Christianity has evolved through twenty centuries and through the leading of millions of many different kinds of Christians. Today we continue to examine the thinking of the apostle Paul, who, more perhaps than anyone else, laid the foundation for what Christianity was to become. He wrote about the freedom which Jesus Christ made possible for us, and we extol God for that freedom. Therefore let us, with confidence, worship the God who ultimately sets all of His children free.
Pastoral Prayer
Gracious and loving God, Thy gifts to us are so numerous that we cannot even count them. We thank Thee for all things, but most of all for one another, and for the marvelous diversity of the human community. We ask Thee to give us greater understanding and patience with those with whom we are most likely to disagree or to misinterpret. Help us always to try to see the world through the other person’s eyes, so that then we may much more clearly see it through our own eyes.
We thank Thee also for the physical, mental, and spiritual freedom Thou hast given to us. Help us to use our freedom well and wisely, and to benefit as many people as possible by it. Keep us from using our freedom as license, and instead may we see it as both a wonderful gift and as an awesome responsibility.
We pray for people who have been ill, and are recovering. May they sense Thy power in their recovery. We pray for others who are ill and shall not recover. May they sense Thy power in the midst of their uncertainties and anxieties. We pray for the people of Syria, Ukraine, and other nations where freedom fighters are pitted against strong and merciless regimes. May they know of Thy presence with them, especially when the outcome of their struggles remain very much in doubt. O Thou who art the ultimate judge of all people, move in the hearts of the heavy-handed, that they in turn may be moved to seek peaceful conclusions to seemingly intractable differences. Give to us peace in our time, O Lord. These and all our prayers we make in the name of Jesus. Now together we join in prayer as he instructed his first disciples, saying, Our Father….