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:

As for God, his way is perfect: the Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.

from 2 Samuel 22.31

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.

Proverbs 15.9

It’s not always easy to read Bible verses that begin ‘God hates’; doesn’t God love everyone?

Well, the Bible says ‘God is love’ (1 John 4.8). But too often we stop at those three little words and don’t carry on – which means we use our own definition of ‘love’: accepting people for who they are. But that’s not what John meant; he continues (these are the very next words in 1 John 4):

This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4.9-10 (NIV)

If we want to know what love truly is, John says, you need to look at Jesus. And what did Jesus do? Say, ‘anything you do is ok, because I love you’? No!! The things we do are so bad, Jesus had to literally (and willingly) sacrifice himself to atone for them.

Which leads us on to the second point: what does this proverb actually say God hates? ‘The wicked’? Or ‘the way of the wicked’? From ‘little white lies’, gossipping, nasty and lustful thoughts, to murder, adultery, and child abuse (and everything in between), God hates them all.

God still loves people who do any of those things and more – they are the ones for whom Jesus came and died to save after all – which is good, because that includes you, and me!

Perhaps instead of walking along ‘the way of the wicked’ (whether it’s a little bit naughty or truly evil, ultimately it’s all wicked) we could resolve to ‘pursue righteousness’? After all that’s what Jesus told us to do: ‘Seek first [God’s] kindgom and his righteousness‘ (Matthew 6.33).

Prayers

Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.

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:

Young Family (Blithe, Mo, Quincy, Richard)

Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.

We also pray for: Church Wardens (Carol & Geoff)

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.

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.