Having watched ‘The Nativity‘ series on BBC, I was struck again by the number of people who journeyed to Jesus. Mary, Joseph, the Magi and the shepherds all had journeys, which took them to the new born king. All began from different life situations, but ended up worshiping Jesus. The Magi, shepherds and even Joseph had the opportunity to choose whether to believe what they had been told and respond, or not. However, in the last episode there were examples of how even the birth of Jesus had changed people.
Much of the journey of faith is based on personal response to a situation. One of the most difficult areas is that of prayer. I know that people all over the world are praying for Cathryn, Matt, Luke and me. The interesting thing is that different people believe that God has said different things. I believe God has suggested a time for my death, whereas others believe that God has said I will be physically healed. This leaves the question over who is right…or wrong. I don’t believe that this is the right question. It should be do you, or I believe that God can heal if it is in His perfect will.
There is a story in Daniel Chapter 3, where King Nebuchadnezzar has a massive golden statue of himself built. He then passes a law that anyone, who does not bow and worship the statue should be thrown into a burning furnace. Three Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were amongst the king’s officials, refused to worship anyone, or anything but God. When the king confronted them they said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). In other words they were stating that they would worship God, whether He saved them or not. I am sure they prayed to be saved from the furnace, but above all they put their trust in God. That is what we need to do when we pray. Our own thoughts and positions will come into our prayers, as my illness does for me and others who are praying for me. We will only know how God answers our prayers in the future, but until then I and the others praying put our trust in a faithful God. Through ongoing prayer, study of the Bible and sharing what we believe God is saying, we seek to be in relationship with the Living God. In this way we make ourselves available for His to work through each day, whenever and however He wishes.
Thanks to everyone, who is taking the time to pray for us. Please continue to pray that we will see and learn the lessons God wants us to learn through the process of my cancer.
For those who read this, not knowing a personal relationship with Jesus, may I encourage you to have a look at ‘The Nativity’, perhaps visit a church, or at least look into the Biblical account of a Living God’s involvement with His people. At Christmas we remember the birth of God to a Virgin, named Mary, who was betrothed to a carpenter called Joseph, in Bethlehem. But any day when someone asks Jesus into their lives is a personal Christmas Day and will certainly be a ‘GOOD NEWS’ day.
The character of Thomas in BBC’s ‘The Nativity’ asked whether Jesus, the Messiah had come for such as him. Mary replied yes. If you were to ask Thomas’ question, the answer would be the same…YES. How will you react?
Another question might be, “Does God answer prayer?” Again the answer is a resounding YES, but we need to be in relationship with Him, through Jesus, so that our prayers are inspired by the Holy Spirit, who lives in all who believe in Jesus. It is the Spirit, who enables us to accept God’s answers and to discern what is His will and what is our human desire.
Even Jesus, had to grapple with this, when praying to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, before His arrest, false trial and crucifixion. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup (the crucifixion and all involved in it) be taken away from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
The God, whose birth we celebrate on Christmas Day, was born to sacrifice Himself on the cross to pay the price for the wrongdoing of all. Those who believe will be forgiven and saved from death.
This is why I believe that prayers for my healing will be answered whether physically in this life, or through death for eternity.
Trust all who read this will enjoy a great Christmas and Christ-filled 2011.
Hi Andrew, I’ve just read your journey and been inspired and comforted by your faith. I pray for you all every day- I can do no other as your situation impacts me so powerfully.
My daughter died of a rare cancer last year -I had believed “with a child like faith”as someone remarked that God would heal her and I have struggled to accept that he chose not to do so. That knocked my faith but I’m still in the church, still believing in part although with a bunch of questions. Strangely God has blessed my service to Him in the Meadows and I’m seeing lots of blessings from the broken place I’m in.
God blessed my Jo in that He brought her and her Dad very close. Her Dad and I prayed together at the end- he asked my forgiveness (he left me 30 years ago) and we were reconciled as her parents. That brought immense joy to Jo.
For you I pray that the Lord’s will be done, but that He might be merciful to you all and heal you. God’s blessings on you today.
Pat
Hi Pat,
Many thanks for your comment on the church website. I appreciated your encouraging comments. We were really shocked and sorry to hear of your daughter’s death from Ali, when she and Chris visited us before Christmas. Please accept our sympathy and apology for not being in touch.
Your making contact has given me the opportunity to be back in touch.
When thinking of your daughter I tend to think immediately of all her work for the Lord in Newcastle and on the national field – including her advisory role with government in the past. You must be so proud of her. Cathryn and my prayer is that over time the good memories will overtake the sense of loss. The latter will never go away, but I really do believe that God can change the dark times to light through the infilling of his love and Spirit.
I know this may seem a cliché, but God has answered your prayer for healing. It is only that he has not done it as you expected. As I think about the future, my greatest worry is that the illness would drag on, making it hard for Cathryn and the boys to know whether I’m getting better, or worse. Cathryn finds it very hard to balance people believing for my healing and the prognosis of the specialists.
Thank you for getting in touch and feel free to do so again and be assured we will be praying for you.
With Christian love,
Andrew and Cathryn