The needs of the many ... love they neigbour

For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example,
so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21

Today is Sunday. As you gather together to hear God's Word, to sing God's praise, and to pray, this is my prayer. I am asking God to begin to shake our contexts - to reveal those presuppositions, presumptions and pretexts which shape how we see, hear, reason and understand. 

Admit it or not, like it or not, each of us is shaped by the 'west.' The west has become synonymous with influence, individuality, independence, capital, consumerism, and consumption - the self has taken center stage in the west; the individual has usurped the communal in our western mindset and our western worldview. Many would ask 'so what?' Well...

When the ways of "I" usurp the self sacrificing ways of The "I AM" the needs of the one override the needs of the rest. It is this shift that enables my wealth to stand in comfortable juxtaposition to their poverty. Our enlightened post-Christian society claims to be driven by knowledge and reason ... yet Spock, this geek icon of rationalism, modern-wisdom and human-reason speaks God's truth into modern life: love others as Jesus loves you. Jesus gave all He is for everyone else.

Look around you. Ask "what do I need?" As I write, I sit in a room surrounded by thousands of dollars worth of things I bought which I barely notice now - I spent from want, thinking of me and without even considering others or their needs. Ask "how will I spend my day? Count the cost. What could those resources have done in the lives of others?" 

This song opens stating truths - when Christ returns, or when we breathe our last breath what value remains in our riches? But do we hear this truth and sing "I surrender all to You" authentically and truthfully?

Probably the biggest question we will ever ask ourselves: Do I really surrender all to God our Father, God our Saviour and God our comforter?

Let us pray - let us ask God to reveal His will and shake our contexts. Holy Spirit move in us to reveal our presuppositions, presumptions and pretexts. Our Father in heaven, break our hearts for what breaks Yours - help us lay down our lives, our lusts, our wants and our worldly desires and take up the cross and truly follow You. Thank You Jesus for your work to restore and redeem us. We pray in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

A picture is worth a thousand words...