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What a privilege! Major Paul Robinson encourages us not to take holiness for granted
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ECENTLY, I was thinking about how privileged I am. I have a home, a loving family and a corps family. Reflecting on this led me to consider all the privileges that have been mine over the years. For more than four decades I have served the Lord through Salvation Army corps and social services. I still remember many people and many faces. I have listened to them, prayed with them and loved them. I have even bathed some of them. I have heard the stories of saints and sinners and seen God’s work in amazing and wonderful ways. I have been with those waiting to enter Heaven’s door and wept with their families, where no words would ever be sufficient or appropriate, but where the the Lord was present to share his balm and consolation. When people have been at the end of their tether, or when they have received joyous news, I have been available. I have sat in a consultant’s office to support someone being told they had only three weeks left to live. I have led meetings and seen people get caught up in worship, believing the Lord is going to work even more deeply in their lives. I have walked with people on their life journeys. I used to have a regular radio ministry and served on the BBC’s Religious Advisory Group. This involved connecting to another studio. One day, when I had presented my Pause for Thought, the presenter offered, in jest, to hit me. When I got home my daughter was concerned for my welfare. In her mind the presenter and I were in the same place. It reminded me that whenever I speak – on an Army platform or on the radio – people are listening. What a privilege! Don’t we all have experiences of privilege? People, places, events
that have filled our lives? Opportunities of service and witness that have blessed us and others? Wouldn’t it be awful if we took every privileged moment for granted? Our Movement describes holiness as a privilege. We believe it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified and that our ‘whole spirit and soul and body [may] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Thessalonians 5:23 King James Version). The Salvation Army’s DNA is rooted in people being fully saved – body, mind and spirit. In an age when society encourages people to do their own thing, even if it grieves the Holy Spirit, there is a need to stand up and take that privilege seriously. Is our society a reflection of God’s Kingdom? Or is it a violent, terror-filled, self-centred world of people who think more of themselves than of God? We pray that his Kingdom will come on Earth as it is in Heaven, but do we do anything about it? Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle dedicated his life to explaining what holiness looks like, writing: ‘Perfect consecration is a putting off self, and a putting on Christ; a giving up your own will in all things, and receiving the will of Jesus instead.’
Do we sometimes live as though Jesus is not necessary for our Christian life and journey? We busy ourselves in good works, join good causes and promote ourselves over the will of God. What a shame it would be to miss the privilege of being indwelt by Christ and having the power of the Holy Spirit to bring glory to him. Now let thy Spirit bring me in, And give thy servant to possess The land of rest from inbred sin, The land of perfect holiness. Lord, I believe thy power the same, The same thy grace and truth endure; And in thy blessèd hands I am And trust thee for a perfect cure. Come, Saviour, come and make me whole, Entirely all my sins remove; To perfect health restore my soul, To perfect holiness and love. (SASB 301)
MAJOR ROBINSON IS CORPS OFFICER, NORWICH MILE CROSS
Salvationist 12 March 2022
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