Father,
We who have walked with you for a long time tell stories about you to those who are just starting out. We tell them all that we have seen you do for us and we repeat stories of those great works of yours which we have heard from others which have delighted us. We mull over in our minds what you are like and how that relates to what you have done. You are good to all and you have mercy on everything that you have made. Everything that you made gives thanks to you, but we, your holy ones, most of all. It’s a joy when someone is willing to hear about you and we can tell them about your power, and the glory of your kingdom, how you hold up those who are failing, and how you encourage those who are burdened and hurt.
Keep us in unity and peace with one another. Those very things that we do sincerely to pursue godly virtue and sacrificial service can become occasions of conflict and separation from one another. Let us not lose a greater gift for a lesser one. Help us to hold tenaciously to practicing what we have settled in our own conscience while welcoming our brothers and sisters who do differently. In matters that concern the church, bless each of our efforts to protect the practice and doctrine of the body, but may it not be at the expense of rejecting those brothers and sisters who are themselves parts of the body. On the other hand, don’t let us slide into a worldly kind of love for each other that accepts sin and doesn’t acknowledge you or your commandments. Help us hold firmly and simultaneously to both of the great commandments, loving you and your instructions with our whole being, and loving one another with the same care we give ourselves.
Please sustain each household in this church with what is needed for us to have food and clothing and housing and transportation without debt. We thank you for your constant provision for our many needs. The world economy seems sometimes better and sometimes worse, but you care for us. We trust that in the time of drought, you will send us food by the ravens.
Please bless our efforts at evangelism. Create openings for us to talk about Jesus with those that we know. Help us to stay alert so that your word and your praise are quick and easy to our mind and speech. Convict our unbelieving friends and family this morning that they ought to have accepted our invitations to church. Work in their hearts to convince them of the truth of the truth.
We thank you for giving us Jesus, our compassionate advocate. We truly are the blessed ones, not because of our own attainments, but because our many sins have been covered, and forgiven, and will never be counted against us. May our words and songs and thoughts, and fellowship, and service be pleasing to you this morning.