Dear Friends,
I love how God always does things at the perfect time.
Over the past few years, we have planned our sermon series in November for the following year. We set the dates on which every passage will be preached on and who will preach; and (somewhat unsurprisingly) often we find that the Word we are studying speaks right into the moment we are living in. Right now, I feel like both our Reformation and 1 Peter series are preparing us week by week for the events of the week ahead.
We will return to 1 Peter next Sunday but this week, be reminded of these words:
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3.15-16
Peter is concerned that the ordinary, normal Christian person might be able to humbly and respectfully defend their hope in Christ. It is this hope that sets us apart from unbelievers. It is this hope that our future rests upon. It is this hope that is focused on Jesus and speaks of Jesus.
My suspicion is that sometime after 10am on Wednesday you will have a chance to speak humbly and respectfully of Jesus love with all godliness, gentleness and respect.
We are not to withdraw. We are not to stay silent.
We are to live life openly as Christians in the midst of the unbelieving world and be prepared to explain why we think following and obeying Jesus matters. Our lives should be characterised by godliness and we should treat people we speak to with love and kindness even if it is not reciprocated.
Now I am no prophet and nor am I the son of a prophet. I don’t know what way the vote will go but when the decision is released the pressure to capitulate to the world standards and views no matter which way it falls, will be enormous.
So what are we going to do?
Well, we are not going to panic.
We are just going to get on being a Growing Christian community devoted to maturing in Jesus for the Glory of God.
We are going to get on with thriving as a Christian community.
We will meet for church next Sunday as per usual and we will do what we always do – praise God, encourage each other, listen to his Word and celebrate the opportunity to gather in God’s name for God’s glory. I’ll be there and I hope you will be too.
In Christ,
Nigel