A Cup of Water

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We live in uncertain times; people are vulnerable and feel like they have no control over their futures, the borders are closed and we are fluctuating through various levels of lockdown. Our communities are adapting to constant change and uncertainty.

As Christians, we are called to not only react in a different way, but to think in a different way. It says in Isaiah 60:1–2, ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you’. We have the threat of a pandemic and a global depression at our doors, but God calls us to ‘arise’, to ‘shine’. How do we ‘shine’ when we are facing the same trials as our neighbour? How do we ‘arise’ when jobs are uncertain and the supermarket lines are long? The verse goes on to tell us that it is the Lord who rises upon us and his glory appears over us.

The Salvation Army is very good at looking after other people, but let us not forget to look after ourselves, our families and the household of God. In Matthew 10:42 it says, ‘And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward’.

In this issue we have suggestions for ‘99 Random Acts of Kindness’. How appropriate for these times. Let us prioritise the people of God so together we can arise and shine.

Vivienne Hill
Editor

When we pray ‘in the Name of Jesus’ the answers are in accordance with His nature, and if we think our prayers are unanswered it is because we are not interpreting the answer along this line.

Oswald Chambers

Bible Verse

John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Hoani 17:3
Ko te ora tonu hoki tēnei, kia mātau rātou ki a koe, ko koe anake te Atua pono, ki a Īhu Karaiti āno hoki i tonoa mai nei e koe.