Daily Scripture:Yet I have been the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no saviour. (Hosea 13:4) Daily Reflection:Words written by the prophet Hosea over 700 years before Jesus was born. Christianity teaches us that Jesus (the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one), that God is our Saviour. Yet over 700 years before he was born, people are told there is one God, and he is the Saviour.God is there, through all the good times and through the tough times of our lives. We just need to remember that – and not just in the tough times….. when it is easier to call out to God for help. The people of Israel cannot have said, “We didn’t know; we weren’t told;” they were, many times. Neither can we say, “I didn’t know.” We cannot be untold something; so here is it, clear and simple: “God is your Saviour”. So give Him praise, and thank him. Today.Revd David
Daily ScriptureEphraim has said, ‘Ah, I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself; in all of my gain no offence has been found in me that would be sin.’I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again. (Hosea 12.8-9)Daily ReflectionThe yawning gap between rich and poor is nothing new – this was Hosea the herdsman prophet back in the 700 and something BC condemning the super-rich self-righteous section of his nation. Today we can see how narrow the line is separating settled luxury from refugee status and globally between settled climate and catastrophe. “I’ve got no idea if humanity is going to get through this or not” (Sir David Attenborough of our exploitation of the planet); ‘Faith can give us the gift of hope to imagine a world where all God’s children shall live in safety, when love has no borders and no bounds’. (Christian Aid) ‘I will make you live in tents again’… There can be no security where there is gross injustice. David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture:Open my eyes, that I may see the wonders of your law. (Psalm 119:18)Daily Reflection:Psalm 119 – the longest of the Psalms – and yet here, in a short verse, is a simple yet profound request the psalmist is asking of God: That God would open his eyes, that he might see the wonders of God’s law. If we ever think about “God’s law”, I guess the first thing that comes to mind are the Ten Commandments; and that is not a bad place to start. But Jesus came along and simplified things for us: “Love the Lord your God; love your neighbour as yourself.” Within those ten words are the wonders of God’s law. Think about them; ponder those ten words today. Ask God to open your eyes – to open your mind – to how wonderful the world would be if everyone lived life by them. But where are we to start with that huge task? “God, start with me today.” Revd David
Daily Scripture:‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.’ (Romans 12 v 2)Daily Reflection:Jesus was radical. He came to turn our thinking, beliefs, behaviour, and indeed the world, upside down. He said difficult things like - forgive those who have hurt you, don't bear grudges, don't seek revenge, and love those who are hard to like, let alone love! And yes, he knew that we wouldn't be able to do all these difficult things. Paul says that, thinking like we do, we can't possibly live the way Jesus asked us to, BUT, thinking like Jesus does, we can! For example, forgiving someone for hurting you is almost impossible unless we "renew our minds" about the situation. How about saying to God today - "Lord, I know you ask me to forgive, but I can't, I'm still too hurt. Help me to see this person as you see them". We may have no idea of the past circumstances of another person's life that causes them to react in a hurtful way. Therefore, the judgement we make about them could be "unjustified"! The Lord sees all, and will help us renew our thinking in all situations.And the outcome for our own lives when we "renew our thinking"? The perfect will of God for us, the best of what we can only imagine and hope for - life lived in abundance! Vicki Young
