Look ahead with confidence
by Tim Klein
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For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:25).
Read Matthew 16:21–28
Here’s a story of one of my young grandchildren – one of those memorable images this grandparent carries around with him. About 10 other little children were running from activity to activity, laughing and having fun together in our backyard. She really wanted to belong with them, but she was finding it hard to keep up and engage. They had all run on, and she stood there swinging one arm – like pumping herself up – till finally she took off and joined them. I loved it.
Being with Jesus can be a bit like that – recognising that his invitation is real and trustworthy: wanting to be with him, swinging our arms and finally running after him. What could possibly be better than living unafraid in a life of faith with him and his family?
Only six more chapters into the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter almost the same text as yesterday. How different is your life today from yesterday? Can any of us tell how any day will unfold as we hang our heels over the edge of the bed each morning? A simple browse of the death notices of the local newspaper reminds us of the fragility of our confidence.
What is the significance of our life? The words of ‘the Teacher’ in Ecclesiastes 1:2 are a sober reminder of the sum total of our lives.
If that’s the full story, why bother continuing? But it’s not. We continue by living with Jesus. How easily we can lose a sense of purpose and joy in life.
And so, we lose our lives and find them again in Jesus.
He reminds us that life with Jesus is full, even in the middle of struggles. Eternal life is assured. In baptism, we are welcomed into the kingdom of God.
How do we live in this kingdom? With confidence! Ecclesiastes 2:24 puts it this way: The best thing we can do is to enjoy eating, drinking and working. These are God’s gifts to us. So, live life to the full. Find an opportunity to love, serve, bless and praise the Lord every day.
We pray with Steve Kuban, who sang in 2014:
I will praise you with all of my life
I will praise you with all of my strength
With all of my life, with all of my strength
All of my hope is in you
My life is in you, Lord
My strength is in you, Lord
My hope is in you, Lord
In you, it’s in you.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening.
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