28 April 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Thursday 28 April 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalms
143 and 146
The
psalmist is in hiding in a cave and sounds depressed yet, he is still reaching
out to God; he is still trusting and obedient.
The next psalm is one of praise to God who is
trustworthy – more than princes: more than mortals.
Numbers
16: 1 – 19
There
is a revolt in the camp. Some of the Levites do not want to be subordinate to
Aaron. They state that all of them are holy. They too want to be priested.
Others do not want to be subordinate to Moses either but to be able to approach
God directly in the tent of meeting.
Moses
tells them to get a censer each and put incense in it and God will decide who
may approach.
John
13: 1 – 11
Jesus
is aware that his time is short and that Judas is about to betray Him. He
prepares to wash the disciples’ feet. Peter initially refuses to allow his Lord
to serve. Jesus says if he does not he has no connection with Him. Peter offers
all of himself to be washed. Jesus responds that he is already clean where it
counts.
Collect for Morning Prayer
The newborn Milawa Vic L Osburn |
Great and all-knowing God, you know
our hearts and whether we are reaching to you, trusting you and being obedient.
Mobilise your holy spirit in us so that we thank you for all our blessings and
treat others we meet as more holy than ourselves knowing that it is by grace
you come to any of us through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of
your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thursday 28 April 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalm 119: 153 – 176
This portion of the psalm
is a plea for preservation of life from someone who is devout “my soul keeps
your decrees” and who admits he has gone astray.
Exodus
33: 18 – 34: 10
Moses
asks to see God’s glory. God agrees to pass before him but will shelter him and
a cleft in the rock and shield Moses’s face. God agrees to rewrite the
commandments on new tablets of stone that Moses cuts.
God
passes and Moses hears the proclamation that God is merciful, gracious, slow to
anger and steadfast in love and faithfulness, forgiving sin but not clearing
the guilty and not removing the consequences of the transgressions even if
those consequences go across generations.
Moses
worships and asks God to be with the people even though they are
“stiff-necked”. God promises to do great wonders for and with his people.
1
Corinthians 8
Paul’s
instructions here need context. Meat sold in general markets often had been
pre-sacrificed to idols or other Gods and sometimes people met for social
functions at temples where a meal is included. So what should a Christian do?
First
there is only one God and one Lord Jesus Christ. But there are people steeped
in the idol culture who are not yet strong believers. No matter what we know
and understand, what is more important is God knowing us. Our job is to ensure
that our behaviour does not confuse others or cause them to stumble. We are to
modify our behaviour. Paul says if eating meat will cause someone to believe
idols have power, he would stop eating meat.
Collect for Evening Prayer
The neighbourhood Milawa Vic L Osburn |
Holy and loving God to you we are
all precious. As we reflect on today help us see where our choices and our
behaviours helped or hindered others to know, love you and trust you so that we
can avoid inadvertently leading others into sin and the consequences that will
flow for them. Help us Lord to grow in our ability to truly love our neighbours
and demonstrate that in our actions through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and
the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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