All over the world, people of strong convictions do battle with one another over religion, politics, economics, and foreign policy. Is something that seems right for one time therefore right for all times? The debate goes on, because the debaters care deeply about they believe and think. This morning we shall ponder the nature of orthodoxy, and what leads us to think we are right when we do think we are right. As we do so, let us gather together in confidence to worship the God of Israel.
Pastoral Prayer
Loving God, the source of all grace, we turn to Thee in prayer, thanking Thee for Thine unfailing goodness and for Thy love, which cannot and will not let us go. We praise Thee for guiding us through life, even when we resist Thy guidance, and for leading us in Thy paths when we might otherwise choose our own paths. But as we give Thee thanks for Thy protective care, we also confess that too often we seek to be our guides and to follow in our own ways. Forgive us for both wayward heads and hearts, and keep us always close to Thy presence.
We pray for a world in which we observe lies being brazenly held out as absolute truth, and where cruelty is declared to be courage. Our hearts reach out to innocent people who suddenly become victims of warriors determined to win victory at all costs, even if those costs incur the death of innocent civilians. We pray for government officials of many nations who are striving to bring peace to troubled nations and hope to refugees who are displaced and afraid and far from home.
Lord God, we thank Thee for Thy goodness to us in giving us life, but we also ask Thy strength to be with us when life become a heavy burden or a seemingly insoluble dilemma. Help us to trust in Thee far more than we trust in ourselves. But in learning to trust in Thee more, may we also become more confident to trust in ourselves and in our own devices, lest we stand on the sidelines of life, fretting greatly but doing nothing. We ask Thee to make us more like Jesus, and to seek, as he did, to speak truth to power and love to great need. Give us the mind of Christ each passing day. Now we pray together as he taught us, saying, Our Father….