‘The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace…’ (Psalm 29:11)

Read Psalm 29

On the 31^st of July 1979, at the tender age of 18, I joined my first ship, MV Fort Victoria, in Ube, a port at the South of Japan, and we set sail for Sydney in Australia, arriving at our destination around 12 days later. The day after we arrived there we were witness to a spectacular thunderstorm. Looking over Sydney Harbour Bridge at times it seemed as if the sky was ablaze with lightning and the air boomed and echoed with the noise of thunder. This went on for about 15 to 20 minutes and as I say, for me it was amazing to witness, and even today I still enjoy looking out of an open window during a thunderstorm

Many people are of course frightened by thunderstorms, especially so if they happen to be caught in the middle of one, which is perfectly understandable, but not it would seem, our Psalmist.  In our Psalm today the Psalmist appears to be describing the course of a thunderstorm and he does not seem intimidated by it at all, rather he perhaps sees it as the majestic manifestation of the glory of God. He speaks of the voice of God, the breath of God, even the hand and fingers of God and all these are effectively figures of speech for the immanent activity of God in the world. However there is more to this Psalm than poetic descriptions of the beauty of nature or indeed the power of God.

.The Psalm, from beginning to end, speaks of the sovereignty, the greatness and the goodness of God. This God of thunder, the God of Israel, is Lord of all creation, sovereign over all the elements of creation and over all the affairs of human beings. Yet for all His power, might and majesty, for all that He could do, still,  ‘The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.’  The Psalm begins with an exhortation for all Heavenly beings to ascribe greatness to God and to worship His Holy name, going on to exclaim why such glory should be given to God. Yet it ends with the statement that God will bless His people here on earth.

Just pause for a moment to consider the reality of what is being said here and how great the love of God for us must be. And then give thanks and seek to share these blessings with others wherever and whenever you can that they too may come to know the love of the Lord in their lives.

Lord, there is so little we can say that would be worthy of the thanks that we owe You for all the blessings You pour upon us day by day. Yet we do thank You, with all of our hearts, for the strength and the peace that we find in You, our Sovereign Lord. Amen.

Question Of The Day: Which of Joseph’s brother’s was held in Egypt till Benjamin arrived?

‘For in Him we live and move and have our being…’ (Acts 17:28)

Read Acts 17:16-34

Over this weekend we have been remembering VE Day and the sacrifice many made during the Second World War to enable us to join the freedom and liberty that we do today. And over the past week or so we have heard on our televisions and radios stories from some of those still alive today of their own experiences at that time – and maybe some of you will have early childhood memories or recall memories of your parents. When I asked my Dad, who would have been 14 at the time, of his recollections he said he remembered it being a nice sunny day and the whole street having a wonderful party. He himself took part in a fun race for the teenagers around the local streets – and won himself the amazing prize of one shilling!

As a young boy I spent many days at my Grandparents house and had often walked along and played in the streets that my Dad remembered running through on VE Day. So as he was recalling that race, not only was I able to relate to the story because of my own memories, I was able to visualise the whole event and almost run the race with him. I have the advantage of being able to place his story into the context of some of my own memories and stories of my childhood, which, of course, will not be possible for all of you reading this.

The apostles and missionaries of the early church often encountered people who were unable to comprehend the story of Jesus Christ without trying to put it into their context. However, when we try to do that it doesn’t always work out as it should. Back then, of course, there were already many stories of gods and goddesses around and it was easier to fit a powerful experience of healing, or of the Holy Spirit, into what one already knew than to try to learn something new altogether. Paul sees how the people are trying to fit the experience of Jesus into the story they already know whereas what they should be doing is ‘writing’ their own story of Jesus as they experience Him in their lives.

Paul sees that the Athenian people have erected an altar to an unknown god. So it would seem that even though they have the a whole host of Greek gods and goddesses they worship, still there is something in their hearts that realizes they cannot know everything; that they have not identified the source of all things. And Paul identifies that restlessness and that openness as the longing the Holy Spirit stirs up in every one of us, until we rest in God. And of course it is through Jesus, we come to understand the invitation and welcome of God and through His Spirit we learn to recognize how, in God, we live and move and have our being.

As Paul speaks to those gathered in the market place he doesn’t insult them or scare them, rather he invites them to see something familiar in a new way and exciting way. And I wonder, when did we last embrace such an invitation as this, to look for new and exciting ways in which God is working in our lives. Paul allows and indeed encourages them, to reinterpret their tradition in light of what they now know of Jesus. And he encourages them to consider that the god for whom they have been striving who was unknown – is now able to be known through the person of Jesus Christ…

Paul calls the Athenians to imagine God – and themselves in more lofty terms than they are used to doing. Rather than worshiping a god of stone or silver or gold, they are called to consider that we are offspring of the One true living God. And so the God we worship should be better than stone and the people who worship god reflect god’s love back to the world. And there are a couple of lessons we can take from this passage.

Like the people of Athens we have to accept that Jesus does not merely fit into any category that we might wish to place him in, based on what we have read or heard from others. We should all have our own unique personal relationship with Jesus and it is that personal relationship which should be the basis of our own experiences of Jesus in our lives. Yes, we can and should share these experiences with others and having others share their experiences with us might help at specific times. However, it doesn’t automatically follow that the experiences of others will be the same as ours and that’s something worth remembering. Because sometimes we might think if God acted in one way for such and such a person surely He will do so for me – and so we expect the same outcome. But that’s not how it works. Just as our lives are all different and unique, so the way in which God acts in those lives is also different and unique.

Ultimately, of course, we are called to witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ. And irrespective of our own unique stories we can all ask ourselves the same question. What is the Good News of our story? Reconciliation with God, the promise of peace, the words of eternal life, the hope of the life of the world to come, the forgiveness of sins, guidance on how to live. No matter the differences in our own personal experiences, if this is our story then it is a story of Jesus Christ in our lives.

As to how we bear witness to this, again we might all have our own different ways and means of doing so. In her VE Day speech, Her Majesty the Queen said that our streets today were not empty, they were full of the love and care we have for each other – and without doubt this is a good way to start, sharing with others the love and care of Christ. However perhaps the best way, ultimately, is for us to witness to the difference knowing Jesus has made in our own lives. So let’s do that each and every day, in all we say and do, that by doing so, others too may come to begin their own story of Jesus in their lives.

Lord, we give You thanks that through Your Son You have come into our lives. That every day You are with us, wherever we go and whatever we do. It is difficult to truly express the comfort, joy and reassurance that brings to us, knowing You are with us at all times, and we thank You for Your ever present presence with us. We ask that as we live our lives each day, You would help us to bear witness to Your love and to share it with others, that they too may come to know You for themselves.

This weekend we remember all who gave their lives that we might have liberty and freedom and all today who still are prepared to do so. And at this time we remember all, in this land and throughout the world, who have lost loved ones to coronavirus and all who are ill in hospital with it. Be with them as only You can and assure them of that presence with them. Be also with the scientists, clinicians and researchers now looking for a way to cure those suffering from this virus and for a vaccination against it. May You be with them in that endeavour. And finally we pray for our own communities and our own loved ones, especially those who are ill or bereaved. Hold each one close to You and encompass them in Your love and protection. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Sunday evening – national call to prayer

As has been the case over the past few weeks, the leaders of all churches have come together to call us to prayer at 7.00pm this Sunday evening. Underneath is a prayer by the leaders of all churches that could be used to begin this time of prayer. The full statement can be found on the Church of Scotland website where it also lists all those leaders whom signed that statement.

Come, Jesus Christ, come my way;
showing me your way, through these disorientating days,
and opening my eyes to your accompanying presence.

Come, Jesus Christ, come my way;
teaching me your truth, through these confounding days
and opening my mind to your living Word.

Come Jesus Christ, come my way;
revealing to me your life, through these bewildering days,
and opening my heart to the fulness of your being. Amen.

‘The Lord is my light and my salvation.…’ (Psalm 27:1)

Read Psalm 27

Psalm 27 begins with one of the most affirming statements about the presence and security of God that we will find anywhere in the Bible, ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear…’  It is believed that the author of this Psalm is King David, at a time when he was being pursued by his enemies, possibly led by Saul. The opening seven verses express such faith and confidence in the Lord that it would be difficult for anyone not to take courage from them. Yet all too quickly the mood of the author changes from confidence to anxiety, before ending confidently again in the final two verses.

There are many things that we can take from this Psalm and many verses from which we can take great strength and courage as we face the many challenges that life throws at us every day. Yet perhaps when we look at the Psalm as a whole we might feel confused or bewildered and ask ourselves how the mood and tone of the Psalm can change so quickly – but perhaps it is from this that we can learn most.

What this Psalm reminds us so powerfully of is the changing moods and emotions of our human hearts and souls – even in terms of our faith. Irrespective of how faithful we are and how often we are able to join with the Psalmist in the praise of the opening seven verses, still there will be times in our lives when suddenly we might become anxious and our faith waivers slightly, if only for a brief moment. All at once our petitions become more anxious and even as we ask of the Lord there is a hint of pleading in our voice and heart that perhaps betrays an element of doubt, both in our own faith and how the Lord will indeed answer our petitions. Then just as quickly the confidence of that sure and certain faith we have in Christ returns.

As Christians we should not judge others yet sometimes the ones we judge most harshly are ourselves. But the words of the Psalmist here reassure us in that sense – we are only human and we will succumb to moments of anxiety, fear, doubt – whatever. But then we are reminded  of the great faithfulness of the Lord, that He is the stronghold of our life and once again we can ‘wait for the Lord…’ knowing that He will come and stand beside us as He always has and always will.

Lord, You are indeed our light and salvation. Help us when the days get long and dark to look to that light and hold on to our faith – to be strong and take heart – knowing that you are with us and will remain with us, no matter what. Amen.

Question Of The Day: Jacob is regarded as the Father of the Israelites, but who is Esau regarded as the Father of?

‘Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…’ (Psalm 23:6)

Read Psalm 23

I don’t think there is any doubt that the 23^rd Psalm is the most well known Psalm in the Bible. Even those who have little or no faith, or little or no church connection, know something of this Psalm and most, may I suggest know how it begins, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…’  When we looked at the ‘I am…’ sayings of Jesus we thought of our Lord as being the Good Shepherd and the opening 4 verses give us this wonderful image of our Lord watching over us and the comfort and assurance that gives us.

The reality is that at times in our lives we do feel and behave like lost sheep, wandering aimlessly, feeling vulnerable and uncertain, even afraid. To know that our Lord will be there to restore our soul and bring to us the comfort and peace that we need in those times, and provide for our every need is a blessing indeed. It reinforces the intimacy of the relationship we have with God through His Son and the love that He freely pours upon us day after day.

Yet despite how well we know this Psalm, I wonder how often we do stop to reflect on the final two verses, where the image is no longer of a shepherd and his sheep, but rather a host and his guest. We still have the same sense of intimacy in the relationship but here we have an image of God’s lavish provision for us that is clearly visible for all to see. Essentially, because God does satisfy our soul it cannot be hidden from the world – our very lives will bear witness to God’s blessings. Indeed even in times of adversity the presence of the Lord with us cannot be hidden. Moreover these are blessings that we will rejoice in not just all the days of our life here on earth, but for all eternity. No wonder so many people take hope and comfort from this Psalm.

Lord, we give You thanks that You are here with us every day of our lives, giving us rest and peace in our souls, refreshing us with the love You pour upon us. Help us to embrace that love and to seek to walk with You every day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Question Of The Day: What did Jacob do to purchase Esau’s birthright?

‘…those who seek the Lord will praise Him…’ (Psalm 22:26)

Read Psalm 22

Many people will tell you that no matter what situation you find yourself facing in life and no matter how you feel, physically, emotionally or spiritually, there is a Psalm that can ‘speak’ to you and offer you whatever you need to help you at that time, and when we look through all the Psalms who could possibly argue with that. There are also certain Psalms which seem to look at things from different perspectives and appear to be split evenly between a cry for help from the Psalmist and a song of praise for that help.

Psalm 22 is one of those Psalms. The first 21 verses concentrate on the anguish and suffering of the Psalmist as he cries out to the Lord for help – indeed it begins by asking God why He has forsaken the Psalmist. But as we look at verse 22 we see that from here onwards the Psalmist is full of praise as he recalls all God’s goodness and all that God has done, not just for him, but for all people. And what this Psalm reminds us of is that even in our darkest hour, no matter what trials or tribulations we might face, still we can have confidence in the Lord, that He will be by our side, as He always has been, and help us through whatever we are facing.

However, in this Psalm we also find that assurance from another perspective. When we read this Psalm whilst we might initially think of the suffering face by the Psalmist himself, or even more generally to the people of Israel, there are also Messianic overtones here and this Psalm is reminiscent of the Suffering Servant Songs we find in the prophecies of Isaiah. Look again at the Psalm, read it slowly, and note how it ends, ‘They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn – for he has done it..’

Through Jesus Christ God has reconciled Himself to us and by His Spirit He is with us always. Whatever life may throw at us, whatever comes our way, we are never alone – the Lord is with us and always will be.

Lord, we know that as we journey through life that we will face many trails and tribulations along the way, but still we give You thanks and praise for we know that you are with us every step of the way and will never abandon us, and for that we bless You.  Amen.

Question Of The Day: What are the names of Jacob’s two sons born to Rachel?

Slightly different approach this week.

Luke chapter nine begins with Jesus sending out the twelve and ends with the cost of being a disciple. Looking at the chapter as a whole, before looking at the specific passages highlighted below, ask yourself what is Jesus doing with His disciples in this chapter and what is Luke saying to us.

Now Read Luke 9:18-20

What did Jesus ask this question?

1. To find out what the people thought of Him?
2. To discover what His disciples thought of Him?

What is the significance of only Peter answering Jesus?

1. Were the others too afraid to answer or was their faith not strong enough?

What about us today – how would we answer this question? Would we answer this question?

Luke 9:37-43

What can we learn from this passage?

1. Despite all they had heard and seen, still it would appear the disciples lacked true faith.
2. Or are we being too harsh on them?
3. How might we have behaved when faced with a similar situation?

Are there times when we might stand accused of being hypocritical in terms of our faith lives?

Luke 9:51-56

What is the significance of these few verses?

1. Not everyone is welcoming of Jesus.
2. Yet Jesus does not condemn them, rather He rebukes His disciples for wanting to harm them?

How welcoming are we of Jesus – and how do we react to others who are not so welcoming?

Or, are we as welcoming of Jesus as we should be and if not, why not?

Now Read Luke 9:1-9 and Luke 9:57-62 and consider again the questions again at the beginning of this Bible study. And then reflect on exactly where you see yourself in this chapter?

Question Of The Day: What happened when Jacob met Esau in East Jordan?

‘May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight…’ (Psalm 19:14)

Read Psalm 19

Many today who deny the very existence of God often tend to base much of their argument on the lack of evidence to prove that God exists. Where are the signs and miracles of Biblical times, they might ask, let us see this and then we might believe that God exists, in many ways echoing the cries of many in Jesus day who cried out, ‘show us a sign that we might believe…’. Yet if only they would open their hearts along with their eyes, they would surely see evidence of God in all creation and in other human beings who strive to carry out God’s will in sharing His love to all people every day in the things that they say and do.

C.S Lewis once said of Psalm 19 that it was, ‘the greatest poem in all the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world…’ and if we just take another moment or two to slowly read through the words of this Psalm, who could dare dispute that.

As we read through the opening verses it’s a Psalm that screams out to us of the glory, power and majesty of God, revealed for all to behold in what He has created, and a universe that, in the mind of the Psalmist, is perfectly ordered and structured in every way. The imagery is wonderful and the descriptive language so vivid that surely no-one could doubt that none of this happened by chance. Everything seems to have a place and purpose and in many ways these verses seem to serve as God’s witness to Himself that we see and know Him in all His glory. But then we suddenly move from the glory of God’s revelation of Himself in nature to his revelation of Himself through the law. We now have a revelation not of the power, majesty and glory of God, but rather of the will of God and we see that this also fills the Psalmist with a sense of awe and wonder.

The Psalmist calls on us to open our eyes and our hearts to the glory of God all around us and in His word, but perhaps the real question we have to consider as we read through this Psalm is what does it say to us as we read through its verses – and consequently, how might we respond to it.

Lord, as we look around us every day and see the many wonders of Your creation, we give You thanks for the life You have given us and for all the many blessings You bestow upon us. Help us to share with others the wonder and glory of Your name that through this witness they too may come to know You. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Question Of The Day: Where did Jacob wrestle with the Angel?

‘I have set the Lord always before me…’ (Psalm 16:8)

Read Psalm 16

‘The good old days…’ ‘The grass is always greener on the other side…’ How many times have we heard phrases like this said – how often have we ourselves used them? Usually we say things like this when we are disillusioned in some way, when things haven’t gone our way, when we’re just fed up with something or when we’re just feeling sorry for ourselves and bemoan our lot in life. Yet the reality is that every generation will talk about the good old days and we will all for time to time believe that the grass is indeed greener on the other side. But are the older days always better and is the grass always greener – or are we deluding ourselves?

Early Church Father Augustine once confessed to God, ‘Thou hast made us for thyself and our souls are restless until they find their rest in thee…’ and we get an overwhelming sense of that in our Psalm today. Here the Psalmist has turned from all the pleasure and vanities of the world around him to seek the presence of God because he knows that only then will he find true contentment. Yet it is more than that for what we have here is effectively a believer’s testimony, expressing his overwhelming faith in God for the present and his hope in God for the future – indeed for all eternity. In fact a closer look might reveal some Messianic hope in this Psalm, when the Psalmist speaks of the Holy One not seeing decay and eternal pleasures at God’s right hand – certainly in Acts 2:30-31 Peter appears to allude to that.

However, for us today the Psalm is a reminder that no matter what we might gain, achieve or attain here on earth, no matter what we might desire, seek or aspire to, until we know the Lord in our lives we will never find true contentment. Only when we set the Lord before us at all times, seek His counsel and pursue His ways, only then will our lives be truly fulfilled.

Lord we give You thanks for all Your goodness and blessings, for Your constant presence with us every single day and for the joy and peace we know as we walk with You. Help us to remain on the path You have set before us knowing that in You and with You we have all we need in life. Amen.

Question Of The Day: Who were the parents of Jacob and Esau?

‘He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…’ (John 10: 3)

Read John 10:1-10

What makes someone a good leader? Often the only way we can answer that is by the results of the decisions that these leaders make but at other times we can form our opinions based on our perceived agendas and objectives of these leaders. Good leaders, we might imagine, would be those who at all times seek the best for the people they lead, those who seek peace and prosperity and a lifestyle that would bring a sense of purpose and joy to everyone. Whereas a bad leader would be one who pursues power, their own selfish agenda and puts their status and position above all else.  In his Gospel, John presents Jesus as the ultimate leader who loves and brings life to his followers, who, in turn, are called to lead and love those under their care. And he does so by referring to Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for every one of His sheep and who calls them by name and the gate through which they might enter to find life.

As Christians we too are effectively leaders, called by God to fulfil our vocation as Disciples of Jesus Christ. However, God’s call to us is more than just a vocation – discipleship to Jesus Christ should be the most important and fundamental thing in our life. It’s not just about the things that we say and do, the way we behave – it’s who we are! Our call and service to the Lord should be the one thing around which we build and live the rest of our lives. We will all be called in different ways to serve God, however, no matter what form that call may take it should be lived out in equal and complete commitment with everything else that is going on in our lives. Yet that isn’t always easy to do.

Sometimes we are discouraged and dissuaded because of other commitments – to family, friends, work colleagues – and a whole host of other reasons. We give so much of our love, time and energy to them that we cannot begin to see how we can respond to God’s call as we should. Sometimes it’s because of a sense of inadequacy – how can we possibly serve God, why would God call me? I don’t have any particular gifts or talents, I’m not the most suitable or most qualified person to serve God’s call in that way – there must be some mistake. Yet, still God calls us through His Son.

As Christians we have heard the voice of Jesus call to us and we have followed that voice and come to Him. But still today He calls us. And if we would truly heed that call then we also need to acknowledge that every single Christian is a leader in some sense, or should be, and as such we are all effectively called to be ‘good shepherds’. We are all called to lay down our own lives in some sense. Perhaps not physically in the way that Jesus did, but sacrificially, laying aside our own needs as we embrace the needs of others first. Called to lead others to Jesus Christ that they too may enter through that narrow gate and have that life to the full that only Jesus can give.

Lord as we give You thanks for all Your goodness, grace and mercy, we confess that all too often our hearts and our minds are focussed too much on ourselves. We fail to use the precious gifts you have given us to answer Your call and to serve You and proclaim the Gospel message, choosing instead the path of passive faith and keeping Your love to ourselves.

Lord, forgive us we pray and turn our minds away from ourselves and all our failings, and help us to focus on the forgiving life You have given us in Jesus Christ. Give us the energy and the diligence to serve You as we should and the self-discipline to see this through each day against all the temptations and obstacles that come our way. Help us to play our part in all we say and all we do to try and make this world a better place, a place where the saving love of Jesus Christ would be known by all.

And as we think of all the pain and heartache faced by so many as a result of this coronavirus, we continue to pray for all who have lost loved ones and for all who are ill at home or in hospital, particularly those know to us. May each one know Your hand upon them and know that they are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. We pray also for those known to us and in our wider community who are facing other trials at this time and again would ask that You would be with them as only You can. And all these things we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Sunday Evening – National Call To Prayer

As has been the case over the past few weeks, the leaders of all Churches have come together to call us to prayer at 7.00pm this Sunday evening. Underneath is a prayer by the leaders of all churches that could be used to begin this time of prayer. The full statement can be found on the Church of Scotland website where it also lists all those leaders whom signed that statement.

Good Shepherd, watch over us today
In all we face and experience.
Never leave us or forsake us
And journey with us always.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, you know us
As no-one else knows us.
Guard us and keep us,
As you guard and keep those whom we love.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, we pray for the sick and the lonely;
For the anxious and the bereaved;
For those whose pain is beyond our comprehension.
We stand with them and commend them to your care.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, we pray for the carers in hospitals and in homes
And for all who serve the needs of others.
May the example of living compassion
Inspire us in our care for others.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, you know the depths of our heart
And the fears which are ours.
Speak into the depths of our heart
And calm our fears.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, you know us by our name
And our identity is not hidden from you.
Gather us to yourself as a Shepherd gathers the sheep,
That we might know your Name.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Amen.

‘Whoever does these things will never be shaken…’ (Psalm 15:5)

Read Psalm 15

Have you ever been in that situation where you ask someone a question, yet even as you are doing so you realise that you already know the answer to that question, so you answer on behalf of the person you are asking the question of. I have to confess that it is a bad habit of mine and on initial reading that would appear to be what is happening here in Psalm 15. The Psalmist begins by asking a question and then proceeds to give the answer to that very question. Indeed it could be argued that the answer given goes well beyond the scope of the original question.

But if we look in more detail we see that Psalm 15 in many ways encapsulates the way of Discipleship for those who would say they know and follow Jesus. It speaks about how we should live morally with respect to our fellow human beings but at the same time emphasises our relationship with God throughout. We cannot, for example, hope to have a right relationship with God without having a right relationship with our fellow human beings. Nor can we have that same right relationship with God unless we speak the truth from our heart. In other words, our thoughts, words and deeds in respect of how we interact with others is important when it comes to our relationship with God.

Today, of course, that we can have that relationship with God through His Son and it is by this grace we are able to be at one with God. But remember Jesus Himself would go on to tell us that the entire law could be effectively summed up in two commandments. Love God and Love Your Neighbour. Isn’t this in effect what the Psalmist is saying here and, ‘whoever does these things will never be shaken…’

Lord we thank You that through Your Son we are able to come in to Your Holy presence and be at one with You. Help us to live as You would have us – loving You and loving our neighbour, that in so doing we might bear witness to Your name. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Question Of The Day: What is the first thing Noah did on leaving the ark?