Thought for 2 January 2023

 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (New Living Translation)

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave

this earthly body), we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. ² We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.

I thought it would be good to start 2023 on a positive note but because of what this new year holds for all of us is known to no one but God, I thought it might be a better idea to look even further ahead.

Congregations all over Scotland tend to be made up of older folks and this general trend doesn’t seem to be changing.  I watched Songs of Praise yesterday and on other occasions and it would seem that the trend in England and Wales is similar.

Maybe there’s something that should have been done about this several decades ago when the trend almost imperceptibly began.  Is this something that shows the devil is alive and well and working subtly to dilute the Christian message and make it appear less relevant in society throughout these past decades?

It should concern us because it is resulting not just in young folk attending church (and by young folk, I mean from children right through to those in their forties and fifties), it means that more and more of those in leadership roles within the church are outwith that broad ‘younger’ age group.  I worry that if we get any younger folk coming to church, will the worship leaders and the leaders of organisations be able to communicate and relate to them on a level that will be understandable and relevant to them.  All we can do is to pray that this will not be the case and to put this problem into the hands of the Lord. 

Today’s reading reminds us that a great gift awaits us in the next life if we hold to our faith in Jesus Christ.  How sad it would be if our sons and daughters do not have the opportunity for sharing in the same gift.  The best guidance for this life can be found in Psalm 90:12 ‘Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.’  The biggest danger is that children and young to middle-aged adults don’t get a chance to hear it.

Prayer – Heavenly Father, in this New Year, we pray fervently that your word will reach areas of society where it does not currently reach.  We pray that the decline in membership of your Church in Scotland may be reversed and that more people will learn about your life and example and the prize that awaits each and every one of us at the end of this life’s uncertain journey if they have  put their faith in you.  Amen