A Bigger Jacket
Following our Simply Jesus series, Peter Davey challenges us to look at ourselves to see if we have set limitations which prevent us growing in God.
Surprise
Following the months of lockdowns and restricted social interaction it has been quite amazing (although unsurprising really) as we have begun meet again to realise that babies have become young children, the children become teenagers, and so on!
It reinforces the speed at which things change and life passes!
Annual Gift
There is a fascinating verse in the story of Samuel. Eli’s sons were disgraced as prophet/priests and became rejected by God. Instead, the boy Samuel gained respect and credibility as prophet/priest in place of Eli’s sons. (1Samuel 3.10-21)
But let’s consider the following verses:
1 Samuel 2:18-19 Now Samuel, though only a boy, was the Lord’s helper. He wore a linen tunic just like that of a priest. [19] Each year his mother made a small coat (tunic) for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice.
Samuel was living in the Temple and his mother visited yearly by which time he would naturally have outgrown the tunic he wore daily, so she brought him a new one! What a difference a year makes as we have already observed!
From a small tight garment Samuel would have a new one roomy enough to allow for a year’s growth! Did he spend the first few weeks with his sleeves rolled up and the hem flapping around his legs? He would soon grow, and the tunic would fit until it again became too tight!
Containment
Does this perhaps describe our spiritual growth? Do we need to get a larger garment to grow into all that God has destined for us or are we trying to contain what He is doing to the parameters of what we are already comfortable with?
As we have learned in the series ‘Simply Jesus’ there were many times when Jesus’ actions and words were unexpected and misunderstood.
Challenge
In John’s first recorded ‘sign’ Jesus provided a quality and quantity of wine that shocked the ‘headwaiter’ (John.2.9-10).
He spoke to a disgraced Samaritan woman to her surprise and the consternation of his disciples. (John 4.9; 27).
The son of the ‘royal official’ twenty miles away was healed by his word. (John 4.47-53)
On the Sabbath he healed a paralysed man and told him to carry his mat and walk which enraged the ‘religious people’ (John 5.8-10)
Before Jesus heals a man born blind, he challenged perceived assumptions (John 9.1-2) and the miracle challenged religious theology (John 9.16,24-34) and known reality (John 9.18-21).
Rob challenged us to consider if we have dismissed, ignored, or criticised something God is doing because it is not part of our experience?
Bigger Jacket Needed?
Just as Samuel received with joy, his mother’s much-too-large tunic and waited to fill it out maybe we too need to let God enable us to grow into new areas of spiritual experience?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to grow and trust Jesus to lead you by His grace into new areas of understanding.
In recent years we have faced unprecedented events and been forced to make rapid changes to our lifestyle and adjust to new ways of working.
Can we also trust God to help us look at new ways of becoming His living witnesses to bring the ‘Good News’ to those around us?
