Sue O’Donnell. 04.09.20
“When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: sexual vice, impurity, and sensuality, the worship of false gods and sorcery; antagonisms and rivalry, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels,
disagreements, factions and malice, drunkenness, orgies and all such things. And about these, I tell you now as I have told you in the past, that people who behave in these ways will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5 v 19-21 TNJB)
Our times can be vile, treacherous, ungodly,
Wild, disgusting, disgraceful, distasteful,
The dignity of mankind entirely debased.
We were made in Your likeness and image,
Lord God, Son of God and Spirit of God.
Forgive us this most momentous downward slide.
“In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them.” (Isaiah 63 v 9)
There is nowhere to hide from You
And our behaviour is condemned,
When we are ensnared by the enemy, our adversary.
We must, must, must put a rapid stop
On this disastrous spiral downwards.
The corrupt, unbelieving, feel this said in his or her heart,
‘There is no God, I will do as I choose.’
“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5 v 7)
Prayerfully let us stem the tide of evil failure
Threatening to drown us in our abject sinfulness.
Let us keep our faith to the end,
Asking for this end not to be catastrophic
As it will be, has to be if we all lose sight of Jesus.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us.” (based on 1 Corinthians 16 v 23)
Mercifully, out of the goodness of His forgiving heart,
The Lord our God has always kept a remnant,
A number of people who remain steadfast in faith,
Faithful to prayer, responsive to holy wisdom,
Seeking to live by the truth set before us
By our Saviour Brother, the Lord Jesus, God’s wisdom and Word.
“ ‘Everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock’.” (Matthew 7 v 24)
“Blessed is anyone who meditates on wisdom and reasons with intelligence, who studies her ways in his (her) heart, and ponders her secrets.” (Ecclesiasticus 14 v 20 TNJB)
Lord Jesus, Savour of our world, You came to seek and save those who abuse and are abused, those who abandon, their face becoming lost in this world, giving satan a foothold.
You tell us You did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, which of course is all of us to one extent or another.
Thank You that a remnant of those faithful to You, does always remain according to God’s mercy. Hear our prayer for the lost and those oppressed by evil, in any way at all.
We cause adverse circumstances, the evil which is rampant. We cause this through selfishness, greed and other immoralities. Then some have the audacity to blame God!
I am truly sorry for all our defiance, any ignorance and all apathy as regards to faith. We stand in urgent need of the knowledge and experience You offer us, Lord Jesus.
You are the model life, one in which our Father is delighted. May we learn to “Be perfect, be of good comfort” (2 Corinthians 13 v 1) knowing we can repent when we go wrong.
I ask that we pray so as to learn how to “Be of one mind, live in peace” (Cont) and delight to do so, realising that this is the result of You living in us, Lord Jesus.
We need Your Spirit for us to gain freedom from satan, then seeking to make better progress in all the ways of holiness. Please send Your purifying Spirit to us daily.
Of our own accord, we have nothing good within us, for we succumb to evil all too easily and readily. Let us start by wiping the slate clean by our heartfelt contrition.
Then may the strength of the Spirit support us, His wisdom guide us to live through You alone, Lord Jesus, whilst the holiness offered us protects us.
We learn by the Spirit that we are called to become holy, and for this we rely upon Your crucifixion, Lord Jesus, securing forgiveness for us, praise ever be.
“To those who are called...our Lord Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,” (based on 1 Corinthians 1 v 24) that we must rely upon. “God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put to shame the wise.” (v 27)
We are ignorant and defiant when we turn our back on You, Saviour Brother. I am so sorry that any of us should choose to live in this way, unredeemed.
For then we fall foul of the snares of the evil one and wonder why adversity strikes us. How stupid we can be! Again, I am sorry and ask for a contrite heart for the world in general.
We need to focus on the “Law of the Most High” (Ecclesiasticus 39 v 1 TNJB) all summed up in the law to love each other as we love ourselves. Please help us by sending the anointing Spirit.
Surely it is Your nature and personality which is described here, Lord Jesus: “If such be the will of the great Lord, he will be filled with the spirit of intelligence, he will shower forth words of wisdom and in prayer
give thanks to the Lord.” (Cont.)
You are the world’s most enlightened, holy and charismatic Teacher. Thank You for accepting Your role as Saviour, coming to earth to live and die for us upon the †of reconciliation.
“Nations will proclaim His wisdom,” (v 10) may we do so unhesitatingly. Let us broadcast You as the way to live and the truth to live by, a message for all the world to hear and respond to.
You are the everlasting covenant fulfilled, the promise of the Lord God never to abandon us as a lost cause.
You are the greatest High Priest offering the sacrifice of Yourself as the Paschal Lamb!
How amazing are Your deeds, all based on Your love and forgiveness felt for us and shown to us perfectly.
You teach us through Your Spirit and we then appreciate the Law and the prophets.
Lord Jesus, for all that You are to us, all that You mean to us as Saviour, all that You do for us opening the gates to heaven, we praise and thank You.
“I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds” (Psalm 118 v 17) of You as a Trinity, Lord God,
Lamb of God, Spirit of God, ever loving and mercifully imparting Your wisdom and Word. Thank You so much. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
UNDERSTANDING
OBEDIENCE
