Daily Scripture:“For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?” (Mark 8:36)Daily Reflection:With the opening up of the non-essential shops, I wonder how many of us have, during this lockdown, made the discovery that buying and owning “stuff” does not bring us the happiness we thought it did. Spending our time chasing after the newest gadget or the most up to date fashion in a vain attempt to make us feel good about ourselves. Unease and insecurity returning when a newer version comes along!God gave us LIFE to spend and not to keep - not for ourselves, but for the benefit of others. If we spend our time caring for the needs of those less fortunate than us, using our talents to make someone else’s life more bearable, then our own lives, our souls, find their true worth.Lyn Hayes, ALM
Daily Scripture:“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25-26Daily Reflection: The apostle Paul is saying that a husband should be willing to sacrifice everything for his wife; her well-being should be his primary concern. That is an awful lot of love! Christ did that for His church though; He paid the ultimate price: giving up his life through love. Not many of us can live up to that standard. Paul goes on, “to make her [the church] holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.” He’s painting an image of being clean by washing…. but washing with “the word”; the word being the scriptures. The word is part of our relationship with God right now, Pour the word over you! Just as you wash every day, read scripture every day. (If there’s something you don’t understand: ask another Christian; discuss it.)Revd David
Daily Scripture:“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)Daily Reflection:With Fathers’ Day coming up, perhaps it’s a good moment to reflect on what sort of responsibility rests on the shoulder of an ideal father. The writer of this instruction was clearly very aware of the possibility of fathers taking excessive responsibility - trying too hard to mould their children? or maybe being domineering? Parents often have their patience tried, but it works both ways, and parents may exasperate children by unwelcome demands. Young people need to find the space and confidence to learn for themselves, maybe even from bitter experience. When Jesus talked of the Father, he was offering a pattern, not of assertive authority but of a parent who in love gives instruction and leadership but also freedom to be independent.David Harmsworth
