‘The Lord watches over you…’ (Psalm 121:5)

In an age with advanced satellite technology and communication, the associated news coverage that comes with that enables us to see events in any part of the world even as they are unfolding. Sadly today so much of that is focussed on this current pandemic as we almost witness first-hand the devastating affect it is having not just here in our own land but also throughout the world. However this same technology is also enabling us to see how communities are coming together at these times and through the power of social media inviting us to be part of one big community. From celebrities inviting us to take part in daily fitness and dance routines, to neighbourhoods inviting us to join in their song and dance routines, to images and messages of hope placed on windows being streamed throughout the world, it seems we are all watching over each other – and that can only be good.

The Psalmist reminds us that the Lord is also watching over us and with all that is happening in the world today we can surely take even more comfort and reassurance from this. Knowing that He is with us in all our daily trials, to offer His support and encouragement, to give us the strength and hope we need to continue when our own begins to waver and to bring to us that sense of tranquillity and peace that only He can offer is something that we all need to hold on to at this time.

Lord, as we continue in our walk through life, thank you for being with us every step of the way. Help us to look to You and to lean on You and to know that You will never leave us  to journey on our own. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

‘Be perfect, therefore, even as You Heavenly Father is perfect…’ (Matthew 5:48)

Switch on your television on almost any evening and somewhere you might find a reality show where members of the public are passionately taking their hobbies and pastimes to a different level by taking part in in these programmes. Baking, cooking, art, pottery, sewing, you name it and there seems to be a reality show out there where individuals all seek to perfect their particular ‘art’ and win the coveted title and prize on offer.

On first reading our short Bible verse today not only seems impossible but also contradictory to our Christian teaching. To be perfect means to be without any kind of fault or defect and we surely all know that we can never be perfect in this way – only our Lord was perfect. Yet here we have this short verse in Matthew’s Gospel.

Maybe then we have to think of this idea of perfection in a different way and not as the world might see or understand it. Maybe it’s not so much about doing extraordinary, flawless things but rather in doing ordinary everyday things extraordinarily well. For that, of course we need to turn to God and perhaps reflect upon another verse, ‘God is my strength and power and He makes my way perfect…’ (2 Sam. 22:33)

Jesus isn’t commanding us to be without flaw or defect, rather He is challenging us to allow God’s Spirit to mould us – our characteristics our abilities and our understanding – that we might fulfil His purpose for us. Irrespective of what weaknesses or flaws we may have, if we truly allow God’s spirit to work within us then we can become perfect, that is as God would have us, suited to His purpose and in that vein we are better suited and more able to serve Him as He has called us to.

Lord, as we come before You today, we acknowledge our flaws and failings and accept that we need You in our lives. We know Lord that in Your strength and by Your Spirit still You might be able to use us to play our part in Your Kingdom. So Lord, help us we pray, to be perfect, suited to Your purpose, to the glory and honour of Your name. Amen.

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory…’ (Isaiah 6:3)

With each passing day the days seem to be getting just a little longer and perhaps a little warmer. We are now beginning to see new buds appear on trees which were dark and bare over the winter and the birdsongs in the morning now seem louder and more uplifting. All definite signs that Spring is fast approaching and a time when we see the glory of God’s creation in all its wonder.

For the prophet Isaiah the glory of God was another sign of the holiness of God, however, the question of holiness is one which Christians have struggled with over the year and one which has led to many discussions and debates. However, perhaps we should look to the words of Dwight L Moody, ‘It is a great deal better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire canons to call attention to their shining – they just shine.’

Form a Biblical and Christian perspective this means living a life lived for God and not for the world – being in the world but not of the world. Our lives should be lived in our love for God through the relationship we have with Him in Jesus Christ. We don’t and can’t live holy lives because of choices that we make in our lifestyle, we can only do so by allowing the love of Jesus to permeate into our hearts and souls and transform us from within. Holiness is a change that we undergo as we grow in our relationship with the Lord and allow His love to direct our lives in all we are and do.

Lord, help me to live a life that is holy and pleasing to you, enshrouded in and guided by Your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command…’ (Hebrews 11:3)

What is faith? How do we understand faith, what do we mean when we say we have faith, how can we describe faith? Surely these are questions that have been asked since the dawn of creation – and are still being asked today. Of course, every day of our lives we put our faith in many different people and situations and in these times in particular we are putting our faith in all who are devoting themselves to healing and helping those with coronavirus, doing what they can to save lives and protect others.

According to Thomas Merton, who was a Cistercian Monk, ‘Ultimately, faith is the only key to the universe…’ and perhaps here he was alluding to the kind of faith expressed in our Bible verse for today – that faith which can only come from God. This kind of faith is not something that is tangible in any way, not something that is visible or that you can touch. Rather it is believing that in every situation we finds ourselves in, good and bad, by His Spirit God is always with us. In our laughter and joy, in our pain and weeping, in good times and bad, faith is knowing in your heart that the Lord is always with you. Faith won’t stop bad things happening but faith will help us find a way through by assuring us that the Lord is sharing in everything we are going through and in Him we can find an inner source of strength, comfort and peace that only He can give.

Lord, we give You thanks for all today who are devoting themselves to helping others, especially so at this time, and pray that You would keep them safe and well. We ask also that You might increase our faith. Help us to know that You are always with us and that we can turn to You day and night. All this we ask in Jesus name, Amen

‘Come near to God and He will come near to you…’ (James 4:8)

One of the things that we will surely all find most difficult at the moment is not to be able to be close to our extended families, friends and colleagues. All those things that were perhaps part and parcel of our everyday lives; visiting and spending time with loved ones or even just a simple hug, we miss them so much. In the same way many will miss the fellowship of being together in the workplace. Working from home may be fine for a while but it’s just not the same as interacting with others face to face. I know that I desperately miss not being able to visit people, particularly those who are ill or bereaved.

However, there is One who we can be close too at any time of day or night and that is of course God. Many people still think of God as being detached from us, some distant being who is beyond our reach. But the Bible tells us that through His Son God came to live and walk among us, to share in all our everyday experiences and by His Spirit He is still with us here today. We might never be able to fully comprehend this but we don’t have to – all we need to do is believe it. God is all around us and He longs for our fellowship and our love. Day or night we can call on Him and come close to Him, and even in these difficult times, still find that sense of inner peace that only He can offer.

Lord, we confess that we find it difficult to understand that You are so close to us and that You want us to draw close to You. Help us now, we pray, to come to You, to share with You all that we are feeling and facing each day, that in You we may indeed find that sense of peace that only You can give. Amen.

‘There is a time for all things…’ (Ecc. 3:1)

Overnight our clocks moved forward one hour and we are now into British Summer Time, which means that our evenings will now become longer – and hopefully warmer. Time can seems strange at times. On how many occasions, for example, have we said something like, ‘…this week has flown by…’ yet maybe a few weeks later, ‘…this past week has dragged by…’ Both weeks are the same period of time and yet they pass by so differently and as I sit to write this, I wonder how the past seven days have passed for us all!

Lutheran Theologian Paul Tillich said of time, ‘Time is our destiny. Time is our hope. Time is our despair. And time is the mirror in which we see eternity…’ words which, in one sense, seem to echo the sentiment of the author of Ecclesiastes. We all have different times in our lives allocated to various tasks and duties, different times set aside for work, leisure and sleep, different times set aside to celebrate special occasions.

Today we would of course normally be gathering for a time of worship and fellowship in the peace and stillness of our sanctuaries. Gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ to come before our Lord and there is no doubt we all miss this time together. Yet we can still come together in Spirit, in a way looking through the mirror of eternity that Tillich speaks of, and be at one with God to spend time in communion with Him.

And of course no matter what time or day or night it is, no matter what else we may be doing in that period of time, still we are able to spend time with our Lord. Sharing with Him in whatever we are doing, talking and listening to Him, offering Him our thanks and petitions, acknowledging His ever present presence in our lives. All time is in God’s hands – and all He wants us to do is to share some of our time with Him each and every day.

Lord, help us in the busyness of everyday life to take time to be with You. Help us to live Your will for us and Your destiny for us, for only then will we be living our lives as You would have us, to the glory and honour of Your name. Amen

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations…’ (Isaiah 56:7)

Dr. Martin Luther King Junior once preached a sermon entitled Rediscovering Lost Values during which he commented on how through the advancement of science and technology we have effectively made the world like one neighbourhood. And when you think of the further advancements made in the last 60 years, particularly with satellite communications and trans-continental travel, that neighbourhood seems to have become even smaller. This was further illustrated somewhat painfully this past week when I saw a map showing how the coronavirus had spread across the globe – all nations seemed to merge into one.

Of course we are all God’s children – every man, woman and child on this planet. Irrespective of nationality, race or gender, we are all children of God, part of His worldwide family and He cares for each and every one of us. Yet at times like this some may of course question such an idea and ask where then is God, if He does care for us in this way. My answer to that is that He is present in all those groups and individuals who are demonstrating His love in their selfless acts for others. Wherever there is love, compassion and comfort being shown, God is at the heart of all that. Wherever people are living out the Gospel message selflessly thinking of the needs of other, by His Spirit God is there and of course wherever people are praying, God is there too.

Lord help us to come to You in prayer at this time and to know that in the midst of these painful and uncertain days, You are still there – and always will be. Amen.

‘Encourage one another daily…’ (Hebrews 3:13)

Yesterday evening, at 8.00pm, millions of people throughout the land paused for a few minutes to come to their doors, windows and balconies to applaud the many thousands in our NHS and Care Service, who over the past weeks have tirelessly devoted themselves to helping and taking care of others who have become ill or are most at risk with this pandemic – and I know that many here in our own community took part in this.

In every walk of life encouraging others is important, especially so when we know they are going through difficult and testing times, as those we applauded last night undoubtedly are. From a Christian perspective the ultimate source of encouragement we can offer others comes of course from Jesus. When through our words and actions we seek to encourage others we should be looking to inspire them in mind, body and soul, to uplift and support them by what we say and do, and to remind them that they are not alone in their endeavours – that they are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. For that we need to lean on God ourselves, to allow His Holy Spirit to inspire us, that refreshed and empowered we can them share this blessing with others.

Lord, in Your power and strength, help me, where I can, encourage others by my words and actions, to the glory and honour of Your name. Amen

‘Sovereign Lord, I put my hope in You…’ (Psalm 71:5)

How many of us, no matter what age we are, don’t stop and point or look up at the sky when we see a rainbow. There is just something about them that brings a smile to all of our faces and instantly brightens up our day.

Over the last week, particularly since our schools closed, pictures of rainbows have been appearing on front windows throughout our towns and cities, including our own community here. Drawn by children they are intended to convey a message of hope and joy in these troubled days. Indeed many have messages of hope attached to them like Keep safe; Keep smiling; and my favourite, The bigger the storm, the brighter the rainbow.

Ultimately, of course, we must place our hope in the Lord. But a time when we are feeling so restricted in what we can do and uncertain of how things are unfolding, and when we are perhaps concerned about loved ones we can’t visit, how wonderful it is to know that our children are doing this to help keep this hope alive and at the same time help uplift us all and bring a smile to our faces – and maybe it is working.

Over the past week in the many conversations I have had with people, despite the restrictions now in place, most people are still in good spirits. Not only that, but they are keeping in touch with one another and, within the limitations imposed upon us, also offering to help their neighbour in whatever small way they can with shopping etc.  Effectively sharing this message of hope and joy by living out the Gospel message as Jesus would have us – looking to the needs of others.

Lord, thank you for our young people, who in the midst of all that we are facing within our society today, have taken to offer messages of hope and joy in the way that they have. We pray that You would look upon all Your children at this time and enable us to know Your presence among us in all that we face. And we ask all this in Jesus name. Amen.

‘The Lord is the strength of His people…’ (Psalm 28:8)

Whenever we think of the word, hero, we might think of the characters we see in Marvel comic books and films, or a mighty and powerful individual in history who performed great deeds, or someone today who is famous and talented in some way. However, looking through my daily devotions for today I came across a quote from an unknown author which looks at the idea of a hero from a different perspective, ‘Heroes are not the ones that never fail, but the ones who never give up…’ and maybe there is a lot of truth in this.

From a Biblical perspective a hero is someone who lives in such a way as to help make life better for another and the Biblical call for us to live a heroic life is to do so in a manner that emulates Jesus Christ. Over this past week I have heard many of our leaders and politicians refer to those in our NHS as heroes – and quite rightly too given the work they are doing in these present circumstances. But there are also many other heroes out there just now. Volunteers, friends and neighbours doing their small bit for others in their communities, helping to make their lives a little better  – effectively living out the Gospel message in a practical way.

Lord we thank You for the many ways in which You are working out through others at this time and for the practical way that so many are sharing the love of Christ by their actions. Watch over them, we pray, and hold them safe in Your love and protection. In Jesus name. Amen