Daily Worship

Your Word

Gordon Kennedy June 26, 2015 0 0

Acts 4:13-22

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?”they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

O God wise beyond all human knowing,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
we worship you today.

Before you our best wisdom is but foolishness,
tear from us all confidence in our own cleverness or learning.

Humble us that we may be strengthened.
Humble us to receive your word
    from those uneducated,
    from the young,
    from those we consider simple.

We cannot know your strength apart from your Word,
and we cannot grasp at your Word in our own knowledge,
or intellect, or ability.
Your Word must take hold of us,
your Word must renew us.
Humble us that we may be strengthened,
to hear your Word from whomever you speak it to us.

In your Word alone make us wise,
not with the wisdom of the world,
but with the wisdom of your salvation,
in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.