4 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 4 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 80

This psalm is a prayer for deliverance from national enemies. It compares Israel to a vine.

Hosea 6: 4 – 7: 7

Hosea’s prophecy continues against Judah, Ephraim and Israel. God desires steadfast love and not sacrifice. God desires knowledge of God and not burnt offerings. The outwards shows are not the same as inner faithfulness and openness.

John 10: 40 – 11: 16

Jesus goes to the place where John was last baptising people. Many believe in him and recall that everything John said about the Messiah is fulfilled in Jesus.

He hears that Lazarus is ill. He waits two days then starts the journey back to Judea. The disciples are afraid for his safety. He talks about walking in the light and the protection of God. Jesus has to tell them plainly that Lazarus is dead.  Thomas declares his faith; even if it means they are going to die he says let us go with Jesus.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Light on the path through the bush
Albany WA 2014 L Osburn

Steadfast and loving God, you desire from us a willingness to learn about you and be faithful to you. Throughout the stories of your people of faith, time and again you come to them, rescue, heal them and restore them even from death. Keep our hearts and minds open to you so that we too walk in your light faithfully following Jesus your Son our Lord. Amen.

Monday 4 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 81

The psalm begins with praise and thanksgiving. It moves on to remembering the gifts of God and how God saved and delivered the people. Finally there is a lament that the people’s hearts are hard, that they are not listening and until they do they will be besieged. God wants to feed us with fine things. The choice is left open.

Lamentations 1: 1 – 11a

This is a great lament over the destruction of the city and the sacking of the temple. The city is compared to a daughter: afflicted, suffering, hungry and all her belongings stolen.

Romans 7: 1 – 12

Paul compares Christians to a widow who since her husband has died is free to remarry. While her husband was alive the law binds her and remarriage is adultery.

Before the Law, we did not know what sin was. The Law makes it clear. For instance it tells us what envy is. Now we know we are open to being envious. Sin sneaks in and we are slaves to it. The Law is good it does not cause us to sin. We however, since our focus is on Jesus and not on ourselves, are freed from the pull of sin.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Tree top walkway
40m above the ground in the Red Tingle Trees
Valley of the Giants Walpole WA
2014 L Osburn

God of freedom, you have come to us, died for us and relieved us of the power of sin. You ask that we get to know you and focus on you and your gifts of grace and hope and love. Keep our hearts soft and our ears open, our minds sharp and our wills strong so that we walk in your freedom in this world and praise you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.