Sunday 3rd May | Katie Budd
Readings
Reflection
The recurring themes of Psalm 106 hit a little close to home as I consider where my hope lies in a time of global pandemic. The passage recounts a tragic tale of God’s chosen people, the Israelites, persistently rejecting their saviour and taking for granted his blessings as he delivers them from destruction and continually meets them with an abundant overflow of love and mercy, “They gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses… yet you saved them for your name’s sake, to make your mighty power known. From the hand of the enemy you redeemed them” (v.7-9)
The Israelites’ initial reaction to this mercy is at first worship, “They believed his promise and sang his praise” (v12). A step in the right direction, right? But as soon as danger subsides, they are quick to reject God’s commands “They soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold” (v13) The story goes from bad to worse as they build altars and start to worship other gods (v19).
How often does this pattern reflect our own lives? And, even when equipped with the knowledge of God’s love and truth of his promises, how easy is it to forget this assurance when we see the messages of hopelessness and desperation plastered over our TV screens? But God holds on to the promise he makes his children – this isn’t the end of the story.
Nehemiah 9:6-15 highlights the extent of God’s grace and the power of his promises. Despite their constant failures; (“They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things” Psalm 106 v 21) he leads them to deliverance with a steady hand “You divided the sea before them, you hurled their pursuers into the depths” (v11), “By day you lead them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar fire to give them light on the way they were to take” (v12)
In 1 Corinthians 10 1-10 Paul urges us to live lives which give glory to God in light of his grace. He reflects on God’s faithfulness to the Israelites “God was not pleased with most of them”(v5), yet he still keeps his promise. So in a time of global uncertainty let’s remember that God’s hand is with us, and this is not the end but that one day we will be reunited in a place where suffering is no more.
Prayers
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your unconditional love that sustains generations,
And that despite our imperfections we can come to you to find restoration and rest.
May we remember your faithfulness for all our days.
We ask for courage in times of uncertainty,
strength when we feel weak,
and confidence when our assurance is shaken.
Amen.
Collect
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above,
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
