Thursday 07 January 2010

Background

Today's reading begins with the somewhat strange instruction tobelieve in a name. How bizarre? Yet throughout the Bible Godchanges people's names. Abram becomes Abraham, Sarai becomes Sarah,Simon becomes Peter. Clearly names are more than just the labels bywhich we identify ourselves. Names have real meaning. Asking us tobelieve in Jesus as Christ is asking us to accept something aboutthe character of Jesus.

Christ is a word we often overlook, yet it is the root of what weare. We are Christian people. Jesus as Christ is Jesus come toearth to make changes, bring freedom and set people free. The Jewsexpected him to come with swords and armies to give them physicalfreedom from physical oppression, but Jesus came with the Spirit togive us spiritual liberty. It is by this Spirit that we recognisethe truth.

Sometimes we can be a bit spiritually gullible. We hear whatsomeone says on the television, or read something in a book andaccept it as true without ever testing it. We assume that it mustbe ok, and sometimes this leads us into trouble. God sent theSpirit to guide us away from those things which are not of God andtowards the light and love that God offers.

In confirmation we are invited to turn away from sin and befaithful to the gospel, and be anointed with oil to signify ouracceptance of God's Spirit within us. This Spirit is the Spirit ofGod, but we must not forget that the Spirit is also the Spirit ofChrist.

To Ponder

God changes people's names to show fundamentalchanges in their character. When we call ourselves Christians do wedo everything we can to live up to that name? What else might youdo?

Christ came to give us liberty. How can yourejoice in that freedom and give yourself a chance to fly?

The Spirit guides us towards the truth, and helpsus to see through deception. How can we ensure that we always seekthe Spirit when we are seeking God?