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.
Revelation 21:1-4 ‘A New Heaven and Earth’
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’
‘Born in Song’
by Brian Hoare (1935- )
Born in song!
God’s people have always been singing.
Born in song!
Hearts and voices raised.
So today we worship together;
God alone is worthy to be praised.
Praise to God!
For he is the one who has made us.
Praise to God!
We his image bear.
Heaven and earth are full of his glory;
let creation praise him everywhere.
Christ is King!
He left all the glory of heaven.
Christ is King!
Born to share in our pain;
crucified, for sinners atoning,
risen, exalted, soon to come again.
Sing the song!
God’s Spirit is poured out among us.
Sing the song!
He has made us anew.
Ev’ry member part of the Body;
given his power, his will to seek and do.
Tell the world!
All power to Jesus is given.
Tell the world!
He is with us always.
Spread the word, that all may receive him;
every tongue confess and sing his praise.
We have all been on journeys, where we start well, there are set backs but eventually we reach our destination. When I had my calling as a Methodist Local Preacher it was a journey with many pitfalls along the way but eventually, I was accredited.
‘Born in Song’ takes us on a journey with God. He created us, then came to earth as one of us, with his incarnation as Jesus Christ. His life led to his humiliation, crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation and coming again. Then it speaks of God’s Spirit being poured out. There are three aspects of the work of the Spirit: he makes us new people (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are part of Christ’s body, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) and he gives us the power to do God’s will (Acts 1: 8). In this post-Easter period, we are reminded of this.
The hymn ends with Christ reigning on earth and the consummation of God’s work, when all will be new and singing God’s praise, as the passage of the book of Revelation above describes it. So God’s journey continues as does ours. However, as the hymn reminds us, he never leaves us to cope on our own.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, be with us on the journey of life with its ups and downs, happy and sad times. Help us reach the destination of a life in your loving and everlasting arms. In Jesus name, Amen.
Reflection and Prayer © 2021 Matthew Earl.
Hymn words © Brian Hoare / Jubilate Hymns, Administered by The Jubilate Group, 4 Thorne Park Road, Torquay TQ2 6RX.
Image 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