A most interesting feature of the Old Testament justice system was the cities of refuge. From Joshua 20, we find that there were six of them scattered evenly across the country on both sides of the Jordan river. If someone committed manslaughter unintentionally, he could run to one of these cities to escape pursuers. The elders would give him protection and allow him inside, at least until a proper trial could take place.

The New Testament makes a connection with these refuge cities by pointing out that Christians have “fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:18) Our sins have been forgiven in Christ and we find shelter from condemnation in Him.

In a way, the church is also to be a refuge for people in our hardnosed, wearisome, often cruel society. When disillusioned people visit us, they ought to feel a sense of security and relief just to be among us. Our message should give hope, our singing encouragement, and our prayers a sense of calm in the presence of God. But it’s the way we treat each other that reveals the marvelous difference between the church and the world. Notice these points made in Romans 12:

• We who are many are one body in Christ (v5).
• Let love be without hypocrisy (v9).
• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (v10).
• Give preference to one another in honour (v10).
• Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality (v13).
• Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (v15).
• Be of the same mind toward one another…associate with the lowly (v16).
• If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (v18).

If we practice these principles, we will indeed be like a refuge in our community. Remember, Paul wrote these words to the church in Rome, a city of violence, greed, slavery, and human suffering. In the middle of all that, the church stood out as something full of grace, hope and love. Let’s do the same in our city.

– Tim Johnson

With several national elections behind us in North America, and more to come in the next few years, we are used to candidates making big promises that somehow fail to materialize. It is easy to make a promise and easier to forget about it. Theodore Parker, a notorious liberal American preacher of the mid-19^th century said, “Magnificent promises are always to be suspected.” He eventually rejected the Bible’s claims, and therefore the promises of God.

While some question God, His promises in the Scriptures are based on His integrity and rock-solid track record. The New Testament writers call our attention to God’s inability to lie. In writing to Titus, Paul said he lived “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago.” (Titus 1:2) The Hebrew writer pointed out how trustworthy God’s promises are by saying, “He…interposed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.” (Heb.6:17-18) Our utterly honest God promised us salvation by swearing an oath upon Himself – and there is nothing higher than Himself. Abraham was made righteous through his belief in what God promised. “Yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong, giving glory to God.” (Rom.4:20) He stands as an example of faith that saves.

If God possesses such great integrity in the way He treats us, we must consider what kind of lives we are to live in this world. Our word should stand. Our promises should be completed. Our character should be trustworthy. In our family life our children need to feel secure in what we promise them, for broken promises hurt the innocent. Your marriage partner needs to feel you are always true, for you promised to be faithful to them alone. The church depends upon people who serve with faithfulness and dependability. Your boss needs to trust the way you work.

God’s promises are solid. Make sure yours are too.

– Tim Johnson

Have you ever had one of those months when the house plumbing needs repairs, the wash machine breaks down, the furnace fails to start, and the car decides it doesn’t want to be left out of the break down game? With all that going on, you wonder if you should open your eyes the next morning lest something else is broken!

We spend a huge amount of money each year to maintain the things we own. CBC news reported that Canadians spent $80 billion renovating their homes in 2019. CAA says on average we spend at least $1000 a year on car repairs – and that’s just on fairly new vehicles.

We hate to spend that kind of money just to maintain things, but if we don’t, we soon find that our possessions deteriorate quickly. The classic example is the leaky roof that doesn’t get fixed. Water soon drips down through ceilings and walls, causing an awful mess in the rest of the house. A neighbour of mine ignored a leak like that and soon discovered rotten beams in his attic and a huge repair project.

Some people neglect their spiritual lives just like they do a leaky roof. Remember the old saying, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak?” Let that remind us that it takes work to stay strong in the Lord. Failing to pray weakens your relationship with God.  Failing to read and study the word of God makes us forget what He’s done for us. Neglecting fellowship makes us vulnerable to sin and keeps us out of the loop. Low maintenance means weak souls. But we can turn all of that around and gain great relationships, strength inside, fortification from God, and ability to help others wisely.

Peter put it this way, “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.” (2 Pet.1:10) 

Got a leaky spiritual roof? Plug up the holes and enjoy a strong spiritual life.

– Tim Johnson

Nothing discourages us more than to be neglected and ignored. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell the story of a woman in a crowd when Jesus came to town (See Luke 8:40-56). Jesus was having a terribly busy day. He had just returned from his dramatic healing of the demon-infested man of the Gerasenes and was promptly mobbed by a demanding crowd. The synagogue official, Jairus, soon captured His attention over his dying 12-year-old child, and Jesus began pushing his way through the crowd to visit the man’s home. Unknown to the Lord was the suffering woman behind Him. Her illness had hurt her for 12 years, seemingly incurable by the doctors she had paid a lot of money. And here she was, hoping Jesus could help her. Could she present herself to Him in such a huge crowd? Could she get his attention before he left with Jairus? She decided to take a big chance and go up behind Him to touch His cloak. Immediately she was healed.

Sensing what happened, Jesus turned and spoke to her. She fearfully confessed what she had done and told her painful story before everyone. Jesus kindly declared, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” She had felt alone, but she really wasn’t. God was concerned about her; she had faith, and Jesus was willing to help.

Many people feel alone and don’t know what to do about it. Sometimes people have actually felt alone in the assemblies of the church. As we all know, it’s our responsibility to reach out to them kindly. It’s always easy to talk to our own family and friends and neglect other people. We can learn from Jesus: He was busy with others, but he made sure He looked after the woman too.

If you feel neglected and alone, it’s also your responsibility to change things. The woman didn’t just allow self-pity to hold her back; she determined to reach out to the Lord in faith; she was rewarded. God never neglects us, but you must also reach out to other people. They may not know you feel ignored. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Try it; you might be surprised with the results.

Nobody really knows the name of the woman in Luke 8, but history has given her one: Veronica. Legend says she later rushed out of the crowd in Jerusalem and offered Jesus a cloth to clean his bleeding face as He carried the cross. Of course, this is just a legend, but the actual Biblical story has motivated many people to find relief for their own troubles, including neglect.

Nobody needs to feel alone when they are a member of Christ’s church. Now you know what to do about it.

– Tim Johnson

Flogged and beaten, there came a point when Jesus could not go on. The soldiers “drafted” Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross for Him. Luke records, “As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” (Luke 23:26 NLT) Considering all that Jesus had endured, it is not difficult to imagine Him falling under the load. But consider this: carrying the cross was a sign of guilt, and our Lord was not guilty!

Simon had travelled more than eight hundred miles from Cyrene in northern Africa, to celebrate Passover. But why did the Gospel writers include his presence? It might have been that this same Simon would later become well-known in the early church, adding further historical evidence to their writings.

Mark identified him as “the father of Alexander and Rufus” (Mk.15:21), two men that Mark assumed his Roman readers would know. A Christian named Rufus was greeted by Paul in Romans 16:13; was he the son of Simon of Cyrene? Apparently, Simon and his two sons did become well-known Christians and were held in honour in the church. But, perhaps there were more reasons than just this for Luke’s inclusion of Simon. Consider:

1. Jesus was served by a foreigner.
2. Luke is the only one of the Gospels that says Simon carried the cross behind Jesus, not that he simply carried it. Perhaps Luke meant to project a graphic portrayal of what discipleship is. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”? (Luke 9:23)
3. Simon walked onto the scene at just the right time to share in Christ’s sufferings. Having chosen to follow Jesus, we don’t always get to choose the moments of our suffering, sudden as they may be. They can be random, frightening, and painful.
4. We might assume the Romans were being compassionate by drafting Simon to carry the cross. Yet it may have been their way to ensure the weakened and beaten Jesus did not die before arriving at the site. Forcing Simon to carry the cross was the very opposite of compassion.

Whether or not Luke intended one or all of these suggestions, what we do know is this:

• Simon was a foreigner who served Jesus in his final hour – a critical moment in history.
• Carrying the cross while following Jesus combines the pain and beauty of our call to discipleship. Intended or not, it is an apt image for disciples everywhere.
• Seemingly random calls to suffer for Jesus are often sudden and costly.
• Simon’s help was temporary. It ensured that Jesus made it to Golgotha and finished the course set before him by his Heavenly Father. In the end, the cross that Simon carried was the one upon which Jesus breathed his last.

Let us comfort ourselves with the thought that in our case and in Simon’s, the cross that we are called to carry belongs to Jesus. He calls us to faith in him and to godly living. It is for these that we suffer as he did. How delightful for us to carry His cross, in His name and for His glory. May our love for him and thankfulness to him grow from day to day.

Harold Bruggen

Port Colborne