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 gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them. (NIV)
Don’t be glad when your enemies meet disaster, and don’t rejoice when they stumble. The Lord will know if you are gloating, and he will not like it; and then maybe he won’t punish them. (GNB)
Proverbs 24.17-18
The Germans call it Schadenfreude – taking pleasure in the pain of others – but they certainly didn’t invent the concept.
I don’t think I have any ‘enemies’… at least, I hope I don’t! But there are people I don’t like or get on with, and it’s hard sometimes not to be secretly pleased when they get their comeuppance (as long as it’s not too bad). Is that just me??
This is one of those bits of the Bible where there is a stark difference between ‘worldliness’ and ‘holiness’. Our gut reactions, our immediate responses, can sometimes be good and right – but often they are not. One way in which the Bible – and perhaps particularly the Proverbs – can help with that, is helping us to tell the difference.
But there is a whole world between knowing and doing something about it!
Perhaps next time you find yourself secretly please in someone else’s misfortune, you might notice and then pray God would bless them instead?
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:
Widdas Family (Mandy, Mark, Sam, Sophie)
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: Young Families (Ark is suspended)
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.