Thought for the day - 26 April

Thoughts for Monday 26 April from Netta Lithgow, Wrangholm A New Testament reading from: Ephesians 2:4–10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Small and Mighty I was fascinated to read about a ‘small yet mighty’ grasshopper mouse that lives in a dessert in North America.  It not only howls at the moon to establish its territory – most animals do something similar - but this small and mighty mouse also preys on creatures such as the scorpion and can convert the scorpion’s toxins into a painkiller – incredible!  Unrelated to the Gospel Reading - I wonder if that’s where Persil got its inspiration for its Small & Mighty liquid detergent that’s on sale!  You may also remember Ian McLauchlan, a retired former Scotland International rugby union player, who was also nicknamed Mighty Mouse!  However, back to the Gospel Reading:  The small and mighty grasshopper mouse is an example of the wonderful skill which illustrates God’s designs for His people too.  Each of us is “God’s handiwork in Jesus – “uniquely equipped to contribute to His kingdom”.  Whatever gift God has gifted us, small or mighty, we have a lot to offer.  Thankfully, anyone can do God’s work.  Anyone can use their time and talents to be a living witness to “the hope and joy of life in Him”. Those of us who have been contributing to these Thoughts for the Day do not do it lightly.  It takes some painful searching to come up with something sensible and hopefully uplifting to our readers and ourselves.  We have to search our conscience and pray that we have the strength to live out what we write.  It is Paul that writes in Ephesians 2: v10  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. So, if we should feel small and insignificant, or sadly, on a bad day, important and strong – thankfully, the New Testament reassures us that through the gifts and strength of the Spirit, God can use us to do mighty things! In Jesus name we pray: From strength to strength go on, wrestle and fight and pray; tread all the powers of darkness down and win the well-fought day. Amen