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Friday, 18 November 2011 13:47 |
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If you’re like me, often I’m at a loss to know the kind of gift that I should get someone. Today in our very affluent and somewhat pampered society, the ordinary or typical kind of gift just doesn’t seem to ‘cut-it’ anymore; it’s becoming harder and harder to surprise or please people.
As I’ve though about this recently I began to ponder just what would be the kind of gift that just keeps on giving. One that had great value, but had an affordable price tag; one that was not easily lost, misplaced or merely forgotten; one that would fit any age, personality and environment. One that all of us could manage regardless of our personal circumstances. You guessed it yet? It’s the gift of kindness. The gift of giving yourself!
Apart from what today is becoming more a rare demonstration of random kindness, kindness does not seem to happen randomly like it might have done in generations past. I think kindness is an intentional act, one that is born out of a personal understanding of God’s grace and generosity to us. Kindness is the way we demonstrate we’ve received the gift of God’s amazing grace. I’m always  moved and deeply touched by those who demonstrate this quality of giving towards me, especially when I don’t deserve it! I heard a speaker once say, ‘that kindness braids mercy, grace and humility, and asks that we think of others before ourselves.’ Kindness is like a covering over all of God’s instructions.
Therefore, we should not forget the unusual value of kindness. Give careful consideration to the following suggestions: contemplate giving some of yourself away like … phoning, emailing, texting or writing a word of encouragement to someone for no other reason than you were thinking of them. In your relational network find a person who could do with an hour of your personal time and creatively offer it to them. Hugs are always great and easy to give away (I’m a hugger and find this one ever so easy to do) they make people feel special, imparting warmth and appreciation. Find a lonely person and give them some quality time; help those who are upset and frustrated by being gentle in your response and display thoughtfulness. Consider sharing a meal or some special surprise, that the person was not expecting, and keep watch for those who might need an extra hand and show thoughtfulness to them if they are stressed, overworked or tired.
As my Grandmother used to say, ‘kindness means that you are nice to another person…and then some.’ It’s a lot like Jesus’ instruction concerning going the second mile, but doing it in your words, thoughtfulness and actions. Essentially it’s, “… abounding in love for one another and for all people…” (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NASB) Paul also exhorts us to be kind and tenderhearted to one another (Ephesians 4:32) Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, against which there is no law. (Galatians 5:22)
As God cultivates His Spirit in your life, watch for this aspect of the Spirit to grow more evident in your words, attitudes and deeds. I’m convinced that God is not looking for large external demonstrations, the big events or huge amounts of time. He wants us to slow down and look around our world with kindness in our eyes, “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6: 8 NASB) In simple and ordinary ways we can give ourselves away to others and in so doing model kindness and God’s agape love to another human being. As you look for ways to give ordinary kindness to another, you’ll find there’s nothing ordinary about it; and it’s amazing how good it makes you feel in just being kind.
May His grace abound in you abundantly as you give yourself way through the gift of kindness!
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Tuesday, 25 October 2011 15:45 |
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This was the subject of a weekend Seminar that I taught in July to a citywide ministry and 2 local churches. The leaders wanted to encourage their folk to intentionally develop a culture of honour in their life and ministry. Why is honour so important?
Societies other that our Western ones, have special words of honour reserved for the elderly. Even an older brother or sister is called by a special term of honour or endearment in some cultures. While some cultures have a tradition of bowing or making hand and head gestures to one another out of respect and deference; yet we seldom see the like in our more ‘enlightened’ Western societies. We understand that honoring our parents is a good thing and that it should not be limited to just to one day of the year which we call – Mother’s day or Father’s day. According to the Bible, it should be an ongoing activity, “Honour your Father and your Mother…so that you may live long… and know security…” (Exodus 20:12)
However we, in the West, live in a culture and age that is more fashioned by dishonour than one of honour. Where political satirists, cartoons, editorials and commentators, routinely lampoon leaders across all levels of society. All you need to do is tune-in to most talkback radio programs and their focus seems to be discussing whose reputation they can cast some kind of question over today. It does not take long for this kind of vitriol to soon infect the most positive of attitudes. Likewise, surf through a few favorite TV channels and you cannot help but run into TV’s equivalent; however this version often comes with slanging matchers, fights, flying objects, accusations, and bleeped-out expletives which are hurled by and at participants of all ages and gender. The digital age has not been spared either, where video games, including some children's cartoons, often reflecting a more dark and negative agenda; almost an anger of all things decent, honourable and beautiful. Now if we are not careful, we can begin to think and talk in the same kind of dishonouring way. Nobody is safe from attack of being dishonoured. In some sense, with all the freedoms that we enjoy in this day and age, we are becoming a very irreverent and disrespectful age.
Therefore what is honour? According to the thesaurus, honour has these synonyms: "esteem, respect, pay homage to and assigning value to." The Greek word translated "honour" in our English Bibles, timao, means "to prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere – admire." (Strong's Concordance)
Paul in Rm. 12: 10 says this about honour: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honour.” (NASB) Therefore showing honour means, treating another respectfully and with dignity, because we value them highly.
A Biblical definition of honour could go something like this; it is the mutual recognition of the spirit of God in each of us; to honour, respect and show reverence; hold in high esteem and show courteous behavior towards, confer distinction upon, and offer praise of another human being. It is the determination to show respect, humility and consideration towards another: serving one another because we are made in the image of God. (cf James 3:9) Also the accurate acknowledgment of who people are, will position us to give them what they deserve and allow us to receive the gift of who they are to us.
As I conclude, let me say that the Bible teachers us that the Holy Spirit is the guardian of the culture of the Body of Christ. It is He who requires us to dwell together in unity of heart and spirit as God’s children in a culture of honour, and like Paul says in Ephesians 4:3; to … “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – i.e. make it a life-habit. The Psalmist speaks about an increase of blessing that comes from this kind of honouring. (Ps 133:3)
Therefore it’s important that we demonstrate a culture of honour in every arena of life: marriage, family, work, church, community and nation.
I leave you with this question: Are you predisposed to making others successful?
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Friday, 23 September 2011 00:58 |
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Over the last two weeks I have been in a Middle East nation training around 500 pastors and leaders. What an awesome and faith inspiring experience; a real privilege to be able to stand with the church in this nation as they seek to fulfil their God given destiny at such a time in history.
I was deeply touched by their faith, determination and commitment to God, and the hope they have for their nation. This is an annual event that our ministry runs in partnership with a national ministry which sees Evangelical, Coptic and Catholic leaders come from the four corners of this nation. As my team taught, ministered and prayed together with these brothers and sisters, I was again made aware of the need for all of us, regardless of where we come from or where we are in our walk with God, to connect with and to see more and more the realization of our calling and destiny. That being the case let me give you three simple guiding principles to help you connect with your destiny.
First we need to understand that our destiny is that deep desire that won't let us go. It's a bit like what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:16, "I am compelled to preach the Gospel... So woe is me if I do not." Therefore it is important for us to discover that desire or sense of conviction that compels us above all others, and to apply ourselves to its outworking.
Second our destiny will be more than just a job that we do, because it will have a sense of joy and personal satisfaction about it. Like the Psalmist says in Psalm 40:8, "I delight to do your will O Lord." And Like my friends in Egypt, we need to discover that which brings us a sense of lasting joy, regardless of the difficulties, hardships and opposition that we will face as we apply ourselves to seeing it fulfilled. For scripture says: "...the joy of the Lord is our strength."
Thirdly our destiny will unlock our creativity and innate inner capacities. Do you remember the story or how God called Gideon in Judges chapter 6? The angle of the Lord called him 'a mighty man of valour.' However at the time, Gideon was far from displaying great valour, he was hiding behind a local winepress. The key principle here is that God was not addressing Gideon's current condition, He was indeed speaking to the actual potential, the inner creative capacities that God knew was locked up within Gideon. We must step out in faith and discover that which unlocks more of who we really are in God, not what our present conditions may reflect, or what others may say concerning us.
It is so energizing and empowering to be with brothers and sisters in another nation who are single focused, passionate and determined in God to fulfil their destiny, regardless of their present circumstances.
So how about you? Are you discovering God's best: God’s destiny for you?
It's time to realize your destiny. Not sure how? Need some help? Why not take a look at my Vocations 4Life online program and join hundreds of others who are now more connected to their vocation and calling in God. |
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Wednesday, 31 August 2011 17:14 |
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Is it possible to change the spiritual atmosphere in your neighbourhood and city?
All of us whether we know it or not, are affected by a number of spiritual elements. Every time we pray for a person, we are directly addressing those elements that affect them and attempting in God, to replace all that is bad with all that is good. We are in fact coming against these elements. In effect we are seeking to alter the environment knowing that prayer opens the way for people to come into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. We may not have the authority to change people’s minds, but we do have authority to interfere with the spiritual climate on their behalf: to see the purposes of God and the forces of good, not the forces of evil, have a positive affect on their lives.
An article in a local newsletter sometime back caught my eye; it called upon people to pray to channel positive energy into their town. A man who conducted pagan rituals in his area took out the article. When asked by a local radio station why this prayer effort was necessary, he replied that he felt persecuted each time he went to perform these rituals because the Christians’ in the town had been specifically praying for the town and its people. He said that the Christian prayers prevented his rituals from producing and spiritual response that he and his people were praying for!
Fervent and consistent prayer had made a definite improvement in the spiritual climate over that town and gave a better opportunity for people in that place to find eternal life in Christ. However, we must not stop at praying. We must be willing to take our praying to the streets – to put ‘feet’ to our prayers. To be willing to minister in Christ name to those whom we encounter as we seek to step into the world of the unchurched in our communities. This kind of prayer and action takes boldness, courage and grace – real compassion. In doing this we are choosing to be obedient friends of Jesus, as we take clear and positive steps in engaging with these untamed fields of the Kingdom of God; “… as the Father sent me”, said Jesus to His followers, “so I send you!” (John 20:21)
Friends, how are engaging with these untamed fields of the Kingdom of God in your world? As we step out we will find an endless number of things and people for whom to intercede. The story of the seventy-two disciples in Luke 10: 1-9 springs to mind. Luke records how Jesus said He saw Satan fall like lightening as they engaged with individuals in the towns they visited. Like them, God will give you ways to connect with people in these untamed fields, ways like you never imagined.
As His church we are called to the mission of the Kingdom to realize its presence and power in the midst of life, where the sick are healed; demons are cast out; the hurting and lonely rejoice; marriages are strong and godly; children honour parents instead of rebelling; parents don’t neglect their children but love them and protect them; the captives are set free, where Jesus is no longer a swear word and where churches, communities and business are flourishing. That’s kingdom transformation!
We can change the spiritual atmosphere in our town or city, person-by-person, household-by-household and street-by-street. The question is; are we prepared to engage our urban communities through confrontational, sustained and authoritative prayer, engaging with God, the community and other brothers and sisters in Christ? God’s promise to Joshua (Joshua 1:3) is still relevant for the Church. “Every place where you set your foot will be yours.” Are we full of the love of Jesus and willing to enter unfamiliar territory with the fire of God in our hearts and the purposes of God on our minds?
Let’s see these untamed fields of the kingdom transformed by the actions of God’s loving, obedient risk-taking kids!
Footnote:
Over the next few weeks I will be in the untamed fields of the Middle East ministering to pastors and leaders. May we see His Kingdom come with power in this region of the world! |
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Ben Gray is a natural when it comes to breaking down biblical concepts and expressing their significance to the world today. His knowledge of the Word and depth of insight define his biblical worldview from which comes fresh revelation for the body of Christ.
