“ ‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. 27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. 8 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord. 29 ‘Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness. 30 ‘You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord. 31 ‘Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. 32 ‘You shall rise before the grey headed and honour the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord. 33 ‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. 35 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. 36 You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 ‘Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord.’ ”Leviticus 19:26-37 NKJV
Lord Gd and Father,
It must have seemed like You God were giving the children of Israel endless rules to remember and keep as well as leading them through a dessert without means to keep themselves. And yet we look and see You shaping Your people into family. A community, which could live together in peace and harmony and stand against any who sought to attack its values. And making them responsible for their place in it. When we read, in hindsight, we can see the value of not taking on the behaviour of other surrounding communities as well as keeping Your Godly values.. Being honest with each other and keeping the shared values of belonging to You, a holy and yet providing, guiding God.
English law has deep historical roots in Christianity and the Old Testament, influencing the development of common law, moral principles, and statutes. A key area being the Ten Commandments, which shaped laws against murder, theft, and perjury. How sad that many laws now do not honour You.
But as a church we too are more than a community we are family. The Israelites were literally all related to each other from Abraham’s family. We are adopted in Christ (Ephesians 1:5). We seek to live as Jesus taught us, applying His call to our generation and witnessing to society that we are a family. A community (those who have accepted Christ) with Your shared values, set apart for You, God and yet available to share Your love. Both as individual fellowships and the rich and diverse Christian church around the world who hold Christ at their centre.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 4th February 2026
Church should feel like family and care . . . its not easy . . . God never said it would be. I love this song.
Welcome to the family,
We are glad that you have come
To share your life with us,
As we grow in love,
And may we always be to you
What God would have us be,
A family always there,
To be strong and to lean on.
May we learn to love each other
More with each new day,
May words of love be on our lips,
In ev’ry thing we say.
May the Spirit melt our hearts,
And teach us how to pray,
That we might be a true family.
Lyrics: Debby Kerner Rettino (Psalty)