Aug 28th

1 Samuel 20     Lamentations 5     1 Corinthians 2     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Friendship and fellowship

Aren't good friends great to have? Friendship is one of life’s most enriching experiences. In 1 Samuel 20 David and Jonathan had a strong friendship but it was put under considerable strain. Jonathan warns and helps David to escape and even blesses him, v 13, “May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father.”

The communal lament in Lamentations 5 finishes with a plea for renewal and restoration. Note in v 21 “Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old” - only God can do that restoring, of friendship and fellowship with himself.

In 1 Corinthians 2 Paul repeatedly uses we, plural rather than I in verses 6-16. We, in fellowship, together in church, we speak of God’s wisdom, we have received the Spirit and we have the mind of Christ. Paul continues to focus on the cross, he realises intellectual persuasion doesn’t save people, v 5.

Isn’t it amazing that the same Spirit of God who searches and knows the thoughts of God is within us? The Spirit helps to restore our relationship with God so we can enjoy friendship and fellowship with him. What a friend we have in Jesus! Remember Proverbs 17:17, a friend loves at all times. Give thanks for good friends today and pray for our fellowship, renewal and restoration together at Christ Church.

(member of the PCC)

Aug 27th

1 Samuel 19     Lamentations 4     1 Corinthians 1     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

The golden years have gone.

Today’s theme is summed up in Lamentations 4:1, the gold has grown dim. How sad it is to read of people and places which have lost their lustre and past glories. Lamentations 4 is a national funeral song lamenting the siege of Jerusalem in rather graphic detail. It happened we are told in v 13 “for the sins of the prophets and the iniquities of the priests,” those who should have known better.

Saul in 1 Samuel 19 was Israel’s first king, he had been anointed by Samuel, but back in 1 Samuel 16:4 we are told that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul and now come on David. How sad that Saul now tries to kill David but amazing that God uses two of Saul’s own children, Jonathan and Michal to preserve David’s life.

Finally in 1 Corinthians 1 Paul writes to a once great church in Corinth, a bustling cosmopolitan city in Greece. After just 9 verses Paul switches to a complaint and challenge about their party divisions, a thriving church which was now spiritually troubled. Paul is concerned their pride has led them to value outward appearance and eloquence over the genuine work of the Spirit.

So what can we do? Mourn for past triumphs and experiences or turn to Christ crucified? A weak foolish stumbling block, but Christ is the power and wisdom of God, v 24.

Let us boast today only in the Lord, verse 31, and boast only of what God has done.

(member of the PCC)