Daily Scripture“Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.” (Psalm 33:12)Daily Reflection Belonging is a fundamental part of our human nature. When we are cut off from others we feel rejected, left out, cast aside - we lose our sense of self worth and our lives seem empty and pointless. Being given the opportunity to belong, to be part of God’s family, is life changing and transformational. It restores our sense of belonging as we realise that we are part of one big family - we are happy to belong to God’s nation. Belonging gives us a sense of safety, comfort and ease - being cast aside makes us all at sea and at dis-ease. We are all connected together in the love of God - he has chosen us and all we need to do is to accept that love to belong to His nation.Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily Scripture:“Righteousness exalts a nation,but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)Daily Reflection: So what then is “righteousness” that, according to Solomon, exalts a nation? Let’s try approaching it a different way: Do you feel that, as a nation, we are exalted right now? I’m pretty sure I don’t feel we are exalted. There are some good things, for sure: the dedication and work of our NHS; the “community spirit” – thinking of and caring for your neighbour, rather than just thinking of self. Many people are working hard to make things the best they can be. But exalted? No.Righteousness is being in a right relationship with God. That is what exalts a nation; that is what lifts each and every one of us. Sin brings us down; but being right with God – living his way – that brings real life. So look for the right way, today.Revd David
Daily Scripture“The heart is devious above all else;it is perverse—who can understand it?I the Lord test the mindand search the heart,to give to all according to their ways,according to the fruit of their doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)Daily Reflection One feature of the Bible is the honesty shown about human nature. St Paul, no less, writes “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” and pinpoints this as a law, the law that leaves us feeling trapped and makes us feel failures.We live with this moral awareness which constantly challenges our actions and consciences, and also with a strong concept of justice, which leads us to want to see evil dealt with. Jeremiah warns his morally corrupt contemporaries that the Lord does deal out justice. That cry for justice, for punishment, for intervention gets no simple answer because the law of love takes precedence: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive…”.David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)Daily Reflection Some of us go through life with an over-estimated sense of our own importance. Some of us do not have very high self-esteem at all. Both are wrong; both are evaluating ourselves by worldly standards, which isn’t a great measure to use. To know your true importance in life you should know the basis of your self-worth: Christ died for you; that is how important you are.Without Christ we aren’t capable of much by eternal standards. With Christ you are valuable; you can know you are loved; and you are capable of worthy service for God. When you are having a bad day, remember that. Have faith; trust God; you are of infinite worth… whatever you think the world thinks of you. But by earthly standards, please, “do not think of yourself more highly than you ought”!Revd David
