The good news of Christ
Heavenly Father, in your providence we see your love. We feel surrounded by it, because we know that you always act in our good interest and for the progress of the kingdom. Your hand orders all things with wisdom.
Often, we do not understand your ways of working in this world. We trust and wait in confidence to see the outcome of your working. Continue reading “We trust and wait”
1 Cor 16.14
This outline was inspired by one by D. Thomas in J.S. Exell’s Biblical Illustrator, on the Bible text above.
Wind, rain, and sun upon the earth
Wear away its surface, leach the soil,
But in return they bring a blessing of life.
The years of toil and tears, the constant trials
Break down the body, bow the heavy shoulders,
But strengthen a spirit whose daily might is God.
O Lord, in you may we discover the power of love.
O Lord, tomorrow is a mystery,
And even the next hour reveals no secrets,
So let us in this moment, in the present,
Serve our Lord and Master and fear your Name.
We trust in your control of our years and days,
Believe you guide the world to its proper end,
We know in Christ that all things come together,
In all man’s doings you will be glorified.
Our joy is this: our treasures await us in heaven,
The Lord is at the door and soon will come,
Your power is hope, your promise never fails,
And perfect love will hold us till the last.
Heavenly Father, thank you for life
In Christ — for minds that seek to know
The reason why we’re here — for hearts
That feel emotions, good and bad —
For wills that choose what pleases you —
For bodies of living sacrifice —
For eyes that see and ears that hear —
For limbs that reach for heaven — for lungs
That breathe the Spirit’s air — for hands
That work — for feet that move the gospel
Into the world — for knees that bow
In grateful prayer and ask of you,
The source of all that’s good, to give
Our daily bread — for yearnings of hope
That cry, “Lord, come!” and watch the sky
For signs and angels and rolling clouds.
Our Father, thank you — for today,
For now, for planting us firmly here,
Where we are at present, not
Another place or better time —
For discipline, testing, proof of faith —
For inching forward our commitment —
For faithfulness of your word of promise
On which we count — for love that dies
And lives again in Christ — Ah, yes!
Above all else, for love — Amen!
Lord, you know who needs the gospel truth,
To free them from the chains of Satan’s lies,
To live in perfect peace and certain hope,
To receive that purest love that never fails.
May I, O God, on hearing your surest word,
Know too who stands without the cleansing blood;
Give to your humble servant the courage of love
To speak the only message that saves the sinner.
O God, how hard to find what’s good and wholesome!
The world knows only what’s evil, vile, and loathsome;
Among your people make rule your love and kindness,
Toward race and age and wealth let there be blindness.
Let us see what you see from high in heaven,
And seek that place above where all’s forgiven.
Father, let me set aside my thoughts
To hear — really hear — my neighbor’s heart;
Let mine be genuine love that promotes
Acceptance, understanding of joy and hurt.
With harsh and mean opinion, let judgment cease —
I’d look upon the other as fellow prey
Of Satan, fellow goal of grace, remiss
In holiness, where mercy and patience apply.
To hear another’s need, I must assume
My own — confess, in all humility,
That I as well require, in your good time,
O Lord, a kind, expansive maturity.
In me make love unselfish and complete,
As you bless both the righteous and unjust;
Let prejudice meet, at last, its full defeat,
And victory come to meekness, as it must.
Bold is what I want to be,
And loving, so that all can see
God cares and moves both heaven and earth
To bring about in man that birth
That makes him sons of righteousness
And daughters in spirit, nothing less
Than fullest heirs, upward bound,
Above both gravity and ground.
O Lord, how can I not be bold,
Abides in me your Spirit of old,
How can I not have love as wide
As yours — For all men Jesus died —
For good and bad, for evil and just,
Since all return one day to dust?
Make me yours, a saint in name
And truth, unwilling to be the same
As men of this dying world, of flesh,
Renewing the mind, recalling afresh
The gift of life. Make me a man
Of courage and love, willing to span
The dividing gulf, in Jesus’ path —
And save us, save us all from wrath.
1 Tim 1.3-7