“Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”” Genesis 1:28 NLT
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbour.” Exodus 20:16 NLT
God of growth,
It looks to me Lord, reading Your ninth occasion of speaking into creation and the ninth commandment together that you were interested in growth both internally and externally! And the good of society depends on both – Population and pleasantness? New generations to continue the human race and for truth and honesty in the way they treat each other.
A clever lawyer trying to catch Jesus out asked who was his neighbour? Jesus used the story of the foreigner (a Samaritan) who had been attacked to show that ‘neighbour’ is about both a heart and hand response to all we come across (Luke 10:36-37). Not just those 5 feet away.
You spoke reproduction into mankind, after You had created them. Reminding us that new life can never been taken for granted. A baby is a gift and there are no ‘accidents’ where God enables life to begin. And we are privileged to reign over creation. Not just our own family. Though as man has distanced from God over the generations we have grown away from ensuring the good of creation. The idols of profit and power seem to rule more? They wield their own power. They often give false witness about pollution and or damage to the environment.
Help us and new generations to know You. Help us to be a good neighbours wherever we can. Help us to help where we can – like the boy from my local primary school recently who gave his chocolate bar to a lady at the school gates having a diabetic hypo. Help us to be good neighbours to the world and to speak up where we can for its well being.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
God of growth,
We pray:
For all our family, friends, church family. For our neighbours, all the people we will see this week..
For our town, our county council and Government. Help them see the need to take care of this earth and improve our looking after its resources and undo damage caused from pollution and rubbish.
For new developments to clean up after themselves.
For Gaza and the Middle East, not just containment but an end to the warring without bloodshed. A miracle needed Lord.
For Putin, the Russian people and end to war in Ukraine. Let it not go on endlessly Lord. Another miracle needed Lord.
For help, relief and comfort for those in need in Afghanistan, Libya and Morocco. For ongoing aid and medical agencies.
Help nations to respect their neighbours, live in peace, regardless of differences.
For ourselves, that we would be good neighbours.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 24th October 2023
Yes we had this recently but today the words came fresh to mind to encourage.
This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!
Lyrics: Maltbie D Babcock