When we consider the reading from Abraham in Genesis chapter 22, we have to ask is this what faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ is about? What a tough call it was for Abraham. God instructed Abraham to take his only son Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on a mountain. “You want me God, to kill my Son! You have to be joking!” But his faithfulness to God led Abraham to follow God’s instruction. At the end of the passage Abraham was told that God would be the great provider, and he provided a ram to be killed instead of his son to be sacrificed. We still have that providing God with us but He does it through us, his hands and feet, and as the followers of Jesus we are called to be today’s providers and maybe the people who can sacrifice to serve his cause; this is at the very heart of our discipleship.

Our faith, like Abraham’s, can be tested in the most extraordinary ways. At the end of the day our prayer inspires us to “Give and not to count the cost save that of knowing we do your will.” For us it might be something more easily “giveable” like our spare time to do voluntary service. Maybe, according to our ability, this might include what is in our bank account and assets that are needed to do His will. We readily sing “Love so amazing so divine demands my life my soul my ALL.” Do we really mean it?

Then we read of the” receiving end” in Matthew chapter 10. In verse 40, Matthew appears to describe the certain categories of Jesus’ followers. Jesus says to those who receive Him, are receivers of His heavenly Father as well. That’s what is all about! If we receive Jesus, we are God, Father and Holy Spirit people. After further clarification, Jesus gives a promise that really is the show stopper about being like him. All it takes is a CUP of WATER to get it right with God. How can that affect my life and yours? Is it the simplest act and gifts with prayer that might do the greatest good? Is it the £5 note given to the homeless rough sleeper, the unneeded sum in our bank account that would give a refugee from Ukraine a hand to establish an acceptable style of life here? Is there a danger of losing our reward if we do not turn on our personal tap and give away cups of water. Depending on our ability and capacity to give in this way, probably not but we are all called to respond to those in need and to love our neighbours as ourselves and those in need.