Daily Worship

Justice – living well with others

November 21, 2015 0 0

Romans 12: 1-13

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

It’s not fair!
How often have we heard that said.
Those in positions of authority have a weighty responsibility when their decisions affect the lives of so many, and we pray for them, for politicians, for policy-makers and law-makers, for those who sentence others in the courts, for people who decide how limited resources are divided up in health boards and social work, in education and in care. May you Guide them Good Shepherd to make decisions that are just.

Inequality is everywhere Lord and who can wonder when tensions are apparent in our communities and in our world! The gap grows between ‘the haves’ and ‘the have-nots’. Lord, none of us needs more than enough. Help us to remember that when we choose how to use the resources you have given us. May the joy of the cheerful giver be ours!

And for those of us who for a while are struck by life’s unfairness, grant us to know that when we feel in over our heads God will lift us up, when we’re in deep waters they will not overwhelm us and when we’re between a rock and a hard place, a way through will open up, because you are by our side. Amen

prisonersweek.org.uk