“One of the things that concerns me deeply about much of modern-day church life is the tendency of some to practice denial. .. Let me remind you once again what denial is all about – it is looking at things as one would like them to be rather than as they really are.”

I think the main issue with denial is that the person avoids taking responsibility for any role they may have, in addressing, and perhaps resolving the issue. The worst cases are those instances where ministers/priests  have an idea that there could be a spiritual issue developing in their church, yet for the sake of not wanting to upset anyone – they ‘pretend’ it’s not that serious and fail to do anything about it.  Perhaps, an easy way for Satan to exert his influence over a church community?

Back to today’s study, I agree with Selwyn’s conclusion: ” … those, who through no fault of their own find themselves in situations where they feel desperately lonely – can this type of loneliness be completely resolved? As I have said, it can be relieved but it may never be fully resolved. The grace of God can flow in to ensure that the loneliness is not incapacitating or disabling, but it may be that one has to live with the sharpness of it … “.

We can trust in God’s love that His grace will flow – to ensure that anything, which limits our (God-given) ability to tell people the good news about Jesus, is dealt with. I know from my own personal experiences concerning loneliness – which Jesus, by His grace, completely resolved – at the very moment, I surrendered all my feelings of loneliness to Him. Since that moment, I’ve never felt lonely  – even when I’ve been alone! 

I’ll end with some of the verses, set by Selwyn for reading and meditation – they contain much comfort for those groaning with the pain caused by the various thorns of life, including loneliness. First off, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and to look forward – towards the fantastic future that awaits us – when, we will be free from sin and suffering.

The second point is covered by these words – ‘we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God’ (Romans 8:28). It may not feel like it now – while we are still in the groaning stage – but, one day (I believe) we will be totally amazed at the good God has done – through our suffering; if, we have sacrificed our suffering to Him. Do you agree?

Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:18-25, 28-30 (NLT): “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.

We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

I think that our need to be loved or respected within our own community - are powerful needs, and results in equally powerful emotions, such as loneliness – when these  needs are not met (or, perceived to be not met). Our personal isolation may even be more evident, when we are in a crowd. It’s not so much a lack of contact with other people – it’s more, a lack of relationship with other people whom we accept as having a reciprocal interest in our well-being.

The lonely person’s constant thought is – ‘who cares about me?’ A feeling of sadness then dominates their personality – when they chronically answer the former question – with the terrifying words - ‘No one!’ [As, the American band Three Dog Night, once sang - 'One, is the loneliest number ... ']

Selwyn, in today’s study, talks ‘about the fact that Jesus knew loneliness as no one has ever known it – before or since.’ He goes onto say:“Loneliness is the feeling of being bereft of human companionship, the sadness that comes through the loss of a loved one or the failure to find a close or loving friend. … Christians can walk with God, even have a rich relationship with Him, yet at times feel incredibly lonely.”

In Matthew 26:36-40 (NLT), we read about a special type of loneliness – those times when your friends fail to provide support, in your times of distress: “Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.

He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? … “

As Selwyn, mentioned in today’s study – all of us will experience loneliness at some point in our lives – Jesus understands how you feel, take your loneliness to Him in prayer – He loves you, and He will embrace and comfort, your aching heart.

Selwyn writes:“The problems on the surface of our lives may have different wrappings, but deep down in our hearts the pain we experience has the same labels – hurt, sadness, grief, emptiness, despair and disappointment. The problems in our world lead to pain in the heart and it is that pain, whatever its label, that Christ has touched somewhere in the journey between His birth and His death. No wonder our Lord is referred to be so many as ‘the comforting Christ’.”

Selwyn has selected Isaiah Chapter 53 for reading and meditation; with verse 3, highlighted: “He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.”  In both the Old and New Testaments, we are presented with the image of a suffering servant as a key indicator of the nature of our Saviour. 

In addition, you may recall these verses from John 13:14-15 (referred to on 3rd  March): “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” We are also called upon to comfort each other – as we follow in His footsteps.

Any comments?

Hebrews 4:12-16 (NLT): ” … the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

It’s important to realise that we can approach  God as we hold firmly to what we believe.  As Selwyn says, part of the reason is that we have a perfect High Priest who understands our weaknesses. Yet, these follow verses from Hebrews clearly states –  why, and how, the barrier between God and us – has been removed.

Hebrews  10:19-24 (NLT): “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. … “

It’s the sacrifice of Jesus – His blood – that enables us to enter into God’s presence; what Selwyn writes about in today’s study  - flows both, from what Jesus has done; and, who He is! Do you agree?

I think, the important point is that God’s plan, to be with us – was formed before time began.  Jesus, our creator God, knew about the agony on His cross, before He even walked with Adam and Eve in His beautiful garden.

The story of our God is a story about relationships – it’s a story with an ending that does not depend on our frail ‘good intentions’. It’s a story, that starts and ends, with God’s perfect love for His people. Do you agree?

The first five verses of John’s gospel – really do – tells us a lot, about God; what follows, is my translation  : “In the beginning Jesus already existed. Jesus was with God, and Jesus is God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through Jesus. Jesus gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. Jesus’ light shines in the darkness, and Satan can never extinguish His light.”

Any comments?

However, I would like to say that John 13:34, is a favourite verse of mine: “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

It’s a clarification of the golden rule – ‘to love others as you would like to them to love you’ – but, our understanding of love is flawed. Consequently, we need a perfect example of love,  to follow – Jesus, by His actions, gives us that example. In this aspect it is a totally new commandment -  this commandment is to replace the human interpretation of ‘love your neighbour’. To understand the difference, requires the moulding of our heart into a new shape by the hands of the Holy Spirit.

Any comments?

There is a small degree of pity and sympathy to be found in all true empathy, but the thing that makes empathy so much more helpful is that while it feels so deeply, it is able to identify with the hurt and draw alongside without being overcome with the plight of the person. Our Father’s heart is like this; His sojourn among us enables Him to feel, not onlt for us, but with us.”

However, as in an earlier post, I have a problem when Selwyn makes statements such as: “God, (if He had not become human) would not have been able to empathise with us, for empathy flows only from involvement.” 

God, as our creator- is able to fully and perfectly understand our emotions – the full range of our feelings – it is He who gave us the palette of emotional responses.  To say what God can, and can’t do – always, I think, puts you on dangerous ground. Scripture only gives us a brief glimpse of the fullness of God – enough to get us safely home – we are ignorant of much of what God is about. Consequently, we don’t know enough to say what God can and can’t do – but what we do know is that God made us in His image – this spiritual aspect of our personalities – is completely known by God, we only lightly scratch the surface. We have not been told the full detail of every truth. Hard as that might be – to believe! 

Any comments?

Verses 8 and 9, from Chapter 13, of the book of Hebrews (the author of this letter has not been verified) – supports our trust in God’s promises: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them. … “.

Jesus, our God who walked with Adam and Eve, who punished those nations that did wicked acts in His sight – and who, as a man, died - a perfect sacrifice on a cross – is the same then, as He is now. His love for the world – His creation – is never ending – it’s His love expressed through grace that gives us the strength to carry on – proclaiming His name. 

Can there be anything better  – than to know that we are loved – by Jesus?

However, we gain a clearer view, of this issue – when we read Hebrews 2:14-18 (NLT) [a subset of the verses, set for reading and meditation): ” … Because God’s children are human beings – made of flesh and blood – the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could Jesus die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, Jesus is able to help us when we are being tested.”

God’s great rescue plan – Jesus – is the demonstration of perfect love. God is the same today, as He was yesterday and always will be – that’s why we can have such great hope in our eternal future. His promises will never change! Do you agree?

So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. …

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

Selwyn writes in today’s study: “… The consciousness of His greatness was the secret of His humility, for, as you see, only the great can afford to stoop. … Christians, worship at the feet of a God who washes their feet.”

I think, another great aspect of these verses is that Jesus teaches by example – He asks us to do – what He has done. All of His followers should be prepared, and have the heart for, the washing of each other’s feet - to clean off, the dust of daily life. 

When, by an act of humility, was the last time that you helped someone to become spiritually clean?