Thought for the Day - Monday 3 August

Thought for the Day – Monday 3^rd August

‘And then Jesus told them “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere”.’ (Mark 16 v15)

 

I have the opportunity for the next couple of weeks to produce a ‘thought for the day’ while our minister is enjoying a well-deserved break.  She has been producing thoughts for the day for many weeks now during these strange times we find ourselves in, and, for seven days in each of those weeks.  We should all be aware of and appreciate the amount of time it takes for our minister to do all of this.  

Although ‘Church’ as we know it has not been taking place for some months now, ministers and congregations throughout the country have been coming up with various ideas (some involving the use of technology, some involving different ways of serving their communities) to ensure the Church in Scotland continues to fulfil its purpose which is: ‘to inspire the people of Scotland and beyond with the Good News of Jesus Christ through enthusiastic worshipping, witnessing, nurturing and serving communities’.

A witness has personal knowledge and experience of a person, place, thing, or event and is prepared to give evidence of that truth.

Christians are witnesses to Jesus Christ because they know him, experience his love, and testify to what he is up to in their lives, in the church, and in the world.

Our newsletter contains the Good News and its distribution can be regarded as a form of Christian witness.  When we see the thought for the day on Facebook, it presents us with the opportunity for sharing the message even more.

I’ve had almost a week to think about what to include and how best to approach this challenge.  My first consideration was to try and identify a purpose for these daily contributions.  My second consideration was ‘who is going to read them’.

I’ve concluded that the purpose will be to remind the Christians (myself included) what Jesus asks us to do and to let non-Christians also know what we are asked to do as Christians, and hopefully arouse the curiosity of even one non-believer to the extent they may want to find out more either privately or through ours or any other church family.

 

Prayer

 

Loving God,

Help us to cope with the unexpected changes we have had to face in these last few months and help us cope with each new change that arises. Let us take the opportunity when we can of sharing the Good News far and wide and never feel any shame or embarrassment in doing so.  Amen.