4 October 2014
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily
readings
Saturday 4 October 2014
Morning Prayer
Psalm 80
This psalm is a prayer for deliverance from national
enemies. It compares Israel to a vine. It asks for God’s hand to be on the one
at God’s right hand, to give us life, to restore us and to save us.
Ezra 4: 11 – 5: 2
The letter sent by the people of the land to
Artazerxes the King of Persia is replicated warning the King that when
Jerusalem is rebuilt he will lose revenue and lose control of the land beyond
the river. It recommends he consult the records to see how this city rebelled
in the past. The King responds with thanks and decrees that all rebuilding
should cease. The message is hurriedly taken to Jerusalem and all work ceases until
the reign of King Darius of Persia. Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah
prophesy to the Jews and the sons of those who started the rebuilding begin it
again.
Matthew 10: 28 – 42
“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill
the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (v.28).
We are all precious and valuable. Everyone who acknowledges Jesus will be
recognised by Jesus before God. Again Jesus tells us the path will not be easy.
We need to put Jesus before all other concerns and this will cause dissension
in families. We are to love our family members but not more than we love Jesus.
Whoever loves something else more than Jesus though they gain it will lose
their life with God and those who lose everything for Jesus will gain life. If
people in Jesus’ name welcome us then God is welcomed too. And whoever is
hospitable to a new believer, someone who has welcomed another in Jesus’ name,
will be rewarded.
Collect for Morning Prayer
Out the window Adelaide SA 2014 L Osburn |
Saturday 4 October 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.
1 Maccabees 6: 18 –47
The Maccabees and their supporters are being pushed
back and hemmed around the sanctuary. Judas Maccabeus resolves to fight back.
He builds siege towers and starts to gain position. The people who were not
faithful to God appeal to the King and a mighty army with elephants joins the
Maccabees in battle. The Maccabees retreat.
Paul counsels the people to focus on the core of our
belief and not to get caught up in rules about what to eat, drink, festivals, new
moons or anything but to see that these are human generated rules that will
pass, and none of them are successful in treating self-indulgence. The most
important thing is that the substance, our substance belongs to Christ.
Collect for Evening Prayer
Cape Le Grand National Park WA 2014 L Osburn |
Holy God our great teacher and friend, you have given us the stories and examples of people besieged and contrast that with the freedom that comes for centring our lives on you. Give us your grace and peace to take a moment and re-centre, re-focus so that we may banish self-indulgence and grow in love and faith to serve you all the days of our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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