URC Daily Devotion 10 December 2025
St Matthew 10: 16 – 20
Jesus said: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Reflection
“Do not worry about what to say or how to say it … for it will not be you who will be speaking but the Spirit”.
These are comforting words for anyone tasked with standing up in church to preach or reflect on the day’s scripture or sitting at a computer desperately trying to write an engaging daily devotion! But I do worry.
I worry that what I write or say may not be authentic. Is this really me speaking, or am I simply parroting the words of others that I have read or heard?
I worry that my words may be clumsy and misunderstood and that I might offend. Should I dare to speak freely from notes or play safe and write out the text in full?
And I worry that what I say may not be interesting and engaging. Does my unique lived experience have any relevance to others? Do I have something worthwhile to say?
Over the years, I have learned that the words do come, even if at times the Spirit seems to want to make me work a little harder. I am amazed at some of the thoughts and ideas that get put into my head as I wrestle with the scripture. And I learned very early on that the world is not quite as hostile as Jesus warned. My audiences are gracious and supportive and encouraging.
So I will carry on speaking and writing about my faith-view of the world … using the words that the Spirit gives me.
Prayer
God be in my head, and in my thinking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.
God be in my heart and in my living.
Amen.