Daily Devotional reflections

As we journey through these uncertain times, each day Sean will seek to post a thought or reflection, a Bible verse or a prayer.

Friday 10th July 2020
By Fred Coutts

[The St Cuthbert stained glass window in Brechin Cathedral is by William Wilson]

ST CUTHBERT

St Cuthbert was Prior of the monastery in Melrose, carrying out missionary work during the 7th century in south east Scotland and Northumbria. He would later become the Bishop of Lindisfarne in Northumberland. After his death he was recognised as the Patron Saint of Northumbria and the most important saint in the north of England in the middle ages, with his cult centred at his tomb in Durham Cathedral.

It is said that he was infected by the Yellow Plague which devasted the country in 664. He was left disabled for the rest of his life.

The response to that Yellow Plague pandemic was terror, with many people losing their faith. Not so Cuthbert who continued to serve the Lord with energy and commitment, even though disabled. Focus today on rising above your weaknesses and working for the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

PRAYER

We thank you, loving God,
for the surprises which you spring on us!
You take the unlovely and cherish them,
the mediocre and make them gifted,
the mere nobodies and ordain them your apostles.
You entrust us with an authority and ministry
far beyond our own strength.
We are reticent.
Yet under your patient care
we discover that all things are possible to those who love you.
Surprise us again, loving Friend.
Surprise us with the Christ who believes in us
and the grace which is made perfect in human weakness.
Through Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen

BLESSING

Circle me, Lord.
Keep protection near
And danger afar.
Circle me, Lord
Keep hope within.
Keep doubt without.
Circle me, Lord.
Keep light near
And darkness afar.
Circle me, Lord.
Keep peace within.
Keep evil out.
Amen

(David Adam)