Plenary, 12 Jun 2002
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 12, 2002
Official Report
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Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. We welcome from Skye the Rev John H MacLean of the Free Church of Scotland, who will lead time for reflection today.
Rev John H MacLean (Free Church of Scotland):
Let us read the word of God in Isaiah, chapter 55, verses 1 to 11.
"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters, and you who have no money; come buy and eat; come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Incline your ear and come to Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the sure mercies of David.
Indeed, I have made him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people.
Surely, you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth: It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Verse 6 reminds us that there is a time when we can look for God and a time when we cannot, that there is a time when God can be found and a time when he cannot, that there is a time when we can call on God and a time when we cannot and that there is a time when God is near to us and a time when he is not.
Let us pray.
Help us Lord to look for the living Lord that we would know His blessing.
Bless our Parliament and all its members and help each one especially when important decisions are made.
Bless our country we pray and may we know the peace and prosperity that only the Lord can give. For Jesus' sake.
Amen.