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:
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6.9 (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.
Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling-place; for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. (NIV)
Don’t be like the wicked who scheme to rob honest people or to take away their homes. No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again; but disaster destroys the wicked. (GNB)
Proverbs 24.15-16
I think it’s sad that the Bible has to tell us not to do things like this. Don’t you? I would love to think that people are inherently good, that their instincts are to be positive and helpful, to be thoughtful and kind.
The problem is, I’m not sure we are. Of course we are capable of those things, but I suspect that is despite our natural inclinations, not because of them. (That may say more about me than you, I realise!)
This Proverb is about someone who lurks waiting for an opportunity – i.e. the owner goes out – to rob and steal. I hope you don’t burgle other people’s houses. But do you watch for an opportunity to get ahead / get one over on someone you don’t like / wait to do something until it benefits you the most?
That may not be illegal like burglary, but it’s the same attitude of heart. One of the hard parts of reading through the Proverbs is the way they challenges us to look deep into our hearts and be honest about what we find there.
What’s in your heart today?
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:
Rose Swaddle, Linda Dearne, Simon Dearne
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: Evangelism & Outreach
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.