Daily ScriptureFrom today’s CollectO God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us your mercy, that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal.Daily Reflection What are the most important things in our lives? How do we make our decisions? Do we have certain values and principles that are non-negotiable, or do we make it all up as we go along? The great advantage of having some set principles, as I remember pointing out to one of my teenage children, is that you don’t have to make a case by case decision. For example, if you are firmly committed to faithfulness in marriage you may admire the charm and beauty of someone else’s partner, but you don’t have to decide whether or not to embark on an affair!We pray that with God’s guidance we may keep our eyes fixed on the things that really matter, and which lead to genuine, happiness.‘God will show us the path of life; in his presence is the fullness of joy’ (Ps 16.1) Revd Rosemary
Daily Scripture Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. (Romans 14 v 4) Daily Reflection God sees each one of us as individuals, unique in our own way and loved by Him just as much as the other - so who are we, mere mortals, to judge each other as either inferior or superior. Needing to always be right, and others wrong - assuring ourselves we occupy the moral high ground - can be a way of avoiding admitting, either to God or ourselves, that actually we are fallible. God loves us warts and all - so even when we disagree with one another, we should not mentally put others down, or despise them. Surely, we should instead pray that they will come to understand and know what it is for the Lord to ‘make them stand’ - and hope they pray the same for us. Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily Scripture:Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and a horrible dread has overwhelmed me. And I said: ‘O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest.' (Psalm 55:5&6)Daily Reflection: Even if you have a strong faith and feel close to God, there can be times when you just want to escape from your problems. The psalmist, David, felt like that here. We can too, particularly if a friend or loved one has hurt us. It is normal; it is natural. But we can never fly away from God’s presence; he is always near. A few verses later, David says, “In the evening and morning and at noonday I will pray and make my supplication, and he shall hear my voice.” Speak to God; he will hear you. He cares.Lord, in all times of fear and dread, grant that we may so cast our burdens upon you, that you may bear us on the holy wings of the Spirit to the stronghold of your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Revd David
Daily Scripture:And the crowds asked him [John the Baptist], ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’ (Luke 3.10-14)Daily Reflection:Jesus’ cousin John deliberately ‘prepared the way’ as he challenged the way people were behaving; he would not have lasted a moment in those countries where governments suppress criticism. To his fellow believers his instruction is to share, and to share generously; others he tells to stick to what is honest. To all his message is to change – to help and not to exploit others. David Harmsworth
