Daily Devotion 16 June 2020

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.

2 Corinthians 4: 6-9 ‘Treasure in Clay Jars’

6 For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.

Do you have any idea at all what links these 3 famous people? Don’t read the answer below!


Jurgen Klopp
Manager of Liverpool FC.


Stan Laurel
Appeared in more than 100 films.


Phil Mickelson
Golfer winner of 5 Majors

You’ll never guess, I’m going to have to tell you. They all share the same birthday which is today, 16th June. Which also happens to be my birthday too. I wonder how many of you will, after reading this Devotion, google which famous people you share a birthday with! I must admit, I am unashamedly delighted I share a birthday with Jurgen Klopp! However, I have no intention of telling you how young I am, except to say I am younger than all three of the above…just.

In this piece of 2 Corinthians, this is a fabulous piece of prose from St. Paul. My letters and emails are nowhere near as eloquent! I love the way he writes expressing that God’s gifts to us are so remarkable and extraordinary, and yet, are to be found in each and every person whose heart is open to God. This ‘treasure’ is not reserved for the celebrity, the powerful, the rich, the white, the famous, the powerful – but actually is for all God’s people. This ‘treasure’, this ‘extraordinary power’ is nothing that will win us fame and fortune in this life, but is nothing less than the love of God in the lives we lead. Every time we give a little, share something good, forgive a slight, overlook a wrong, reach out to someone few else would reach out to – then this is the ‘life of Jesus…made visible in our bodies’. Living a life of faith doesn’t mean wearily accepting an ‘ordinary’ life – there’s no such thing. It means using every opportunity we are given to follow Jesus Christ in word and act. A life lived this way, will always be extraordinarily blessed by God.

Prayer:

Great and gracious God, we thank you for the life we have been given,
the families and friends who shape and surround us, and who share their love with us.
Thank you for the gifts each of us has. May we use them all for the glory of God. Amen.

Reflection & Prayer © 2020 Paul Tabraham.
Images freely available online.

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All material within this order of worship is reproduced by permission under CCL 1226356