Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 60

A Collect to Obey Even the Lord's Strange Commands

Lord God, who is not of this world for you transcend it completely, though are yet at work within it, give us courage to do all that you ask of us, even when it is strange to our ears, that we would not miss the opportunities that you present to see your power at work and be blessed by your healing and wonders, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Amen.

'When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.' - John 9:6-7

A Collect to See Those Challenged with Dignity

Lord Jesus, light of compassion in the world, do not let us assume that others suffering or struggles are your justice meted out, but give us compassion and love that we would see others with dignity regardless of their circumstances, through you who showed us love to the end and ascended to the Father and Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

'As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him."' - John 9:1-3

A Collect to Fulfill God's Good Works According to God's Call

King of heaven, who knows the end from the beginning and every detail in between, do not let us forget that it is not up to us to fulfill your work in the world, but show us the part we are called to play and let us be content in it, that we would rejoice with you in the work your people will complete together and all will enjoy the fruits in your blessed kingdom of love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit in perfect glory forever. Amen.

'The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, "One sows and another reaps."' - John 4:36-37

A Collect to Be Satisfied by the Work God Gives

Jehovah-Jirah, who gives to all food at the right season, may our souls be nourished by the work that you set before us to do, that we would rejoice in being part of the good that you are accomplishing in the world and be filled with seeing your will be done, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who laid the foundations on earth for your work and now works from heaven with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work."' - John 4:34

A Collect to Connect with the Spirit's Presence Always

God of infinite power, who is worthy of all praise and honor, keep us from dividing the sacred and secular, relegating you only to certain 'holy' places, that our whole lives would become infused with your presence and we would reach out to you continually as we go about our days, living within your presence moment by moment and worshiping you with our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit in perpetual glory, now and forever. Amen.

'"Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him."' - John 4:20-23

To what extent do I forget the Lord's presence and power as I go about my day? How much do I fall into the sacred/secular split without even realizing it? What do I need to remember the Spirit's presence and power along the way?

A Collect for a Vision for Real Life

Gracious God, who has called us walk in your ways, give us a vision of the life that you intended for your children, that we would be drawn into a way of being that truly does satisfy our souls and lead us to eternal life: loving relationship with you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, whom you are in and who is in you and with whom is the Holy Spirit forever and ever, world without end. Amen.

'Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life."' - John 4:13-14

How much do I truly believe that the way Jesus set out for us is a good way? Let me ask God to be captured by a vision of living water - a life that truly satisfies.

A Collect for Right Questions

Wise teacher, who holds all knowledge and from whom nothing is hidden, give us insight to know the right questions to ask of you, that we would not miss the opportunities afforded to us and might receive the gifts of God that you desire to bestow on your children if we would but reach out to you, through you who lives and reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit in perfect love and glory forever and ever. Amen.

'Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."' - John 4:10

If I were to stop and ask God for the questions to ask, what might I receive from him?

A Collect to Transcend Culture for the Kingdom's Sake

Gracious Lord, who transcends all cultures and laws, keep us from becoming trapped by the rules and ways of our land that would bar us from living according to your ways. Open our hearts to the culture and laws of your kingdom which are grounded in you and in love, justice, and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who showed us your law of love and returned to reign with you and the Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

'A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)' - John 4:7-9

What might be the "ten commandments" that I have learned to live by? Do any of those commandments conflict with God's call to love, mercy, justice, and peace?

A Collect to Remember Jesus' Humanity

Lord Jesus Christ, who took on our frailty to share our lives, you grew tired on the journey to Jerusalem and had to stop to rest. Let us not forget that you took on real flesh with all its limitations, that we could turn to you when our own flesh fails and discover empathy there and wisdom for how to live as souls wrapped in the stuff of earth, through you who lived with us, trusting in the love and power of the Father and Holy Spirit each moment. Amen.

'So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.' - John 4:5-6

A Collect to Love People as God Does

Almighty God, who sees all the activities of humanity from your throne above, keep us from condemning the world and give us hearts that desire the redemption of all, that we would value people as you do, desiring that each would be willing to enter into your kingdom and live as your people together, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns in love and joy with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." - John 3:16-17

Are there people who I condemn? Anyone that stirs up contempt in me? Can I envision them repenting and seeking Jesus, truly desiring to accept the Lord's forgiveness and live by God's ways? Is there anything I need from God to have compassion for them as God does?