Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-178

LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD

From ‘Sunrise Sunset’ (HarperCollins/Harper San Francisco), Rowland Croucher’s book of daily meditations. Feel free to use or adapt it.

Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want; whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich. We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures… but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared appeared, he saved us. Proverbs 21:17; Titus 3:3-4.

John Bunyan wrote a second story after Pilgrim’s Progress. Christiana, wife of the Pilgrim, their four boys and a young neighbour girl Mercy were welcomed into the Interpreter’s House. Interpreter took them into a room where a ‘muckraker’ could not look up, but spent his days ‘muckraking’ the straws, small sticks and dust of the floor. Above him was One offering him a celestial crown in exchange for his muckrake.

Bunyan lived in the Restoration period, reputedly one of the most licentious in British history. Bunyan complained about the power of ‘earthly things’ carrying people’s hearts away from God.

The great evangelist D.L.Moody used to say, ‘The place for the ship is in the sea, but God help the ship if the sea gets into it. But the remedy is not to remove the ship from the sea, but to make it strong and water-tight.’

Lord, may my love of pleasure not spoil my pure love for you. You have not chosen to take me (yet) out of the world, but while I’m here, keep me from being harmed by evil. For your glory, Amen.

Shalom! Rowland Croucher http://jmm.aaa.net.au

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