Friday 7 January 2022

Today is Friday the 7 January, after the Epiphany.


The Choir of Portsmouth Cathedral sing Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Today’s reading is from the First Letter of John.

1 John 4:1-6

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world. Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

How do I know my words and actions are bringing me closer to God?

What things make me turn away from God?

I ask Jesus to help me recognise these things and begin to address them.

When and how do I speak the truth of Jesus Christ to others?

How might I do more of this?

‘The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’

As I listen to the passage again I think about these words and give thanks for the Spirit of God within me.

As my time of prayer draws to a close I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me deeper into the truth of Jesus Christ - yesterday, today and forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.