25 June 2014
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Wednesday
25 June 2014
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 135
This psalm is a song of praise and thanksgiving to
God. It calls upon the priestly tribes of Israel to praise the Lord.
2 Chronicles 12
By the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign, King
Shishak of Egypt invades. The prophet Shemaiah tells the officers of Judah and
the king that this is because they abandoned God and so they humble themselves
saying “the Lord is right”. The Lord sees this and grants them some
deliverance. The city is sacked and all the precious things taken. King
Rehoboam’s reign continues for 17 years and deep in his heart he still does not seek the Lord –
he does evil things.
Acts 13: 1 – 12
In Antioch, a group of Christians gather. The Holy
Spirit says to the group to send Barnabas and Saul (who is now Paul) out as a
mission. They travel to a few places then come to Cyprus, arrive in Salamis and
go to Paphos. Here they find a false prophet named Bar-Jesus with the proconsul
Serguis Paulus. The proconsul wanting to hear the word of God, summons Barnabas
and Paul. There is a magician Elymas, who tries to oppose the message and turn
the proconsul away from the faith. Paul, with the power of the Holy Spirit
looks at Elymas and discerns that he is full of deceit and villainy and is
trying to make things difficult. Paul declares that the hand of the Lord is
against Elymas and that he will be blind for a while. Elymas stops being able
to see and now needs to be led around. The proconsul, seeing this believes and is astonished at the teachings about the Lord.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
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| Straight path Albany WA 2014 L Osburn |
Wednesday
25 June 2014
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 136
This psalm proclaims God’s greatness and enduring
love. There is a sense of the overwhelming, overflowing, generosity of God.
Ezekiel 3: 4 – 27
Ezekiel reports his commissioning. God tells him to
speak God’s words to Israel whether they listen or not and promises that he
will be made strong enough to counter their stubbornness. The spirit makes him
go too, to the exiles near Chebar canal. Here he is told the rules for prophets
– that he must tell what he is told to tell whether people listen or not. If he
fails to warn, and the people die God will see that as the prophet’s
responsibility. When he warns them and they are stubborn and they die – that is
their fault. If they listen and are saved the prophet too has saved his own
life.
Ezekiel reports being taken to a valley by the Spirit,
seeing the glory of God and being told to go and shut himself in his house and
that he will become mute except when God speaks to him. Then he will say, “Thus
says the Lord God”.
James 2: 8 – 26
James reinforces that God’s law needs to upheld – not
just in parts but also as a whole. The laws of God are laws that allow liberty
for all and mercy is central to our community.
James then goes on to say that faith without works
cannot save. Even demons believe in God. We need to demonstrate our faith by
our actions in the world and keep our faith alive.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
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| Lighthouse - practical active showing the way Cape Leeuwin WA 2014 L Osburn |
Great enduring loving and generous God you want people to be saved, loved and for your generosity and mercy to flow throughout the earth. Help us to proclaim your love and when moved by your spirit to guide people to you. Help us also to care in active and practical ways, to keep being generous so that we can do your will: so that we not only build others in the faith but ourselves as well through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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