, Paul makes it clear that Jesus’ resurrection is a ground-breaking event, a ‘firstfruits’ of the general resurrection to come. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits ; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 1 Cor 15.21-23 It is not simply that Jesus rose again. As he declared (in John’s gospel), he is the resurrection, and through him, others will share in this resurrection (John 11.25). That’s why his resurrection gives us ‘living hope’ (1 Pet 1.3). The resurrection of Jesus was not merely the most important event in history, it was also the beginning of a new natural order, the starting point of a new creation. The apostle Paul speaks of our participation in the resurrection of Jesus as something that will take place in the future as well as a reality we experience in the present. To the Romans, he writes, For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his . Rom 6.5 That’s in the future. Yet to the Colossians, he refers to the resurrection in the present, through baptism. Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Col 2.12 We will be raised with Christ and we have been raised with Christ. Christians live in two parallel realities. THE OLD We are still part of the old creation. Outwardly, we are ‘wasting away’ (2 Cor 4.16). Our bodies are subject to decay along with all physical things in the universe. Yet we are also waiting. In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes that ‘we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies’ (Rom 8.23). The day will come when we are declared to be God’s sons in a resurrection event like the resurrection of Jesus. For now, though, we groan with suffering and long for a resurrection body. Here’s the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians. For while we are in this tent [our present body], we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 2 Cor 5.4 THE NEW At the same time, we are already part of the new creation. As Paul writes emphatically, ‘if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Cor 5.17); and to the Corinthians, ‘though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Cor 4.16). When writing to Titus, Paul calls this ‘renewal by the Holy Spirit’ (Titus 3.5b); it takes place also when our minds are ‘transformed’. That’s why he urges the Romans to ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Rom 12.2b), so they can know and do the will of God. Believers are urged to ‘put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator’ (Col 3.10). A verse in his letter to the Corinthians is particularly descriptive of the manner in which we are being changed as we gaze upon the Lord’s glory. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3.18 What does this mean for Christian leadership? I have two thoughts. RESURRECTION – PRESENT AND FUTURE First, our ministry to others should reflect both the present and future benefits of Christ’s resurrection. We need to acknowledge the groaning we experience now in these perishable bodies. For this reason, we should make space for lament and be tender towards those who struggle physically or mentally. After all, our brains are physical things—they’re part of the body—so they too are decaying! Yet as we walk alongside those who suffer, we call them to wait patiently and eagerly for future resurrection. This is not passive waiting, but active—as they wait, we encourage them to be transformed by gazing on Christ. We should never set limits on the degree to which God can change a person’s thinking, affections, and passions in this life as they offer themselves to him and the renewing work of his Spirit. For as we present the glories of Christ to others, we pray that the Spirit will change them. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED Second, recognising the present and future benefits of Jesus’ resurrection is key to being sustained in ministry. The apostle Paul writes about outer decay and inner renewal in order to encourage believers. ‘Therefore,’ he writes, ‘do not lose heart (2 Cor 4.16a); ‘we are of good courage, I say’, he writes in the same letter (2 Cor 5.6a). When people in our churches focus only on the things of this physical world, they can easily lose heart. We see this on a daily basis. We see the frailty of ageing bodies and the devastation of disease. And so we minister to them in their suffering. This is right and good, but we too can become discouraged by our own suffering. If we’re not careful, we can be led into all sorts of temptations to satisfy the desires of the body, to seek a temporary reprieve. But, as Paul notes, ‘we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5.7). We see the reality of physical decay and we know the lure of physical indulgence, but, with the eyes of faith, we also catch a glimpse of the glory of Christ and the weight of his coming glory. Because of this, though we look forward with confidence, we focus on the job at hand right now. We rejoice as we see people changed in their attitudes and affections as they grow to know the Lord more. We even see progress in ourselves! So, we must lift our eyes above our circumstances to gaze on the Lord Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus should change how we look at life. Paul’s advice to the Colossians is especially noteworthy. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above , where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God Col 3.1 When we set our hearts on things above, it should change how we live. Just a little further on in his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes, Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion , kindness , humility , gentleness and patience . Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love , which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3.12-14 In light of the resurrection of Jesus, this is how we should live. ETERNAL HOPE Brothers and sisters, we will be raised with Christ. We wait in certain hope of bodily resurrection. But we have already been raised with Christ. We are ‘new creation’ people, being renewed in the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit. This is why our ministry should be marked both by patient endurance and by good courage. So, make this your confession today: ‘ I believe in the resurrection’. The son of a widow from Zarephath was returned to life through Elijah (1 Kings 17.17-24). A boy from Shunem was raised through Elisha (2 Kings 4.8-37) and the body of a man whose body was thrown into Elisha’s tomb also returned to life (2 Kings 13.20-21). Jesus returned to life the son of a widow in Nain (Luke 7.11-17), the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8:49-56), and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11.1-44). The bodies of many saints were returned to life when Jesus died (Matt 27.52-53). Tabitha (Dorcas) was returned to life through the apostle Peter (Acts 9.36-42). Eutychus was returned to life through the apostle Paul (Acts 20.7-12).

© Sophie Killingley, www.perishandfade.com . Used with kind permission. In sixth form, I used to run the school vending machine. It was one of my favourite jobs. Stock control (‘smell what sells’, as Alan Sugar would say), price setting, and counting the revenue—the whole process filled my budding entrepreneur’s soul with satisfaction! I was reminded of this school enterprise when I saw the above comic-strip online recently. I think Sophie is highlighting something I’ve observed in different forms over the years as I’ve talked with pastors from various churches. The ‘vending machine’ view of the pastor doesn’t necessarily arise from malice or lack of compassion in the congregation. Instead, there seems to be a blurring of the distinction between the pastor’s identity and their role. Let me explain by quoting from the apostle Paul. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4.11-13 It’s clear from this passage that Christ has given different grace gifts to the church, and that pastor-teachers—like the other roles listed here—are given ‘to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.’ Notice a couple of things. EQUIPPED FOR WORKS OF SERVICE First, the pastor-teacher is there to equip the people for works of service—not to do all the service themselves. ‘Every member ministry’ is at the heart of the New Testament idea of church. We’ve all been given different gifts, and we should all be using them for the building up of the church, and to be a witness to the world. Because of this, whenever we see a situation in which the pastor-teacher is the only one fulfilling a particular service role, this should ring alarm bells. Quite apart from the fact that this is what the Bible teaches, it should be immediately apparent that if the pastor does everything, they become a bottle-neck for growth in the life of the church. I love these verses, because they make it abundantly clear that growth in maturity is a corporate activity—we can’t grow in isolation. Which leads to the second, perhaps more important, point. WE’RE ALL MEMBERS OF THE BODY Paul continues in verses 15 and 16. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph 4.15-16 The pastor-teacher has a certain role in this process of building up the church, but what’s their identity? Who are they? Well, they’re members of the body, of which Christ is the head. This is vitally important, and I use that word ‘vital’ intentionally. Vital. He’s the source of our life. When we treat the pastor as a vending machine, we’ve forgotten that Christ is the source of our life; he’s the one to whom we must go to ‘find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Heb 4.16b). When we forget that our pastor-teachers are members of the body, we fail to recognise that they too have the same needs as everyone else in the body. They need the same things in order to grow that we all do. The New Testament is full to bursting with ‘one another’s. We’re exhorted to . . . Love one another (John 13.34). Bear with one another (Col 3.13). Carry one another’s burdens (Gal 6.2). Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs of the Spirit (Eph 5.19a). The pastor is a member of the body, just like everyone else, and is therefore in need of these encouragements as much as the rest of the church. Of course, they have a specific role, and they might exercise their gifts in particular ways. But when you look at the list above, none of these exhortations relate to one person. They’re addressed to everyone in the body. We all need support, love, and help with our burdens. All our hearts are lifted when we hear beautiful psalms and songs of the Spirit. And most importantly, we all find our true life and support from Christ, the head of the body. Which takes me back to the vending machine. REPLENISHING THE STOCK So there I am, thirty years ago or so; I’m in the sixth form common room. Pupils are lining up at the vending machine, coins in hand, ready to buy. Me? I’m looking at the length of the line, thinking about the supply of Curly Wurlys. I know they’re popular, and I’m hoping the machine won’t run out. Did I stock enough? I’m getting nervous. If I didn’t, we’ll have unhappy customers and we’ll make less money. It’s a serious business running a vending machine! The connection with pastor-teachers should be fairly obvious. Like the vending machine, if we want to serve others, we need to be filled up. And while we are definitely NOT vending machines, we do share this in common with them: We can only give out what we’ve first received. This is fundamental to Christian ministry. You can’t share what you haven’t first received. And that is why, at Living Leadership, we are not embarrassed about bashing the same drum repeatedly. If you are in any kind of ministry role, it is vital that you’re making time to feed and replenish yourself. Ephesians 4 uses the imagery of a body—with Christ as the head—and we must maintain that connection to the head in order to function. Jesus uses the imagery of a vine and makes it explicit. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15.4 So, the pastor-teacher must make a priority of spending time with Jesus, in personal prayer, study, and worship. We must place ourselves in situations where we will receive teaching, encouragement, and refreshment. ( Do check out our Refreshment Days and Conferences ). We should also find others who can walk alongside us and offer encouragement and support. Again, Living Leadership can help . If you’re a church member reading this, I’m addressing you too. How could you encourage your pastor to take time to nurture their walk with Jesus? Could you speak words of encouragement, or share a word from Scripture that might lift their spirits? If you have some influence in your community, how can you make it easier for your pastor to take time out for spiritual refreshment? For those who are pastor-teachers—or indeed for any kind of leader in the local church—what steps do you need to take to ensure your own spiritual tanks are full? Take a moment to reflect on what you have to share. For you can only give what you’ve received. And you can only receive when you’re abiding in the source of life, Christ himself.

Jesus Christ, the only Son of God […] was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;            he suffered and was buried. Nicene Creed   Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord […] suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried Apostles’ Creed   When I served as the pastor of a Chinese church, I got to know many international students who had little knowledge of the Bible or Christianity. Some knew that the cross was a symbol of Christianity but had no idea why. It was one of my life’s greatest privileges to explain it to them.   When we get past glittering pendants worn on necklaces to the gritty reality of history, a cross is an odd choice of symbol. Crucifixion ranks alongside landmines, atomic bombs, and gas chambers on the list of mankind’s most horrific inventions. It was designed to maximise brutality and degradation, combining intense, prolonged physical pain with exposure to shameful humiliation.   It was, quite literally, excruciating. (i)   Yet from the beginning Christians preached Christ crucified, not as a cause for shame but something in which to boast. They knew that the cross was the climax of God’s great subversion, the divine turning of the tables. In the events surrounding his crucifixion, human beings did their worst to Jesus. Denial and betrayal. False accusations and unjust beatings. Mockery and abuse. Stripping and shaming. Pierced brow, hands, and feet. Lifted up and struggling for breath.   Yet in this very same moment, God in Christ was accomplishing his decisive victory over sin, the devil, and death. As Christ bore our sins and God’s just wrath against us, God was demonstrating fully both his love and his justice (Rom 3.26; 5.8). Through our supreme act of defiant rebellion against him, God acted to reconcile us to himself.   The cross of Christ achieved our salvation. But it should also shape our service.   I suspect most would agree that we should preach the cross. But do we live and serve in the way of the cross?   THE WAY OF THE CROSS   The Lord Jesus taught that the measure of a good shepherd is to lay down one’s life for the sheep just as he himself would do (John 10.11). This path is not unique to leaders. Jesus’ call to all his disciples is to take up their own crosses and follow him (Matt 16.24-26). The principle of death to self and new life in Christ is central to the meaning of baptism (Rom 6.4). The mindset of Christ Jesus—stooping to empty himself and serve as a humble servant—should also characterise every believer. It should drive all our behaviour, especially as we relate to one another (Phil 2.5-8).   We are disciples and believers first. We are leaders and ministers secondarily.   There are, however, particular challenges for leaders as they seek to live a cruciform life. One of them is the difficulty of leading in a fallen world, in which leadership is sometimes seen as an opportunity to ‘lord it over others’. This danger was identified by Jesus, and he addresses it in conversation with his disciples. The following passage contains one of the great descriptions of servant leadership.   Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,   and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—   just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt 20.25-28   Perhaps one of the most dangerous temptations lies in the expectations of others. If we do not consciously resist this temptation, which deceives us into pursuing our own self-interest, we will end up in trouble.   Instead, we must intentionally follow the way of the cross. It does not happen by default.   Notice how the apostle Paul keeps the cross right at the centre of his final comments to the Galatians.   Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.   Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.   May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ , through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.   Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Gal 6.12-15   In this passage, Paul identifies two important implications of the cross for authentic Christian ministry.   CONFRONTING SELF-INTEREST   Firstly, the cross confronts our tendency to promote our own self-interest.   Paul writes that the false teachers who were trying to persuade the Galatian believers to be circumcised were motivated by a desire ‘to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ’ (Gal 6.12). I’m not sure they would have agreed. No doubt they would have argued that their teaching was based on the authority of the Old Testament, or that it promoted godliness. However, Paul knew what was really going on. They had counted the cost of the cross and they did not want to pay it. Their call to circumcision might have sounded painful and costly, but compared to the cross it was child’s play.   What about us? How tempting is the easy path of self-interest, that avoids the way of selfless sacrifice? I’m not referring to the false humility of the driven, workaholic control freak claiming to be a tireless servant of God. Instead, we need to ask ourselves whether we’re truly motivated by our love for the flock, and whether we are actually modelling a life of steady faithfulness.   Cross-shaped ministry is not self-interested but self-giving for the sake of others.   CONFRONTING SELF-AGGRANDISEMENT   Secondly, the cross challenges our tendency towards self-aggrandisement.   The false teachers wanted to boast about people getting circumcised, but Paul writes, ‘May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6.14).     This statement is a two-edged sword.   Its doctrinal edge cuts through the false claim that circumcision is necessary for salvation; instead, it points to the cross of Christ as the sole means of salvation. Its personal edge slices away any pretensions we may have about our own importance. Our achievements and status are of no value compared with the wonder of the cross.   What about you? Have you ever been tempted to boast about your achievements? Have you ever allowed people to get the impression that you’re deserving of credit for your good deeds? Or after you’ve delivered a rather good sermon, has your pride ever shunted aside your humility?   In truth, we should take every opportunity to remind our people that all we do and all we are is a response to the unmerited favour of our God. It’s all because of the grace we’ve received through Christ, who died for us when we were still sinners. When people look at our ministry’s publicity materials and our social media feeds, do they see Christ or do they just see us?   Cross-shaped ministry is not self-aggrandising but self-effacing for the glory of Christ.   Christian leaders, ‘We believe Jesus Christ suffered, was crucified, and buried.’ This confession should shape our preaching, but it should also move us to service that is self-sacrificial and self-effacing.   In Christ crucified we have a Saviour who perfectly embodied these qualities. That’s why he’s worthy of our worship.   So, make this your confession today, ‘ I  believe in the crucifixion’.   (i) The word ‘excruciating’ means ‘of the cross’, indicating that crucifixion is the very definition of extreme pain.

Is there a moment in your week that you dread? How about Monday morning? You open your computer and just like every week, you have an inbox with emails providing you with feedback on the Sunday service. Your heart sinks. Time to suck it up and start reading. I have spoken to many church leaders and this experience isn’t uncommon. It’s just part of the job. I have to take it on the chin. I think, sadly, it’s more likely that many church leaders take it ‘in the heart’. And that’s not good. Nor is it right. So, how is a church leader supposed to deal with feedback? WE ARE BUT DUST Church leaders are no different from anyone else in the congregation. They’re made of flesh and blood. And they feel things deeply. If anything, they feel things more deeply than most, since they’re in a people-facing, caring profession, that makes them sensitive to the views of others. When a leader is criticised over and over again—sometimes for something unwarranted, minor, or petty—it takes its toll. Words are extremely powerful. They leave marks in the soul. Perhaps you’re in this category. It’s wearing you down. Is there anything you can do? Here are some suggestions, that might help. TRUST A WISE ADMINISTRATOR Some leaders believe they owe it to their members to read every email. Every single one. I won’t attempt to dissuade you. However, one of the features of feedback is that very often, there are one or two members who make it their goal in life to provide you with a running commentary. Are you obligated to read every word of this commentary? I don’t think so. A good administrator can help weed out the regular moans and groans. Geoffrey sent one about the volume of the music again. Okay, thanks. And Maureen thought the coffee was weak . Do we need to follow that up? I tasted it; it was fine, so you know, I’ll handle that one. In short, try to lighten your load by partnering with a trusted administrator. If feedback really gets you down, your primary obligation is NOT to read every email. It’s to focus on serving the church well, and if delegating some of those emails to another is the best way to do that, then do it. ASSESSING THE LEVELS Which feedback matters? Questions about coffee, leaflets, cleaning issues, these are relatively easy to deal with. Conflict between people, that’s something quite different. And as for challenges about your theology, that can cause considerable heartache. So, it’s at this point, I’d like to question the whole idea of feedback. IT’S UBIQUITOUS We live in a culture of constant feedback. You just bought a pen. Amazon wants your feedback. We face a daily barrage of requests for feedback. This has fed into our church culture, with the result that churches now request it, and people seek the opportunity to provide it. This is ill-conceived for a number of reasons. First, the dynamic is all wrong. Feedback is related to one party providing a service to another. This is most common among businesses. Feedback is essential to businesses, because it’s a critical element in the way they market themselves. When we fill out feedback forms, it’s not the information that really counts. What’s important to them is that you’re interacting with the company. They want your attention, so you remember them next time you purchase. What about the Church? Is the Church a business? No, it isn’t, nor should it present itself as such. First and foremost, the Church is a family. The most common characterisation of the Church in the New Testament is to frame our relationships as ‘brothers and sisters in the Lord’. We are a family, and we are called to ‘love one another’ (John 13.34), bear with one another (Col 3.13), and carry one another’s burdens (Gal 6.2). So, why do we keep requesting feedback? CONSUMER CHURCH Sadly, it’s because churches often see themselves as organisations in a marketplace. They are competing for believers, and they think that if they serve their ‘customers’ well, then their congregations will grow. It’s borne of insecurity and fear. Insecure about what ‘the people are thinking’. Fear of losing people. Hence the need to ‘serve our church family better’. Perhaps that’s why it’s so insidious. Feedback is presented as something positive—serving people better—when, in reality, its roots emerge from plain fear. Our members have gone to the church down the street. What are they doing that we’re not? Let’s do a survey to find out what people want. No church leader goes into leadership in order to ‘grow a business’. At least, they shouldn’t. Church leaders desire to serve the Lord by serving his people. Not the other way round. We don’t find out what the people want in order to serve the Lord. The Bible is particularly helpful in this regard. In the desert, Moses wasn’t exactly getting five star reviews, was he? And frankly, why didn’t God simply fire Jacob? He was hardly a leader worth a glowing review. As for Jesus, people left him in droves. Even the disciples tottered on the edge of abandoning their leader. And indeed, some did. From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him (John 6.66). Yet he had no interest whatsoever in changing course and ‘pleasing his people’. PEOPLE PLEASING If you’re a people-pleaser, feedback is particularly damaging for you. The urge to find approval is a death sentence for a leader. First, it destroys faith, transferring it from God to people. Second, it undermines conviction. Instead of leading from a secure foundation and a vision founded upon God, the ground beneath your feet is ever moving and changing according to the whims of the people. Third, it feeds greater and greater fear and insecurity. After all, the approval from one feedback form can quickly change to disapproval the following week. Does this mean that feedback is of no value at all? Actually, no. Back to those levels. If the door isn’t being left open for the cleaners, or the toilets aren’t being cleaned properly, this is important information. But don’t take it personally. Simply respond to a justifiable criticism, and get those toilets cleaned! Better still, let your administrator deal with all those things. Criticism that rises through those levels, though, that can be hard. Criticism of people, conflict, and even the questioning of our theology, that can be hard to take. Gather around you wise friends, who can help you respond in a godly way. Seek wisdom at all times. Trust the Lord to strengthen you. Avoid defensiveness. Take responsibility when appropriate. Apologise, if necessary. Be gracious. Remember who you are. CONVICTION, NOT FEEDBACK The reality is, great leaders lead from conviction, not feedback forms. They listen to the flock, but they don’t respond to every whim of the flock. They place value on what the Bible places value on, like their own spiritual lives, and humble service of the church along with godly elders. The vision they cast for the church comes from a strength of conviction, rooted in a direct relationship with the Lord. They listen not to people primarily, but the Spirit. They are Spirit-led. Yes, they also listen to wise counsellors around them, but that’s because they value the work of God’s Spirit in others around them, whom God has appointed. THE MOST IMPORTANT FEEDBACK OF ALL Ultimately, though, the feedback they value most of all, is the feedback from their Saviour. Nothing matters more than the opinion of the Lord Jesus. He is the one who forgave his best friend, Simon Peter. He has a forgiving heart. He went through agonies for your sake. His grace is limitless, and his armour is powerful and strong. It will protect you even from ‘friendly fire’ from your own side. So, look to Jesus first. Serve him with fervour and conviction. Next Monday, before you open your computer or trawl through paper forms, stop to pray first. Remember that God is with you; he loves you. He has your back. Remember his feedback is the kind that really matters. It’s feedback that affirms his extraordinary love and grace. Now you’re ready to start reading a comment from Gerald, who was disappointed when the coffee ran out last week. How can you find a way to serve Gerald this coming week? Out of love, not because he completed a feedback form.

How was your 2024? For me personally, two thoughts stand out.   I never expected the year I had. Nor would I have chosen it. God’s loving purposes continue to amaze me.   This is not the first time I’ve had the opportunity to learn these lessons, and it probably won’t be the last. This year, it will be fifty years since our second son, Barnaby, died suddenly at just eleven weeks old. The following day, we visited a Christian book shop seeking something to help us in our grief, and we bought a small plastic plaque with the words ‘My grace is sufficient for thee’ (2 Cor 12.9). That plaque has travelled with us over the years and is still on display in our lounge today. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of a simple and yet profound truth.   God will never leave us, nor forsake us.   I’ve now reached my mid-seventies and, until a certain incident last year, I considered myself to be fairly fit and healthy. Although I knew I was aging, I thought I was good for at least another ten years. So, it was something of a shock when I started to struggle with breathlessness. Last March (2024), I was admitted to hospital and ended up having open heart surgery to repair a valve. There followed a period of several months when I was re-admitted to hospital four more times. Eventually, in August, I was diagnosed with late onset asthma, and prescribed the regular use of an inhaler. This radically improved my day-to-day health and I’m currently doing really well.   So what have I learned through these experiences?    I’M NOT IN CONTROL   The first thing I’ve learned is that I am not in control. Isn’t that obvious?  Well, of course it is! But like so many simple truths, we need to learn them over and over again. Certainly, my illness and my need to rely entirely on others (many of whom I didn’t know) have reminded me of how weak I am.   But it’s precisely through my weakness that my confidence in God’s fatherly care and loving purposes has been strengthened. I have seen clearly that he is in control and that his agenda is so much more significant than mine.   AVOIDING COMPARISONS   One lesson I've learned is that I don’t need to compare myself with others.  We all respond to crises differently, of course, but in my case, I felt a pressure ‘to do it well’, ‘to be a radiant witness’. So, I needed to be reminded that my performance isn’t the central issue. What’s important is what God wants to accomplish in me and through me. The apostle Paul writes about this in his letter to the Philippians.   Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1.6 Through this experience, I believe I’ve lived out this verse. He has worked in me, and is refining me still. He will carry on this work to completion. In truth, while I was in hospital, I often found it hard to concentrate; prayer was a struggle. However, I was astonished at how much peace I felt even when things weren’t going well. My experience of God’s love, which drove out the fear of death, was deeply encouraging.   Now that my health is better, what has changed? Are there dangers ahead?   GRATITUDE   I am more grateful, and God is growing within me a far deeper level of gratitude. This is particularly important because I think I had come to take many things for granted. When we lived in Uganda (2013-2015), we were struck by how thankful people were for each new day. At the beginning of the service on our first Christmas morning, the Archdeacon said, ‘Let us thank God that we have all reached another Christmas’. It hadn’t crossed our minds that we might not make it through to Christmas! The sense that life is a gift to treasure is something I want to hold onto. Now that I feel a lot better, it would be so easy to slip back into old habits and attitudes.   I am particularly thankful to my wife, who has been amazing. And I’m also thankful for family and many friends, who have shown their love and support in so many different ways. What a testimony they have been to the enduring love of God.   As I reflect on these past months, I pray that God would continue to grow in me a spirit of thankfulness.   HUMILITY   I hope I have learned greater humility. I have been forced to depend on others for significant periods. I suppose none of us really likes displaying weakness; we would rather be the strong one offering help to others. Having said that, it’s wonderful to be on the receiving end of people’s love and kindness. I have a deepened awareness of how great God is and how small I am. He delights in me and the lessons I am learning are a blessing from him.   FRUITFULNESS   Aging, slowing down, and poor health are not a barrier to our ability to bear fruit. Psalm 92 paints a lovely picture of remaining green and fruitful into old age.     The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. Ps 92.12-14   Alice Fryling draws a distinction between fruitfulness and productivity in her book, ‘Aging Faithfully’. It is certainly true that I cannot physically do as much as I once did, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be fruitful. The Holy Spirit is still at work in me as I age, and he still bears fruit in me.   HEAVEN   It’s not surprising that I have thought more about the prospect of heaven and my eternal hope during these past months. There’s a verse in 1 John that’s particularly significant to me.   I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5.13   I learned this verse as a young Christian and it continues to provide me with a powerful reminder of my eternal destiny, my hope that one day I will be in God’s glorious presence forever. One of God’s purposes through his word is to give us an assurance of our future with him; it’s a truth which certainly gets sweeter as I get older.   DANGERS   Now that I have made a good recovery it would be easy to forget all I’ve learned. Life could lose its sense of beauty and wonder in the humdrum of the every day. I confess that, at times, I can be a bit lazy; I find it easy to fritter time away, so I’m praying that these lessons will create a permanent change inside me. I want to remain grateful every day; I believe that being content in Christ is not out of reach, but can be a daily reality.   I intend to seek the Lord each day, with the expectation that he still has work for me to do. One of the great privileges of this stage of life is to support, encourage, and mentor those who are younger—both in my family and in the wider church. I have an earnest desire to experience the joy that the apostle John wrote about in one of his letters.   I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 4   Do I know what’s in store for me? No, but I have a better sense of how to approach the future. After all I’ve gone through, I have a better understanding of his loving purposes.   So, I face the future with confidence, because I know that my God is faithful and good.   He certainly knows what’s best for me.

As Christian leaders, how are we to view our physical bodies? What part do our physical bodies play in being spiritually healthy? As a medical doctor, I am only too aware of the fact that our experience of our physical bodies varies greatly. I am particularly mindful of two church friends—one recovering from a heart attack and the other going through the rigors of chemotherapy. They remind me that our bodies are a source of enormous frustration and deep pain. In my work as an Occupational Health Physician working with church leaders, I have also witnessed the profound sense of loss felt by Church ministers following a life-changing illness. Whether it’s a new diagnosis of a progressive neurological disease or Long Covid, which threatens their calling to remain in full-time ministry, the impact is significant and painful. By contrast, I have also seen how our physical bodies can be an extraordinary resource. When we are fit and well, we can be fruitful and productive in ministry. Furthermore, when we invest in our physical fitness, it can invigorate our minds and lift our spirits for effective ministry. For me personally as a sixty-something guy, I have my own experience of living in my physical body as aches, pains, and stiffness increase and injuries/ailments take longer to heal. What does the future hold for me as my parkrun times gradually increase? In my attempts to buck the trend of physical decline, I wonder if I might have another marathon in my legs. My wife has her doubts! So should we treat our bodies as an encumbrance to be endured or are they precious gifts from God to be nourished and cherished? I believe three foundational truths are essential to help us view our bodies correctly. NEPHESH The Greek philosopher, Plato, taught that the soul is separate from the body. The influence of Platonic dualism led some theologians in the Church to teach that we would be better off without the burden of our physical bodies. However, this view of the human being is found neither in the Old nor the New Testament. When the Old Testament writers use the Hebrew word, nephesh , often translated ‘soul’, they have in mind an embodied soul, a unified whole of body and soul together. Or to put it another way, nephesh is the entirety of who we are, including our body[ 1 ]. The creation story in Genesis confirms this. God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen 1.27 As the narrative unfolds, we are left in no doubt that our bodies are an integral part of what it means to be made in his image. The New Testament underlines the importance of our physical form when God himself becomes incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth. John’s gospel is very clear on this point. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1.14a The apostle Paul is equally positive about the human body. He reminds us that our bodies are ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor 6.19a). This is why he instructs his readers to ‘honour God with your bodies’ (1 Cor 6.20b) Slaves are viewed no differently. To the slaves in Colossae he writes, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart (psyche), as working for the Lord’ (Col 3.23a). Psyche is the Greek equivalent of nephesh , so Paul is clearly referring to the work that slaves are doing with their physical bodies. Given this background, it is vitally important that we learn to live well in our bodies, seeing them as precious gifts from God; by nourishing our bodies, we feed our souls. When the author Paula Gooder describes soul-making, she makes clear that our bodies are an essential part of the process. ‘Soul-making’, she writes, ‘is a deliberate intention on our part to pay attention to who we are called to be and to seek regular refreshment so that we can grow more and more into the people God yearns for us to be . . . This soul-making is something which includes our bodies—that active seeking out of refreshment that animates us and brings us new life only makes sense if it includes our bodies as well as our ‘inner’ life”.[ 2 ] So, what kind of body refreshment will you seek out? Whether going for a peaceful stroll or taking a demanding hike; starting piano lessons or joining a community choir; or perhaps preparing a healthy meal for your friends, God invites you to ‘live out of a richly animated, integrated existence that brings life and refreshment’ (Paula Gooder). DECAY AND DEATH As much as we may delight in our bodies, and use them in fruitful ministry, we know that they are subject to frustration, decay, and death. Our bodies experience this along with the whole of creation, that waits ‘to be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God’ (Rom 8.21). King David is particularly conscious of his frailty, when he writes in one of his psalms, Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Ps 31.9-10 Our bodies, then, can be an arena in which we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. They wear out, because this is what happens to bodies in a fallen world. So we would do well to learn contentment by making peace with our finitude. As the theologian Kelly M. Kapic puts it, ‘Many of us fail to understand that our limitations are a gift from God, and therefore good. This produces in us the burden of trying to be something we are not and cannot be’. We’re not only finite and frail, we’re also sinners. Paul writes about the fierce fight that is going inside believers. But I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Rom 7.23-24 Paul refers to this fight when writing to the Corinthians. I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave . . . 1 Cor 9.26b How, in practice, should we respond to our bodies that are subject to decay and death? Later in life, it might involve making the effort to take a walk around the block, when such walks are arduous, and our physical strength is failing. Or we might decide to take on a new high-intensity exercise programme as a means of preserving our functional capacity in the face of a progressive neurological condition. For others, a Couch-to-5K programme might be a good idea as a response to our longstanding vulnerability to anxiety and depression. This might also improve our powers of concentration or mental stamina. Some of us may have developed a bad habit of ignoring advice from medical professionals. Perhaps this is a growth area for us, and we should actually listen to the practice nurse when she tells us that in order to reverse Type 2 diabetes, we need to change our diet and increase the amount of exercise we do. If we haven’t already, we should all establish a set of healthy habits, acting as good stewards of the gift we’ve been given, in preparation for the challenges that may lie ahead. Finally, we must learn patience and peaceful acceptance, when it becomes clear our days are numbered. We should invest in kindness and gratitude, confident that ‘though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day’ (2 Cor 4.16b). FUTURE HOPE This leads us to the third and final foundational truth. Our future hope is not some kind of disembodied existence in heaven, where our souls are free at last from the encumbrance of our bodies. Instead, we await an eternal embodied existence on God’s new earth and new heaven. We look forward to the redemption of our bodies, not from our bodies. During my daily devotions this morning, the apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians reminded me of this wonderful truth. Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3.20-21 We live now in the sure hope that one day our mortal (perishable) bodies will be replaced by imperishable spiritual ones, that are no longer subject to death and decay. We will be given new bodies fit for life in the new heavens and new earth—a renewed and transformed earth. Therefore, as Paula Gooder puts it, ‘It is vitally important that we learn to live well in our bodies now, as after death we will have to inhabit a body for a very long time’. In light of this, let me leave you with these extraordinary words from the apostle Paul. Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15.51-57 [1]  The Bible Project has a helpful video on this subject . [2]  Body: Biblical Spirituality for the Whole Person . Paula Gooder. SPCK Publishing. 2016.

Ever been frightened by a passage of Scripture? I have. The other day I was reading in the book of 1 Kings, and I came across this verse. A s Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 1 Kings 11.4 In truth, the following verses are even more unnerving. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. 1 Kings 11.5-6 This is Solomon, remember? The ruler of God’s people, Israel. If he can go astray this badly, what about me?! KING SOLOMON IN OLD AGE I wonder if you’ve ever seen the painting, ‘King Solomon in Old Age’ by Gustave Doré. You can see a copy here . It depicts a wizened figure sitting alone. If you’ve seen The Princess Bride , you may remember the old king in that movie. The king in Doré’s painting somewhat resembles him, although he rather lacks that character’s sunny disposition. Instead, he looks positively grumpy. Flung about him are various paper sheaves and scrolls, though he still holds one sheet in his skinny left hand. To those of us rapidly heading in the same chronological direction, it may seem a rather sad and scary image. Indeed, it was those two emotions that gripped me as I read these verses: sadness and fear. As I read these Old Testament narratives nowadays, I find that sadness often lurks. 2 Samuel starts with such promise. The young(ish) King David seems to have so much potential; he’s eager to honour and obey the Lord, a stirring contrast to King Saul. However, so much of what follows is deeply disappointing and upsetting; much of the book is taken up with the consequences of David’s sin and foolishness. And this is the greatest of all Israel’s kings! In the book of I Kings, Solomon starts his reign with a humble heart, desiring wisdom. But it doesn’t end that way. We’re told why this happened: ‘his wives turned his heart after other gods’ (1 Kings 11.4). But let’s not judge these women too harshly. It’s important to remember that they were probably girls on their wedding day, and would not have had much choice in the matter of who they married. They were just trading chips in the hands of Ancient Near-Eastern rulers and despots, victims of that era’s realpolitik. So, you can understand why, as a matter of survival, they would have been keen to make the most of every scrap of influence they had. Secondly, it’s clear that Solomon wasn't modelling for them the faithful, loving heart of his covenant-keeping God. The very fact that he had more than one wife tells us that. Solomon is to blame for allowing his heart to be seduced in this way. Why did he allow this to happen? I’m sure his male ego had something to do with it. No doubt he enjoyed the idea of multiple wives competing for his attention. He may have regarded their religious ideas as quaintly foolish at first. (We’re not told about this but we can speculate). However, as their influence grew, perhaps he became happy to indulge them in their religious practices. Maybe his extensive studies had induced in him a weary cynicism about the nature of truth. (The writer of Ecclesiastes? Cynical? Surely not?!). It seems too much comfort, luxury, and pleasure in the company of these wives produced a corrosive effect on his faith. EARLY WARNING SIGNS Deuteronomy specifically warns kings against this. Hear the prophetic nature of these verses. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. Deut 17.16-17 The role of Israel’s king is not to fight glorious battles, or even to judge with fairness; his primary role is to keep God’s word before him. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees’ (Deut 17.19). By doing this, Solomon would be able to guard his heart against the seduction of great wealth, a large cavalry, and far too many wives. Does Doré’s painting, with its strewn scrolls, suggest that this is what went wrong for Solomon? Did he lose his grip on God’s word? WHAT ABOUT US? So here’s my confession. I share some parallels with Solomon, which means I may also be in danger. I too have known the wonderful, remarkable, unmeasurable grace and special favour of the Lord. Like Solomon, as I grow older, my heart could also be seduced. I’m not worried that my own wife might lead me astray—far from it, she’s far more prayerful and godly than I am. Polygamy is unlikely, but of course, for both men and women, there is always a danger that our affections may drift into unwise places. Such sin can produce shocking and painful results for our families and communities. However, it’s not just sexual temptations that can ensnare us. The temptations that tug at our heart-strings, that pull us away from the Lord, will be subtly different for each of us, and this verse prompts me to examine my heart. For me personally, where does danger lie? And what about you? THE CALL OF THE CARPET SLIPPER I’m intrigued by the thought that for Solomon, spending time with these women was a retreat away from the heavy affairs of state. In one of her poems, Amy Carmichael prays against ‘the subtle love of softening things’. It’s that love of comfort and retreat that perhaps worries me most at this stage of life. The call of the carpet slipper is maybe the biggest danger. After all, haven't I worked hard in ministry for quite a number of years now? You couldn’t really blame me, could you, for just wanting to take it a bit easier? This is a powerful temptation precisely because there are realities here to be faced. As we age, it’s wise to learn to pace ourselves; I do find myself getting more tired more quickly. The right time for ‘formal’ retirement will come at some point. There’s also the glorious principle of Sabbath that we should never forget. It is good, right, and proper—indeed it’s a joy—to take regular time off to rest and be refreshed. To do so is an act of faithful obedience. Regular sabbaths are possible because my work is in God’s hands. He neither slumbers nor sleeps, and that enables me to rest. God can cope without me, actually. Moreover, I’m learning that my fruitfulness for the Lord doesn’t depend on my producing lots of activity, trying to do as much as possible. It’s not about energy spent and it’s certainly not about achievements. Instead, my faith and my life in ministry is dependent on my heart remaining fully devoted to the Lord. I am living well when my heart is soft before him, my ears are attuned to his voice, my eyes alert to his leading, and I look beyond my own comfort, my own ease. I suppose the whole point of these narratives is that they leave us yearning for a better king. In that case, they certainly do their job. Praise the Lord that a better king has come, one who does God’s will where all others have failed. How comforting it is to know that he has taken the curse of our folly, pride, and divided hearts, and defeated the powers that keep us in their grip. And as we consider our own frailties, the temptations that come upon us, how wonderful it is to know that we’re not alone. Within each of us, God’s Spirit lives. He is the one who walks alongside us, strengthening us, and enabling us to serve our Lord whole-heartedly. It is by keeping this king ever before me that my heart finds the strength and determination to remain fully devoted to him. When I remind myself of his beauty, his glory, his loving sacrifice, when I make much of my communion with him and I spend time in his presence so that he shapes the desires of my heart, that’s when the danger recedes. That’s when he satisfies me so much more than anything this world offers. It's Jesus I need. It’s Jesus you need. Every moment of every day. For when our hearts are fixed on him, we’re much less likely to follow in the footsteps of Solomon. We’ll be far too busy following in the footsteps of the one true and everlasting king. The king of all kings.