Daily Reading: 21 July
(from www.christianaid.org.uk)
The darkness scatters.
Something to read
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
- Luke 18: 42,43.
Something to think about
Against the vast mountain of failed promises and unmet needs in our world, from time to time the light breaks through and the darkness scatters.
Sometimes it's a policy which makes life better for whole nations or communities. It may be light thrown on corruption, or an electricity supply that brings light to a whole village.
All of these give us reason to celebrate and be thankful.
But sometimes, it’s an individual who was not a conscious part of our strategic plan, and whose life becomes liberated by our unscheduled activity. A blessed bystander who strayed under the shadow of our acts of kindness.
Often it’s the personal story of freedom from darkness which inspires ecstatic joy, and gratitude to God.
Something to do
On our site, seek out a personal story with a positive outcome that inspires you, and simply give God thanks for what has been achieved. After all, this is a person – not a statistic.
Something to pray
We give you thanks for a life transformed through acts of kindness.
We thank you for the tenacity, experience and tireless efforts of all Christian Aid's staff and supporters.
And we also thank you where you have healed when we have not asked.
Amen.
Today's contributor is the late Rev Joel Edwards.
Joel was a writer, broadcaster, coach and public speaker. He was over 30 years in Christian leadership as director of Micah Challenge, a global advocacy campaign, general director of the Evangelical Alliance UK, and a wide range of community engagements in church and government.
At time of writing Joel was an honorary canon at St Paul's Cathedral, and visiting fellow with St John's College Durham, where he was completing a doctoral programme.
We are so grateful to Joel for his friendship with Christian Aid and faithful service to God. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.