Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 39

A Collect to Use our Gifts Well

Generous master, who has given to us both material and spiritual gifts to enjoy and use here on earth, teach us to be apply what you have given us responsibly in the world, that we might go out and do good with your gifts and so bring joy to you and to those we encounter according to your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

"The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents." - Matthew 25:16-17

A Collect to Trust in God's Apportioning of Responsibility in the Kingdom

Master of all the earth, who gives to all as you deem fitting, grant us trust in your wisdom to believe that you give responsibility to us according to our ability, that we would be content with your choices for us even as we seek to be more and more capable and worthy to receive more, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who received all things from you and reigns over them in the Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability." - Matthew 25:14-15

A Collect for Comfort in Loss of Loved Ones

Gentle Father, who created us all and loves us with a love greater than any earthly father, comfort us who have lost or expect to lose those close to us with the knowledge that they are close to you and that we too will be with you and with them, risen to new life in your presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and intercedes for us all with you in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.' - 1 Thes. 4:13-14

A Collect for Our Hearts to be Inclined toward the Father

Lord God of Israel, who chose one people as your own but desires that all should come to you, incline our hearts toward you, that we would have the will to put aside those things that call to us but cannot save and find our salvation in your great love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who loved us to the end and was taken up with you and the Holy Spirit to reign together in glory, world without end. Amen.

'He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."' - Joshua 24:23

A Collect of Thanks for Consequences for Sin

Lord God Almighty, who is just in your judgements, we thank you for giving us consequences for our wrongs, that through them we might recognize what we have done and turn from our foolishness and return to you and your ways. Help us to be grateful for your discipline and so return ever to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in perpetual glory. Amen.

'"If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good."' - Joshua 24:20

A Collect to Remember God's Goodness

Lord God Almighty, who performs miracles for your people, call to our minds those moments in our story where you have done great things for us, that we would remember and be inspired to cling to you and trust in your goodness and seek you for all that we need, through Jesus Christ our Lord whom you raised to new life and who now reigns with you in glory with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."' - Joshua 24:16-18

A Collect to Turn from Our Idols

Almighty God, who alone has power to save, heal, and sustain us, show us our idols - those false gods and promises that we serve, that we would know our wrong attachments and seek to let go of them and turn to you who alone can give us what we need, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:14

A Collect to Recognize our Limits

God of wisdom, who desires that we balance grace with truth, give us wisdom to know our limitations, that we would love well, but still be able to say no when we do not have enough to give, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who loved us to the end and sat down at your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'" - Matthew 25:8-9

A Collect for Wisdom for the Future

You who stands outside of time, who knows the end from the beginning, grant us wisdom to know how to be prepared for what is to come, that we would be equipped to face the future, trusting in your provision while also being faithful stewards of what you have already given for us to use, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who gave himself for our sake and was raised to new life with you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.' - Matthew 25:2-4

A Collect to Avoid Exalting Ourselves

Lord God of Heaven and Earth, who alone is self-sufficient and deserving of great honor, keep us from lauding and exalting ourselves, lest we slip and fall from pedestals too high for us and be crushed by others' scorn. Help us to be content with the station you have given us, trusting that you will provide all we need and eventually more, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

'All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.' - Matthew 23:12