Be Prepared (Thought for September 2016)

September 13, 2016

in Monthly comment

When I was a boy scout in my younger days back in Dartford I was often reminded of the Scout motto ‘ Be Prepared’. Perhaps in those days when shortages of food and clothes were still a recent memory from wartime (I even had a ration book as a child) people were understandably always looking to see that they had enough food and supplies to ‘see them through’.

Only this week my attention was drawn to an announcement by the German government calling on their people to stock up on food and essentials so that they might ‘be prepared’. Be prepared for what we might ask? Is it War, Earthquake, Flood, Drought, Power Cuts, Unemployment ? Who among us can tell with any certainty what to prepare for. Inevitably if you search on the Internet you will find a store selling goods for emergency supplies such as preppersshop.co.uk. which has a wide range of stoves, and water purification kits of all kinds. I guess most of us will carry a few extra tins and some candles and matches in our cupboards to cope with unforeseen circumstances but just how far should we go to prepare for these kind of events?

Jesus makes it plain to us all that our lives are in his hands. We need not be constantly worrying about these material things for our lives have a greater purpose if they are dedicated to serving him. As a servant our Master will be the provider of all the things we need both in this life and the life to come. In drawing reference to the ravens (Luke 12:24) Jesus explains that even though they do not sow or reap yet still God feeds them. As for the beauty of the wild flowers (Luke 12:27) this does not come through their labour but through the grace of God. If our heavenly Father cares for such as these then how much more will he care for us! So as you prepare for the days to come make your preparations by turning to the heavenly store, draw your supplies from that source ‘Seek his kingdom and these things will be given to you (Luke 12:31) and above all Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothes. (Luke 12 23- 24)

September is a month when many of our younger adults and children will be moving on to new courses and classes at colleges and schools and this can be a very unsettling time. As each one packs their bags in readiness let us all remember to pray for them this month and continuing on that they might be able to take these words to their hearts and put their trust in the Lord Jesus. Amen

Stuart Beadle
Elder

Sept 2016

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