Proclaimer Blog
Summer Wives Conference
Another day away at Hothorpe. One more day a year here and I would have to enter the place as a second residence on the census form! Each day, though, is precious and valuable serving ministers, preachers and….this week…..ministers wives. This might, at first glance, not appear to be at the core of what the Proclamation Trust is about. But nothing could be further from the truth. For we realise that a husband and wife are a unit – and wives, indeed, bear many of the pains and burdens of ministry. So these conferences are valuable, more than valuable – essential for the cause of preaching in the UK.
Today we've had a session with Julia Marsden on parables (can't report on that as men were banned!). Now, it's Piers Bickersteth on the book of Haggai. Piers is a trustee of PT and an experienced preacher. His wife, Carolyn, is part of the conference leadership team. Here's a few notes on Haggai 1.
God at the margins v1-11
For the people of God (!), God was at the margins. The expenditure on houses exposed their hypocrisy. Self was number one. Firmly and Surely. This may be a familiar experience, especially with the drudgery of the life we sometimes have. The refrain is one we near to hear, "Give careful thoughts to your ways." For us that means challenging our priorities – our paths, or God's paths in the choices and lifestyles we choose? Haggai could tell what these people's priorities were because of the state of the temple and the state of their houses.
Is Jesus at the margins? We speak of him as Lord and King but what does that look like in busy lives? This is a significant matter for if we withdraw from him, hewill withdraw from us. If we don't honour him, he will not honour us. This is clear in verses 9-11. Who can argue with the Lord's rebuke?
But what does this say for us? There's no temple lying in ruins. It makes us ask ourselves – what is our commitment to Christ and his people. Surely that is the touchstone? Christ's attitude was to give himself to us (Philippians 2.6-11).
God's word at work v12
How did the people respond? Verse 12 is one of the most unusual verses in the whole Bible. It's unusual because it's rare – all too often we find the people of God doing the opposite. The standard response to hearing the word of God is often disobedience. How do you react to criticism and rebuke? Often people react to very gentle and loving correction in the strongest possible way – with defensiveness and self-justification. How different to the people of Haggai's time! No excuses. No storming off. They heard the truth and responded to it. As those with responsibilities we need to allow God to work on our hearts which often, because of circumstances, have high self-protecting walls. But we must humble ourselves before the one who understands and knows the very intimate thoughts of our hearts.
God at the centre (v13-15)
By verse 13 God is no longer at the margins, but at the centre. There has been a word of grace – a word of restoration and forgiveness. These words must have been sweet to their ears.
Some questions to reflect on
- Why do we push God to the margins and in what ways?
- What areas of our life do we say to God "not yet?"
- How do the words of God "I am with you" help us?
Booking is now open for next year's wives conferences – the Spring conference (for those who have been in ministry 7+ years) runs from 5-8 March 2012 and the Summer conference (booking open soon) runs from 10-13 July 2012.