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.
Luke 6: 46-49 ‘The Two House Builders’
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and yet don’t do what I tell you? 47 Anyone who comes to me and listens to my words and obeys them – I will show you what he is like. 48 He is like a man who, in building his house, dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. The river flooded over and hit that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But anyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a man who built his house without laying a foundation; when the flood hit that house it fell at once – and what a terrible crash that was!”
We seem to be racing through November, and before long we will be in Advent. During this time of year we begin to look forward to the coming of our Lord. 2020 has been a year like no other, with a crisis unprecedented in our lifetimes, and with huge loss of life throughout the world. Here at Emmanuel, we have also had to endure losses of all sorts, including being unable to meet as a church family.
However, the building of our new church is finally going to begin and we can look forward to what is to come. We need to think about how we are going to use the premises. Worship will be at its heart, with church groups of fellowship, discipleship, prayer, and for all ages too. Just as important is how the building is to be used by the town and community. We will seek to listen to all views, when we furnish it and its layout, and we can all get involved through in many different ways, including prayer. Decisions we make in this next year as we get ready, will lay the foundations for the mission of our church for years to come.
Our faith has brought us through so far and, if we listen to his word, we can now be sure with hope and expectation of what lies ahead. For we know that God remains with us, yes, through many trials, but he will provide the sure foundations, just as the wise man in Luke’s passage above.
I am reminded of the words of Isaiah chapter 40 verses 7 and 8: “Grass withers and flowers fade, when the Lord sends the wind blowing over them. People are no more enduring than grass. Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God endures for ever.”
Prayer:
For prayer, I invite you to use part of hymn no 167 in Singing the Faith:
Colours of day dawn into the mind,
the sun has come up, the night is behind,
Go down in the city, into the street,
and let’s give the message to the people we meet
In the name of Jesus we ask this. Amen.
Reflection & Prayer © 2020 Matthew Earl.
Images freely available online.
A printable version of this Daily Devotional can be downloaded from here
All material within this order of worship is reproduced by permission under CCL 1226356