Just as I am without one plea

“Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. ⁴Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him. ⁵“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. ⁶For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” ⁷King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. ⁸Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring – for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” Esther 8:3-8 NIV

Lord God Almighty,

The king was in a hard place. His document sent by Haman and sealed with his royal ring could not be revoked. Yet he desperately needed to stop his wife and the man that had saved his life being put to death at his command! So he gave them permission to gather and to defend themselves. We may think it a terrible loss of life but we do not live in their kingdoms.

But even if we find the ending a little bloodthirsty for our liking. It does speak about making oaths and promises at another’s request without checking their motivation and consequences. Perhaps the king should not have been so rash in the first place to put a people to death? Perhaps we should be careful not to be motivated unknowingly by someone else’s selfish motivation. Give us eyes and ears to see what is really going on. Stand for the right. Revoke bad decisions when we are wrong and humbly change our behaviour. Can I admit it when I am wrong? Lord with Your help I pray so.

In Jess name we pray, Amen

Worship Friday 3rd October 2025
No other way to come . . . even after many years of growing and knowing Jesus . . .

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, (Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down);
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Lyrics: Charlotte Elliot

“Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. ¹⁰And what is left of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire. ¹¹‘No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.” Leviticus 2:9-11 NKJV

God Everlasting,

You are a God of the detail and when we take the time to look closely and consider what seems not relevant, can become a taste of what was to come!

Before the command to add salt to all the offerings, showing the need to give with sincerity, you say not to add leaven or honey to the grain offering. It is to be offered just as it is.

Possible reasons to not use honey? It was used in pagan rituals as a gift to foreign gods and idols, something offensive to the one and only God – You. Secondly it was made by bees and not grown from their labour and was sweet pandering to mans tastes? It took no effort? But what about leaven? They did not use leaven during Passover, to remind them of You, saving them from death and slavery over night in Egypt. Leaving time only for unleavened bread! I also read it gave the grain a slightly sour taste?

So, the grain had to be given unadulterated not sweetened in any way. And not with any sourness or bitterness? Jesus spoke of us being like a grain of wheat (John 12:24). So we too need to come to you unadulterated, just plain grain as we are. Not trying to be better than we are and not trying to be puffed up with pride and self. And not with any bitterness in our hearts.

You take us, and adopt us just as we are. And love us enough to help us grow in love. Thank You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

An outline to prompt Your own prayers . . . .

Lord God,

Today we pray for family, friends, neighbours, our church family.
For Putin and the end of war in Ukraine.
For Gaza and an end to the recent conflict. Not to escalate, for those caught in the middle of the bombardment.
For help, relief and comfort for those affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan, and for the areas still recovering in Libya and Morocco. For all the aid agencies.
For our Government and the King. For sincerity, honesty and openness. Uncover all that is not right.
For our fellowships and church projects here and overseas..
For those on missions overseas to see miracles and be blessed and kept safe.
For our own needs for today and this week. Be our Good Shepherd.

Worship Monday 9th October 2023
Time to come as we are and be welcomed accepted and cleansed.

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2 Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4 Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Lyrics: Charlotte Elliot