22 August 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Monday 22 August 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalm
118: 1 – 18
Give
thanks to the Lord, for God is good; with steadfast love that endures forever!
The remainder of the psalm tells of God’s assistance and reminds us to put our
trust not in people or rulers, but God alone.
2
Chronicles 32: 9 – 23:
Sennacherib,
King of Assyria sends people who talk the language of the Judeans to pour scorn
on God and Hezekiah saying there is no way Jerusalem can hold out against his
huge forces. Hezekiah and Isaiah pray. The Lord sends a warrior who kills all
the soldiers, commanders and officers in the camp of Sennacherib. Sennacherib
returns home in disgrace. As a result many bring gifts to God at the temple and
to Hezekiah.
Acts
21: 1 – 14
Paul
continues his journey towards Jerusalem. At Tyre disciples warn him not to go
to Jerusalem. He travels to Caesarea and at Philip’s house a prophet Agabus
from Judea arrives, takes Paul’s belt and ties his own hands and feet with it
saying that the Jews will bind Paul thus and hand him to the Gentiles. Paul
says he is willing and ready to be bound and even to die for Christ in
Jerusalem. The people in Philip’s house became silent except to say, “The
Lord’s will be done”.
Collect for Morning Prayer
The well worn path Eucla WA L Osburn |
Holy and mighty Lord, your will, your ways and your purposes are beyond our
understanding. We give you thanks and praise for the many times you have
protected and defended us and for your apostles and faithful people of every
age. Be with us this day. Remind us to pray when we feel besieged. Prepare us
to be ready to stand up for Jesus so that we may truly be your hands on earth
and so that your will may be done through Jesus Christ our Lord who redeemed
us. Amen
Monday 22 August 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalms
118: 19 – 29 and 120
The
psalm section brims with sweet praise to God. The rejected one has become the
cornerstone. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is
the day that the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it” (vv. 23-24).
The one who comes in God’s name is blessed. God’s love endures forever.
The
second psalm is a cry of distress from a person in exile far from Israel
surrounded by warrior people, “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for
war” (v.7).
Tobit 2: 1 – 3: 6
Tobit is restored to his
family and is about to sit and eat a great meal. He sends his son Tobias to
bring a poor faithful person to the table. Tobias returns with news that a
Jewish man has been murdered in the marketplace. Tobit goes, collects the body,
keeps it safe until night-time and buries the man. All ridicule Tobit since he
continues to bury the dead. He sleeps outside that night and wakes blind. His
wife works to support the family. She weaves and one day is paid wages and a
goat. Tobias does not believe the goat is a gift and demands she returns it.
His wife insists he believe her and that he, the charitable one is not being
charitable to her or his own family. Tobit weeps and prays and asks God to
release him from his life of distress.
Romans 14: 13 – 23
We are not to pass judgement on each other and we are
not to cause others to stumble. For example, with eating rites, we are neither
to offend by eating something our brother or sister deems unclean nor to make
them eat it. We are not to push food restrictions on others for it might divert
the person from Christ and salvation. We are to pursue peace for mutual
encouragement. All food is clean but it isn’t good to eat or drink things that
make others stumble. If someone’s conscience says they should not eat
something, then eating it is sin. We are to respect people dietary
considerations.
Collect for Evening Prayer
Pelicans Lake Mulwala Vic L Osburn |
Gentle loving God, your greatness and love for us all endures forever.
Build our gentleness and care for each other everyday so that we, showing that
respect and honouring each other’s conscience may build your peace and joy in
your Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord who so generously gave his all
for us. Amen
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