October 2014 Prayers

Ephesians 4:32--5:832 Be generous to one another, sympathetic, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.1 As God's dear children, then, take him as your pattern,2 and follow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up for us as an offering and a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God.3 Among you there must be not even a mention of sexual vice or impurity in any of its forms, or greed: this would scarcely become the holy people of God!4 There must be no foul or salacious talk or coarse jokes -- all this is wrong for you; there should rather be thanksgiving.5 For you can be quite certain that nobody who indulges in sexual immorality or impurity or greed -- which is worshipping a false god -- can inherit the kingdom of God.6 Do not let anyone deceive you with empty arguments: it is such behaviour that draws down God's retribution on those who rebel against him.7 Make sure that you do not throw in your lot with them.8 You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; behave as children of light,

Matthew 22:34-4034 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees they got together35 and, to put him to the test, one of them put a further question,36 'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?'37 Jesus said to him, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.38 This is the greatest and the first commandment.39 The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself.40 On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.'

Luke 10:25-3725 And now a lawyer stood up and, to test him, asked, 'Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'26 He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it?'27 He replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.'28 Jesus said to him, 'You have answered right, do this and life is yours.'29 But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?'30 In answer Jesus said, 'A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of bandits; they stripped him, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead.31 Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.32 In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan traveller who came on him was moved with compassion when he saw him.34 He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him.35 Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper and said, "Look after him, and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have."36 Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the bandits' hands?'37 He replied, 'The one who showed pity towards him.' Jesus said to him, 'Go, and do the same yourself.'

Exodus 23:20-2320 'Look, I am sending an angel to precede you, to guard you as you go and bring you to the place that I have prepared.21 Revere him and obey what he says. Do not defy him: he will not forgive any wrong-doing on your part, for my name is in him.22 If, however, you obey what he says and do whatever I order, I shall be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.23 My angel will precede you and lead you to the home of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, whom I shall exterminate.

Job 9:1-12, 14-161 Job spoke next. He said:2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?3 Anyone trying to argue matters with him, could not give him one answer in a thousand.4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who then can successfully defy him?5 He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.6 He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making all its pillars tremble.7 The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.8 He and no other has stretched out the heavens and trampled on the back of the Sea.9 He has made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.10 The works he does are great and unfathomable, and his marvels cannot be counted.11 If he passes me, I do not see him; he slips by, imperceptible to me.12 If he snatches his prey, who is going to stop him or dare to ask, 'What are you doing?'14 And here am I, proposing to defend myself and select my arguments against him!15 Even if I am upright, what point is there in answering him? I can only plead for mercy with my judge!16 And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said,