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.
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. (NIV)
Take the impurities out of silver and the artist can produce a thing of beauty. Keep evil advisers away from the king and his government will be known for its justice. (GNB)
Proverbs 25.4-5
This is from the reflection on 20 October:
Refiners use a really high heat to melt silver and gold. In that high heat, impurities are burned away, or float to the surface where they can be scraped off and discarded. The refiner repeats this process time and again until they are left with pure metal – and they know they’re finished when they can see their reflection clearly in the metal, melted and smooth.
This is how God ‘tests’ (or ‘proves’ – that would be a better word to use in this context) the human heart. It isn’t an exam we have to pass, it is a purifying process – which can sometimes hurt. But God’s purpose is good: to see his face reflected in us.
There we focused on how this is a process done to us, but it is something God calls us to join in with: ‘if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live’ (Romans 8.13). The old-fashioned word for this is ‘mortification’.
How dedicated are you when it comes to working with God in removing the ‘dross’ from your life?
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:
Young Family (Blithe, Mo, Quincy, Richard)
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: Wardens Team (Carol, John & Mark)
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.