Our church building may be closed, but God’s eyes are open and his ears are attentive to our prayers (2 Chronicles 7.15).
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Opening
Speak these words out loud:
The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead
is living in us;
he who raised Jesus from the dead will give us life
because of his Spirit who lives in us.
from Romans 8.11
Today’s Proverb
Read the proverb through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.
I am going to start using two translations – I will continue with the NIV (which is what we have in church) but also include the version from the Good News Bible, which can be rather more vivid!
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. (NIV)
Riches will do you no good on the day you face death, but honesty can save your life. (GNB)
Proverbs 11.4
A wealthy man was close to death, and he had a vision of an angel. ‘New rules,’ the angel said, ‘Normally “you can’t take it with you” but we are allowing one bag per person into heaven, so you can bring something precious.’ The man was delighted – he was very rich, so he converted as much money as he could into gold bars, and filled a bag with them.
As he arrived at the pearly gates, he saw St Peter. He opened his bag to show off how many gold bars he had, and said, ‘The angel told me I could bring something precious.’
St Peter replied, ‘And you brought pavement??’
The Bible has a lot to say about money, and not a lot of it is positive. There is something subtly dangerous about it – something ever so tempting.
But character – a ‘godly character’ or ‘godliness’ – is the only thing we can take with us. Paul puts it like this, ‘Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future’ (1 Timothy 4.8, GNB).
We are all being encouraged to keep exercising, and to stay healthy – and we should! But are you putting as much effort into spiritual exercise, into growing a godly character? What one thing can you do (or stop doing…) that will help you grow in godliness?
Prayers
Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders.
Today we are praying for
Ben & Jess Green, Lesley Willers
Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.
Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves, and buy only what they need.
Church Family Prayer
Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Closing Prayer
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.
Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6
May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.