Peter Misselbrook's Blog

May 22 2021 - I asked the Lord that I might grow

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love, and ev'ry grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

'Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
At once He'd answer my request
And, by His love's constraining pow'r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry pow'rs of hell
Assault my soul, in ev'ry part.

Yea, more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Humbled my heart, and laid me low.

"Lord, why is this," I trembling cried;
"Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?"
"Tis in this way," the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and faith."

"These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou may'st find thy all in me.

John Newton 1779

May 22 2019 - Proverbs 3 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart

In his book, The Radical Disciple, the elderly John Stott spoke of one of the key lessons of old age, learning afresh our dependence upon others. We come into the world completely dependent upon others to care for us but as we grow towards adulthood we learn to become independent; to stand on our own two feet. And that is quite right; we need to grow up. But there is always the danger that we may persuade ourselves that we have become the master of our own soul.

Proverbs 3 exhorts us to remember our continual dependence upon God.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight. (vv. 5-6)

Before God, we remain like children who lack knowledge and understanding. We have a tendency to get things wrong and to go down the wrong path. Verse 7 warns us, "Do not be wise in your own eyes." It is only as we trust the Lord and seek his direction for our lives that we will live the life for which he created us. Submitting to him and learning from him "will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones" (v.8).

But why should we trust God rather than living to please ourselves? In the preceding verses Solomon says,

   Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart. (v. 3)

The primary reference is probably to those qualities of character which spring from wisdom and adorn the life of the one possessing them – a genuine concern for others and an unswerving commitment to their good. But these are qualities we have learned from God. He is the one who has loved us with a love that surpasses our understanding; he is the one who is faithful to all his promises and never turns his back on us. His love and faithfulness towards us, particularly in the Lord Jesus, demonstrate that he can be trusted – trusted with our life and with its every decision. We dare not trust ourselves; we cannot do better than trust the one who has loved us with a love stronger than death and whose unshakeable faithfulness makes him utterly trustworthy.

But such trust does not mean that we will never face difficulties in life, as verses 11-12 remind us:

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
   and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
   as a father the son he delights in.

There are times when God stops us in our tracks and seems to smash all our hopes and plans. Such times call for us to turn to him afresh for wisdom. Have we been pursuing our own path, depending upon our own understanding? Have we been wise in our own eyes rather than seeking to discern his way for us? Times of disappointment need to be times of fresh learning from God, times when we seek his face and his leading with fresh vigour (see John Newton's hymn, "I asked the Lord that I might grow…").

A life lived in dependence upon God – out of a knowledge of his character and grace, and seeking his leading and wisdom – is a life lived well (see vv. 13-18). It is the life for which he created us.

Father God, help me to know that I never grow beyond dependence upon you. Teach me more of what you would have me be and fill me with the wisdom whose ways are pleasant and whose paths are peace. Help me to follow Jesus in the path that leads to life eternal.

May 22 2020 - 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 – Accountability

One of the reasons that Paul was writing to the Corinthians was to encourage them to give money to those in need in Jerusalem. Paul is very careful as to whom he sends to collect this gift. He is concerned not only to handle the money with honesty and integrity but to do so in a way that will prevent anyone being able to say that he has misused these funds. He is sending Titus to them, someone they know and trust. But he is also sending with Titus two other trustworthy representatives of the churches, probably some who are already responsible for the care of gifts from other churches. Paul is concerned to ensure that there are proper safeguards surrounding the conveying of the gifts from Corinth to Jerusalem.

I worked for a major Christian Charity and developed software that enabled gifts to be tracked from donors to the projects on which the money is used. This enables donors (and the Charity Commission) to be assured that the money is used for the purpose for which it was given. I sometimes wish that we could return to the simplicity of the situation described in 2 Kings 12 when King Joash organised repairs to the temple. We read that a chest with a hole bored in the top was placed in the temple and people put money into it for repairs. When there was sufficient money, it was given to “the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple … They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money because they acted with complete honesty” (2 Kings 12:11,15). It would be wonderful to be able to have no need for accounts and accountants, but it is important for churches and Christian charities to be transparent and accountable in the handling of money entrusted to their care not only to prevent misuse but also to demonstrate integrity before a suspicious world. As those who know that we are accountable to God for our actions, we are ready also to be accountable and transparent to others.

So Titus was being sent to Corinth to help raise funds for the poor in Jerusalem and to convey the gift safely to those who needed it. And he is eager to go, taking Paul’s letter and exhortations with him. Paul recognises that this is because God had given Titus a heart of love and concern for the Christians at Corinth, a heart like that of Paul himself. This was undoubtedly true, but surely it was also true that Titus had learned well from Paul. As a companion and helper of Paul, Titus had come to share the concerns and passions of his mentor – his love and concern for the churches. What are those close to us learning from us?

There is also surely another human factor. Titus had previously visited Corinth with Paul’s severe letter and yet had been received well. Paul speaks of how they had refreshed Titus’ spirit (7:13). Visiting them with a difficult letter had proved to be a blessing rather than a chore. No wonder Titus was keen to visit them again, to renew fellowship and to be refreshed by them again. Do we refresh the spirit of those who minister to us so that they find their God-given task a joy and not a burden?

Living God, my life is open to you and nothing can be hidden from your sight. Help me to be open and transparent in my dealings with others, never afraid to be called to account for how I have acted. And, as you have blessed me beyond measure in the Lord Jesus Christ, make me a blessing to those I deal with today, that they may be eager to meet me again rather than keen to avoid me.

Peter Misselbrook