The Daily Office for June 11, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 56
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Galatians 4:12-20
Matthew 15:21-28
Reading (Ecclesiastes 7:1-14)
Reflection
There have been times in history when God has allowed people to go their own ways and believe all sorts of wrong things about Him. But to those honestly seeking the truth, the God of the Bible has never left Himself without a witness. There have always been reminders of His goodness. Everyday life is full of hints about God’s power and majesty. A sunny day. A booming thunderstorm. A dazzling mountain peak. Each of these is a good gift from above. Each wonderful facet of creation points to a wonderful Creator.
From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities; His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. It’s undeniable. God has placed within each and every soul a longing to know Him. God has left “winds of heaven” and “stuff of earth” (to quote Rich Mullins) to evidence His handiwork. Indeed, everything points back to Him. Ask God to make you more aware of His goodness and then thank Him for the wonders of His love.
Collect for the Day
Bountiful God, giver of all gifts, who poured your Spirit upon your servant Barnabas and gave him grace to encourage others: help us, by his example, to be generous in our judgements and unselfish in our service; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.