Friday Morning Prayer, 14 Aug 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior

“God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.” – Romans11:32

Collect for Purity

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Scripture: Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, oh my soul
And all that’s in me, bless His holy name
Bless the Lord, oh my soul
And forget not all His benefits
And forget not all His benefits.

103 (Bless the Lord) – The Prestonwood Choir

Who redeems
Who restores
Who renews your youth like the eagle soars
Who forgives every sin
Who is raising us to new life again

Oh my soul will
Oh my soul will bless the Lord

High as the heavens are above the earth
So great His steadfast love
Toward those who fear Him
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, Oh my soul

Far as the east is from the west
So far does he remove our trespasses from us
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, Oh my soul

Bless the Lord

Who redeems
Who restores
Who renews your youth like the eagle soars
Who forgives every sin
Who is raising us to new life again

Oh my soul will
Oh my soul will bless the Lord
The Lord
Bless the Lord
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Scripture Reading

Romans 11:25-36 (NLT)

I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,

“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,
and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
And this is my covenant with them,
that I will take away their sins.”

Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?
And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

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Reflection: God’s Mercy Is for Everyone

” God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.”
(Romans11:32)

If God used the disobedience of Israel for the good of Gentiles, He can also use the mercy shown to Gentiles for the mercy of Israel….

God has committed them all to disobedience: The idea is that God has shut up both Jew and Gentile into custody as lawbreakers. God offers mercy to these prisoners, based on the person and work of Jesus….

Who would have planned the whole scenario with Israel, the Gentiles, and the Church as God has planned it? Yet, we can see the great wisdom and compassion in God’s plan.

(David Guzic)

Prayer: For God’s Mercy For Everyone,

Gracious God our Heavenly Father: You show mercy to all who cry out to you. Lord have mercy –

+ on all who seek forgiveness and want to return to you and change the direction of their lives….
+ on all who find themselves in difficult circumstances, whether or not they caused it themselves….
+ on all who feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life, especially during this pandemic season….
+ on all who are weak and afraid and turn to you out of desperation as their last and only hope….

Gracious God our Heavenly Father: Your ways are beyond our understanding; nevertheless we trust you to deliver and rescue all who call on your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and to the glory of your name.
__________

“- Ashuv Eleicha (Coming Back to You)” – Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel

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Closing: Romans 11:

“Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!“

__________

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.