Thursday Morning
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our lives we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – James 5:1-20 (NLT)
Warning to the Rich
Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.
Patience and Endurance
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!
For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.
The Power of Prayer
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
Restore Wandering Believers
My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
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Morning Reflection:
Faith waits patiently and prays earnestly.
James has already warned us about friendship with the world. In today’s reading he zeroes in on those who live in luxury and rely on their wealth for security. More specifically, his warning is directed at those who have gotten rich by mistreating and cheating their employees. His warning: Your ill-gotten gains will testify against you on the coming Day of Judgement.
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return.
Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring.
They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.
You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
– James 5:7-8 –
Faith waits patiently: In the meantime, believers (especially those whom the rich have oppressed) are encouraged to wait patiently for the return of Jesus Christ. What does waiting patiently entail?
+ Self-restraint which doesn’t retaliate against wrongs suffered.
+ Confidence that justice will be served on the Day of Judgement.
+ Endurance during times of trouble and suffering.
+ Encouragement knowing that our reward lies ahead, as God has promised.
+ Trust in the kindness, tenderness, and mercy of God.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
– James 5:16 –
Faith prays earnestly: In light of the temptations and trials that believers face, James reminds us that prayer is the instrumental means for managing our troubles. How does that work?
+ Prayer is the means to express our feelings of fear, dismay, and distress in times of hardship.
+ Prayer, with the anointing of oil, is the means of healing our sicknesses – spiritual, emotional, and physical.
+ Prayer, with confession and repentance, is the means by which our sins are forgiven.
+ Prayer with other believers works wonders.
Questions for consideration:
- Do you believe that on the Day of Judgement that justice will be served? Can you think of a particular wrong that you want to be made right? Please explain.
- Where do you need patience and endurance to cope with the troubles that you face? Please explain.
- If you were/are sick, upon whom would you call to pray for healing and anoint you with oil? Please explain.
- Have you / do you pray with other believers? How has God responded to your prayers? Please explain.
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Morning Prayer: – For the Acceptance of Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“King Of My Heart” – Kutless
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Closing:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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