CUT-Restored & Revived use only selected chapters as flip book - Flipbook - Page 8
W EEK LY WOR D FOR DAILY LIVING
and nurture into flourishing plants. Why not read one of these
reflections weekly and consider it carefully and prayerfully?
The third thing is that these reflections are meant to surprise
us. When I first read through the manuscript, I found myself
wondering where Andy was taking me and what his overall theme
was. Each week’s topic was so different. Now, after thinking about
this, I have decided that actually there is a lot to be said for this
way of presenting things.
For one thing, the compilation of seemingly unlinked topics is
there in the Bible: try the book of Proverbs for example. Equally,
too, many great Christian devotional books have no overarching
structure or theme.Think for example of Spurgeon’s Cheque-Book
of the Bank of Faith or Samuel Bagster’s Daily Light. The fact is that
surprise has its virtues.To be caught unawares by truth means that
we must face it without any prepared defences or expectations.
Surprise catches us off-guard, gets round defensive arguments
and can go straight to the heart. Dare I suggest that under such
circumstances we are more likely to hear what, through his Spirit,
God has to say rather than what we would like him to say?
So here are 52 meditations by my dear friend Andy. A long time
ago I listened to what he said, and I am very grateful that I did.
May you have the same experience!
Grace and peace,
Revd Canon J.John
www.canonjjohn.com
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