Devotional

Joseph – the Unsung Hero

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Pieter Stok

A Detail from the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Reflections on Matt 1:18-23 continued

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Matt 1:24
 

Joseph is, in many ways, an unsung hero in the Christmas story. His quiet grace and gentleness, in what was an extraordinary revelation, is an inspiration and challenge to us all. Imagine the facts, details and emotions he had to assimilate in a short period of time after the angel’s revelation. There would have been shock and the initial disappointment to overcome. Yet his response to God’s revelation and will, is a lesson for anyone who claims to be a follower of God.

Joseph’s desire to treat Mary with respect right from the beginning is a testament to his character. When all the details were made clear to him, his complete and willing obedience leaves most of us in the shade.

Joseph’s attitude is a lesson for me, and possibly you too. As a child of God our life and our life’s purpose are in God’s hands. Our willing obedience is used by God to advance His Kingdom. In Joseph’s case, this purpose of God involved the crux of salvation history. In own individual cases it won’t be that dramatic, and yet, our lives and obedience are still important. Like Joseph, God has made us for His purposes too.

P.S. The short poem “What lord?” was inspired by this passage too.

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What Lord?

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Pieter Stok

A short poetic reflection on Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph:
What Lord?
I can’t believe it!
She is a good girl,
an honourable girl.
She would never betray me!
 
What Lord?
I must still marry her!
What Lord?
Your Spirit!
How can that be?
 
Yes Lord.
“I will”
Yes Lord,
His name
will be Saviour.
 
Yes Lord,
I will.
 

From the series: The Christmas Poems that I am working on at present.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Poem, poetry, The Christmas Poems | Tags: , , , , , | 3 Comments

To Give All

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Pieter Stok

Safe Home Coming

To give all,
To forego all,
To deny all,
… for You.
The call is so vast
that
the will stumbles and seeks
other ways.
Broadways.
Highways.
Not narrow by the seat of your pants pathways.
 
To turn from
self
to You
a battles rages.
“What about me?”
Yes, “What about you?”
Your quiet Word (of life)
entangles with
my self – ishness.
But your grace
Your all giving – ness
Your cross shaped love
Swamps the corners
of my rambling soul.
 
Kneelingly I stutter, 
“Not me.
You.”
Categories: Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Poem, poetry | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Discipline – Discipling

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Pieter Stok

 “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, 
  and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 
 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, 
 and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12: 5b-6

This passage from Hebrews (a paraphrase of Proverbs 3: 11&12) is not one that resonates

Detail of the Altar in a Church. Eidfjord Norway

with people today. We avoid pain, correction and discipline. We are more likely to find someone to blame than ask, “What is this teaching me? How can I change?”

In Philip Yancey’s book “Where is God When it Hurts” he explores the importance of physical pain. He reminds us that pain is an alarm for action on health issues facing our body. Discipline and correction can have the same impact for our spiritual health. They can alert us to spiritual issues in our lives – areas where we need to take notice.

Discipline and correction come in two main ways. It can occur through those things that are out of our control, such as illness, accidents or events. They are circumstances which shape us. Then we can have the consequences of our own, often foolish, actions that come back to haunt us.

The great thing is that God uses both of these sets of events to mould, shape and direct His children. God doesn’t waste any circumstances to develop the image of His son in His adopted children. Daily, His aim is to recreate the perfection of His son in us.

The other word that needs to be highlighted is “discipline”. The Greek word is ‘paidiea’ – which means to train and educate, but also to correct errors.  In English the word is translated as discipline, which comes from the word to tutor and disciple: in other words, to make a follower of. On the surface these definitions sound a bit a cold. Put in Christian terms, however, it means to be formed into a loved son or daughter of God.

To be disciplined is a sign of God’s love. Tough love that prepares us for an eternity with the Maker.

P.S. This devotion was the catalyst for yesterday’s poem “But You Did”

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But You Did

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Pieter Stok

The Stocks at Aldbury UK

Discipline

Disciplining

Disciple – ing

Disciple

I don’t like the pain

Of choices I’ve made;

The scars of mistakes past.

I don’t like to be reminded

Of poor judgements, wilfulness

and closed eyed running

away,

crying, “You can’t catch me!”

like a naughty child.

But You did.

At times your love hurt,

Your unasked for care

Tasted vinegar bitter.

But you loved

Loved enough to hurt me

Loved enough to open my heart’s eyes

Loved enough

To take all the pain forever

And to make me whole.

Loved enough

To call me your child.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Poem, poetry, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Patterns versus Transformation

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Pieter Stok

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1&2

St Martin-in-the-Fields

There are passages in Scripture that mesmerise me. Romans 12: 1&2 is such a passage. It speaks of the radical (from the root up) difference of the genuinely Christian worldview in contrast to the patterns and habits formed in and by the world. A while back I wrote about God’s Audit. This time I want consider just one phrase.

The phrase that stands out more than the others for me is “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The reason this challenges me is that too often I see the “patterns” rather than the “transformation” in my own life. I see values and attitudes that are not that much different from the world around me, rather than the traits of Jesus.

How does this renewing of the mind take place? What is this renewal?

Sanctification describes the work of the Holy Spirit as God slowly shapes and moulds us into the people He already sees us as, in Christ. Through His Word, Spirit, life experiences, the church and a myriad of other ways God teaches and leads us in His ways. This shaping is a life long process; this shaping is the “transformation” being written about by Paul. It is a heart and mind that seeks more of God and less of themselves. It makes sense that if that is the way we are growing in God, His will then becomes more obvious as we mature and and develop in Him.

There is a responsibility we have and that is to be open and available to that work of God. It nearly sounds cliched but we do need to explore His Word, we ought to be passionate about prayer, our hearts should be open to the leading and nudges of the Holy Spirit and we should be humble enough to accept correction, advice and teaching from those who are mature and firm in their faith. This is all part of the transformative process.

The exciting promise in this verse is the last phrase. The more we are transformed, then the more we are drawn into, and led by, the will of God. The strong implication being, the more we will see Christlikeness in our lives and less of our old selves.

Paul continues in Romans 12 to show what this life looks like. It is a life of grace, sacrifice, blessing, service and forgiveness. Now when the world sees me, if  I am to be effective for God, they need to see Christ, not just someone else who looks like them.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Romans | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments

Tasmania – Beauty and Retreat

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Pieter Stok

Strahan

One of my favorite places in the world to visit and revisit is Tasmania. It isn’t just that we lived there for three years many years ago that pulls us back. There is something unique about the island that makes each return a special treat.

Cataract Gorge in Flood

It is hard to put your finger on the magical quality it has. In one sense it is just like most other western societies with consumerism and supermarkets, graffiti and all the usual social problems. In that regard it is not that much different from home. Yet, at another level, its separation from the rest of the  Australian rat race, its many places of retreat, its huge variety of scenery all within easy driving distance, makes it very appealing. If you are an elderly couple or a thrill seeker there is space and there are places for you.

Because I love European history, it is that aspect of Tasmania that appeals to me

Richmond Bridge

most. The early European settlements, the connections with Convict History, the visual reminders of the past are all present and accessible. The bridges at Richmond and Ross are worth the trip alone.

And then there is the stunning visual beauty from rugged mountains, spectacular waterfalls to the secluded inlets and coves. Being campers we have often stayed in places that would other wise be impossible. There was a night in the Tahune State Forest, another near Hell’s Gates on the west coast that are etched in my memory. And pitching a tent on the Freycinet Peninsula is obligatory.

Cradle Mountain

The aspect of Tasmania that thrills me most is that it refreshes my faith in the creator God. It reminds me that this place wasn’t an accident or a freak offshoot of chance but an glimpse of an intentional God who has a sense of beauty and magnificence. Tassie is a reminder that I need to keep my eyes and heart open for glimpses of God, not just in places, but in people and circumstances. God refreshes our soul through his Word and Spirit but there are times when He does it through what he has made.

The Infamous Port Arthur

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John Bunyan – A Messenger for Our Time

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Pieter Stok

There is a great little museum in the Bedford, UK celebrating and commemorating the life of John Bunyan, the C17th writer of Pilgrim’s Progress and numerous other books. Bunyan started his working life as a tinker repairing pots and pans but was later gaoled for many years for the heinous crime of preaching without permission. He was a non-conformist and only official Anglican clerics were allowed to conduct services. John Bunyan thought that being obedient to God was more important than obeying the State’s rules. He was prepared to pay the price. Which he did. He used his time in gaol to do much of his writing. In the Bedford museum there are many aspects of Bunyan’s life recreated and presented. It is well worth a visit. Also the story of his life and his writings are well worth reading.

Bunyan’s life confronts us with a question: What price are we prepared to pay for being obedient? Those of us who are Christians in western countries, we are not used to paying the physical, financial, social and emotional price for being a Christian. We prefer a theology of financial blessing rather than a theology of sacrifice and commitment. But as we descend into a post Christian era in the West, we may find that to be genuine in our faith we will need to find the inner “John Bunyan” who is prepared to stand up and be counted – no matter what the cost.

If there was ever a time, in recent history, when our neighbours needed to know that there is an alternative lifestyle and worldview to  the current obsessions – it is now. People need to see lives of hope,direction and purpose. That is what Bunyan was doing. In the conformity of his age he was showing that there was a greater King and a greater Kingdom than that of Charles 2nd. Our challenge is to do the same for our era, our leaders and our neighbours.

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Running With Youth’s Naivety – a Poem on Sunday

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Pieter Stok
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,  
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2: 17
 

Oh to run with the naivety of youth,

To jump, dive

and explore

with abandon.

Oh to embrace and experience

Life!

To touch and feel its pleasures and joys.

Oh to try, fail and try again.

Oh to be blind to the cliffs and canyons

of indelible experiences.

Oh to run …

The old head says,

“Wait,

Be careful,

Listen,

Stop!”

The old head remembers the pain

of jumping, running and diving.

The sorrow of embracing.

The old head wishes

that once again,

he could run with the naivety

of youth.

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Snails: They Creep Up On You!

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Pieter Stok

Snails: They Creep Up On You!

Snails! This morning I was planting some flowers. I had a tray of them sitting on the ground and while I was taking one plant out of its pot and putting it into the soil I noticed a snail slowly slithering up the side of the tray. I made a mental note to deal with it when I had an opportunity. However, I forgot about my house toting friend. A long while later I came back to the tray and noticed that he had made his way up the side of the tray to one of the flower pots and was having brunch -being about 10:30 am. I won’t mention what I did next in case I am reported to the RSPCS.

I continued planting (like the snail I am doing it slowly as my back is complaining) and I started reflecting. My lack of initial action is often the way we deal with problems and other issues in our lives. We think to ourselves the issue isn’t big and as I have other things to deal with I will leave it on the back burner until later, only to find that before we know it, it has become a large issue and impacts our lives in a considerable way. Depending on where our weaknesses are, it could be anything from white lies, to pornography or petty theft at work to gambling, procrastination(oops) to gossip. At this point you can insert what trips you up …

Experience tells us that dealing with our foibles early is the wisest path. It saves us from greater pain, embarrassment or struggles further on. Seeking forgiveness, actively putting behaviours or actions behind us, is the healthiest action. If we are not careful, initial foolishness can become an addiction or a pattern of behaviour that is hard to shift. What “snails” are creeping up in your life? Excuse me now I’m off to get some more snail bait.

Categories: Devotional, Faith, Life, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

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