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In July I went one Sunday evening to preach at Mickfield. One of my old pupils, Emma, invited me to tea before the service. I was intrigued by her pretty, little, four-year-old daughter, Chloe, who attended the evening service and was very well behaved. So before leaving I found Chloe and said, "Would you like a goodbye kiss?" Chloe went: "Urgh!"
One evening down at the cricket club I watched a small boy pestering his father for a drink. There was nobody behind the bar. The father was preoccupied with preparing for the Brockley Cricket Club Fun Day so I said, "Txxxx, I’ll get you a drink." My offer of help was totally ignored. We have all been rejected and we don’t like it. Perhaps we have been turned down at a job interview, made redundant, not selected for a football team or not received an invitation to a party and it has hurt. However, what upsets us most of all is when our love and help are rejected. The apostle John writes of Jesus, He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Jesus came to love and help mankind but was rejected. Something of his anguish is evident in these words he uttered about the people of Jerusalem: "How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." Jesus still holds out his arms in love to embrace those who would come to him - but many remain unwilling. I suppose we have all been in the situation where we have asked for help and it is not forthcoming. Not so long ago I went into Barclay’s Bank in Bury St Edmunds and asked for an up to date statement of the Brockley Cricket Club Accounts. I had been treasurer of the club for nearly 30 years and I had with me proof of identity. But no help was forthcoming! I went home and got the cheque books and previous statements and returned to Barclays but to no avail. The bank had no record that I was the Brockley Cricket Club treasurer! To say that I was disappointed is an understatement!! On other occasions we need some love - some sympathy, an arm round our shoulder, a hug, a few understanding words - but we are denied it. One of the hardest of all things to bear is to see someone in desperate trouble, to be willing, but unable to help. It must be terrible to be a parent in a famine stricken country and unable to feed your starving children. How awful to watch your sons and daughters die for lack of food. I saw a program on TV about a terrible flood. A whole family took refuge in a tree. The current was so strong that rescuers could not get to the tree. One after another members of the family succumbed to fatigue and hypothermia and dropped into the water in view of the helpless onlookers. Jesus said, "Whoever comes to me I will never drive away." Jesus accepts all who come to him for help. It does not matter who they are - he is totally undiscriminating. It does not matter how bad or unlovely you are; Jesus has promised to turn no-one away. The other great gospel truth is this: Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him. Heb7v25. There is absolutely no doubt that men and women who are broken hearted, dissatisfied with themselves, empty, desperate and guilty receive help when they come to Jesus. The numerous testimonies on BBC TV's Songs of Praise affirm that Jesus is WILLING and ABLE to save.
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