Thought for week ending 23 January

 

Luke 8:20-21

Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” 

Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” 

I had the pleasure of attending a service of worship last Sunday afternoon at New Stevenston Wrangholm as part of the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’.  The service was led by our own Interim Minister, Muriel Pearson representing the Church of Scotland (currently the parishes of Holytown, Salsburgh, New Stevenston and Newarthill and Carfin), Father Kieran Hamilton and Father Gerry Haddock representing the Roman Catholic Church (currently the parishes of Newarthill, Holytown and New Stevenston). 

I sat in the very back row and as I looked around, there were a few folks I recognised from Wrangholm and Newarthill, but the majority of those attending were unknown to me.  It struck me that no matter what village we came from or what church we attend or what denomination we were, at that point in time, we were as one, united under the banner of Jesus Christ, a banner created by God that has brought us together rather than the man-made denominations and localities that keep us apart.  We sang hymns we were all familiar with, we were led in prayer that covered all the subjects that needed to be covered, we repeated the Lord’s Prayer together in whatever version we were familiar with (the words may be slightly different, but the meaning is exactly the same).  We heard readings from the New Testament books of Ephesians and the Gospel of John, we learned a new hymn together and we heard a reflection appropriate to the occasion. 

My Sunday afternoons usually consists of watching sport or a film on tv, going to shops or going somewhere nice for a walk.  I had already been at one service of worship that morning so why should I make the effort to attend this other one.  However, I made the effort, I enjoyed it and came home feeling the better for it.  The experience didn’t make me feel uncomfortable, it made feel good. 

Due to the cold/flu that has been doing the rounds, I’m a wee bit late putting this week’s offering out, but it just happens to be Burns night and I’ve included the final verse from one of our National Bard’s famous poems which relects the bible reverence from the book of Luke. 

‘Then let us pray that come it may as come it will for a’ that

That sense and worth o’er a’ the earth shall bear the gree an’ a’ that

For a’ that and a’ that; it’s coming yet for a’ that

That man to man the whole world o’er shall brithers be for a’ that’ 

When it comes to the last day, I don’t believe we’ll be  getting asked what church we attended, we will be asked about our relationship with Jesus Christ and how he featured in our earthly lives.  We need to differentiate what comes from God and what comes from man and make the choices that will be acceptable in God’s eyes. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that we have been born into the family of man and that through faith in Christ, we have been born again into your family and become your child. We thank you that in him we have been purchased from above, made heirs of salvation, are now part of your heavenly family, and that eternal life has become our present possession.  Just as you said that your mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it, we pray that we would hear your Word and read, learn, and inwardly digest it so that by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we may obey you in thought, word and deed, for your greater glory.  This we ask in Jesus' name, Amen. (with thanks to knowing-jesus.com)