“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? 9 Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10 NET
God of Joy,
I am always misplacing my car key as You know Lord, or my mobile phone or losing something I popped away safe! You know how often I pray and ask You to help me. I am never sure whether this is too trivial to pray about – but You do answer, remind me, and I am grateful.
But here I think the loss means, and represents something much more profound. This coin we are told was of great importance to her not because it was of great monetary value but because it was of great personal value.
Jesus is showing the scathing teachers of the law that God values every single one of us. We are of inestimable value and He will not rest till He finds us. And she rejoices and shares her joy with everyone she knows. What a story. was Jesus showing us, how You, God rejoice over us and share Your joy with the angels around You in heaven?
I am filled with awe that You should rejoice that Jesus found me. Not because of who I am, or what I’ve done or can do. Simply because I was lost and You were prepared to go to great lengths to find me and You values me for who I am. Mess and all. Amazing, almost too good to be true but not quite – because it is true. And I cannot praise and thank You enough.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
God of joy,
Grant joy into the lives of those we know and love. Grant peace and healing and all the good things that they need today. For those that we are estranged from we pray there will be the beginning or reconciliation or a safe place to explore the possibilities.
Be with those who tend the sick and those who work in medical research. Grant the knowledge they need to help alleviate pain and cure disease. Bless a new generation with the desire to take up medicine as their purpose in life.
We pray for all those caught up in the devastating earthquake in Morocco. Comfort those who mourn, send aid to those who need help and support and medical attention. We pray You will keep the earth at peace and that there will not be after shocks.
We continue to ask You for peace between Ukraine and Russia.
Thank You as we enter this harvest season to appreciate all we have and help us not take one single mouthful of food for granted.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 11th Sept 2023
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Lyrics: Charles Wesley