Sunday 18 January 2026

Psalm 40

Background
In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it is good to be reminded in this passage of what the worldwide Church is for. Whichever denomination we belong to, no matter our disagreements, we are all called first and foremost to be both disciples of Jesus and make disciples of Jesus. We are not called primarily to look after buildings (as lovely and historic as they might be); nor to build community (although this a very important part of what the Church does); nor to be what the Revd Steve Faber, Moderator of the West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church calls a ‘village hall business’, renting out our space to other groups (as wonderful as some of those groups are). We can do all those things, but they must not distract us from our primary calling: to follow Jesus and bring others to Jesus.

Just like John the Baptist, we are messengers of God’s good news to the world and, just like Andrew, we are called to bring people to Jesus so they can know him for themselves. This may sometimes feel daunting and take us out of our comfort zone, but we are never asked to do these things in our own strength, and we are never asked to force things with our non-Christian friends and family. Our calling as disciples who make disciples is to speak naturally about our faith and what our faith has done for us, when the opportunity presents itself. We only have to speak from the truth of our own experience, pray for wisdom and opportunities, and not hide our light under a bushel (see Matthew 5:15).

We have been given a beautiful gift – the pearl of great price – the gift of faith. When we are aware of what God has done for us in our lives – how God has been with us through good times and bad, how God has answered our prayers in extraordinary and often very personal ways – our joy, excitement and gratitude will overflow and spill onto others around us. We cannot help it. We will want to find others and tell them: "Come and see!" (v. 39)

To Ponder:

• How does the word ‘evangelism’ make you feel? If you struggle with the word, how can you reframe it?
• We have a tendency, just like the Israelites in the desert, to forget what God has done for us. What can you do to make sure you remember the big and small answers to prayer?

Prayer
God of the universe, we pray for the reconciliation of all things and all people to you. When it comes to sharing our faith, give us the words to say and the wisdom to know when to say them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible notes author: Ruth Wilde
Ruth Wilde is a lay pastor at Emmanuel URC/Methodist church in Redditch, Worcestershire. She works in that role four days a week and spends one day a week as Tutor for the Inclusion of Disabled People and Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at Luther King Theological College. She was previously National Coordinator of the charity Inclusive Church, for which she edited the book How to Build the Church of the Future (SCM Press).