Ministry

The Greatest Gift

 I had a birthday recently, with ‘gifts’ being one of my love languages, birthdays are pretty great. This year was awesome on two counts. Firstly, no one gave me any socks and secondly, I received some really great presents. One of the highlights though was a compass sent from my mother in New Zealand that had the following inscription:

To My Son,

Wherever your journey in life may take you I pray you’ll always be safe. 

Enjoy the ride and never forget your way back home.

I’m always here for you.

Love Mum. 

This term's theme is Looking Forward and I think the compass is a powerful metaphor for finding our way. God, through Jesus is our compass. The Bible tells us that His word is a lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105) and that a person decides in their heart the way they will go but the Lord determines their steps’ (Proverbs 16:9). 

Jesus is the greatest gift of all, and he is the Way-maker.  The words inscribed on that compass could equally be signed off ‘Love God’. The Father's desire through His Son is that we would all find our way home to Him. From the beginning to the end of the Bible we see Him working out that restoration project. We also see that he has called us to join him and play our part in it.

In the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to hang with the Year 7s in their Christian Living class, as they have explored the Endeavour Way during their Endeavour Way Day and also acts of service through the lens of Jesus and His Parable of the Good Samaritan. The Endeavour Way with its emphasis on Love, Courage, Forgiveness and Hope, and the story of the Good Samaritan highlights what it means to live a life in relationship with Jesus that helps others find their way home to the Father. 

An excerpt from the Endeavour College prayer sums this up well  

Lord, …

…. Guide me in all that I do so that I may walk in love. Give me your courage to shine your light in the world. Remind me of your grace that I might share your forgiveness with others. And fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may always hope in you.

Jason Urquhart 

Lay-Chaplain