23rd. March. 2022. Daily Devotion.

‘But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.’ Matthew 7:26-27

Economic and political turmoil has unfortunate, direct consequences on many seafarers. During the 2008 global financial crisis, hundreds of ships were suddenly laid up without work to do. Ship owning, a business that had been profitable for many years, was suddenly in deep trouble. History is full of similar tragedies. Change is constant, and any hope we put in the status quo will be dis­appointed.

Every economy and culture will fail eventually. Jesus knew this as he was teaching the crowds. Some of his listeners probably felt good about their life the way it was. Maybe they had become successful in business and were popular in their community, and maybe they thought they deserved all the blessings they had. We all like to feel secure in ourselves and in our own situations.

But Jesus warned that if people trust only in themselves, their life can easily crash down around them. There is only one way to build a storm-proof house, and there is only one rock we can build securely on. We must build our lives on the rock of Jesus, the one and only Saviour. He promises a new life that begins now and will last with God forever. Storms may surround us, but if our life is built on the rock of God our Saviour, our future will be ­secure.

Lord, help us to build our lives securely on you. Thank you for your protection when the storms of life come our way. Keep us focused on Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Give to us, Lord, the peace of those who have learnt to serve you, the joy of those who are glad to obey you and the delight of those who rejoice in your praise, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Aidan of Lindisfarne (d.651)

Jesus our guest, none of our communities include everyone. There are many places we set aside for our own safety, identity or privacy, or through prejudice or presumption. We find it hard to make space for people we consider unsavoury – people who use obscene language or who hold views we find offensive. How often have we shut out others just by our presence, never mind our words and actions? Lord, have mercy. You alone will open up the longed-for space for all in your commonwealth of love and grace, when you judge the nations, heal our divisions and transform our communities. What you started in Galilee, continue now. Through your Spirit, come, be our guest. Widen our circle again. Amen

Prayer as the pandemic continues

Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your name’s sake. Amen.

A Prayer for Faith in God’s Intervention
Father, even when things seem hopeless, we know that through You we are never without hope. We beg Your intervention for a world caught up with wars and on the constant brink of war. Beat the swords into ploughshares and cause the lion to lie down with the lamb. Intervene in this world that we may avoid the horrors of war and let peace rule in all lands. Through Christ, our Lord.