The Divine Wind

A couple of windy days and many of the leaves on the trees around where I live have become unglued from their branches. All, that is, except our magnolia tree. Here they hang on with determination. In the spring the magnolia flowers first and then the leaves arrive somewhat late, so I suppose they just want their full life span.

The wind which causes many a leaf to fall is absolutely unpredictable. It may be a whisper or a gust, brief or prolonged and from any direction at any moment.

Jesus spoke about the mystery of the wind. One night he was in deep conversation with a man named Nicodemus, a religious minister akin to a Bishop. Jesus was telling him that a personal, valid and life-changing experience of God was dependant on the move of God’s Spirit, and no amount of earthbound religion could provide this. The dead foliage of this man’s spiritless religion needed to be blown clean away by God himself!

Jesus said: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” was Nicodemus’ earnest question. How indeed? When someone comes to personal faith in God, there is a mystery present because ultimately it is a miracle from God.

If we hear and feel within our own heart the wind of God’s Spirit, which is essential and can’t be predicted anymore than can the wind, our part is not to hang on to the branches of our doubt as do the magnolia leaves to their branches. This is why God, through the pages of the Bible repeatedly says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…’ Rather we should yield and exercise our trust in Jesus. God has so fixed it, that if there is the fall of autumn there will be new life in spring. We can receive that spiritual springtime today.

Different foods, different appetites

Farmers are bringing in the harvest. On our travels in the countryside, we find lots of farm shops, often with integral cafes. Seeing the abundance and variety of food available to us reminded me afresh just how blessed we are. There are countless people around the world not so blessed. I know that some in our country have financial pressures, which reduce their food options but also there are those who can’t appreciate the available food because they have a poor appetite, due to physical or mental ill-health.

The Bible often uses the analogy of food and appetite, when speaking of our desire for God. Some people have an appetite for religion but not God himself; others an appetite for neither. The God of the Bible tells us that this lack of appetite or desire for him is the result of ill-health, not physical or mental but spiritual.

Our desires and appetites are dependant in some measure on our ability to appreciate and enjoy. As a child, girls were of little interest to me, but as a teenager it was a different story: my interest was awakened!

I believe that God is in the business of stirring our spiritual desires at some point in our lives. How and when this spiritual puberty or awakening occurs will be as varied as people are different. What is more important is how to respond to it when it does.

In the Old Testament God says: ‘ …you who have no money, come buy, eat and drink…without money and without cost’. God has an abundance for us and our willingness to receive is all the ‘payment’ he requires. In the New Testament Jesus sharpens the focus. ‘Don’t work for food that spoils but for that which will endure to eternal life.’ His listeners asked, ‘What is this work God requires?’ In effect Jesus answered, ‘Believe and throw in your lot with the one he sent,’ obviously referring to himself. He tells us that he is to be our spiritual bread, our essential sustenance.

We are invited to, ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.’ Psalm 34.

The Paris Olympics 100 years ago

The Olympics are here. Paris was also the venue for the Olympics 100 years ago.  

In 1924 Scotsman, Eric Liddell won gold in the 400 metres. Chosen to represent the UK at the Olympics, his strength was the 100 metres for which he was favourite. When the schedule of events was published, Liddell was dismayed to discover that the 100 metres final would be on a Sunday.

Liddell’s Christian faith was foremost in his life and he held a particular view on Sabbath observance.  He believed that his sporting prowess was a gift from God (he was also a Scottish international rugby player) but he wanted to honour the giver (God) more than the gift.  So it was, that he declined to run the 100 metres and offered himself to run the 200 and 400 metres, which wouldn’t compromise his personal convictions. He came under pressure as many attempted to dissuade him – he had no experience of 400 metres competitions. To everyone’s surprise, he returned from Paris with gold and bronze Olympic medals.

What would this 24 year old do next? He had a degree in pure science and opportunities lay before him in the sporting world. Yet, in 1925, he chose to return to his country of birth – China – where his parents were missionaries.

Liddell’s personal faith had matured and he wanted to serve the Christian community in China. With the onset of war, Liddell was interned by the Japanese. He died of cancer in 1945, whilst still an internee.

We don’t know precisely what Liddell taught in those 20 years, but it would have been consistent with the Christian faith which we find explained in the New Testament paraphrased here:

‘God gives all people life and breath and everything else. He did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. In previous times, he patiently bore with our ignorance. Now since he has shown us himself in Jesus, he both invites and commands all people everywhere to turn to him.’

Like Liddell, may we have the humility to see our gifts and strengths as first coming from a good God and then use them for his pleasure and honour. This way is likely to bring joy to us and others also.