Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 80

A Collect to Turn from Evil and Escape God's Judgement

Great King above the heavens, who judges us for the evil that pours from our hearts, turn our hearts from sin and strife that we would not see your righteous indignation and escape your discipline and judgements. Teach us your good ways that we would not have to receive the wrath that such acts deserve, through Jesus Christ our Lord and example who reigns with you an the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!' - Isa. 5:6-7

A Collect to Accept God's Discipline

Righteous Judge, in whom there is no malice nor evil intent, give us grace to accept your judgements and to receive your discipline, trusting that you are right in what you choose to do, yet show mercy that even in your judgements, we will not be destroyed but inspired to turn to your ways, through Jesus Christ our Savior, by whom we are reconciled with you in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.' - Isa. 5:4-5

A Collect for Forgiveness for Spurning God's Gifts

Lord of all the earth, who opens your hand to satisfy all our needs, forgive us for spurning the gifts that you have given and rebelling against your ways. Give us grateful hearts that recognize your provision and the care you put in to your gifts to us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who walked as one of us and now reigns with compassion with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.' - Isa. 5:2

A Collect to Recognize the Signs of What is to Come

Lord Jesus, who bears limitless wisdom, show us how to recognize the signs around us, that we would understand what is happening and what is coming and make ourselves ready for things to come, through you who showed us how to live and returned to the Father and Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

'He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"' - Luke 12:54-56

A Collect to Remain One Even in Conflict

Father of all creation, whose love knows no limitations, help us to remain one household even as we are divided amongst ourselves and to resist the temptation of schism and strife, that we would yet love one another even in our differences and disagreements as you have taught us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who loved us to the end and sat down at your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.' - Luke 12:51-52

A Collect to Be Prepared for Opposition to the Lord

Ruler of heaven, who wars with the evil that plagues all creation, do not let us be surprised when your ways and your commands produce strife and division, for you have known and warned us that many will oppose and rebel against your reign. Prepare us for the divisiveness that we will face when we carry your banner in this world, through Jesus Christ our Lord who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

'Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!' - Luke 12:51

A Collect to be Purified from Sin

Refining fire, who burns away the undesirable, purify our hearts that our sin and malice and self-centeredness might be destroyed and we would be wholly given to the faith, love, and hope that you have planted in our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who set an example of virtue and goodness that we should follow and sat down with the Father and Holy Spirit in glory forever. Amen.

"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" - Luke 12:49

A Collect to Turn from Evil and Be Forgiven

Holy Lord, who is patient with us, but whose patience has an end, keep us from holding on to our sins and clinging to destructive and selfish lusts, that we would not so frustrate you that you would hide yourself from us. Enable us to turn from evil and return to find you ready to forgive, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit from on high forever. Amen.

'When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil.' - Isa. 1:15-16

A Collect to Cease Trusting in Religion Rather than God

Lord God of heaven, who reigns on high with justice, keep us from trusting in our religious beliefs and works as means of saving ourselves, that we would not give lip service to you and return to satisfying our pride and gluttony but strive to live as true citizens of your kingdom in love and goodness all of our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.' - Isa 1:11

A Collect to Be Prepared Even in Rest

Lord Jesus, who knows our weariness and struggles for you bore our limited frame, we do not know when you will appear and call to us, so help us to be ready. Even when we rest, let us yet still be prepared to receive you and the works you have planned for us to do in your world, through you who reigns king of kings with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." - Luke 12:39-40