URC Daily Devotion 13th March 2021

Saturday 13th March

St Mark 13: 24 – 27

But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory.  Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Reflection

The passage calls to mind, that there has been, and to some extent continues to be a period of ‘suffering’. I am referring to the consequences of the Pandemic.

Suffering has taken many forms and the ones that have particularly touched me are:
 

• Those who due to the lockdown have not had access to vital medical treatment;
• Those who were shielding for many months and could not go out;
• Those whose family are far away or abroad, meaning they couldn’t travel to be with them at Christmas;
• Those who suffer from mental health issues.

There has been much suffering in our world in the last year. 

There are some who feel that the ‘man upstairs’ has little power and, therefore, heaven has been ‘shaken’ as referred to in the verse.  I have heard that some are questioning their faith. 

However, there are many whose faith has deepened as a result of events, and I will ensure I am one of them. So I endeavour to focus on how Covid is enabling our Father to ‘Make his face shine upon’ us (Numbers 6:25). Let’s live in the positive and share with believers and non-believers alike that, for us Covid, has deepened our faith and enabled Jesus’ Power and Glory to be shown.  We ie I, can do this by:
 

• Expressing a joyful attitude regardless of the latest news headline;
• Encouraging our younger ones to focus on what’s great about this time;
• Taking the opportunity to pray for the ‘angels’ that the Father has sent us eg nurses and doctors and letting them know what we think of them;
• Confidently sharing the belief that better days are ahead, and that ‘Joy will come in the morning’ Psalm 30:5.

This is the best opportunity we have, as believers, to show the difference our faith continues to play in our lives regardless of changing times, so let’s use it wisely.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, this is a special time; a much needed time where we need to pay attention in our lives.
Through these times let us remember the joy of love and life.

We pray that as time passes, we cling on to the positives and that the legacy of the pandemic is how it made us ultimately better, happier, calmer and also deepened our belief in you.

In all things we give thanks
Amen