URC Daily Devotion Thursday 10 April 2025

St Luke 22: 30 – 38

Jesus said: Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,  but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’  And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’  Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’ He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’  He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one.  For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’  They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’

Reflection

30 years ago, the churches in the town where I live got together and set up a youth centre where the kids could hang out whilst they grew up.  At some point during that 30 year journey, there was a call for a volunteer to chair the committee that oversees the operation of the youth centre and manages the charity that owns the building.  Supporting the development of young people is something that is close to my heart, so when I was approached to take on this role, I readily agreed.
 
I quickly learned that whilst the youth centre was extremely successful in supporting the young people through their adolescence, there were two fundamental problems affecting the management and administration of the charity.  I also realised that I was not equipped to resolve either of them!  Sometimes, like Simon (Peter), we readily jump in to serve without fully appreciating the difficulties and dangers that lie ahead.  A bit like Simon (Peter), I publicly avoided discussion of the difficulties that the charity faced.

However, in the following weeks and months, two other people joined the management committee.  They each had the skills and resolve to tackle the problems we faced and they set about leading us towards their resolution.  They understood that the one who has the purse must take it, and the one who has no sword must sell his cloak to buy one.  When action is needed, and we are the ones with the skills and experience, we need to stop hiding in the shadows and instead step forward into the light.

More than 15 years later, thanks to the gracious support and encouragement of my fellow Christians I remain chairman of the management committee of a successful ecumenical charity [1], but I have learned that God is in control of our youth project, not me!

[1] www.streetlevelcarluke.org

Prayer

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Amen

(The Serenity Prayer)