25/05/2026
Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We give thanks to Revd Dr Joseph Wood (Principal) for writing this.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
PSALM 8
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honour.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
A few weeks ago, my wife and I, along with two of our friends, watched the Lord of the Rings series. Over three nights (within one week) we watched Frodo, Gandalf, and the fellowship journey to Mordor, battle the Orcs and defend Middle Earth from the evils of Sauron. It is an allegory of the Christian faith journey, an epic story of faith and community, hope and hardship. If you have never watched it or read the books, consider adding them to your next movie night or holiday reading list.
At the centre of the story is a hobbit called Frodo. Frodo, an unexpected hero, is given the task of taking the “ring that rules all others” (the ring represents power) and destroying it in the fiery mountains of Mordor. Doing this would ensure that evil (sin), which infects all in Middle Earth, would be eliminated and peace would reign once again. To do this, Frodo had to travel to far away and dangerous places, meeting enemies along the way. He and his friends not only had to fight against enemies seeking to take control of the ring of power for themselves, but they also had to fight against struggles within themselves. They each wrestled internally with the lure of power, selfishness, and greed.
Several scenes in the story illustrate times in one’s faith journey when life seems too difficult, times when it seems the only option is to give up. At one moment of great despair, Frodo says to Gandalf (a mentor figure), “I wish it need not have happened in my time". Gandalf, with great wisdom, looks at Frodo and says, "So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
These moments of self-reflection remind me of King David, who used poetry to pour his heart out to God, particularly in times of great desperation or confusion. An example of this is Psalm 8. David reflects: of all the things God has created (sun, moon, stars, animals), why does God even care about human beings? Why us? What is so special about humans? David was a man who knew hardship and pain. He loved God with all his heart, but there were also times when he outright rejected God’s ways and followed his own desires. In this Psalm, David does some introspection. “Why would God still love me, a mere human, who has so many faults and failures?”
The answer comes to David. Why does God care for human beings? Because God has chosen human beings to represent Him. God created human beings to be image-bearers –to reveal God to the earth. In spite of our faults and failures; in spite of our feelings of inadequacy or moments when we want to give up; God still chooses to reveal Himself through us. God has chosen us. God has chosen you. You are an image-bearer. You are a ring-bearer (as it were). Like Frodo, you have a mission. The question for reflection this week is this: What are we doing with the time that we have been given?
PRAYER
Our prayer for this week comes from Isaiah 43.1-3a.
No matter what you are going through right now, know that God is with you. May this promise encourage you in your journey of faith.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
