Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).

If you would like to receive these by email, please click here.

Opening

Speak these words out loud:

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27.14 (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.

Proverbs 21.18

We all know – and have possibly used – the word ‘karma’ or its British equivalent ‘what goes around comes around’. Karma is an Indian religious concept, but has become part of pop culture now, expressing the idea that the universe is somehow ‘self-levelling’, and that bad people will one day get their comeuppance.

We’ve seen Proverbs like this one before, which show there is a grain of truth in the concept of karma – as there is in many of the world’s religions.

What they do not contain, however, is the truth. The truth is that justice – for that is what this concept is about – requires a judge; it doesn’t ‘just happen’. Justice requires someone who has the moral authority, wisdom to judge between right and wrong, and the power to execute that judgement.

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that’s not me! People are so complex. We are all of us a mix of ‘wicked’ and ‘good’, sometimes within the same minute, let alone a lifetime! How do we sort all that out?

We don’t – Jesus does. He is the ransom, for the wicked and those who think they are ‘righteous’ – only he is truly righteous. If we are his, he takes our punishment off our ledger and writes it in his. If we aren’t his – however ‘good’ or ‘wicked’ we have been – we will have to face the consequences.

Friends, true forgiveness and life is found in Jesus – and in no-one else. That is the truth.

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:

Robins Family (Daniel, Joanna, Rachel, Steve)

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: PCC & Standing Committee

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.