Day 17 - ‘in-a-minute’
Good Morning
You probably know the story of Jesus telling a religious man, Nicodemus, that he must be born again. A new birth is both exciting and daunting. Born again is a fresh start, it was for Nicodemus. As I get older I notice things about my brothers and cousins and my children; ways and behaviours that seem to be family traits. Birth brings kinship, a resemblance we can see in others. So new birth ‘from above'- as John 3:3 puts it - means growing into, and becoming more and more, Christ-like. Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). So, being born again must mean growing again, a spiritual growth, nourished and taught by the Holy Spirit. Thankfully God is more patient and understanding than we are.
Jesus invited Nicodemus to be spiritually reborn and grow into the likeness of God. Being born again is not a static gift but rather a dynamic growing experience.
Let us pray today that we will be known by our family resemblance, characteristics that we see in Jesus. These include a passion for truth and justice, for gentleness, servitude, patience, kindness and above all love. Not much really!
May God Bless you, today
Kelvin<><
Prayer
O love eternal, my soul needs and chooses you eternally! Ah, come Holy Spirit, and inflame my heart with your love! To die to all other love in order to live in Jesus' love, so that we may not die eternally. But that we may live in your eternal love. Amen
St. Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, b1567
Today Let us pray for:
Gods's Sovereignty in political decisions
Westminster Parliament
Scottish Parliament
Welsh and Northern Ireland Assembly
In your hospital pray for all that goes on in Theatres and Day Surgery
Pray for the Hospital Chaplaincy Team
The Hospital Volunteer Service and the volunteers
Your Hospital Charitable Trust Fund
For our NHS
Lord, grant us new strength and desire to grow into your likeness. May you feed us by your Spirit with the food from above, each day enabling us to give thanks for your love and resolved to make that love a part of our life. And in all that we do today and every day, may we be as Christ to others - serving all to whom you send us. Amen.
Chris Swift Director of Chaplaincy & Spirituality at Methodist Homes
