Friday 20th November

Psalm 12
 
1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.2  Everyone lies to their neighbour; they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts..... 5 ‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the Lord. ‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’ 6 And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible,  like gold refined seven times.”
 
If we are to believe what we are often told, the reputation of politicians in Britain is at an all time low. The debates about Brexit last year, which now seem light years ago, and concerns over the handling of the Coronavirus pandemic being the latest causes of public discontent. Though we all love to engage in verbally bashing politicians from time to time, truthfully, would you want their job? So spare a thought for those, who are trying to do their work diligently. They are not in the place of God! Circumstances change and the information on which they base decisions can go out of date and often quickly. What they promise or hint at one week might be foolish or reckless to implement a fortnight later.

God however is sovereign and not ruled by circumstances. His knowledge is flawless and complete in every respect and his word therefore is to be trusted always and what he promises in his word he will deliver. He is faithful and that is our hope. So when he speaks we should listen carefully.
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When tempted to abuse his power to satisfy his hunger Jesus responded to the devil “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  The pursuit of pleasure has become all consuming and advertisers are expert in persuading us that we really need that latest gadget to make life complete. Often we gather so much stuff around us that the “stuff” begins to own us and not the other way around. Maybe I’m the only one who feels like that. The day after feeding the 5000 Jesus addressed the crowd who came looking for him and said to them ”do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you.” If we want truth God the Son is the source, if we want eternal life he alone can give it.