Daily Scripture:

“Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it [the Church] increased in numbers.” (Acts 9:31)

Daily Reflection:

Many churches in the Western world are in decline numerically speaking. Here is how the early Church, at the time of the first Apostles, “increased in numbers”: the people of the Church – for “the church” is the people not the building – “lived in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” Fear and Comfort would seem to be opposites; but this is fear as in being in awe, not as in being petrified! The early church lived in awe of God. We would all do well to learn from that and take a leaf out of their book! Recognise the incredible things God has done; be comforted by the Spirit of God being with you. Praise God…. and His Church will grow! Ignore God….and it won’t.

Revd David