Create a peaceful space to pause, and allow yourself to feel God’s presence alongside you, as near to you as your own breath. In following the reflection below, as a church we will draw closer to God and to one another as we grow in faith and deepen our sense of belonging to God.
Matthew 7: 24-28 ‘Hearers and Doers’
24 ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell and great was its fall!’ 28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching.
The Upperton Road site –
cleared and ready for building
As this year moves on, it’s no bad thing for us to consider today our desire for the future.
It is easy for us while in an atmosphere sometimes of doom and gloom to feel that life has dealt us a blow which seems never ending. However, we must remember God’s activity in the world now – his presence in the lockdown with those who are lonely or isolated, bringing healing to those in need in many ways.
We must also look to the future and hope with faith, that God will continue to be at work in the church and in our community in ways that will be real and prove a blessing. I remember when we gathered outside the Upperton URC building last August and we stood, worshipped, and sang Marty Haugen’s great hymn:
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Our collective prayer for the future was for God to continue to be at work in and among us, and that the church he would build would be one of love and blessing – irrespective of the bricks and mortar of course. We see now the ways in which God has blessed us, and continue to pray for God’s Spirit to be at work in all we do.
Prayer:
Loving Father in heaven, we come to you as the living rock of our salvation.
We come for hope in our future after a period of uncertainty and difficulty.
We continue to pray for all those who have been downcast with grief over lost ones. We give thanks for the outpouring of caring help by so many. We pray that our faith may be strengthened during this time of worry and concern for our church family. AMEN.
Reflection and Prayer © 2020 Derek Scott.
Image © 2020 Paul Tabraham.
Hymn words Marty Haugen © 1994 GIA Publications Inc.
A printable version of this Daily Devotional can be downloaded from here
All material reproduced by permission under CCL 1226356[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]