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.
To show partiality in judging is not good: whoever says to the guilty, ‘You are innocent,’ will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them. (NIV)
It is wrong for judges to be prejudiced. If they pronounce a guilty person innocent, they will be cursed and hated by everyone. Judges who punish the guilty, however, will be prosperous and enjoy a good reputation. (GNB)
Proverbs 24.23b-25
As a human being to be truly impartial is impossible – to be mostly impartial is extremely difficult. One of the key parts of that is learning to recognise your own prejudice, that instinctive gut reaction for or against something (or someone) that risks overriding the reality.
I’ve written before about how I struggle when I interact with people who receive state benefits but spend that money on alcohol / cigarettes / Sky TV / expensive smartphones. Some don’t deserve the help they receive from the state – others do. The danger is that my prejudice might make me treat them differently to people in full-time work.
But actually, what people deserve or not isn’t the point. From God’s perspective, none of us deserves anything good because we all turn away from him. Yet despite that God still gives us the gift of forgiveness and life and love in Jesus.
We need to learn to see beyond what people do or do not deserve, to stop indulging our prejudices. It isn’t easy – but it begins with a prayer: ‘Father, help me see people as you do: with honesty and compassion’.
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:
Jean Austin, Joshi Family (Alan, Jess, Paul)
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: Local Secondary Schools & Colleges
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.