BH Bulletin - Tuesday 23 February 2021

Thought for the Day by Ben Martin (Curate)

What happens when you take a water bottle (the disposable ones you get from Evian or Buxton), take the lid off, fill it with water and then squeeze. You get a mess. But why?

One answer would be that it was the external pressure. The pressure made the mess.

But really, the answer is… the water came out because there was water in the bottle.

Why do I start with that slightly odd illustration?

Imagine instead that the bottle is each of us and the water is our sin.

In life we will face all sorts of difficulties, things that ‘squeeze’ us.

And as we do, our sin will come bubbling out.

We could blame the situation… I was tired, he started it, I’m hungry, I’m been locked at home, I haven’t seen my family, I stubbed my toe this morning.

But those pressures don’t cause us to sin, rather as they squeeze the bottle and the sin comes bubbling out we are reminded that sin is still present in our lives.

As Christians we have been saved from the Penalty of sin (Death), the Power of sin (we can say no) but we are not yet free from the Presence of sin (we will one day but not yet).

As we get ready for Easter, as we remember the reason for Jesus death. Let us remember that Jesus died for our sin. The sin that is in each of us today.

So today, why not use the words of Psalm 51:1-12 as a way of confessing your sin and coming back in faith and repentance once again.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

​Ben

---

---

Bible by the Beach 2021

In a difficult year...we are excited to announce the plans ahead....
Bible by the Beach 2021 will be an online event only but with the opportunity to interact with others during the day.
There will be many elements you will be familiar with - excellent Bible Readings, inspiring music from EMU and, of course, our children and youth will also be wonderfully catered for!
So book the date in your diary and join us at Bible by the Beach 2021 on Saturday 1st May!
There will be more information to follow...  ​

---

---