“Beware that No One Leads You Astray”
We confess, O God, that Jesus the Christ will one day come again to usher in your new age and to fulfill your purposes.
We affirm, O God, that along the way bad and even terrible things have happened, do happen, and will happen.
As we navigate the events of life while looking toward the fulfillment of all things, give us insight without haughtiness, trust without complacency, and seriousness without fear.
Give us the wisdom to follow Jesus who after all is the Messiah and to pay heed only to teachers and leaders who display appropriate humility and guardedness when it comes to their own role in your kingdom and who bear witness in their spirit to having the Spirit of Christ.
Amen.
“When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” (Matthew 24:3-8)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
A Prayer for Tuesday, November 29, 2011
“All Will Be Thrown Down”
We know that things change, O God, but knowing it and accepting it are two different things.
Help us to accept it.
Help us not to put too much trust in things that appear permanent but in fact are not.
Help us rather to put our trust in you whose faithfulness endures through all generations and whose purpose will be fulfilled for all eternity.
Amen.
“As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’” (Matthew 24:1-2)
We know that things change, O God, but knowing it and accepting it are two different things.
Help us to accept it.
Help us not to put too much trust in things that appear permanent but in fact are not.
Help us rather to put our trust in you whose faithfulness endures through all generations and whose purpose will be fulfilled for all eternity.
Amen.
“As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’” (Matthew 24:1-2)
Monday, November 28, 2011
A Prayer for Monday, November 28, 2011
“You Were Not Willing”
Lord Jesus, how can we not be drawn to you by your indescribably great love and compassion?
And yet, we so often would rather go our own way than live in your grace.
Forgive us. Help us. Don’t give up on us.
We know that you want to gather us, to hold us, and to protect us.
Help us to let you.
Amen.
“‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”’” (Matthew 23:37-39)
Lord Jesus, how can we not be drawn to you by your indescribably great love and compassion?
And yet, we so often would rather go our own way than live in your grace.
Forgive us. Help us. Don’t give up on us.
We know that you want to gather us, to hold us, and to protect us.
Help us to let you.
Amen.
“‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”’” (Matthew 23:37-39)
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A Prayer for Sunday, November 27, 2011
“If We Had Lived in the Days”
Guard us, O God, against over-confident assertions about how we would have been and what we would have done in a time and place other than ours.
Keep us focused instead on our character and on our actions in the time and place in which we do live.
Today’s trouble, after all, is sufficient for today.
Amen.
“‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:29-36)
Guard us, O God, against over-confident assertions about how we would have been and what we would have done in a time and place other than ours.
Keep us focused instead on our character and on our actions in the time and place in which we do live.
Today’s trouble, after all, is sufficient for today.
Amen.
“‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:29-36)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A Prayer for Saturday, November 26, 2011
“Whitewashed Tombs”
It’s not so hard to look good to people, Lord.
It’s not so easy to have hearts that match our sterling reputations.
Form us a little more each day into people of integrity; change us on the inside so that we will truly be who you have made us to be.
Amen.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)
It’s not so hard to look good to people, Lord.
It’s not so easy to have hearts that match our sterling reputations.
Form us a little more each day into people of integrity; change us on the inside so that we will truly be who you have made us to be.
Amen.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)
Friday, November 25, 2011
A Prayer for Friday, November 25, 2011
“Clean the Inside of the Cup”
Clean us up from the inside out, O God, so that our actions will be right because they are fueled by a right heart.
Amen.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.” (Matthew 23:25-26)
Clean us up from the inside out, O God, so that our actions will be right because they are fueled by a right heart.
Amen.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.” (Matthew 23:25-26)
Thursday, November 24, 2011
A Prayer for Thursday, November 24, 2011
“The Weightier Matters”
Forgive us, Lord, when we do good things but neglect the best things.
Forgive us, Lord, when we follow rules but neglect people.
Forgive us, Lord, when we do the best we can but fail to trust you.
Help us, Lord, to practice the weightier matters, the things that matter the most to you: justice, mercy, and faith.
Amen.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:23-24)
Forgive us, Lord, when we do good things but neglect the best things.
Forgive us, Lord, when we follow rules but neglect people.
Forgive us, Lord, when we do the best we can but fail to trust you.
Help us, Lord, to practice the weightier matters, the things that matter the most to you: justice, mercy, and faith.
Amen.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:23-24)
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
A Prayer for Wednesday, November 23, 2011
“Whoever Swears”
Cause us to remember, O God, that everything is yours and that you are the source of everything.
Cause us to remember, O God, that everything we say we are saying as a commitment to you.
Cause us to guard our words, God; cause us to be people of integrity whose “Yes” is “Yes” and whose “No” is “No” and whose word is our bond to you and to others.
Amen.
“‘Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.” You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, “Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.” How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.” (Matthew 23:16-22)
Cause us to remember, O God, that everything is yours and that you are the source of everything.
Cause us to remember, O God, that everything we say we are saying as a commitment to you.
Cause us to guard our words, God; cause us to be people of integrity whose “Yes” is “Yes” and whose “No” is “No” and whose word is our bond to you and to others.
Amen.
“‘Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.” You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, “Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.” How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.” (Matthew 23:16-22)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A Prayer for Tuesday, November 22, 2011
“You Lock People Out of the Kingdom of Heaven”
First of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers count on nothing but your grace to bring us into your kingdom.
Second of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers live so close to Christ that we think, talk, and act in ways that his followers ought to think, talk, and act.
Third of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers lead and teach others the truth of who you are and the truth about following a grace-filled and love-filled Lord.
Fourth of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers lead and teach others in such a way that it is you and not us that they are in fact following.
Amen.
“‘But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:13-15)
First of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers count on nothing but your grace to bring us into your kingdom.
Second of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers live so close to Christ that we think, talk, and act in ways that his followers ought to think, talk, and act.
Third of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers lead and teach others the truth of who you are and the truth about following a grace-filled and love-filled Lord.
Fourth of all, O God, let those of us who are leaders and teachers lead and teach others in such a way that it is you and not us that they are in fact following.
Amen.
“‘But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:13-15)
Monday, November 21, 2011
A Prayer for Monday, November 21, 2011
“The Greatest Among You Will Be Your Servant”
O God,
Forgive us and lead us away from shallowness that accepts evaluation by appearances, whether it is our evaluation of someone else or someone else’s evaluation of us.
Inspire us to the kind of humble service that befits followers of the One who came not to be served but to serve.
And please…protect us from that most insidious kind of pride—the kind that comes from our concluding that we really are, compared with most other folks, rather humble.
Amen.
“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:1-12)
O God,
Forgive us and lead us away from shallowness that accepts evaluation by appearances, whether it is our evaluation of someone else or someone else’s evaluation of us.
Inspire us to the kind of humble service that befits followers of the One who came not to be served but to serve.
And please…protect us from that most insidious kind of pride—the kind that comes from our concluding that we really are, compared with most other folks, rather humble.
Amen.
“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:1-12)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A Prayer for Sunday, November 20, 2011
“How Is It Then?”
Protect us, O God, from relying too much on our assumptions and our traditions in our thinking about you and in the development of our relationship with you.
Open us up to whatever the truth about you is that we can grasp and bear.
Empower us to live with whatever incompleteness and mystery we must.
Give us a vital and growing faith; deliver us from a stagnant life.
Amen.
“Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: ‘What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet’”?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?’ No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” (Matthew 22:41-46)
Protect us, O God, from relying too much on our assumptions and our traditions in our thinking about you and in the development of our relationship with you.
Open us up to whatever the truth about you is that we can grasp and bear.
Empower us to live with whatever incompleteness and mystery we must.
Give us a vital and growing faith; deliver us from a stagnant life.
Amen.
“Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: ‘What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet’”?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?’ No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” (Matthew 22:41-46)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
A Prayer for Saturday, November 19, 2011
“These Two Commandments”
O Lord, the love to which you call us and that you command us to practice is so simple and so deep, so easy and so hard, so basic and so complex.
Forgive us for when we too easily assume that we love you as we should and that we love others as we should.
Inspire us by the example of the crucified Christ and by the presence in our lives of the crucified and resurrected Christ to live out in our lives his kind of love for you and for others.
Fill us so much with the love of Christ that loving with his love is all that we want to do and all that we can do.
Amen.
“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” (Matthew 22:34-40)
O Lord, the love to which you call us and that you command us to practice is so simple and so deep, so easy and so hard, so basic and so complex.
Forgive us for when we too easily assume that we love you as we should and that we love others as we should.
Inspire us by the example of the crucified Christ and by the presence in our lives of the crucified and resurrected Christ to live out in our lives his kind of love for you and for others.
Fill us so much with the love of Christ that loving with his love is all that we want to do and all that we can do.
Amen.
“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” (Matthew 22:34-40)
Friday, November 18, 2011
A Prayer for Friday, November 18, 2011
“God…of the Living”
Fill us so much with your life, O God, that we are fully alive now even as we will be fully alive for eternity.
Fill us so much with the life of the resurrected Lord, O God, that we will live the resurrected life now as surely as we will live it after our own resurrection.
We praise you, O God, that you are God of the living…that you are our God and that we truly live in you!
Amen.
“Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.’ And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.” (Matthew 22:29-33)
Fill us so much with your life, O God, that we are fully alive now even as we will be fully alive for eternity.
Fill us so much with the life of the resurrected Lord, O God, that we will live the resurrected life now as surely as we will live it after our own resurrection.
We praise you, O God, that you are God of the living…that you are our God and that we truly live in you!
Amen.
“Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.’ And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.” (Matthew 22:29-33)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
A Prayer for Thursday, November 17, 2011
“In the Resurrection”
Teach us, O God, to ask important and meaningful questions about important and meaningful subjects.
Teach us, O God, not to ask tangential questions about matters that go to the heart of the meaning of our lives under you.
Teach us, O God, not to focus on the trivial and fleeting at the cost of focusing on the essential and eternal.
Teach us, O God, to ask important and meaningful questions about important and meaningful subjects.
Amen.
“The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses said, “If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.” Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.’” (Matthew 22:23-28)
Teach us, O God, to ask important and meaningful questions about important and meaningful subjects.
Teach us, O God, not to ask tangential questions about matters that go to the heart of the meaning of our lives under you.
Teach us, O God, not to focus on the trivial and fleeting at the cost of focusing on the essential and eternal.
Teach us, O God, to ask important and meaningful questions about important and meaningful subjects.
Amen.
“The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses said, “If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.” Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.’” (Matthew 22:23-28)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
A Prayer for Wednesday, November 16, 2011
“The Things that Are God’s”
Keep us vigilant, O God, in rendering appropriate allegiance to the various loyalties and obligations in our lives, but keep us especially vigilant in rendering utter and ultimate allegiance to you and you alone.
Amen.
“’Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.” (Matthew 22:19-22)
Keep us vigilant, O God, in rendering appropriate allegiance to the various loyalties and obligations in our lives, but keep us especially vigilant in rendering utter and ultimate allegiance to you and you alone.
Amen.
“’Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.” (Matthew 22:19-22)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A Prayer for Tuesday, November 15, 2011
“Why Are You Putting Me to the Test?”
Help us, O Lord, to grow in character so that we will ask whatever we ask you and seek whatever we seek from you out of hearts filled with sincerity and out of lives filled with integrity.
Protect us from speaking as if we have more respect for you than we do or as if we practice greater submission to you than we do.
Guard us from seeking loopholes, exceptions, or other ways out of our responsibilities.
Help us, O Lord, to grow into the kind of people who ask whatever we ask you because we really want to know and who seek whatever we seek from you because we truly want to do your will.
Amen.
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?” (Matthew 22:15-18)
Help us, O Lord, to grow in character so that we will ask whatever we ask you and seek whatever we seek from you out of hearts filled with sincerity and out of lives filled with integrity.
Protect us from speaking as if we have more respect for you than we do or as if we practice greater submission to you than we do.
Guard us from seeking loopholes, exceptions, or other ways out of our responsibilities.
Help us, O Lord, to grow into the kind of people who ask whatever we ask you because we really want to know and who seek whatever we seek from you because we truly want to do your will.
Amen.
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?” (Matthew 22:15-18)
Monday, November 14, 2011
A Prayer for Monday, November 14, 2011
“Without a Wedding Robe”
Open our eyes to any ignorance or insolence we may have that causes us to presume that we belong where we don’t or that we have a status that we don’t.
Open our lives to your grace that is finally all we need to belong.
Amen.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’ (Matthew 22:11-14)
Open our eyes to any ignorance or insolence we may have that causes us to presume that we belong where we don’t or that we have a status that we don’t.
Open our lives to your grace that is finally all we need to belong.
Amen.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’ (Matthew 22:11-14)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A Prayer for Sunday, November 13, 2011
“So the Wedding Hall Was Filled with Guests”
We praise you, O God, that when all is said and done your banquet hall will be filled.
We acknowledge, O God, that some of us may be surprised by who fills it.
We implore you, O God, not to let us be so blind to your great grace that we ignore or despise the invitation to be part of what you in your great grace are doing and a part of those whom you in your great grace are inviting.
Amen.
“Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (Matthew 22:1-10)
We praise you, O God, that when all is said and done your banquet hall will be filled.
We acknowledge, O God, that some of us may be surprised by who fills it.
We implore you, O God, not to let us be so blind to your great grace that we ignore or despise the invitation to be part of what you in your great grace are doing and a part of those whom you in your great grace are inviting.
Amen.
“Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (Matthew 22:1-10)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A Prayer for Saturday, November 12, 2011
“He Was Speaking About Them”
Help us to realize, O Lord, when and how you speak about us; keep us open to the challenging nature of your words.
When your words challenge, convict, and even condemn us, O Lord, keep us open to them.
Cause us to accept and to assimilate such words rather than to try to get around or away from them.
Amen.
“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.” (Matthew 21:45-46)
Help us to realize, O Lord, when and how you speak about us; keep us open to the challenging nature of your words.
When your words challenge, convict, and even condemn us, O Lord, keep us open to them.
Cause us to accept and to assimilate such words rather than to try to get around or away from them.
Amen.
“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.” (Matthew 21:45-46)
Friday, November 11, 2011
A Prayer for Friday, November 11, 2011
“This Was the Lord’s Doing”
We have read the scriptures, O Lord; we have read about who Jesus is, what Jesus did, and what Jesus reveals about what you require of those who are your people.
We confess that Jesus, who was rejected by many of those who were the most religious people of his day, is the foundation and basis of your will and way for us; we confess furthermore that the fact that you revealed your will and way—indeed, yourself—in one who was despised and rejected by those who should have known better is a most amazing thing.
We confess that we are the religious people of our day and that if we are not careful we will by our attitudes and actions reject the one who was despised and rejected.
Fill us, O God, with the knowledge that the life and way of Jesus were your doing and that, when we receive and follow him to the point that we are willing to be so different, so sacrificial, so gracious, and so loving that we might be despised and rejected, we are on our way to being who you have made and called us to be.
Amen.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes”?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’” (Matthew 21:42-44)
We have read the scriptures, O Lord; we have read about who Jesus is, what Jesus did, and what Jesus reveals about what you require of those who are your people.
We confess that Jesus, who was rejected by many of those who were the most religious people of his day, is the foundation and basis of your will and way for us; we confess furthermore that the fact that you revealed your will and way—indeed, yourself—in one who was despised and rejected by those who should have known better is a most amazing thing.
We confess that we are the religious people of our day and that if we are not careful we will by our attitudes and actions reject the one who was despised and rejected.
Fill us, O God, with the knowledge that the life and way of Jesus were your doing and that, when we receive and follow him to the point that we are willing to be so different, so sacrificial, so gracious, and so loving that we might be despised and rejected, we are on our way to being who you have made and called us to be.
Amen.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes”?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’” (Matthew 21:42-44)
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A Prayer for Thursday, November 10, 2011
“Other Tenants”
Help us, O God, to be people who receive your good gifts with much gratitude; help us especially to be people who receive your best gift—the gift of your Son—with much gratitude.
Grant that we will produce the kind of fruit in our lives for which you made us and in the production of which you are looking for us to grow, fruit such as trust, grace, love, mercy, and peace—the kind of fruit that your Son produced and that our grateful receiving of him enables us to produce.
Amen.
“‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’” (Matthew 21:33-41)
Help us, O God, to be people who receive your good gifts with much gratitude; help us especially to be people who receive your best gift—the gift of your Son—with much gratitude.
Grant that we will produce the kind of fruit in our lives for which you made us and in the production of which you are looking for us to grow, fruit such as trust, grace, love, mercy, and peace—the kind of fruit that your Son produced and that our grateful receiving of him enables us to produce.
Amen.
“‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’” (Matthew 21:33-41)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
A Prayer for Wednesday, November 9, 2011
“Which Did the Will of His Father”
Always remind us, O God, that the past is the past and that what is done is done.
Always remind us, O God, that it is right now and only right now that we can love you like we should, that we can obey like you like we should, and that we can follow you like we should.
Always remind us, O God, that it is never too late unless we choose for it to be.
Amen.
“‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:28-32)
Always remind us, O God, that the past is the past and that what is done is done.
Always remind us, O God, that it is right now and only right now that we can love you like we should, that we can obey like you like we should, and that we can follow you like we should.
Always remind us, O God, that it is never too late unless we choose for it to be.
Amen.
“‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:28-32)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A Prayer for Tuesday, November 8, 2011
“By What Authority”
Sometimes, O God, the challenging of authority is right and necessary, although we recognize that such challenges must be mounted judiciously.
Give us grace, though, not to be so arrogant as to challenge the authority of Jesus; lead us rather to submit to his authority over our lives.
In our submission, though, lead us to do the hard and daily work of trying to ascertain his way for us and then to live in that way with much commitment and with great joy.
Grant that our acceptance of Jesus’ authority will show itself in our lifestyle as well as in our words.
Amen.
“When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Matthew 21:23-27)
Sometimes, O God, the challenging of authority is right and necessary, although we recognize that such challenges must be mounted judiciously.
Give us grace, though, not to be so arrogant as to challenge the authority of Jesus; lead us rather to submit to his authority over our lives.
In our submission, though, lead us to do the hard and daily work of trying to ascertain his way for us and then to live in that way with much commitment and with great joy.
Grant that our acceptance of Jesus’ authority will show itself in our lifestyle as well as in our words.
Amen.
“When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Matthew 21:23-27)
Monday, November 7, 2011
A Prayer for Monday, November 7, 2011
“Whatever You Ask for in Prayer with Faith”
Teach us, O Lord, to have great faith and to pray great prayers.
We don’t need to move literal mountains but it sure would help if we could get some of the metaphorical ones out of the way—or at least learn to climb them or to go around them.
Make our faith and our prayers not only great but appropriate—appropriate to your kingdom and appropriate to our witness.
Amen.
“In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:18-22)
Teach us, O Lord, to have great faith and to pray great prayers.
We don’t need to move literal mountains but it sure would help if we could get some of the metaphorical ones out of the way—or at least learn to climb them or to go around them.
Make our faith and our prayers not only great but appropriate—appropriate to your kingdom and appropriate to our witness.
Amen.
“In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:18-22)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
A Prayer for Sunday, November 6, 2011
“He Left Them”
O God, sometimes the best thing we can do—the necessary thing we must do—is to withdraw, to rest, and to get ready.
Give us wisdom to know when such times are at hand and the discipline to make effective use of them.
Amen.
“He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.” (Matthew 21:17)
O God, sometimes the best thing we can do—the necessary thing we must do—is to withdraw, to rest, and to get ready.
Give us wisdom to know when such times are at hand and the discipline to make effective use of them.
Amen.
“He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.” (Matthew 21:17)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A Prayer for Saturday, November 5, 2011
“Out of the Mouths of Infants”
We thank you, O God, for the privilege of maturity, for the gift of knowledge, and for the blessing of experience.
At the same time, O God, we ask you to keep us from losing or from disparaging the insights of simple, child-like trust in you.
Please guard us from letting our maturity, knowledge, and experience degenerate into cynicism; cause them instead to lead us to see the need for and value of simple faith.
Amen.
“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they became angry and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself”?’” (Matthew 21:15-16)
We thank you, O God, for the privilege of maturity, for the gift of knowledge, and for the blessing of experience.
At the same time, O God, we ask you to keep us from losing or from disparaging the insights of simple, child-like trust in you.
Please guard us from letting our maturity, knowledge, and experience degenerate into cynicism; cause them instead to lead us to see the need for and value of simple faith.
Amen.
“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they became angry and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself”?’” (Matthew 21:15-16)
Friday, November 4, 2011
A Prayer for Friday, November 4, 2011
“He Cured Them”
The Church is the Body of Christ; the Church is the Temple of the Lord.
And so people come to us in their needs and with their hurts.
Show us, O God, how we can offer healing to them by your grace, by your love, by your Spirit, and by your power.
Amen.
“The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.” (Matthew 21:14)
The Church is the Body of Christ; the Church is the Temple of the Lord.
And so people come to us in their needs and with their hurts.
Show us, O God, how we can offer healing to them by your grace, by your love, by your Spirit, and by your power.
Amen.
“The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.” (Matthew 21:14)
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A Prayer for Thursday, November 3, 2011
“A House of Prayer”
We confess, O Lord, that sometimes our priorities get way out of whack; we confess that sometimes we get way too caught up in the “business” of the church and give far too little attention to our relationships with you and with others.
As we conduct that business that is necessary in the church, help us to do so honestly and ethically and with a view toward bearing witness to the ways of Jesus.
Mainly, though, help us to give the vast, vast, vast majority of our attention to prayer—to the developing of our relationship with you—so that we will in all aspects of our church life be who we are supposed to be and will act as we are supposed to act.
Amen.
“Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you are making it a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:12-13)
We confess, O Lord, that sometimes our priorities get way out of whack; we confess that sometimes we get way too caught up in the “business” of the church and give far too little attention to our relationships with you and with others.
As we conduct that business that is necessary in the church, help us to do so honestly and ethically and with a view toward bearing witness to the ways of Jesus.
Mainly, though, help us to give the vast, vast, vast majority of our attention to prayer—to the developing of our relationship with you—so that we will in all aspects of our church life be who we are supposed to be and will act as we are supposed to act.
Amen.
“Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you are making it a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:12-13)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Prayer for Wednesday, November 2, 2011
“In Turmoil”
Forgive us, O God, for the ways in which we stir up turmoil because of our fear, our pride, our envy, or our selfishness.
Forgive us also, O God, for the ways in which we trivialize, domesticate, and ignore the realities brought about by Jesus Christ that would, were we to give ourselves over to them, create turmoil in ways that would move us more toward you and your ways.
Forgive us our shakiness. And shake us up.
Amen.
“When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’” (Matthew 21:10-11)
Forgive us, O God, for the ways in which we stir up turmoil because of our fear, our pride, our envy, or our selfishness.
Forgive us also, O God, for the ways in which we trivialize, domesticate, and ignore the realities brought about by Jesus Christ that would, were we to give ourselves over to them, create turmoil in ways that would move us more toward you and your ways.
Forgive us our shakiness. And shake us up.
Amen.
“When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’” (Matthew 21:10-11)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A Prayer for Tuesday, November 1, 2011
“Blessed Is the One Who Comes”
Today, and all days, may our recognition of, praise of, and dedication to Jesus show itself in our attitudes and our actions as well as in our words, O God.
Amen.
“The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:6-9)
Today, and all days, may our recognition of, praise of, and dedication to Jesus show itself in our attitudes and our actions as well as in our words, O God.
Amen.
“The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:6-9)
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