24 October 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Monday 24 October
2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalms
130, 131 and 133
The
first psalm is a lament and recognition of God’s forgiveness and steadfast
love. The second describes deep humility: a calmed and quieted soul that waits
in trust for the Lord. The third psalm rejoices in family peace and harmony.
Nehemiah
2: 9 – 20
Nehemiah
brings King Darius’ letter to the governors beyond the river. None are pleased
about aid to Israel. Nehemiah makes a secret inspection of the city walls
during the night. He informs the people he intends to rebuild the wall; they
commit to the work. The governors and others hear, they ridicule the enterprise
and accuse Nehemiah of rebelling against the king. Nehemiah replies that God
will give the Israelites success. The Israelites are God’s servants, and the
officials have no claim or historic right in Jerusalem.
Matthew
18: 1 – 14
“Who is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus says that unless we change and
become like children we will not even enter heaven. When we humble ourselves
like children we become great and when we welcome a child of God we welcome
Christ. So if we cause someone who believes in Christ to stumble, woe to the
person who causes the stumble. Jesus takes this further, since we are
believers, and says if some part of us causes us as children of God to stumble
we would be better off without it – even if it is a body part.
He goes
on to say we are not to despise those who believe in Christ since their angels
continually look at the face of God. And God, knowing like a shepherd that one
sheep from the flock is missing will search for that missing one and bring it
home rejoicing. It is not God’s will that one child of God will be lost.
Collect for Morning Prayer
Learning to care Wagga Wagga NSW L Osburn |
Monday 24 October
2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalms
132 and 134
The
first psalm is a reminder to God that David promised to bring the Ark of the Covenant
to a permanent dwelling in Jerusalem. God indicates that if David’s offspring
keep the commandments then the dynasty will last.
The
second psalm is a blessing. Come bless the Lord. Lift up your hands and bless
the Lord. May the Lord bless the earth.
Daniel
6: 14 – 28
The
King distressed, wants to save Daniel but the conspirators use the law against
the King – the King cannot change his own edict. The King gives the order for
Daniel to be put in the lions’ den and prays aloud that Daniel’s God delivers
him.
The
den is sealed with a stone and the king’s personal seal. The King returns to
the palace fasts and cannot sleep all night. At dawn the King hurries to the
den. As he comes close to the den he calls out to Daniel who answers “O King
live forever” and tells how God shut the lion’s mouths since Daniel was
blameless before God and before the King. The King lets Daniel out and there is
no mark on him since he trusts God.
The
king has the conspirators and their families fed to the lions. The king writes
a decree throughout his dominion that the God of Daniel is the living God,
enduring forever whose dominion has no end.
2 Peter 1: 1 – 11
The letter begins with a blessing
that grace and peace be ours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus
our Lord. God has given us everything we need so that we can escape the
corruption of our own lusts and may be participants in divine nature.
Simeon Peter provides a scaffold
for our loves. Our faith is supported by goodness, knowledge, self-control,
endurance, godliness, mutual affection and love. It builds from love up.
If these things are present in our
lives and building in our communities we will be effective and fruitful in the
knowledge of Christ. If they are absent we are near sighted and blind and
forgetful of the cleansing of our sins. We are therefore encouraged to confirm
our call and our election so that we will not stumble and we can enter Christ’s
kingdom.
Collect for Evening Prayer
Waterfall in the bush - after the rain Bon Accord Track Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Holy and mysterious God you free us
from sin and deliver us from harm. You also equip us with the essentials to
live lives to your praise and glory. In little ways every day strengthen our
love, mutual affection, godliness, endurance, self-control, knowledge, goodness
and faith so that we not only answer your call and embrace our election but
also are effective and fruitful through Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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