A week or so ago Doreen emerged from
doing some laundry to ask whether I had inadvertently left a tissue in a pocket
of an item in the wash. The reason for
the question was that everything in the wash (including several dark items) was
now smothered with tiny bits of white mulched paper. Of course, I declared myself to be innocent,
but it immediately brought to mind Hebrews 12:1. In the Authorised Version this is rendered:
“… lay
aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”
The word beset means something that is stubbornly
persistent in its affect. Hence the illustrate
white balls of tissue that was persistently clinging to the laundry and proving
hard to remove.
I normally
use the latest NIV translation which renders the same verse:
“… let us throw off everything that hinders and the
sin that so easily entangles.”
Clearly there seems significant
difference in how the Greek has been translated. So I studied further and found that the word
translated “easily entangles” or “easily besets” (euperistatos) only
occurs in this one place in the New Testament. More study suggests this to mean easily
encircling or ensnaring. The context of
this word is in the illustration of faith being lived out like running a
race. In order to run effectively we
need to shed unnecessary weight and take care not to be hindered or entangled
in anything.
This verse has often brought to mind a
famous race in the 1984 Olympics in which a collision between Zola Budd and
Mary Decker Slaney resulted in Mary being unable to finish the 3000 metre final
and Zola never seeming to shake off the controversy which then seems to have
blighted her career. It seems that at two separate points in the race, each had
collided with the other. About a year
after that race, Mary, having got over the emotional hurt of the incident,
stated that the real problem was that she was not used to running in a
pack. In other words, her progress was
impeded by that which surrounded her.
Clearly, if we do not take care, any sin
could entangle us. But the write of this
letter to Hebrew Christians speaks about a
specific sin. In days gone by
preachers often referred to ‘besetting
sins’ as a particular sin that affected an individual. One person’s besetting sin might differ from
another. Unfortunately, some Christians excuse their weakness by attributing it
to their ‘besetting sin’ over which they seemed unable to get the victory. But it seems to me that the write had a
specific sin in mind.
Given the context of this verse, and the
general content of the preceding chapters, excess burdensome weight and
entanglement most likely refers to the practice of some Jewish Christians who, at
that time, taught the need to keep the Law as
well as putting faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning work. The grace of God that brings salvation needs
nothing added, and to teach otherwise is a grievous error, as the last part of
chapter 10 makes clear. As the Gospel hymn says, “I need no other argument, I need no other please; It is enough that
Jesus died, and that he died for me”
Let’s keep running the race with our
gaze unswervingly fixed on Jesus, and shun anything that hinders or complicates
the simplicity of trusting in the finished work of the cross.
Items for Praise
Many will know that just four weeks ago
Doreen, my wife, was discovered to have breast cancer. As I write this she has
just been sent home from hospital following surgery. Already the wound is beginning to heal well,
and through the past moth she has experienced wonderful peace and remained
joyful. We give thanks for an observant
nurse, and the quick response an quality care experienced from the NHS.
Katrina Thomas, the new part-time
Children and Family Adviser in Rural Mission Solutions has commenced work. We give thanks for this new team members and
also for those who supported Monica Cook and have continued that support to
enable Katrina’s appointment. Please
pray for Katrina and her family.
This week the trustees of Rural Mission
Solutions (Sunrise Ministry) met and were introduced to Katrina. It was an excellent and productive
meeting. We thank God for each of the
trustees. The list is published on the
website. One retiring trustee, Tim
Woodward, has been a colleague in rural evangelism since the seventies. Although he is stepping down from the Board
he has offered continuing support. Tim
is an Anglican Lay Reader and we commend him and his ministry to your prayers.
A Rural Mission Solutions stand at the recent
Annual Assembly of the Congregational Federation attracted quite a lot of
interest. The CF has many rural churches
that could benefit from our services.
Following that Assembly, I travelled to
Stirling in Scotland to teach on the Salvation Army’s Safeguarding Course. One
of those on the course was a senior officer whose husband is about to take up a
post which, among other things, should link him into the Rural Evangelism
Network. Pray as he takes up this post and for the Salvation Army in the UK as
they process changes.
We give thanks to God for faithful
prayer partners and faithful supporters that enable us to continue to offer our
ministry to rural churches free of charge.
Many village churches have limited income and could not afford the full
cost of all we provide.
Sunday 29th May I took the
morning service at Gartree Prison Sunday Service, which proved to be a very
special time.
Items for Prayer
That Doreen will make a full and speedy
recovery following her operation.
For ‘J’ who has been in contact as he
seeks God’s guidance and explores whether this might be within Rural Mission
Solutions.
For the trustees and me as we set out
the strategic plan for the next few years.
This links with my ability to give more time to the rural mission work.
For the members of Yelvertoft
Congregational Church as I bring to an end my ministry with them over the past
ten years. We pray that the Lord will
lead them into new and fruitful aspects of service in the village community.
I am currently looking for churches that would be interested in developing their own bespoke mission strategy. Release from Yelvertoft
means I can now offer ministry to other churches.
While Doreen is recovering my priority
is to care for her for the next few weeks.
There will be plenty of mission work I can do from home. However, there are some activities I expect
to undertake, including:
Tuesday 31st May 1.15 to 3.00
HMP Gartree (working with the choir)
Wednesday 1st June Holiday at
Home Planning Meeting
Sunday 4th June 10.45
Yelvertoft Congregational Church; 6.00pm Newton United Church (near Rugby).
Barry
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