St Matthew 8: 1 – 4

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him;  and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’  He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’

Reflection

Jesus had been busy talking to a large crowd who followed Him down from the mountain.  A leper came to Jesus.  Not a particularly nice way to describe this man.  A man suffering from leprosy would be a better way to describe him.  

How do we judge people?  Do we talk about “the disabled”, “the insane”, “the coloured” or do we talk about a “person with a disability”, “a person with mental illness”, “a person with brown skin”.  It is easy to be judgmental.  The news often reports very judgemental comments about people who flee to the UK seeking somewhere safe to live.  We should think of verses such as Colossians 3:11 “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers”.  

This man who suffered from Leprosy would almost certainly have been marked and disfigured by the disease.  I worked with a painter in Jerusalem who had been treated for leprosy and modern medicine had completely cured him.  He had spent months in hospital, and his face and arms were still badly marked as a legacy of the disease. 

In today’s passage, the man approached Jesus with a simple statement that showed his faith, “if you choose, you can make me clean”.  He had no doubt in the ability of Jesus to heal him; he just wanted Jesus to be willing.  Jesus responded by touching him, he was unclean, one of the untouchables, but Jesus touched him and made him clean.  I believe this would be a perfect cleansing and the man would not show any scars or disfigurement after Jesus said he was clean. 

We need to be open to Jesus reaching into our lives, touching us spiritually and transforming us into people cleansed from all our past sins and free to live a new life rejoicing in the love that Jesus has shown to us. 

Prayer

Loving God, thank you for your love,
let me feel your closeness to me as I travel through life.
Let me follow Jesus and share love with those people I meet.
Thank you Jesus for your willingness to touch me with Your love.
Help me to live a life that is true to You
Amen

St Matthew 7: 24 – 29

Jesus said:  ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,  for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Reflection

This is well-known parable about houses on firm and insecure foundations has an obvious meaning: proper foundations are necessary.  It is unwise to build on sand, because the foundation will be unsteady and the building will eventually suffer some kind of damage. It will waste resources, and all the time and work put into building will have been for nothing. In contrast, it is wise to build on a sure foundation; anchoring to bedrock makes a building withstand testing times.

But Jesus’ sermon was not concerned with house construction or building code violations. We find the spiritual meaning of the parable in the very first verse: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”  We are each building a life where the proper foundation is Jesus’ words – not just the hearing of them, but the doing of them, too.

It seems at times that everything in the world is set up to make us turn away from God’s words.  Often, our own feelings pull us toward doing the exact opposite of what the Bible says. But the wise will follow the words of God despite these pressures because they trust God.
As we follow the Lord, learning to trust and obey Him, and finding security in Him, we receive a reward: our “house” is steady and solid, unshaken by circumstances. The wise are the believers whose lives are built upon the rock of Christ; in this world they have faith and hope, and in the next everlasting life and love.

Is your life built on the rock of Christ making your foundations sure?

Prayer

Dear God
You are a wise and clever God,
please help us to hear your voice, feel your love
and guide us in your ways of wisdom 
as we build our faith on a strong foundation.
Give us wisdom to know the difference
between the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit
and the noisy foolishness of our own minds and hearts.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

St Matthew 7: 21 – 23

‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?”  Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”

Reflection

Mr Trump recently caused (another) stir by musing on his prospects of getting into Heaven when he dies.  Some commentators wondered if he’d had a health scare, some pondered his prospects of eternal bliss with more than a little skepticism. Mr Trump, it seems, is trying to end conflicts around the world so as to gain favour with the Almighty; results thus far might not indicate the President has secured his heavenly place.  Interestingly, given Mr Trump’s support amongst evangelical Christians, little has been reported suggesting that salvation is about faith not works.

Jesus’ words in today’s reading are a salutary reminder that salvation is always rather more complex than we imagine.  In the Reformation era, in a response to a medieval Church which seemed, to the Reformers at least, of pushing too far towards the importance of works to secure one’s place in heaven, an earlier emphasis on faith was reaffirmed.  Of course faith needed to go hand in hand with a lifestyle which spoke of salvation.  Famously, Martin Luther disagreed with the theology in the Epistle of James which pushed works along with faith; a propaganda gift for Catholics who joked about Luther’s supposedly high view of Scripture.  Calvin thought that our actions should reflect the salvation we hoped for rather than be seen as a way to that salvation.

Jesus speaks of those who believe themselves to be saved but who never knew him.  Perhaps he meant those who had faith but never truly lived as Christians.  These words follow yesterday’s warnings about false prophets and tomorrow’s about secure foundations and remind us that the free gift of salvation is ours to receive not earn. Salvation is a gift, but one which demands a response from both pauper and president.

Prayer

Eternal God,
we thank You for the gifts You give us,
for setting us free from all that would drag us down.
Help us, O God, to have thankful hearts,
grateful lives, and loving actions
that our works may reflect Your great work of salvation
and our faith may reflect Your faithfulness.
Amen.

St Matthew 7: 15 – 20

Jesus said: ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Reflection

When I was growing up, if there was something I really wanted to do, it was drive a car!

I remember when preparing for my driving test I studied the Highway Code avidly! I recalled learning all the road signs in case I was asked about them. The triangular shaped signs as drivers know are the “warning” signs.

In this part of Matthew’s gospel, coming at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offered three warnings to his listeners. Today’s reading is a warning about false prophets. Jesus wants to prepare his listeners for the journey of discipleship they are embarking on. I fear that we are sometimes reticent or resistant in churches to grapple with texts such as these. Jesus offers a stark warning here about those who might sound wise but actually aren’t. Those who sometimes want to actively control the direction in which a church feels God is leading. Jesus warns those who follow him that we need to be mindful of such people.

If we wonder how we recognise these people, Jesus suggests that we will know them by the fruit of their lives. Jesus uses a helpful analogy of a garden. When we moved into our current manse we did so in early December. I was told at the time that we have raspberries growing in the garden come Spring. When the fruit came on the fruit bushes, I noticed the raspberries were yellow not the usual colour. I had never seen yellow raspberries before. They looked and tasted the same as the red ones. Some plants produce berries that look lovely and very appealing but actually taste awful! And no amount of sugar will make them taste any different.

It appears from what Jesus says that this can also occur within the Church. We need to be people of prayer asking that Jesus will lead us in the way he wants us to go following him and being nourished by him.

Prayer

Loving God,
may we recognise the way
we are called to go as individuals and as churches.
May we follow Christ obediently,
recognising the warning signs
that you place in front of us
when we are travelling in the wrong direction.
May those in leadership be wise and discerning
in leading your people
so that your Church and Kingdom may grow
through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.   

St Matthew 7: 13 – 14

Jesus said: ‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Reflection – The Narrow Road

When we lived in Devon, Google Maps would often send us down tiny farm tracks to shave two minutes off the journey. Sometimes those “shortcuts” felt like adventures; other times they were a nerve-wracking crawl between hedgerows with the prospect of a tractor or horse around each corner.

This summer, driving around the top of Scotland, we met a different kind of narrow road –  single-track roads with passing places, which take on a special edge when you’re towing a caravan and your reversing skills aren’t exactly Olympic standard. I loved it. I like being off the beaten track, where each bend might reveal a loch, a deer, or a view you’d miss from the main road.  Lythan much prefers the safety and predictability of a six-lane motorway, where you know what’s coming and can relax into the drive and do your crochet (not while driving!)

When Jesus spoke of the “narrow gate” and “narrow road” in Matthew 7:13–14, he wasn’t talking about literal roads, but about the way of life that leads to fullness. The broad road is easy, fast, and full of company. The narrow road takes deliberate choice, patience, and sometimes a bit of humility when you have to reverse to let someone else through.

Following Christ can feel like those single-track roads –  not as quick, not as comfortable, and certainly not as popular. But you notice more along the way: the beauty of small moments, the joy of unexpected encounters, the satisfaction of knowing you’re on a path few choose, but one worth travelling. You learn that speed is overrated, and that depth often comes from detours.

Perhaps the question isn’t whether we prefer motorways or farm tracks, but whether we’re willing to take the route that Jesus points out –  the one that asks for trust, attentiveness, and a willingness to let go of hurry. That’s the road that leads to life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You call us to follow you along paths that aren’t always easy or wide.
Give us courage when the way feels slow,
patience when it is narrow,
and joy in the journey you share with us.
Keep our eyes on you,
so that we may walk faithfully to the end,
and find life in all its fullness.
Amen.

17 November 2025
 

Psalm 107 
 
“O give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his love endures for ever.”
 
Let them say this, the Lord’s redeemed,
whom he redeemed from the hand of the foe
and gathered from far-off lands,
from east and west, north and south.
 
Some wandered in the desert, in the wilderness,
finding no way to a city they could dwell in.
Hungry they were and thirsty;
their soul was fainting within them.
 
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress
and he led them along the right way,
to reach a city they could dwell in.
 
Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for his people:
for he satisfies the thirsty soul;
he fills the hungry with good things.
 
Some lay in darkness and in gloom,
prisoners in misery and chains,
having defied the words of God
and spurned the counsels of the Most High.
He crushed their spirit with toil;
they stumbled; there was no one to help.
 
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress.
He led them forth from darkness and gloom
and broke their chains to pieces.
 
Let them thank the Lord for his goodness,
for the wonders he does for his people:
for he bursts the gates of bronze
and shatters the iron bars.
 
Some were sick on account of their sins
and afflicted on account of their guilt.
They had a loathing for every food;
they came close to the gates of death.
 
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress.
He sent forth his word to heal them
and saved their life from the grave.
 
Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does his people.
Let them offer a sacrifice of thanks
and tell of his deeds with rejoicing.
 
Some sailed to the sea in ships
to trade on the mighty waters.
These have seen the Lord’s deeds,
the wonders he does in the deep.
 
For he spoke; he summoned the gale,
tossing the waves of the sea
up to heaven and back into the deep;
their souls melted away in their distress.
 
They staggered, reeled like drunkards,
for all their skill was gone.
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress.
 
He stilled the storm to a whisper:
all the waves of the sea were hushed.
They rejoiced because of the calm
and he led them to the haven they desired.
 
Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for his people.
Let them exalt him in the gathering of the people
and praise him in the meeting of the elders.
 
He changes streams into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
fruitful land into a salty waste,
for the wickedness of those who live there.
 
But he changes desert into streams,
thirsty ground into springs of water.
There he settles the hungry
and they build a city to dwell in.
 
They sow fields and plant their vines;
these yield crops for the harvest.
He blesses them; they grow in numbers.
He does not let their herds decrease.
 
He pours contempt upon rulers,
makes them wander in trackless wastes.
They diminish, are reduced to nothing
by oppression, evil and sorrow.
 
But he raises the needy from distress;
makes families numerous as a flock.
The upright see it and rejoice
but all who do wrong are silenced.
 
Whoever is wise, let them heed these things.
And consider the love of the Lord.
 
Reflection

I remember encountering this Psalm as a young person, and being struck by the description ‘up to heaven and back into the deep’.  I lived by the sea, and loved the power of the waves.  I lived with a parent with bi-polar, and feared the swings from manic ‘ups’ to deep depressions.  It was the first time I found worship words that resonated with my lived experience, felt held, and felt God’s love extended into the world of those living with mental health issues.
As I grew up and supported friends and family through eating disorders, post-natal depression, life-limiting injuries and long-term medical conditions, many of the physical descriptions of tough places in this psalm have resonated with the emotional worlds they have inhabited.  A psalm of comfort to the extent that these human conditions are known and understood, included within the story of God’s saving grace – however far beyond that people may believe themselves to be as they suffer.
The Psalmist makes a simplistic link between sin and affliction, calling out to God and rescue.  My experience is much less straightforward – I could not say that anyone ‘deserved’ mental or physical ill health; and I can testify to many, many prayers for relief that appear unanswered.  Rather I wonder if such individual suffering is a symptom of collective failings, and if our response to it too often is a symptom of our deep-seated individualism.  We are called to be the body of Christ such that when one part suffers, all suffer; and when one part is honoured, all rejoice in that honouring.
Psalms are for sharing in worship – and together we can say “O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love endures for ever” for this is our faith community experience. We are called to live this out through offering such enduring love to those who suffer in body, mind or spirit – and rediscovering God’s love anew and deeply in the midst of that. 

Prayer

We pray for all who are hungry and thirsty,
in darkness and gloom,
in misery and chains,
whose spirits are crushed;
those sick or loathing food,
those tossed up to heaven and back into the deep,
whose souls melt away:
 
whoever is wise, let them heed these things.
and consider the love of the Lord.
 
“O give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his love endures for ever.”
Amen

St Matthew 7: 7 – 11
 
Jesus said: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.  For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?  Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
 
Reflection
 
I love this short passage from Jesus because, in many ways, it is so simple; ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Jesus is not hiding the message here in these three phrases. It is as clear a message as we can receive and yet there is a subversiveness to it.  How many places in life generally do we find, that if we do these things, that it is this simple? 
 
We must remember that this passage is still part of the Sermon On The Mount triptych of chapters, which are all focused on the subversive social justice of God’s upside-down kin-dom.  In this kin-dom people can live in a new radical way where freedom, hope, and joy are the focus rather than an enslaved life of sin, darkness, and death. Jesus is not forcing us to follow or believe, he is not threatening or coercing people. He is telling them that they have free will and that they have the power to make a choice; to follow: ask, search, knock or to disbelieve everything he is saying and walk away. That is radical! 
 
Jesus is reminding people that the choice is always theirs, the power is theirs to take hold of, and do something with life.  That applies today as much as it did when Jesus was standing on that mountain preaching. We have been given that power to choose, so the question is what will you choose?
 
Prayer
 
Parent God
Thank you for giving us free will to choose you.
Thank you for the open invitation 
to ask, search and knock,
so that we are able to become 
children of the radical upside-down kin-dom 
that you are building with us and through us.
Thank you for the relationships we have with you 
that enables each of us to know our worth in you.
Amen

St Matthew  7:6

Jesus said: ‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

Reflection

I am writing this Devotion sitting on my office chair which I am cosily sharing with my dog, Miss Eve the Dobermann. I have just eaten lunch, ham and cheese sandwiches, shared with Eve. This introduction describes to you my context regarding dogs and pigs.

In Jesus’ context, things were different: pigs were ‘unclean’ animals, not eaten by Jews; and dogs were potentially dangerous scavengers. Elsewhere in the New Testament, dogs are synonymous with evil (Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15).

On a simplistic level, ‘holy’ is that which is set aside for God. Years ago, one denomination struggled with the ethics of investing Church money in arms-manufacturers.  Maybe this verse cautions us regarding our allies.

Like me, the Reformer Martin Luther had a soft-spot for dogs and their devotion: “If I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat.” In his 260-page commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, Luther devoted 5 pages to this verse. We are probably unsurprised that Luther considered the “dogs and hogs” to be those who opposed and exploited the Reformation.

Even today, in some parts of the world, it is dangerous to preach the Gospel – that’s the being “mauled”!

Throwing pearls? Giving any precious stone/item to any animal is pointless: they can’t eat them! 

At the end of August, a group of Christians from several churches took part in Manchester’s Pride parade and posted their participation on social media. Sadly, what followed in the comments was an increasingly vicious and unpleasant exchange. Clearly, neither side would be won over by the other’s words.

Herein lies a greater challenge. It is comparatively easier to avoid known intransigent conversations and emotionally inflammatory situations. But what about our precious things – our pearls – our time, our money and our resources? Are they being wasted anywhere?

I leave you with these thoughts on this day when the URC General Assembly begins its Extraordinary Meeting regarding the Church-Life Review.

Prayer

Loving God, through Your Word
and by Your Holy Spirit,
grant us wisdom to discern
how best to use
what You have given us.
We hold before You
this extraordinary General Assembly.
May we be led to love and serve You
and praise You more and more for ever.
You are the Source, Guide, and Goal
of all that is: to You be eternal glory. Amen.

St Matthew 7: 1 – 5

Jesus said: ‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.  For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.  Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.

Reflection

This passage is derived from the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus advises his disciples on how to treat others and emphasises the importance of self-awareness and humility. I believe that cultivating the ability to self-examine prior to passing judgment would have helped the disciples better understand the diverse individuals they encountered. This self-awareness could also have facilitated stronger connections and ultimately encouraged more individuals to follow Jesus. Therefore, developing these qualities was, and continues to be, of significant importance.

Regarding the act of forming judgments, many of us are quite skilled at doing so. The passage suggests that we should avoid passing judgment on others to prevent ourselves from being subject to similar scrutiny. It highlights that the standards we apply to others will ultimately be the standards used to assess us.

So, why do we engage in judgment?  

Does it divert our attention from our personal lives? Does it enhance our self-esteem or create a sense of superiority over others? Do we experience any emotional benefit from making these judgments?  

The reality is that, on occasion, we may find a temporary sense of relief or satisfaction in noticing differences – such as recognising that we would not choose to dress in a certain way or that we would not make a particular mistake ourselves.

I believe that, in life, we often strive to feel better about ourselves – whether it’s our appearance, our intelligence, or our status – and that judging others (in all honesty) can make us feel better, at least for a while.

However, in truth, we are all created equally, and God’s love for each of us is unconditional. 

For my latest challenge, I am committed to cultivating a less judgmental and more positive outlook as part of my spiritual growth. When I recognise how loved, blessed, and valued I am in God’s eyes, I find it easier to refrain from quick or harsh judgments of others.

Prayer 

Father in Heaven, 
we thank you for loving us just as we are. 
We thank you that despite our less positive traits, 
you still bless us. 
Help us to grow in the confidence of your love, 
and learn to show this same love and acceptance to others.  
Amen