1 July 2014
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Tuesday 1
July 2014
Morning
Prayer
Psalms
1 and 2
People
who set themselves apart from all the turmoil of the world, who contemplate
God, and God’s laws are like trees with good soil and water that bear fruit,
don’t wither but prosper. The wicked are like chaff – an empty hull – they will
not be with God at the end.
A
rhetorical psalm asking why some people think they can break the bond between
God and his anointed one (messiah). The psalmist thinks it is laughable. God is
all-powerful and the anointed one is his begotten son. God’s power could be
used to punish and correct. Let humans be warned to respect God. Those that
take refuge in the Lord will be happy.
2 Chronicles 17: 1 – 13
and 18: 1 - 8
Jehosophat succeeds Asa his
father as king of Judah. He fortifies the towns and follows the commandments of
God. He is courageous for God and sends officials and priests to teach
throughout Judah since they have a copy of the book of the Law of the Lord.
The neighbouring countries
respect him, do not cause wars and give him gifts. He builds cities and an
army.
Jehosophat makes a marriage
alliance with Ahab, king of Israel. Ahab asks Jehosophat to join him in battle
against Ramoth-gilead. Jehosophat agrees providing that God is consulted
through the prophets. Prophets are called and they proclaim victory but
Jehospohat asks whether these are all the prohpets. Ahab responds that there is
one Micaiah, he doesn’t like because he never says anything positive about
Ahab. Jehospohat has Micaiah summoned.
Acts 14: 8 – 18
In Lystra, Paul notices a
man who from birth could not walk listening intently and having faith to be
healed. Paul tells him to stand and he is healed. The people decide that Paul
and Barnabas must be Greek gods. The priest at the temple of Zeus prepares oxen
and brings garlands of flowers. When Paul and Barnabas hear they are so
distressed they run into the crowds and tear their clothes. They say that they
are mortals, that there is only one God who has allowed the Greeks to live by
providing rains in their season and that the Greek gods are worthless. Even
though Paul said these things the crowd can barely be restrained for
worshipping them.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Parrot in the Karri Forest WA 2014 L Osburn |
Holy Lord, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ the
Messiah our saviour, who with you and the Holy Spirit guide our lives. We seek
you and we want to bear fruit for the glory of your kingdom. Help us to discern
your true message for our lives. Help us to listen for your voice in the
criticism of others and treat abundant praise with caution, so that we show our
respect and reverence to you one Lord, Father Son and Holy Spirit. We ask this through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tuesday 1
July 2014
Evening
Prayer
Psalms
3 and 4
People
who say that faith in God is pointless surround the psalmist. Yet the psalmist
prays and the prayers are answered: sleeps and is sustained by God. There is no
fear and the psalmist leaves any reprisals to God.
The
psalmist begins by acknowledging God’s grace and comfort in the past and asks
for prayers to be answered. The psalmist guides us: when we are upset, we are
not to do the wrong thing but take time, ponder what is going on, put aside our
self and put our trust in God. If we
want a sign from God, the psalmist recounts that through prayer and right
sacrifice the happiness and peace experienced are the real signs of God’s
presence.
Ezekiel 8: 1 – 15
Ezekiel is at home with the
elders of the temple with him. He has a vision where he is lifted up and
encounters a sense of pure jealousy. He then is shown people he knows,
including elders of the house of Israel and places he knows where they are
worshipping other gods in secret or crying over vegetation gods who have
withdrawn in the winter months.
Titus 2
Paul instructs Titus to
teach sound doctrine and right behaviour consistent with the times and culture
to the elders, women, young people and slaves. We are to renounce impiety and
worldly passions, to live lives that are self-controlled upright and godly
while we wait for Jesus.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Blackwood River WA 2014 E Byford |
Holy and compassionate God when we seek you, our prayers are answered, we
feel peace and internal happiness. You give us guidance and support so that we
can be like sparkling jewels showing the excellence of lives lived with you and
drawing others to seek you. Walk with us, pull us back to you and give us your
calm and peace through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your
Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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