A Sunday Activity?
God on Monday
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'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light' (1 Peter 2.9).
Reflection
Do we treat church like a Sunday activity? A wild hour of our week where we go to this place called church, sing songs, listen to a sermon, say some prayers, and take communion.
When we are in that place, we may get inspired about changes we want to make to our lives. But Monday morning comes round all too soon. Whatever enthusiasm we may have had for letting our faith take over our whole life (work included), has wained.
But is it too much to imagine that it does not have to be this way? What if you applied what you heard in church to your non-Sunday life? What if you were to bring that version of yourself that you take to church on a Sunday into your weekday life?
We read in the verse above from 1 Peter that are we are ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation’. This is big stuff. Peter is applying the Old Testament descriptions of Israel to the church of Jesus Christ. The call of the church, he is saying, is to ‘declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness and into the wonderful light’. Put plainly, we are to shout about the good news of the gospel, thereby helping others to be led out of darkness into light.
Do we let the good news of Jesus spill out of us at every opportunity? Do we bring the truth we declare in our churches into our everyday lives, and invite our friends and colleagues to our churches? Do we talk openly about our faith and what it means for our lives? Or do we treat church like an activity appropriate only for Sundays?
Response
What can you be doing to bring you faith more actively into your daily life? Is there someone you know who does not know Jesus that you could have a conversation with about faith and God? Who can you be inviting to church?
Prayer
Father, give me boldness to declare your gospel every day in word and deed. Help me see the opportunities I have to do this, and to invite people to church. Give me the strength and vision I need to fulfil your call.
This Week's Author
Rebecca (Bex) Davidson, Church of England Ordinand, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
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God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the coming Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.
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