Thought for the Week
Every week an article is published which relates the teaching of the Bible to daily life and current events. These weekly articles are brought to you from the Thought for the Week website
Thought For The Week was written by David Jebson from its beginnings in 1984 until his death in 2009. In March 2010 Peter Milsom took on this ministry. Click here to read more about this ministry.
We invite you to read the articles each week and pray that they will enable you to find real help and encouragement in God’s Word and especially in his Son, Jesus Christ. The articles are also published every week in newspapers throughout the UK.
Rays of sunshine that penetrate the darkness
By Peter Milsom, February 10, 2020 At the end of January more than 200 survivors gathered at the…
More infoGod’s laws are good
By Peter Milsom, February 3, 2020 In the UK and the Western world, we are experiencing a moral…
More infoRemember your Creator
By Peter Milsom, January 26, 2020 People are living longer. The Queen now sends more 100th birthday cards…
More infoOur lives have meaning
By Peter Milsom, January 20, 2020 A global survey conducted by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development…
More infoBlessed are the merciful
By Peter Milsom, January 13, 2020 There are strange contradictions in our contemporary society. On the one hand,…
More infoThe God of hope
By Peter Milsom, January 6, 2020 As a new year and a new decade begin our world is…
More infoMurder on Christmas Eve
Posted by Peter Milsom on December 30, 2019 Late on Christmas Eve 2012 Alan Greaves kissed his wife,…
More infoGood news of great joy
Posted by Peter Milsom on December 23, 2019 Jesus was born in Bethlehem. His parents, Mary and Joseph,…
More infoLight and life to all he brings
By Peter Milsom, December 16, 2019 More than 2 billion Christians around the world will soon celebrate the…
More infoHe came down to earth from heaven
By Peter Milsom, December 9, 2019 The birth of Jesus was both ordinary and extraordinary. His mother, Mary,…
More infoThe love that transforms
By Peter Milsom, December 2, 2019 Last week a man suddenly threatened to blow up the Fishmongers’ Hall,…
More infoGod cares about you
Mental health is in the news. More people in Britain than ever before are experiencing depression and anxiety.…
More infoThe uncertainties of riches
Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, has just become the richest person in the world again with a…
More infoWe will remember them
In 1919 King George V inaugurated Remembrance Day when Commonwealth member states remember those of their armed forces…
More infoSiya Kolisi’s Story
On Saturday 2 November Siya Kolisi raised the Webb Ellis Cup high after the South African team won…
More infoAll things bright and beautiful
Amidst the many dark and wet days, we have also enjoyed some beautiful autumn days. The beauty of…
More infoThe promise of the rainbow
In Britain the autumn has been very wet. Most days there has been some rain and often it…
More infoI want the best for you
On 26 September 2018 Amber Guyger, a Dallas policewoman, returned to her apartment building after a 14-hour shift.…
More infoAlways giving thanks
Being thankful is a great blessing. At this time of year many churches hold Harvest Thanksgiving services. We…
More infoMy talent is a gift from him
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the women’s 100 metres gold medal at the 2019 World Athletic Championships in Doha. Her…
More infoThe story of Tani Adewumi
Tani Adewumi was born in Nigeria. His parents are Christians and were aware of the rise of Boko…
More infoFacing death
Every day we hear news of people who have died. The present death toll from the hurricane that…
More infoThe “lullaby mothers” of the DR Congo
The outbreak of Ebola in the DR Congo is very serious. Over the past year more than 2,000…
More infoWes Hall – Pace like Fire
The England cricket team has a new fast bowler. Jofra Archer stands in a line of formidable fast…
More infoThe face of God
Facial recognition is in the news. This new technology can uniquely identify a person by analysing patterns based…
More infoThe peace that passes all understanding
On a recent Songs of Praise programme Simon Thomas spoke about the way in which God has given…
More infoThe Good Samaritan
A recent international study based in Lancaster University found that in nine-out-of-ten public fights bystanders intervened to help…
More infoThe first moon landing
On 20 July 1969 the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin…
More infoMy son belongs to Jesus forever
The news media agenda moves on rapidly. Significant events are reported and then quickly forgotten as the next…
More infoTrue happiness
All people long to find true and lasting happiness. The American Declaration of Independence says all people have…
More infoThe call for justice
The recent demonstrations in Hong Kong have brought back memories of the Tiananmen Square protests in May 1989.…
More infoWe went there to save lives
The recent historical drama television series “Chernobyl” tells the story of the nuclear plant disaster which happened on…
More infoWhen God graciously intervened
The ceremonies marking the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and the Normandy landings were very significant occasions. It was…
More infoRemembering D-Day
The Normandy Landings began on 6 June 1944, known as D-Day. They were the largest seaborne invasion in…
More infoI lift up my eyes to the mountains
The photographs of long queues of climbers waiting to reach the summit of Mount Everest have been seen…
More infoForgive us our debts
Student debt is a massive problem. Young people who go to university or college in Britain are given…
More infoBeing rich toward God
The Sunday Times Rich List 2019 has been published which identifies the 1000 richest people in Britain. The…
More infoThe Crown of Life
The widespread persecution of Christians has recently been highlighted in a report commissioned by Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign…
More infoStop doubting and believe
The resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith and to the message Christians proclaim to the…
More infoLove and life in Jesus
On Easter Sunday terror came to Sri Lanka. Coordinated bomb attacks on churches in the capital Colombo, and…
More infoThe day Jesus died
This week Christians will remember the death and resurrection of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. On Good…
More infoNo change my heart shall fear
We live in a world of change. In the sphere of technology once state-of the art gadgets are…
More infoLiving even though we are dying
Some friends of mine have been diagnosed with cancer. It’s a serious diagnosis that takes time to come…
More infoRemembering the Great Escape
Last weekend a service of remembrance was held in Poland to mark the 75th anniversary of The Great…
More infoFinding faith and hope
In 2018 President Xi of China was reappointed with no time limit. His new personal power and the…
More infoHeurelho Gomes – a changed man
Personal integrity is a precious thing in any sphere of life and especially in the pressurized world of…
More infoWhen I am afraid
Britain is due to leave the European Union on 29 March. It will be a time of great…
More infoLight and life
The recent Spring-like weather has been a real blessing to us all. The warm sunny days have lifted…
More infoThe love of money
There is an epidemic of child gambling. The Gambling Commission says that 450,000 children aged 11-16 bet regularly…
More infoA special place in heaven
Recently the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, told journalists there was “a special place in hell”…
More infoBeing loved and accepted
A Cardiff University study has revealed an increase in the number of children and young people who are…
More infoThe power of forgiveness
We have just celebrated Holocaust Memorial Day. The Holocaust was one of the most evil events in human…
More infoThe Lord watches over you
Last week the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a serious traffic accident. The Duke pulled out of…
More infoAll the lonely people
Many people are lonely, especially in the developed world. People are living longer than ever before and see…
More infoA New Beginning
A New Year is beginning. Starting something new gives us an opportunity to do better. Some people make…
More infoThey followed the star
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem wise men from the east came to visit him. They probably came…
More infoA time for giving and receiving
The days leading up to Christmas are very busy. There are cards to write and send and presents…
More infoTo us a Son is given
Christmas is a special time as people around the world remember the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth…
More infoMary’s Son
Preparations for Christmas are well under way. It’s a very expensive time. Last month an estimated £7billion was…
More infoMy grace is sufficient for you
When my father was in hospital waiting for an operation to remove his bladder he was, understandably, anxious.…
More infoChange is possible
We live in a violent world. Terrorists use bombs and vehicles to kill and injure innocent people. Drug…
More infoI am with you always
The Remembrance Services this year have been deeply moving as we have remembered the millions of people who…
More infoWe will remember them
At 11am on 11 November 1918 -“the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”- a…
More infoBeing inspired by the Invictus Games
The fourth Invictus Games has just been held in Sydney, Australia. The Games is an international event created…
More infoThe beauty of autumn
The recent sunny days have shown the autumn colours in all their beauty. The summer has past, and…
More infoWords matter
Words matter. At the marriage of Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie last week their deep love for each…
More infoUnbroken – the story of Louis Zamperini
The story of the remarkable life of Louis Zamperini has been told in the film “Unbroken” which came…
More infoThe burden of debt
Debt is a growing problem for many families in Britain. In 2017 the average annual overspend for families…
More infoO thank the Lord for all his love
We have passed the autumn equinox as the sun has crossed the equator. Traditionally, the full Harvest Moon…
More infoHelp, I need somebody!
In 1965 John Lennon wrote the song “Help!” It went to number one in the charts in both…
More infoWhen enemies become friends
Captain Bill Smyly, who died recently at the age of 95, was one of the last veterans of…
More infoSaving lives in Yemen
For more than 3 years Yemen, one of the Arab world’s poorest countries, has been devastated by a…
More infoTo whom shall we go?
The visit of Pope Francis to Ireland has revealed the depth of disillusionment many Catholic people in the…
More infoThe challenge of digital dependency
For the first time in many years sales of dumb phones have increased. Dumb phones only enable people…
More infoLet the children come to me
Hospitals in Britain are treating almost twice as many girls for self-harm as they did 20 years ago.…
More infoSaved to serve
The obituaries that are printed in national newspapers provide a brief summary of a person’s life. How did…
More infoHolidays are important
The summer holiday season is in full swing. The number of people in Britain taking holidays is increasing.…
More infoChoose a good reputation
Cliff Richard has won his case against the BBC for seriously infringing his right to privacy. When the…
More infoRemembering Christabel Pankhurst
This year we are celebrating the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 2018 which, for the…
More infoLove and sacrifice
The plight of the 12 boys from a Thai football team and their coach trapped in a cave…
More infoGiving thanks for the NHS
On 5 July 1948 the National Health Service in Britain was launched by Aneurin Bevan, the then minister…
More infoThe God of new beginnings
Alice Marie Johnson was enjoying a full and happy life. She was married to her childhood sweetheart and…
More infoCall on me in the day of trouble
When Guatemala’s Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) erupted on Sunday 3 June it shot a plume of…
More infoThe peace of God
A few years ago we were given a red mug with the words “Keep Calm and Carry On”…
More infoMy friend David
David was born nearly 60 years ago. Soon after his birth his mother and father were told that…
More infoSacrificial love in DR Congo
Last week the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola. Two cases have…
More infoMiracle on the River Kwai
Captain Ernest Gordon came from Scotland and served with the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in World…
More infoFinding God when we fail
In 2011 the Coalition Government in Britain defined what they saw as fundamental British values. Schools are now…
More infoHeaven is real
The recent warm, sunny days have lifted our spirits after the cold days of early Spring. The cloudless…
More infoRemembering Stephen Lawrence
Stephen Lawrence was murdered as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south-east London, on 22 April 1993.…
More infoMartin Luther King’s Dream
On 4 April 1968 Dr Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated. He was just 39 years old. He…
More infoThe Lord is risen!
Easter is a joyful time for Christians around the world. On Easter Day they greet one another with…
More infoA costly sacrifice and a living hope
The courage and self-sacrifice of the French gendarme Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame was remarkable. When an armed man…
More infoThe Prince of Peace
We live in a world of conflict. Every day we see vivid pictures of violent conflicts in Syria,…
More infoThe Joy of Spring
When does Spring begin? The Met Office regards 1 March as the first day of Spring but the…
More infoRemembering Billy Graham
The evangelist Billy Graham died at his home in North Carolina on 21 February at the age of…
More infoSpiritual heart surgery
Recent major news stories have all been about really bad things that are happening in our world today.…
More infoThe water of life
Cape Town, a beautiful coastal city, is running out of water. The second largest city in South Africa,…
More infoCrushing guilt and true forgiveness
The appalling case of Larry Nassar revealed how he used his position as the USA Gymnastics national team…
More infoTreasure on earth or treasure in heaven?
As many of the world’s wealthiest people gathered at Davos recently for the World Economic Forum, Oxfam International…
More infoTeach us to pray
Tearfund, a major Christian relief and development charity, recently commissioned a survey on prayer. Over 2000 adults took…
More infoRemembering Cyrille Regis
Cyrille Regis, who has died at the age of 59, was a great footballer. Those who knew him…
More infoGive us today our daily bread
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught his disciples important principles about daily living. He was preparing…
More infoWhen we are in debt
Christmas has passed, the decorations have been taken down and life is returning to normal. Yet for many…
More infoNew beginnings
A new year has begun and offers the possibility of a new beginning. Looking back on life we…
More infoI was a stranger and you took me in
The birth of Jesus brought great joy to Mary and Joseph, but it also involved significant trauma. The…
More infoThe greatest story ever told
The story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told. Joseph and Mary were a young couple living…
More infoO little town of Bethlehem
Some of the best-known hymns are Christmas carols. Familiar words express the wonder of the birth of Jesus…
More infoImmanuel – God with us
The birth of Jesus Christ really is a cause for great celebration! His coming into the world has…
More infoGuide me, O Thou great Jehovah
This month rugby fans around Britain have gathered for the Autumn International matches. One of the features of…
More infoWho is my neighbour?
Through the news media and internet we receive amazing insights into events around the world. On-the-spot reports and…
More infoBlessed are the peacemakers
Last weekend was the 30th anniversary of the Enniskillen bomb. At 10.43am on 8 November 1987, as people…
More infoThe power of forgiveness
When the Allied forces surrendered Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, Tony Lucas, who died recently, was one…
More info“I was born again”
Patience Bradley, a former Vogue model, has written a memoir telling the story of her life. She first…
More infoRemembering Martin Luther
On 31 October 1517 Martin Luther, until then a little-known monk, nailed a copy of his 95 Theses…
More infoAll good gifts around us
Farmers have safely gathered in the harvest for another year. The early season was very dry and during…
More infoAsking the big questions
In December 2015, Major Tim Peake became the first British European Space Agency astronaut to visit the International…
More infoWhen we lose everything
What do you do when you lose everything? Pictures of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma on islands…
More infoA love that changes us
When you read the Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus you are struck by the number of…
More infoLove lifted me
It is interesting to read the obituaries of people who have recently died. Many, who are not well-known,…
More infoThe Lord God omnipotent reigns!
Following their latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, there is growing concern around the world about North…
More infoGod is wonderfully kind
Last week the BBC reluctantly revealed the salaries received by its presenters, actors, pundits and contributors who earn…
More infoI am with you always
Many people in the UK today live on their own. In 2016, there were 7.7 million one person…
More infoA mother’s love
Little Charlie Gard is unaware of the international media attention surrounding him and his parents. Connie and Chris…
More infoThe Lord omnipotent is King!
There is a power vacuum in Britain today because the general election gave no political party an overall…
More infoThe secret of being content
We are living in unsettled times. Reports in the media portray a spirit of unease and unhappiness in…
More infoO Thou who changest not, abide with me!
The terrible fire at Grenfell Tower has traumatised a nation. The vivid pictures of the inferno that quickly…
More infoLight shines in the darkness
The terrorist attack on London Bridge on Saturday 3 June came without warning and many innocent people were…
More infoPray for those in authority
This week the people of Britain will elect a new government. They will face some very big challenges,…
More infoWhen tragedy strikes
The Manchester bombing atrocity has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world. Thousands attended the…
More infoBear Gryll’s Greatest Adventure
Bear Grylls is well-known as a man who embodies the spirit of adventure and outdoor survival. His love…
More infoI can’t thank them enough, they are all heroes
One Sunday morning Matthew Bryce set out for a morning’s surfing off the Argyll coast of Scotland. When…
More infoHe has made everything beautiful in its time
The Spring and early summer is a beautiful time as nature comes alive. This year I have been…
More infoShe has saved me
Sergeant Alexander Blackman has been released from prison and has been reunited with his wife, Claire, who tirelessly…
More infoBecause I live, you also will live
A poll carried out on Palm Sunday revealed that 23% of people in the UK who regard themselves…
More infoChrist is risen!
The days leading up to Easter this year have seen tragic and horrific events around the world. Terrorist…
More infoThe power of reconciliation
We live in a world in which retaliation and retribution are normal. If someone injures us, or damages…
More infoA unique King
On Palm Sunday Christians remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, just 5 days before he was…
More infoEverybody’s got a past
The Internet has changed our lives both positively and negatively. One negative factor is the ease with which…
More infoThe ministry of angels
Last summer Stephen Parker and his two sons, 17-year-old Mason and 8-year-old J.T., were working on a Toyota…
More infoThe best news ever!
Like many people around the world I like to follow the news. Every morning I listen to the…
More infoWhen bad things happen
What do we do when bad things happen? A dear friend of ours recently had surgery for cancer.…
More infoGod is Light
The days are getting longer. It’s good to go to work and school in the light and to…
More infoRemembering Joost van der Westhuizen
Last week Joost van der Westhuizen died at the age of 45. Joost played scrum half for South…
More infoAdriaan Vlok is a changed man
On Friday 2 February 1990 President F.W. de Klerk announced the end of apartheid, that for 41 years…
More infoThe King of kings and Lord of lords
We are living in a time of change and political leaders are in the news. In the USA,…
More infoThe greatest ever rescue
Last Wednesday afternoon a huge avalanche hit Hotel Rigopiano, in central Italy, at an estimated speed of 60mph.…
More infoRemembering Jill Saward
Jill Saward’s funeral takes place this week at Lichfield Cathedral. Her ashes will be taken to Nefyn in…
More infoOur God is the end of the journey
Last Saturday I stood at the graveside of a good friend I had known for more than 45…
More infoI know who holds the future
Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve clocks in countries using Greenwich Mean Time were adjusted as one…
More infoLet’s go to Bethlehem
Christmas is a special time of the year. The preparations begin weeks before. There is a long list…
More infoThe Greatest Story ever told
The story of Jesus has been called “The Greatest Story ever told.” It is more than a story…
More infoA love that forgives and forgets
Last week someone broke into a small valley church in Abersychan in South Wales. They stole £60 in…
More infoSpecial births
Alfie, Connor and Dylan Bateman, who are just 2 years old, are in the Guinness Book of Records.…
More infoThe God of second chances
In our world today the price of failure is high. A political leader whose party loses an election…
More infoThoughts on being a parent
On a recent visit to Vietnam the Duke of Cambridge was interviewed on a popular English-language talk show.…
More infoPut your trust in God.
One hundred years ago this week the Battle of the Somme ended. The Battle started on 1 July…
More infoLook at the Birds
The nights are dark and we have had the first frosts of winter. We may envy the birds…
More infoThe transient beauty of autumn
This year the autumn colours are especially glorious and have lasted longer than usual. In the autumn sun,…
More infoThe God who is there
The hard crash-landing of the Europe Space Agency’s experimental Mars probe, Schiaparelli, was a deep disappointment for the…
More infoRemembering Aberfan
On 21 October 1966 I was at work in Cardiff when we heard there had been a disaster…
More infoThe testimony of J B Holmes
J B Holmes was a member of the winning USA Team in the recent Ryder Cup, but 5…
More info