Called to obedience... not counting the cost.
Each beginning phase in a calendar year brings with it opportunities to explore new ways of being, strengthen proven ways of working and relating to one another and discern/learn fresh ways of being effective in what we do and seek to do it in the best possible way we can muster - excellence!
Even this start of our new 2009-2010 Methodist calendar year is no different.
Questions arise as to what can we do better this year to the glory and honour of God? What have we learnt in the last year in which to improve upon in this new phase and what is outstanding that needs our attention in order to bring it fruition? As daunting as they may seem, these are questions of unlocking opportunity.
Fresh insights and newness does not come to people bent on keeping things as they are. Acknowledging the need to look at ourselves differently and seek to fulfil our calling in the best possible way available to us through God's grace, is the beginning of the journey to being obedient to God beyond our own self-concern. This same challenge faced the man of God called Abraham in the Old Testament times. Imagine being told to leave your home country, your people and possibly forgo all your usual customs in order to learn new ways of living among new people in a strange land? I wonder what/how many of us would respond to that! Are we open to discovering new ways of being church even if it means we effect drastic changes that bring about pain or discomfort to our usual ways? This is how we, today are challenged compared to "leaving" as Abraham had to. Our leaving has to do not with changing country or land area but rather with engaging in an overhaul of what we have held to for so long and starting to trust Jesus Christ for our direction in faith, our worship formats and our discipling/fellowship ways.
That is our call to obedience!
As we enter this new phase, with all its promise of newness, new challenge, new hope and new direction, I am humbly asking us to pray for a fresh insight as to how we become obedient to God's will for our lives as these two promising congregations of Hayes and Hayes End. We have a unique placement within our situation and we can be beacons of hope and healing for our communities.
Our witness and message is unique and has been prepared by God for just this right time. Ours is to believe in God and trust Him enough to let Him use us to transform our communities and build a Christian presence that is honouring to God and our fellow humans. Just like the promise made to Abraham, God will show us what to do and where to go and how to go about it. The only way we can glean all these ways God wants to drive us in and through, is if we're prepared to trust Him and to obey Him. Do not forget the words of this poignant hymn:
"God will make a way, where there seems to be no way"!
May we, together in faith, let God lead us into His truth and the fulfilment of His mission in our churches. Let us work hard diligently and leave nothing to chance but in the same breath, never fear to fully depend on God to direct our paths.
God is on our side, let us always be ready to show the world what a mighty and amazing God we serve.
In His Grace
From the desk of Revd. Jongikaya Zihle.