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.
People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell. (NIV)
People curse someone who hoards grain, waiting for a higher price, but they praise the one who puts it up for sale. (GNB)
Proverbs 11.26
Here we have another proverb about selfishness – if you’ve been reading these for a while I imagine you will be recognising some common themes starting to emerge!
I’m pretty confident that none of us reading this are grain farmers. But the principle here is of withholding what we have until it most advantageous to us. That may be – for example – waiting to do some good until someone else is watching.
One of the phrases I try to live by – and use regularly at PCC meetings and when we are running an event – is this: ‘always err on the side of generosity’. That is, it’s better to risk making a mistake by being generous, than to be stingy or selfish.
God’s generosity to us is super-abundant. This is what Paul says about Jesus: ‘[he] did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing’ (Philippians 2.6-7, NIV). Jesus gave up everything, and gave himself for us – holding nothing back.
Friends, that is the standard of generosity Jesus models for us! How can you err on the side of generosity today? Pause a moment and allow the Holy Spirit to prompt you – pay attention to what pops into your mind and consider it prayerfully.
How can you err on the side of generosity?
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
Peter & Jane Sheppard, John & Cathy Ward
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.