3rd October 2026

In The Garden

"The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden,

and there He put the man whom He had formed."

Genesis 2:8

In Genesis, we read of the garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived in perfect fellowship with God. There, the Lord "made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food" (Genesis 2:9). We can easily imagine that perfect garden filled with beauty, fragrance and colour—perhaps even roses without a single thorn.

When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, everything changed. They were driven from Eden and had to cultivate the ground by hard labour. From then on, the earth would produce "thorns and thistles" (3:18), reminding them that sin had brought suffering, sorrow and death into God's perfect world.

Even so, God did not abandon His creation. In mercy, He clothed Adam and Eve (3:21), continued to provide for their needs, and left countless reminders of His goodness in the world around us. Every flower, every tree and every beautiful landscape bears witness to the Creator's wisdom and kindness (Romans 1:20).

However, the beauty of creation cannot remove the curse of sin, but it does point us to the God who has promised something far better. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, all who trust in Him have the sure hope of a new Heaven and a new Earth, where the curse will be gone forever. Until that day, every flower can remind us that God's grace still shines in a fallen world and that our best garden is yet to come.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the many reminders of You in Your creation. Thank You for beauty among thorns. I praise You in my Saviour's name. Amen.

2nd October 2026

Joy in Sorrow

"In the day when I cried out, You answered me, . ."

Psalm 138:3

Today's Bible Reading: John 11:20-45.

At some time in life all of us feel the loneliness of sorrow. Mary and Martha were saddened by the death of their brother, Lazarus, and Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Theirs was a loneliness of sorrow. The shortest verse in the Bible tells us that at the tomb of Lazarus “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). He enters into our sorrows. When we come to Jesus Christ, He does not promise to exempt us from trouble or sorrow. Tears will come, but deep inside there will be a joy that is difficult to explain to you. It is a joy from God—produced by the Holy Spirit. In the midst of trials, agony and tears which come to us all, a supernatural power is given out, producing joy. 

If you are walking through a season of sorrow today, bring your burden to the Lord Jesus, for He knows your grief, walks with you through it, and will never leave those who trust in Him.

Prayer: Thank You Father God, for Your comfort in times of sorrow. Thank You that the love of the Lord Jesus, enfolds me, giving light and hope in my darkness. I praise You in my Saviour's mighty name. Amen.

1st October 2026

Blessing Others

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:

to visit orphans and widows in their trouble,

and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

 James 1:27

Today's Bible Reading: James 1:22–27.

The 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, the Victorian reformer and philanthropist, described his father as a “selfish and cold-hearted bully”, and his mother as a “fiend”. But he found love and acceptance through his mother’s maid, Maria, who shared with him the Good-News of Jesus Christ.

He committed to following Jesus at the age of six. And God’s mercy and love would carry him through incredibly tough times. For instance, at seven he was sent to a public school where “the treatment was starvation and cruelty.” Maria died when he was only ten, leaving him heartbroken.

Having endured such a painful childhood, Shaftesbury later used his political and social clout to implement changes in law to protect children from being exploited. His social action was borne out of his love for God and daily Bible reading and prayer. He followed the instruction of James, writing to the Christians scattered about, to “look after orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). He was a keen proponent of both care for the vulnerable and seeking to be pure before God.

God used Shaftesbury greatly, redeeming the heartache of his childhood as he lived out his faith and beliefs. We too can find “blessing in what [we] do” (v 25). We can trust that our merciful God will multiply our efforts as we look out for those in need.

Prayer: Reforming God, You make all things new. You can take the hard things I experience and redeem them. Use me for Your glory. For Christ sake, I pray. Amen.