(March 08, 2023) Norman and Margaret Moss reflect…

We were sitting in our car stuck in the middle of the road at the T junction a few hundred yards from our home in England. The engine had suddenly cut out and I, Norman, have seldom felt more helpless!

Cars passed by in all directions all intent on avoiding collision with ours, but failing to realise our predicament. However, soon people arrived, including two bright eyed youngsters eager to push and a strong man leaning through the window to help turn the steering wheel, since with the power steering gone I was not strong enough to turn it on my own.

Wrong directions
Together the group managed to park the car on a double yellow line at the side of the road. We decided to phone the AA. As we waited the night darkened and the cold increased. Then, suddenly very quickly it got pitch dark and I confess that I was afraid the AA vehicle would drive right past us.

At last we saw two blazing headlights coming towards us, shining brightly in the dark. Telling Margaret to sit tight, I eagerly stepped into the road and waved the van down, directing to a point close to us.

Obediently the driver started to turn the van round to head back towards us. Only then did I see the large letters on its side… AMBULANCE! Oh no, I thought, this isn’t an AA van! I’ve misdirected this vehicle which is no doubt rushing to aid someone in trouble!

Covered with embarrassment, I explained my mistake. The kind young lady at the wheel was very understanding, smiling as she said, ‘It’s all right… I  know where I’m going.’

Not long afterwards the real AA van arrived and got us sorted out! And I can laugh about it now. But… we are left with a reminder of how many kind people there are around us. And that God created human beings to love, not to hate. John 15:9-10 says, ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.’ 

Wise directions
As we were meditating on the incident and this scripure, we felt the Lord was saying:

‘I am love, and it is not a strange thing for you to love. I have put love into the heart of humankind, whether it is love of dear ones, love of country, love of beauty, there are many kinds and degrees of love. But my everlasting, covenant keeping, sacrificial and self-giving love is the great light that shines into your darkness. As you find and experience that love in all its immensity, love awakens in you as a glass will vibrate in response to a magnificent note of music.

‘For this you were created. Not to dread my majesty, but to enjoy my lavish abundant and absolute love which is yours in Christ Jesus my beloved Son. Just think and dwell on this fact that will ever love you.

‘So what do I want you to do – simply to remain in my love. To live daily, hour by hour in my wonderful love. For my love is not suffocating, but instead is a freeing up, a releasing of your whole being into the greatest love that has ever been and ever will be.

‘I want you to feel my love surrounding you at every turn, whether you walk in sunny places or through the valley of the shadow. Just remember that with me it is only a shadow and that even in the darkest place I am with you in very truth and will bring you out to live forever in the glory of the sunshine of my love.’

Witnessing directions
We also thought about what that kind young lady of the ambulance with those bright lights had said: ‘I know where I’m going.’ And the question arose regarding we Christians: Do we? Do we know what God wants of us, where He wants us to be going, and doing, in these dark times?

Jesus said in John 8:12,  ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ Every day is a God-given day and we must be about our ‘kingdom-ambulance’ business of sharing about that light… Jesus and the gospel message.

We mentioned our dark night above… but these are still dark days in which we live. However, if we’re praying and trusting God, He will direct and protect… because He loves us so much!

And as Christians we can be light bringers of love to people who need comforting. The best comfort is sharing God’s unsurpassable love and the good news of Jesus! Next month we’ll be celebrating Jesus’ victory over His dark days of what we call Easter.

May we not fail in carrying out His last words before He returned to heaven: ‘… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).

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Norman and Margaret Moss pastored Queen’s Road Baptist Church, Wimbledon for over 30 years, experiencing charismatic renewal since the 1960s and bringing the congregation into renewal in the 70s when the church grew significantly. Their desire is still to encourage ministers, churches and groups that are hungry for more of the Holy Spirit and although ‘retired’ they preach and teach by Zoom, and also contribute to Dr. Ayodele Afuye’s Vessels of Virtues Fire Ministries.   Link: via OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
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