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:
Jesus said, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.’
Acts 1.8 (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.
When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. (NIV)
When you sit down to eat with someone important, keep in mind who he is. If you have a big appetite, restrain yourself. Don’t be greedy for the fine food he serves; he may be trying to trick you. (GNB)
Proverbs 23.1-3
A friend of mine was once invited to one of the annual Buckingham Palace Garden Parties, in recognition of some of the community work he had done. He didn’t actually speak to Her Majesty the Queen – but he did see her. I’ve never eaten with a ruler, but I did spend half an hour Tony Blair once, at Christmas – it’s a long story.
We are easily seduced. God gave us emotions and passions and desires – they are ultimately a good thing. The problem is, we point them in the wrong direction. God gave us those, and they find their ultimate fulfilment only in him; only God can satisfy our deepest longings; only he is worthy of our praise and devotion.
I wonder what direction your passions take you in? Do they take you towards God, or do you indulge them in earthly pursuits? CS Lewis famously said:
It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased
From The Weight of Glory
I don’t know what you are tempted by – important, powerful people; money; sex; ambition; Apple – but none of it can be trusted. This Proverb warns us: enjoy, make the most of what God gives, but don’t put your trust in it, don’t make it your heart’s desire, because only God can be relied upon.
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:
Robert Birbeck, Helen Thompson, Ann Birbeck
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: TCHA Tenants & Staff, Starfish
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.