Thought for the day – Monday 6th July 2020
Bible reading – Philippians 2:3-8
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
I have just been watching the Parliamentary Prayer breakfast and the webinar, (a new one for me!), on mission during lock-down and beyond.
Whatever your political leanings, whether you are a keen follower of politics or prefer not to read/ listen to our various politicians, one thing is certain, they all need our prayers.
Bishop Graham Tomlin, the Bishop of Kensington, spoke on the passage from Philippians.
In verses 2 and 3, Paul urges us, and our politicians, to think not of ourselves and our own ambitions. He urges us to be humble, to value others more than ourselves, and to consider what is best for our communities as a whole not ourselves in isolation.
Bishop Graham, was filmed outside St Pauls Church in Hounslow – there was an eerie silence of no aircraft flying overhead. In the background several people were walking in with boxes or bags filled with food. The church building was not filled with pews and pageantry, but trestle tables overflowing with tins, bags of rice and pasta, boxes of cereals etc. etc.
Bishop Graham made the point that at first when we were forced to stay in, small projects to support the vulnerable popped up all over the place. Now as we celebrate our “freedom” again as lockdown begins to lift, we risk, as a nation, reverting back to self. Let us strive to work together, whether at a local level or as politicians, for the common good of all people.
Verses 6 and 7 speak of how God sent his only Son to earth to serve.
God serves us, may we serve others. AMEN