Daily ScriptureVengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip;because the day of their calamity is at hand, their doom comes swiftly. (Deut 32.35)Daily ReflectionThe drive for revenge is not just a theme from Greek tragedy or Eastenders, it’s a real life issue that can dominate the lives of individuals and communities. St Paul, writing to Christians living under persecution in Rome, quoted today’s Jewish text : “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’”. When Jesus quoted the old rule about proportional justice, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’, he told us “but I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” Would doing that be a sign of weakness or of strength? David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture: For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. (1 John 3:11 & 17-18) Daily ReflectionThe apostle John, in one verse, succinctly sums up the message (and actions) of his friend Jesus: love one another. What a simple summation; but what challenging words! In another verse, John then poses a challenging question: if anyone has material possessions and money and sees someone in need but has no pity on them (does not help them), how can the love of God be in that “rich” person? All there is in that person is a love of their material possessions. They are not rich in the eyes of God; in fact, the very opposite, they are poor. They have forgotten – or perhaps never knew – these three simple words: love one another. John then speaks to us little children – so that we understand: let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Put the love you have for God into action today.Revd David
Daily Scripture:See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. (1 John 3 v 1)Daily Reflection:Discussions around the word 'identity' are frequent, and identities can change. As an adult your identity is not the same as when you were a child. If you have changed jobs, perhaps your identity has changed too with the specification of your work. I have been a gardener, a cleaner, a cook, a manager, a carer and many more 'identities' in my adult life! I still am, and always will be, a mum. But does what we 'do' become who we 'are'? I think not. The Bible tells us that in God's eyes we have one identity only - we are all 'children of God' - created by Him, cared for by Him, extraordinarily loved by Him. Any other identity we may assume pales into comparison with our identity as 'child of God'. Vicki Young
