Thought for the Day - Wednesday 3 March

Isaiah 55:8-9 (New Living Translation)   “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.   I’ve often heard over the years, people saying; ‘how could God have let that happen?’  This may have been in relation to wars, to the tragic events at the twin towers, famines in various parts of Africa or, more recently, the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.  I’m sure there are many others you may think of maybe even down to terrible events that have affected someone you know.    The first direct prophecy of the messiah can be found in Deuteronomy 18, 15-19 where Moses says; ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.’   This prophecy was made approximately 1500 years before Jesus walked the earth.  We may ask; why 1500 years, why not 100 years, why not 1000 years but only God has the answer to that question.   Men and women will never be able to fully understand God’s plan, they cannot see it but that doesn't mean it does not exist.  Part of his plan may take place within our own lifetimes without us even noticing and parts of it may take many years to fall into place, but fall into place, it will.   Prayer. Our Lord and our God, we thank you that you hold us in safe hands.  Help us realise our limitations of understanding but let us remember that you are working your purpose out.  Help us to be patient and attempt to live our lives in ways that would be acceptable to you and we beg forgiveness when we fail.  All these things we ask through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen