And now for the weather
Hello,
We Brits like nothing more than to talk about the weather. Over the last week large parts of southern Europe have been struck by an intense and prolonged period of extreme heat.
Temperatures in Greece, Spain and Italy have been over 40C, and the hot weather it is set to continue, with many holidays disrupted.
While back in Blighty it has rained, with reports saying some areas have experienced a month’s rainfall in an hour – it certainly seemed that way as the England cricket team saw their efforts to regain the Ashes disrupted.
Interestingly, the Bible speaks about the sun and the rain, but not as we might think. The Psalmist says, ‘From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.’ (Psalm 113:3 NIVUK). The picture is one of people praising God in heartfelt worship throughout the earth. And ‘May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.’ (Psalm 72:6), prophetically anticipating the outpouring of the Spirit.
Perhaps this is the weather report we should be concerned about. May we talk about Jesus more than the weather and proclaim that he, the sun of righteousness, has risen with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:3 ESVUK). May we long for the Spirit to convict people about him, so that he is worshipped all over the earth. Now, wouldn’t that disrupt the world more than any oppressive or inclement weather.
In Christian love,
Barry Robinson