[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2023]
Every now and then something happens to disturb our carefully balanced daily routines. A change in the arrangement of the shelves in our local supermarket means we cannot find the wasabi-flavoured crisps; new tv schedules mean that it is not so convenient to watch our favourite shows; the neighbour’s chicken keeps singing ‘Happy Birthday’ at the crack of dawn.
Are these minor irritations? Maybe, but they can set up a frame of mind that affects how we react to other events during the day. Unexpected visitors – do you see them as bring pleasure when they arrive or do you looking forward to the delight of their departure? Are you critical of someone for something that was not their fault? Is the milk of human kindness slowly turning into curds and whey? Just image what Colonel Sanders could do with that raucous chicken!
This line of thought was triggered by a gust of wind that blew over a power line which feeds the transformer that runs my local internet hub. Was an earlier writer bemoaning the loss of his web connection when he wrote, “What is life if thou art dead?” I suspect not but I cannot research the actual quotation because the internet is down.
In a corner of a much-neglected shelf I have some books – do you remember books? They are made of sheets of paper bound into a protective cover that has a particular affinity for collecting dust. Apparently they used to be a way of conveying information. They don’t need an internet connection or a battery, just a bit of solar power is enough to read them by.
There are books in the Bible. In the one written by Mark we read of what are possibly the two most famous chickens in history – one that crowed and one that swore.[1] The latter went on to write a couple of books himself. They are addressed to us as believers and contain words that will be familiar to HBC members:
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2 v5 [NIVUK]
Do you recognise that you are an integral member of God’s church, supported by those around you and supporting them in turn. Collectively and individually we are building a relationship with God, how is the building work going?
There are also books in heaven. John the visionary wrote about them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20 v12 [NKJV]
Are you happy with what is being written about you?
Resources:
[1] Mark 14 v71-72
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
A fowl day for the chicken!
Postscript: Stand down, Colonel Sanders. The chicken was also disturbing another neighbour’s dog, which eventually took matters into his own jaws.