And can it be – Start The Day

“Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, ¹²“Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.” ¹³So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers; ¹⁴then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.” Jeremiah 39:11-14 NKJV

“And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. ⁸Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, ⁹and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him: ¹⁰‘If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you. ¹¹Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,’ says the Lord, ‘for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand.” Jeremiah 42:7-11 NKJV

Father and Guide,

Jeremiah has consistently given them Your best way forward in very complicated circumstances, Enemies on every side coming and going. Then Israel being taken off into exile by Assyria and Judah by Babylon. Jeremiah told his people whether in Babylon or Judah to settle and get on with life. But do they? No of course not. Ishmael of the royal family and ten of his officers murder Gedaliah, who had been made governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 41:2). Then they are in fear of reprisal.

Jeremiah we see gains his freedom. Nebuchadnezzar perhaps saw him as someone speaking peace and against any rebellion so not only frees him but gives him provisions and a gift (Jeremiah 40:5-6). You did not overlook your servant. So he continues to speak out and warn against going to Egypt. So what do they do? They go to Egypt and take Jeremiah with them! But Jeremiah is not threatened by imprisonment, exile or by being a refugee . . . he continues to speak. And we moan at a little discomfort? I am sure he was not a perfect man – no one is. You gave him what he needed, not what he wanted and he was faithful. He was free to do Your will whether in prison or not. We are not all called to be a Jeremiah but keep us faithful.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Tuesday 11th August 2026
A free heart to follow and a fabulous worship hymn to rejoice.

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

“The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel.” “When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” ³So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. ⁴Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. ⁵In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.” ⁶Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. ⁷Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.” ⁸After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. ⁹Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” Hosea 1:1-9 NIV

Almighty God,

What a calling and what a message! Very specific and very final. Your people had been rebellious and would suffer the consequences. Hosea’s children, born over the years following his marriage, named as a permanent reminder of Israel’s spiritual state. The people of Israel would be punished, no longer loved and no longer Your people. While Judah would be saved.

This clearly shows that you are not like a Father who can be won round by a rebellious daughter or son with empty words.. You have drawn a line in the sand and they have gone over it. I wonder what effect it had on Hosea’s children by naming them thus? Israel’s words needed to be accompanied by action, behaving like children of God. Turning around 180 degrees in their faith and practice (repenting) of idolatry. But they did neither.

Unlike the prodigal son they did not return to You, their Father (Luke 15:18-20), at this message so clearly given. And we wonder at those we witness to who will not listen and those of our own family who do not believe. We will keep our hope and prayer alive and yet it is their free will and choice. Sad, but we are eternally grateful that we heard, and believed, and felt the touch of our Saviour. To know we are forgiven, loved and numbered among Your people.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 17th July 2025
According to the editor of The Oxford Edition of the Works of John Wesley, “And Can It Be” was written immediately following Charles Wesley’s conversion to Christianity on May 21, 1738. Wesley had known his Bible well before this time but had not yet experienced affirmation of new birth or the wholeness of grace in his life.
Good to worship with a sound familiar hymn sometimes!