Reconciling Spirit – turning the world upside down
The journey continues; Paul and his
wee entourage are galloping away sailing around the known world, landing,
teaching, preaching, moving on.
I heard an analogy this week – Paul’s
zeal is comparable with any new convert:
We all know the enthusiasm of those
who’ve just stopped smoking; given up wheat; lost a huge amount of weight; or
changed their lives in some way. Maybe you’ve even fallen into that category at
some time!
It’s new
It’s shiny
It’s changed your life
And you want everyone else to share
in the joy too!
Paul is overwhelmed by the
transformation he experienced, and he wants everyone else to have the same opportunities
he had. His life was turned round, turned upside down, changed, renewed… and through
that change he found a deep and lasting reconciliation.
He accepted the mission God gave
him – to go and share the Good News with the world – to Jew and Gentile alike. Each
place he landed received him differently; some were thrilled to hear this new
teaching; others less so. Some Jews heard the message and believed, but then
were put out, or worse when they saw the message also being shared with
gentiles. In some places he caused a riot and was thrown into jail. In other places
homes were opened to him, food supplied, hospitality offered and his words were
heard and acted upon.
Thessalonica is one place were the
welcome was not great; a riot followed, and as Paul could not be found, those
who’d welcomed him were thrown into jail instead. People were not happy!!!
The trouble with this new teaching
was that it did not affirm; it did not reassure; instead it challenged, it
required action – action that would turn all their usual activities inside out
and upside down.
It was Jesus’ teaching: feed the
hungry, clothe the poor; look after the outcast; and in addition to that Paul’s
teaching challenged other things, other behaviours, and their immediate history
too.
This man, Jesus – whom you all
killed… was the Messiah! You Jews – killed God’s chosen One!
You killed the Messiah. For that is
who Jesus of Nazareth really was! No wonder those in authority were upset!
Paul was challenging everything they
stood for; everything they believed and he was challenging them to accept,
believe and change. It was radical and it was upsetting – no one likes to be
told they’ve got things wrong.
Paul’s tone with those in the fledgling
church is far kinder. He writes following his visit, encouraging, praising them
for their faithfulness their commitment, which everyone is talking about.
There is a genuine affection; Paul
loves these people in this new church – because against all odds they are
trying; they are following the new way, they have embraced the teachings of Jesus
and even though it has not brought an easy time, it has brought joy and others
in other new churches are following their example.
We can learn much from both the way
Paul goes about sharing the gospel and how the faithful ones in Thessalonica
received it.
We live in a world of instant
communication and instant gratification. There is an expectation that we can
have anything we want, whenever we want it; without counting the cost, without
working hard, without considering others.
We do not need to be like that just
because the media tells us we can.
I know, if I were writing to you
all, as Paul wrote to them, I too would be thanking God!
I feel blessed that there are people
in our church who pray for each other; who share the gospel message; who work
hard to help others; who are excited and filled with the joy that the Spirit
can bring.
All things are possible when we have
the Spirit with us!
The gospel message may turn the
world on its head: challenging the get rich quick attitudes of society; seeking
to help the marginalised and speak out for justice for those who are oppressed;
but the wonderful thing is that when we do rise to the challenge we will know
it was right; we will know when it is of God – we know because of the sense of
following God’s will and helping God’s people.
This sense of rightness fills us
and leads us to know true peace – peace that comes from being fully reconciled.
As we ponder the people of
Thessalonica – those who heard and believed, and those who heard and rejected –
let’s reflect too on how we first heard about Jesus; how we first responded and
how we continue to respond now…
Ponder how God is working in your
life
With your loved ones
With our church family
In our community
Ponder, reflect, pray
Ask for guidance and the Spirit’s
power to reconcile those who are unsure, those who are hesitant, those who
follow and those who seek to share the joy of following the living and true
God.
All of this – all God-filled living
is what’s turning the world upside down!
Amen
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