Part 2: Thoughts for Sunday 1st May

What follows are my thoughts on the lectionary readings alongside some personal thoughts, we are very fortunate to be able to access the URC Sermons on a Sunday in written or Audio format, I think it shows how resilient we are as people, my own thoughts pale into insignificance by comparison, I may also touch on subject matter that I have already spoken about, so I ask for your forgiveness in advance. - Keith Finch

​You may remember that I was using WORDS as a subtext to my previous three Blogs, well I suppose it’s fairly obvious that we all use words every day of our life, but I wanted previously to reflect on how we use words, how important it is that we use words in the correct way, and that we study the words we read whether that be from our Bible or any other source. So the following extract from Roots struck a chord with me!
 
“Whose voices do you listen to in your daily life? Radio presenters? Television personalities? Members of your family? The satnav when driving? Station announcements? Other people’s conversations? Unwanted telesales calls?
We are bombarded with voices, most of which our brains filter out. Some of them we do listen to, because they give us information and help us choose our direction. Jesus identifies his sheep as being those who hear his voice. How easily do we hear Jesus’ voice? Does it ever get drowned out by other voices? Do we let ourselves get distracted from listening for him?”

“ Does your computer printer have a display that shows the level of each colour ink – so that you don’t run out? Sometimes there may be an abundance of black ink, but the magenta or cyan will be dangerously low. We often think of abundance as being filled with things and events. Jesus promised ‘abundant life’, but that is not the same as a ‘wealthy’ or a ‘successful’ life. How do you think your ideas of ‘abundance’ differ from those of Jesus? In all of our lives, however abundant we may feel in some areas, there will be something, some area, where we are lacking or struggling. It might be our finances, our relationships, our career or spiritual life. What in your life do you want to bring to Jesus for him to bless with his abundance?
 
I thought these words linked quite nicely to the extract from Fresh from the Word by John Proctor,’ carry the defence of faith’, in these times we need to remind ourselves of the trust we have in Jesus, and all the human pain and suffering we are all being touched by in one way or another. So let’s allow Jesus to bless us with his abundance.

 “Jesus says that those who hear his voice and follow him will ‘come in and go out and find pasture’. Jesus modelled a way of life where he regularly sought out quiet, peace and stillness – time to be with God. Sabbath is no longer a nationally shared event, but as Christians we are still commanded to give a day a week to rest, to reconnecting with God and with family, whether that is Sunday or another day that fits our work and family patterns. When is your Sabbath?”
 
What are you doing on the Sabbath – for myself it is still Sunday morning listening to the URC sermon sitting on the bench in my garden, seeing first-hand the wonders of Gods kingdom, the daffodils and tulips that I’ve recently posted on Facebook to act as a reminder of our world beyond Covid-19.

To be continued...

Extracts taken from Roots with permission.