Advent 2020 Reflection – Day Four

Day Four – Isaiah 22 21-23

²⁰ “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. ²¹ I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. ²² I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ²³ I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat of honor for the house of his father. ²⁴ All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.

Reflection

Whilst I have been thinking about this passage I was planning to draw on the image of the open door. There is some great comfort in the fact that Jesus, by his coming to the world has opened the door for us to a personal relationship with him.

However, while looking for suitable images to include in this reflection I came across a picture of a group of keys. This set my mind on a different track and turned my thoughts to the image of the key found in the passage.

We sometimes say that there is a God shaped hole in people’s lives.  which at some point in their lives they will recognise and seek to fill. The images of keys led me to think that how often we are the keys that Jesus uses to make others aware of his presence, aware of that God shaped hole in their lives. By our words and actions we reveal a glimpse of the importance of God in our own lives and encourage others to welcome him into theirs.

We are perhaps reluctant to invite people to join us in church but we can still make disciples through our words and actions. Acts of loving care and kindness which speak of the love of God.

Of course it is God who opens the door, God who is always present, God who turns the key but as we look for opportunities to be the instrument of God in people’s lives.

Silence

As we reflect in our time of silence we think of the times God has used us to reveal his presence to others. We also think of those we know, who perhaps need us to be a key which God can use in their lives.

Carol – Colours of Day

I chose this carol before I wrote the reflection but it actually fits well anyway. The carol speaks to me of the active part we are called to play in the mission of God. It speaks of the need to leave the comfort of our church buildings to get to where people are – “let’s bring the message to the people we meet”.

We continue the commission given to the disciples by Jesus when “He said to them, “Go into all the world to preach the gospel to all creation”” (Mark 16 v 15). Tell the people of  Jesus let his love show.

Prayer

Loving God we thank you that we live in your great love.

We thank you for the times when you have sent people into our lives who have revealed to us our God shaped space. Those Christians who have been keys in our lives, those who have through their passionate words and loving example set our minds on meeting you. Those who have created opportunities for you to open our hearts and allow your Holy Spirit to come flooding into our lives.

We ask for your guidance so that we might walk confidently in your footsteps. We thank you that you are the one who opens the right doors. We pray that you would provide opportunities for us, in our turn, to be keys to those we meet. Through words, images, dreams and visions reveal your place for us in the work of making disciples. Remind us that without you, our work is in vain. For you are the one who gives the power, the one who can open the right doors, the one who can make things possible.

We pray that you would guide us to the places where we can speak of you both through our words and actions. Give us the wisdom to hear your voice and respond in eagerness and confidence. Amen.

Loving God as we pray for the right opportunities we also pray that you will close the wrong doors too, protecting us from what we need to turn away from. Keep us safe in your presence and help us resist life’s temptations. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen