Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 21st September and for the week ahead:Scripture:First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)Reflection: This has been a week when we’ve seen leaders of countries getting together and much pomp and ceremony. Whatever your views of the visit of the President of the United States of America, this verse clearly reminds us to pray for him, his staff and other leaders in a similar position. When we pray we may do so very generally, such as praying for an end to war, or for medical treatments to be improved. On the other hand, we may pray very specifically for people or situations known to us, such as our family or someone who has been recently bereaved. How often do we merge these two styles together? We have a God to whom we can name individuals when we pray for them, and He hears our prayer. We are also told that God wants people to “come to the knowledge of the truth.”. Can you imagine what that would look like? It would be quite a sight to behold. The challenge for this week; pray for leaders specifically, including the ones that you don’t think you should be praying for. Pray that they might be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth, that we are so blessed to know. Victoria Bray
Scripture:‘What woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ (Luke 15.8-10)ReflectionThe self-righteous folk of Jesus’ time were typical of most of us in every age, I fear. It’s only in a religious context that people use the word ‘sinner’, but everyone has an acute sense of right and wrong, and that can make us swift to condemn others for their failures (= sins) and to reckon that they must pay the price.Jesus’ answer to those who said he should not talk or socialise with bad folk, ‘sinners’, was to stress God’s hope for a change of heart, ‘repentance’, by speaking of the joy of the angels over even and every one who came to see the light.Am I totally on the side of the angels?David Harmsworth
