Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).
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Opening
Speak these words out loud:
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
Jeremiah 17.7 (NIV)
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.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right. (NIV)
The wicked are doomed by their own violence; they refuse to do what is right. (GNB)
Proverbs 21.7
This Proverb describes how things should be, and one day will be.
Two of the most important aspects of God’s justice, which we find in the Bible, are: 1) it is God’s to dispense, not ours, and 2) it involves giving people what they want.
Jesus himself said: ‘do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matthew 7.12). Why? Because one day it will be done to you. If you turn away from God he will one day turn away from you. If you insist on living life your way instead of God’s way, one day he will let you try living without him, and you won’t. If you insist on doing violence to others, one day you will receive the consequences of that violence.
However, if you give generously to others, you’ll find God gives generously to you. If you live your life for him – giving all you have back to him in thanks and praise – you’ll find he gives you true life and more in return.
It’s not complicated, it really isn’t. One day God will let us reach the end of the path we’re on. If it’s heading towards him, we’ll find ourselves where we were made to be, where we belong. If it’s heading away from him, he’ll give us what we want – and then we’ll know how much we really need him, only it will be too late.
‘Doom’ is actually a neutral word: it simply means destination. What’s your ‘doom’ is another way of asking which way you are heading? And are you willing to turn round if it’s in the wrong direction?
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:
Archdeacon Jenny
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 of England Birmingham
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.