URC Daily Devotion Friday 20th September 2024

Luke 4:18 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.

Reflection 

Ministry is my calling; it allows me to contribute to the world according to the Gospel’s teachings.  Ministry helps me to understand peoples’ spiritual and social needs in different contexts, so I can serve them as a church minister and pastor.

I have experienced following my faith in an Islamic society where Christians are a tiny minority and suffer because of their beliefs, and in the UK where church congregations are rapidly declining, church buildings are converted into pubs, and Christians face pressure from society.  Moreover, because of changing social realities many people live in isolation and loneliness, and suffer because of poverty as the social fabric is becoming weak. In that context, Luke 4:18 is my guiding principle. My call is to suffer with communities who have less hope and joy in their lives.

Suffering as a Christian, in and outside the UK, has meant my faith is my main identity.  It empowers me to interact and engage with people inside and outside a church. For me, the Good News comprises three things for my ministry: serving marginalised communities, enabling interfaith work, and most importantly, witnessing to my faith. I call this faith in action.

As a minister, I will serve church communities, but, at the same time,  I must also be a witness of Jesus Christ in a society where many people are still waiting to hear healing, compassion,  and hope which is the Gospel message. As a minister, I will seek God’s guidance and blessing to bring eternal and external peace to those who need care and comfort in their lives.

Moreover, my ministry would be to serve a church congregation as a minister, taking Sunday services, presiding at the Sacraments, providing social care, listening to people with love and making connections with communities around about.  Through this, I want the people to feel  the Church’s presence meaningfully as individuals and as a community. 

Prayer 

God of life and love,
thank you for  giving us the privilege of prayer
as a means of sharing your Kingdom’s purposes. 
Guide us, so we should recognise the responsibility of your calling. 
Help us to spread the Gospel to all,
living as faithful disciples.
Lord, we bring before you places 
where people suffer because of poverty and injustice;
make us the voice of the voiceless,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.