Thought for Day - 20 August 2021

Psalm 16:8 (New Living Translation)   I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. What an encouraging and reassuring message from scripture to see us into the weekend. In Wednesdays’ thought, I wrote about ministers sitting with folks at the end of their lives remarking about the contentment that could be seen on their faces of those who were about to leave this life.  On reading it back, I noticed that I had failed to mention that all these folks had accepted Christ as their saviour. I would imagine that most of you that will read this article will have that same belief and I pray that this belief we have will only grow stronger as we progress through this life and that we will be able to face the inevitable with confidence in our faith. It is worth considering each day of our lives what we are called to do by the Holy Spirit in order to grow our faith.  As I look around me, I see the numbers of men, women and children with no knowledge of the gospel growing with the passing of each year.  I look around and see people I am really fond of that have no faith at all and I despair in terms of knowing what to do to change this.  At the very least, we should be earnestly praying for a reversal of this trend and asking the Lord to guide us as to how we can best serve him and how best to relate to the faithless. It may only be a personal view but the changes introduced in the education system that have reduced the amount of Christian teaching for children seem to have been introduced so as not to cause offence to others.  If the politicians consider our beliefs in any way ‘likely to cause offence’ surely it is up to our church leaders supported by members to speak up in defence of the Christian faith and the gospel that asks us to love one another and accept Jesus as our saviour.  Where is the offence? Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for the assurance you make available to us through belief in you.  Help each and every one of us to grow in our faith as each year passes.  We pray for our friends and relatives that do not know you and use us to draw them to you.  Help us live our lives in ways that are a credit to you and help us resist the temptations to take a different path.