Mapperley Monday Mail, 20th May 2013

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Loving God | Loving Each Other | Loving our Community

Greetings!


Yesterday, Dennis led us skilfully through Psalm 46 which is a wonderful psalm of confidence in God.


I love the way that it shows God as our stronghold – the absolutely safe place we can run to, the place we can hide in, the place that gives us confidence to take risks because we are safe there and ultimately nothing can hurt us. Even if the whole world falls apart, we're still safe in God.


But the great weakness of strongholds is that sieges there can get pretty horrible. It's great to have a safe place, but safe places are often uncomfortable; they are often unpleasant places to be. That isn't the case with God. The Psalm talks about a river whose streams make glad the city of God. Ezekiel and John (in Revelation) also have visions of God's holy city with a river in, and in both cases (Eze 47:1-12 and Rev 22:1-2), the river comes out from the presence of God. The city is not nourished by a river that comes in from outside, because that could always be cut off. This city is nourished by a river coming from God himself who is within the city, and the river leads to joy and healing. It cannot be cut off from outside – this is a city that is safe, that is joyful and amply supplied no matter what happens.


Just as the rain transforms the desert, and as God's word brings life, so this river brings life wherever it goes. In Ezekiel 47 it even flows into the Dead Sea and makes the water fresh! It is little wonder that for thousands of years people have seen that this river represents the Holy Spirit – God living in the midst of his people, encouraging us, healing us, bringing us back to life where we are dead, keeping us safe and giving us gifts so that we are thoroughly equipped to share in God's mission.


Yesterday was Pentecost, when we remember God's gift of his Spirit to his church. And when God gives his Spirit, the result is always people talking about Jesus and those around coming to know him. May God fill us with that same Spirit today, that we may share the good news of his Son with those around us!


God bless,


John

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