{"id":22354,"date":"2024-08-26T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-26-august-2024"},"modified":"2024-08-26T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-26-august-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-26-august-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion 26 August 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
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inspiration in your inbox<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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26 August 2024<\/strong><\/span>
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Daniel 4: 28 – 33<\/strong>
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king said, \u2018Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?\u2019 While the words were still in the king\u2019s mouth, a voice came from heaven: \u2018O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you! You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will.\u2019 Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles\u2019 feathers and his nails became like birds\u2019 claws.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflection<\/strong>
The song Viva la Vida by Coldplay is about someone who exercised great power but lost it suddenly to the extent that he ended up sweeping the streets he used to own.  Like the passage today it reminds us how precarious life and power can be where even the most powerful leaders can lose it overnight.
 
While part of us may feel that Nebuchadnezzar received what his pride and arrogance deserved, disaster can befall anyone at any time.  Many people down the ages know only too well what it is to lose everything overnight.  Today people are still having their lives turned upside down through accident, war, famine, oppression, climate change or diagnosis of a serious medical condition. In a world that seems increasingly unsure, we cannot be confident that it will not happen to us.
 
Nebuchadnezzar was reduced to the level of the beasts of the field.  Today\u2019s sufferers retain their humanity but so often they are treated as subhuman regardless of race, skills, youth, or age.  They are seen as a threat to a country\u2019s resources and security even though they have potential to offer whichever nation will give them a home.
 
We are all made in the image of God.  When we see, hear, and read stories about suffering, it\u2019s easy to go along with the narrative that some politicians and sections of the media want us to buy into.  We need the help of the Spirit to resist this and give everyone the status and respect they deserve, regardless of their situation.<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong>
Our world has always been precarious, and our present comfort can close our senses to this.  Help us not to be seduced by the clarion calls to see others as less than human, to be thankful for what we have, and be prepared to show God\u2019s love to everyone, regardless of the situation they find themselves in. Amen.
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Today’s writer<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Revd Ian Kirby, Minister, Brecon Beacons Pastorate<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright \u00a9 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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inspiration in your inbox 26 August 2024  Daniel 4: 28 – 33All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king said, \u2018Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty … <\/p>\n

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