Christian Incognito

Recently, I found myself in a situation where unsavoury things were being said in a semi-public group. I felt trapped as a Christian. I knew that I didn't want to be identified with what was happening but also was embarrassed about lacking the know-how to dissociate from the comments.

Church reminded me of this situation when the preacher spoke about Jesus' wish to remain incognito at times. The priest contrasted that with our wish sometimes to be incognito when we should be taking more affirmative stand for the gospel and its implications. Although the priest's comment wasn't germane to the bible passage, it was germane to my situation and I felt appropriately chastened by it.

It's good when one can go to church and have one's sin brought to one's attention knowing that the rebuke of the Lord is always designed to be merciful!!

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Reigning With Christ by F J Huegel

Reigning With Christ by F J Huegel (1963) is a book of only 88 pages yet it is filled with crucial truths of the Christian faith organised around the theme of the enthroned believer . It's fair to say that the theme he concisely addresses in this small book is much neglected today. For the press of technological life with its bustle and speed is such that we can forget that present life, so ' real' to us, is temporary (2 Cor 4.18) and as in the first century, 'the form [Greek, "schema"] of the world is passing away' (1Cor 7.31). It's easy to read this work and though it has 20 chapters, they are short and pithy. However, reading it requires a meditative attitude so as to allow the Spirit to work on our hearts.

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In John's gospel account, chapter 12 and verses 1-8 we read, 12 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. ...

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Heard in church today the bewitching song based on Psalm 139 and felt myself struck dumb by the line: and with love everlasting you besiege me I sat and couldn't get the image of the besieging love of God out of my head. As great powerful armies besieged cities in ancient times, so the love of God in Christ, lays siege to our hearts, encompassing them round and about.

All Things Seen & Unseen

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