Sunday Thought – 01.09.24

For many schools in the UK, tomorrow (2nd September) sees the start of a new Academic year. The summer break has come to an end for students and staff alike although most associate this time with the students’ return to study, textbooks and ‘learning’ towards achieving their aspirations and ambitions. 

Learning isn’t restricted to just schools and children. Christians have a ‘textbook’ from which they seek to continually learn: the Bible, totally as relevant and appropriate for today as when it was originally penned centuries ago. The Christian desire to learn from the Bible (sometimes called the “word” or “word of truth”) is actually part of its instruction: “Do your best to present yourself to God, one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (NIV, 2 Timothy 2:15, editor’s emphasis).  

As followers of Jesus, Christians’ faith is being increasingly and aggressively challenged in the modern world. As such, they seek to be able to respectfully respond to others and defend what they’ve learnt from the Bible, another skill to learn and practice over time. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction” (NIV, 2 Timothy 4:2).

Is the Christian ‘textbook’ as well used as your other reading material?

Prayer Points for the Week:

• Pray for those with mental health difficulties and invisible disabilities.
• Pray for the ongoing drought in southern African countries, especially those worst hit in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• Please pray for the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. For peace; for aid to get through to those in need; for those mourning the loss of loved ones.