Daily Reading: 21 June

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

Great love

Something to read

David came to Saul, and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armour-bearer.

- 1 Samuel 16:21 from full reading 1 Samuel 16:14-24 .

Something to think about

Did your eyes catch a glance of the first half of the chapter as you turned to the passage? Don’t worry if they didn’t – have a quick look now. What did you notice?

From the end of chapter 15 (see yesterday's reading) you’ll remember that Saul has been rejected as king because, in a way, he offered dishonest service to God.

There’s a striking irony in today’s passage, isn’t there? The anointed king (David) has come into the service of the rejected king (Saul). Properly speaking, it ought to be Saul serving David. This is radical service – David serves Saul even though they are technically rivals for the throne.

Now, you and I aren’t rivals with our global neighbours, so how much more ought we be ready to serve them? What does your radical service for the poor and marginalised look like?

Something to do

Study how much you spend on your weekly food shop. Could you give a percentage of that towards the work of Christian Aid?

Something to pray

Dear God,
thank you for the way you show
a radically different way of living
through your word the Bible.
Please help me to be a radical servant
to all people whether they be friend or foe,
near or far away.
Amen.

Today’s contributor is Moses Tumukunde Tutesigensi, who was training to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Wales at time of writing. He has been a keen supporter of Christian Aid for a number of years including as an intern in the Wales team.