Daily Reading: 12 February
(from www.christianaid.org.uk)
Something to read
‘May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth. The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to human beings.’
- Psalm 115:15-16, from full reading Psalm 115.
Something to think about
The psalm is a song of joy about God’s faithfulness and love towards his people. The psalmist is in awe of God’s majesty and beauty - his might and glory. He is also aware of the responsiblity afforded to us as part of God’s creation to take care of the earth, to see God’s glory in creation, and to use our time and energy to protect and make the best use of Earth’s resources.
Christian Aid’s partners across the world are working with communities devastated by the effect of climate change – extreme weather events, storms, droughts and floods are increasing in strength and the poorest people, those who have done least to cause the pollution and emissions, are the ones who are bearing the brunt.
This quote by James Watt, the US Secretary of the Interior in the early 1980s, brings a wry smile to my face but, in reality, probably sums up fairly honestly the arrogance with which we treat God’s Creation: “(The Earth) is merely a temporary way station on the road to eternal life... the Earth was put here by the Lord for His people to subdue and use for profitable purposes on their way to the hereafter...”
Something to do
Find out more and plan to join the Christian Aid Walking Humbly Lent journey.
Something to pray
We thank you, Lord, for the beauty of Creation. We ask your forgiveness for all that we have done to destroy the balance of your work – our investments in time and money made for our own benefit without due attention to the needs of others.
Help us to remember all those who suffer as a result of our greed and to do all we can to safeguard the earth for the benefit of your children everywhere. Bless Christian Aid’s campaigning work – open the eyes and ears of world leaders and investors, and guide them along your path of justice and love.
Today’s contributor Anna Jane Evans is the former North Wales Regional Co-ordinator for Christian Aid. She is also a voluntary minister with the Presbyterian Church of Wales with pastoral care for a church in Penmaenmawr.