Thought For The Month (November 2011) - Major Graham Wood (Lurgan)

Have you any regrets in life? I have an abiding memory of standing in the aisle at the Sainsbury’s store in Victoria St, London when I was in my early twenties. I was trying to think what I needed and was standing in the aisle where the toilet rolls were. Whilst pondering an old lady approached me and asked in a very broad ‘Eastenders’ type accent “did I want to go halves on a 4-pack of toilet rolls?” It was the best offer I’d had all week but to my eternal regret, without thinking I just said no to that old lady and she went away disappointed. How I now wish I’d said yes and maybe (and just maybe) I might have made her day!

There are some things, which we can do almost anytime, and there are some things, which we will never do unless we grasp the chance to do it when the opportunity comes.

In the story (John 12: 1-8) Mary and Martha are true to character. Martha was the practical woman and the only way she could show her love for Jesus was by the work of her hands. So she busied herself serving at the table. Mary on the other hand took the most precious thing she possessed (some costly ointment) and spent it all on Jesus.

Mary seized her chance. We are often seized with the desire to do something which is fine and generous and big hearted. But so often we put it off, we will do it tomorrow and then the fine impulse is gone and maybe even the opportunity. Life is an uncertain thing. Maybe we are moved to say some word of thanks, praise or love to someone. We put it off and then that person is gone from this earth and the word will never be spoken. Have you ever heard someone say: I wish I had told them…

Judas complained that the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Scripture says ‘the poor you will have with you always’. To show the heart’s devotion to Jesus Mary’s act had to be done before the cross of Calvary took Him to its cruel arms. When we feel convicted let us remember to do things now for the chance so often never comes again and the failure to express love brings the bitterest remorse of all.

Carpe Diém!

Coincidence? Chance? Totally without significance? Or was it the leading of the Spirit? My wife had her answer. You can decide for yourself.

Philip woke one morning with a strong feeling that he should get up and travel south to Gaza. ‘Go south’ (v.26), was the insistent urge. He knew this to be the leading of the Spirit.

Further guidance from the Spirit came as Philip was commanded to ‘Go to that chariot’ (v.29). His response led him to a man who was on his way home from worship in Jerusalem. He was reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah (v.27,28). The encounter enabled Philip to lead this Ethiopian official to Christ (v.38).

Two things invite further thought:

1. Christians need to be tuned in to the leading of the Spirit. There is no set pattern, no tried and tested formula for discerning the Spirit’s leading but it is usually when we are quiet before God and have allowed our thoughts to centre on him that we develop the ability to hear the ‘go’ of the Spirit.

2. Philip was led to someone in the ‘warm area’ of spiritual awareness. The Ethiopian had been to the Temple, he was searching scripture, asking questions (v.34). Enthusiastic evangelism sometimes misses opportunities by constantly targeting anonymous masses whilst remaining oblivious to the obvious.

  Challenge: If you are a Christian, do you know someone in the ‘warm area’ of spiritual awareness to whom the Holy Spirit is urging you to go?

(This is a slightly adapted version of a contribution by Commissioner Keith Banks to Words of Life (2011), the Army’s daily reading handbook)