Thursday, February 17, 2022

1 John 4:7-21: Love Them; Don’t Leave Them

Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 20 February 2022, by Captain Michael Ramsay

 

The other night we watched in horror with all the other diners at a packed restaurant in Chilliwack as the TV abruptly switched from the Olympics to show police on horseback and with automatic weapons advancing on a crowd of protesters in Ottawa. You could hear the disbelief as none of us - even those who supported the action - could really comprehend that something like this would be happening in Canada. 


On Valentines Day, of all days, when our PM announced that this was coming, my mind went to 1 John 4 because, 'how do I love my neighbour?' has been a question that I -like many people, with many different views- have been and am still really struggling with during Covid-19. 

 

Perfect love drives out fear: People have been filled with so much fear and hate in this country that it is not only driving out love, but it is also clouding our reason - or at least mine! Bars were packed this weekend with people drinking and dancing and in very close contact with each other; we have been at sporting events where people are packed so close together that they can spill their drink on you or spew the food in their mouth on you when they cheer a goal - it doesn't make me feel safe. 


But then look at our rules around vaccine passports. In our province, one must be vaccinated to eat at a restaurant where the server takes your order from the table. The waiter, however, who goes from table-to-table does not need to be vaccinated. If unvaccinated people are more likely to carry the virus, then the legislation is putting all the customers and especially the staff at risk; if not, then what is the point of the passport - to keep unvaccinated patrons away from unvaccinated waitstaff? 

 

There is more: like we just said, one must be vaccinated to eat at a restaurant where the server takes your order from the table; however, you don’t need to be vaccinated if you place your order at the counter and then the same waiter brings the meal to your table. The waiter still comes to the table so why do we need a passport in one case and not the other?


A line that comes to my mind is one that Plato, in his Republic, put in the words of Socrates. When facing his questioners he said, "I am too stupid to be convinced by you". I think this is me relating to our current (especially vaccine) regulations. I am sure smarter people than I am can figure it out.

 

Wearing masks, washing one’s hands, and social distancing all make a lot of sense when trying to avoid a flu, a cold, or Covid-19. Closing borders and limiting travel are great ways to stop the spread of a global pandemic. Wearing masks, washing one’s hands, social distancing are all things we do here to help the vulnerable stay safe because we love them. We also still check people’s temperatures, and we have plexiglass separators everywhere. At the soup kitchen we even have them on every table separating each diner from the person in front of them. I might even go so far as to recommend that everyone who can be, be vaccinated: I have had 3 shots now!

 

The reason that I have had three shots is the same reason why I personally am troubled with our current vaccine mandate – because I am trying to figure out, in this time and place, how to best love my neighbour. I am vaccinated because I feel that I need to do everything out of love; I need to do everything possible to help others – even and especially those who are fearful of unvaccinated people. I would never want to exclude them from anything. I do realize however that there are people who cannot be vaccinated for health, mental health, moral and ethical reasons. I cannot possibly be a part of forcing someone to violate their deeply held moral convictions, can I?

 

The key for Christians alive at this juncture in history, I believe, is to not let the devil tempt us into fear and/or hatred of anyone. Like our scriptures today say, God is love. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God; if we love one another, God lives in us. Whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God.

 

Anyone of us who is on social media should check our posts. If we have posted something that demeans or belittles proponents of an opposing view, take it down. At the very least, commit to only building one another up in the future. If you find yourself getting worked up while you are watching the ‘news’, turn it off. If you find yourself getting worked up while chatting with someone else, take a breath and say a silent prayer for them – or better yet, acknowledge the heart of a person you many disagree with and say a prayer with them. That is an act of love and whoever loves God loves their neighbour. God is love.

 

At this time when our country is seriously and passionately divided, we Christians need to be united in love; we need to remember when walking with one another that:  

 

·        God loves us all (even the other guys!) so much so that He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins and if anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.  

·        There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

·        And whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love; whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God. 

·        For, God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them; if we love one another, God lives in us.

 

Let us go from here out into this world of hate and fear and let us be different. Let us refuse to hate one another; let us refuse to fear one another. And let us refuse to ‘other’ one another, and may we always, as brothers and sisters, live and walk in the love of God. 



 

 

 

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Proverbial Blessings from Proverbs 3-16

Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 06 February 2022 by Sarah-Grace Ramsay


This week was Chinese New Year. At Chinese New Year events they often give each person a loonie. What we will do for that is donate a loonie to Partners In Mission for each person here today.

 

The other thing I associate with Chinese New Year is what most of us associate with Chinese food. Fortune Cookies. I often think it would be neat to have a Christian Chinese Food Restaurant where instead of fortunes in the cookies there would be scriptures or proverbs.

 

So today I have proverb cookies – well proverb plastic eggs for us. Heather will hand them out. You can open yours up and look at it. Don’t lose it. I am going to ask people to read them out. And then we will share in a blessing from each one.

  

Who has Proverbs 3:5? Read it out please.

 

3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding

 

God confounds the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27); the sin of the book of judges that shows just how much trouble can come when we ‘do what is right our own eyes’. The truth is God is smarter than we are, any of us. We can all make mistakes but God doesn’t. As we trust in Him, He will bring us through everything.

 

Our blessing from this for us today is this:  As we all put our trust in God, He will do amazing things. More than we can even imagine.

  

Who has Proverbs 3:5? Read it out please.

 

3:27: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

    when it is in your power to act.

 

We have heard the saying “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” It is important that when we have the opportunity to do good for someone that we not decline that opportunity. When we fail to do good for someone, we leave the door open for harm; so then let us a do the most good for everyone we meet.

 

Dear God, please help us to always to good whenever and wherever we are able. Amen

  

Who has Proverbs 4:27? Read it out please.

 

4:27: Do not turn to the right or the left;

    keep your foot from evil.

 

This is important. I think many times in our world, we realize our errors in going too far in one direction and so to correct for that we swing far too far in the other direction. It is the pendulum effect. Rather than always looking to the left or the right, we need to keep focused on the Lord; that is the way to keep us from veering off into the sins of one extreme or the other.

 

Dear God, please protect our hearts from the temptations on the left and on the right. Please guide us on your path so that we may keep our feet from evil. AMEN

  

Who has Proverbs 10:12? 

 

9:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

 

The Hebrew Word for fear here ‘yirah’ doesn’t mean being timid. It means more specifically feeling and showing deference, reverence, and real respect. It is the kind of respect one has when they are before a judge. You know that they are in charge. When we have this respect for the Lord, we will have all His knowledge and understanding available to us.

 

Lord, help us to always seek you with reverence and fear that you may make us wise. Amen.

  

Who has Proverbs 10:8?

 

 10:8: The wise in heart accept commands,

    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

 

There are two parts to this. One is about the growth and blessing we have from accepting direction. The second is about talking too much. They are related. If we are talking, we are not listening. If we are not listening, we come to ruin. If your voice is the one squashing the quiet, your heart is not the wise one, learning. When we are tempted chatter on and on, we can resist and instead be still and listen to what God is telling us through others.

 

When tempted to chatter on and one, may each and all of us close our mouths tightly so that we may open our hearts to the commands and wisdom of the Lord.

  

Who has Proverbs 10:12? Read it out please.

 

10:12: Hatred stirs up conflict,

    but love covers over all wrongs.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘don’t let anyone drag you so low as to make you hate them’. Forgiveness is key to the whole Christian message. As we are able to love others, our adversaries and conflicts may just melt away.

 

Our blessing from this proverb is this: As we are able to accept and give the love of God, we are able to be free of the power of hate and all the conflict it stirs up. May it be so.  

  

Who has Proverbs 12:1? 

 

12:1: Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

    but whoever hates correction is stupid.

 

And who has Proverbs 10:17? Read that one out too please.

 

10:17: Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,

    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

 

These two proverbs are obviously related and very important. Discipline is so important. That is how we learn. Proverbs speak to discipline from others and discipline from God. I do believe that we are given lessons to learn from in all of our circumstances, and as we learn from them, we are more prepared for everything else that comes our way.

 

My prayer is this: that we will always be open to the Lord’s correction and heed His discipline so that through our faithfulness the Lord will show others the way of Life. Amen.

  

Who has Proverbs 10:19? Read it out please.

 

10:19: Sin is not ended by multiplying words,

    but the prudent hold their tongues.

 

This is similar to what we heard about chattering bringing us to ruin. This proverb, I believe, is speaking more specifically about when we have made an error or done something wrong. If we keep speaking, justifying it, explaining it, and the like, it doesn’t make it better. It makes it worse. It is best just to hold your tongue and let healing take place.

 

May all of us know the peace that comes from holding our tongues.

  

Who has Proverbs 11:2? Read it out please

 

11:2: When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

    but with humility comes wisdom.

 

When we always think we are the best, our surprises will always be disappointments. We can never learn if we are filled with pride. It is only when we realize that God can speak through everyone that we can listen and hear God when He does speak to us through others. When we puff ourselves up, life will pull us down; when we are humble, God will lift us up.

 

God help us to be humble that we may bring Glory unto you. Amen.

  

Who has Proverbs 11:2? Read it out please

 

14:21: It is a sin to despise one’s neighbour,

    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy

 

Matthew 22:40, Jesus tells us, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself for this sums up the Law and the Prophets’. As we love God and one another and look out for each other, we will indeed experience all the blessings of the Kingdom of God. No matter what anyone does, may we never exchange the freedom that comes with love for the chains of hate.

 

Lord help us to always love others and to be faithful in serving You in all that we do. Amen

  

Who has Proverbs 14:29? 

 

14:29: Whoever is patient has great understanding,

    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly

 

People will say many things that are offensive. People will refer to others in ways you find objectionable. People will have political and religious views that are different than yours. People will do things that you do not approve of… when we react angrily and quickly to these things, we alienate others and refuse the opportunity to learn. Who knows, if we are patient rather than reactionary maybe we will discover that they were not saying what we thought they were or… we may even discover that we can learn from God through them. We can never learn if we are always angry. We can never truly show love if we are always responding in rage.

 

Dear God, please help us to listen and love rather and respond and be offended. Help us to be patient with one another. Amen.

  

Who has Proverbs 15:1? 

 

15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath,

    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

 

This warning and blessing is similar to the previous one. Someone is going to be mad at you. Someone is going to yell at you. Someone may cry and scream at you. Someone is going to look at you in such a way to suggest that this is coming. Someone is going to say something that offends you. Someone is going to say something that upsets you. When you answer gently you will find that their wrath is turned away and terror is adverted.

 

May it be so. May we always be equipped to answer rage with peace, and hate with love. As the beatitude says, blessed be the peacemaker.

  

Who has Proverbs 15:17? Read it out please.

 

15:17: Better a small serving of vegetables with love

    than a fattened calf with hatred.

 

This is comfort to us all. Whatever we have to share, let us share it. Whether it is a little or a lot, let us share it with love. We all know what is like to have a big fancy occasion ruined through strife. We all know what it is like to experience joy and love in the little things. May we show, experience, and be the love of God in both circumstances.

 

They will know we are Christians by our love.

  

Last One!

Who has Proverbs 16:3? Read it out loud please

 

16:3: Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

    and He will establish your plans.

 

In all that we do, let us seek the Lord. Let us seek His Face. Let us ask His direction. Let us commit to seek His guidance in all we do, for as we do, He will establish those, His plans that come straight from Him.

 

Let us pray.

 

Dear God,

 

Thank You for your encouragement and blessings that You show us through the Scriptures, the proverbs, and in every other way. Thank You for everything that You do for us and through us. Please help us to faithfully serve You, love You and learn from You in all that we do. Help us to be faithful even as you are faithful.

 

In Jesus’ Name Amen.