Pastor’s Page

“Rejoice in hope; be patient in afflictions, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
-Romans 12:12-14

In the epistle to the Romans, followers of Jesus are encouraged to live in harmony with each other, always pursuing good rather than evil. If there is to be any competition among believers, may it be in showing love to each other. These teachings overcome the previous expectation of repaying ‘an eye for an eye’, instead preferring compassion and taking the moral high-ground.

I’m reminded of a famous quote by former US First Lady Michelle Obama. Speaking in 2016, she said, ‘When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is ‘When they go low, we go high’.” It’s an important message especially in the increasingly toxic world of political debate, but also for our everyday lives.

I admit that it’s very easy to reduce our kindness when we are not receiving it in return. It can be tempting to make jokes that punch down or see someone else’s misfortune as exactly what was coming to them. Perhaps we’re not engaging in this behaviour, or at least not regularly, but know others who do, which can create some uncomfortable situations.

Recently, schools across Australia marked Bullying No Way Week. Students focused on the importance of being an upstander, not a bystander. This means being the person to call out when someone is being mean and to go out of their way to show kindness, especially to those who might be left out or new to the environment. It’s all part of creating a culture of respect which affirms the dignity of all.

In this spirit, may our passage from Scripture serve as a course-correction where needed, and an affirmation of the importance of love, kindness and lending a hand. We’re very fortunate to see the goodness of God all around us here at Wesley, from our children to our seniors, from the many activities which happen in our building to the service in the wider community beyond, which many of our members carry out.  

Blessings, Pastor Abbey Sim