With new stories each day containing fresh revelations of this or that MP spending hundreds of pounds of my taxes on things which clearly have nothing to do with doing their job in parliament it is very easy to assume that all MPs are on the take. But I received an email this week from a local MP wanting to stress that this is not the case - that there are those who have been calling for a reform of the system for a long time (not just the last two weeks), there are those who did not milk the system for all that they could get out, there are those who do not claim £24,000 a year on a second home allowance because they live 30mins from central London and therefore, although they could, they did not feel that it was right.
Some of those who have not been abusing the system will be Christians, trying to work out what it means for them to not conform to the system, or to live a holy life, or to live in reverent fear...all instructions from 1 Peter 1:13-25. Here are some more thoughts for the coming week.
Monday: "Therefore..." We only launch into the instructions after a reminder of all that God has already done for us. Philippians 2:1-4.
Tuesday: "Do not conform...". Romans 12:1-2.
Wednesday: What does it mean to be holy? Psalm 119:9-16
Thursday: Do we live in reverent fear? Matthew 25:31-46.
Friday: We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. Titus 2:11-14.
Saturday: "Love one another deeply". 1 John 3:16-18, 4:7-12
