Ye servants of the Lord, each in his office wait, observant of his heavenly word, and watchful at his gate. Let all your lamps be bright, and trim the golden flame; gird up your loins as in his sight, for awful is his name.

For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9) -They all bear witness to a God who gives growth to his people. Like floodlights, they illuminate Christ and don’t draw attention to themselves.

But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20) - They disregarded the God who had led them out of Egypt, and instead hankered for a king so they could be like the Canaanites.

When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. (Luke 19:15) - “Spes Mea in Deo” (“My hope is in God”)

“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Matthew 19:14) - It is trusting God as a loving parent, and putting to one side the accumulated cynicism of our years which tends to coarsen our receptiveness.

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) - We can be confident that “nothing can separate us from the love of Christ”, because Christ himself is praying for us. It is not because of what we have done that we can be sure of our position before God, but because of what he does.

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ (Luke 18:13) - We might be better than the rotten so-and-so down the road, but in comparison to God we cannot but see our shortcomings.

As with gladness men of old, Did the guiding star behold. As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright. So, most gracious God, may we evermore be led to Thee

"And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” - Keep on bringing the same names and situations before God. And trust his timing.

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97) - Rather than seeking to empty your mind, the idea is to focus it on God.

We are fools for Christ's sake (1 Corinthians 4:10) - From time to time the history of the Church throws up delightfully unusual people who, in their very oddness, become important leaders of the faith. One such is Simeon Stylites (c. 390–459).

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:8) - God does not require of us a staunch character and great eloquence. All that he insists is that we keep to his message, and march to his orders.

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:12-25) - Our hope is in the action of the eternal God. And it is “in this hope that we were saved”.

Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. (Zephaniah 3:19) - But there you are, under the gaze of God himself. “And I will save the lame…”!

All glory, laud, and honour to Thee, Redeemer, King! To Whom the lips of children made sweet Hosannas ring

They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. (Nehemiah 8:8) - above all the Spirit who inspired the authors is still active within us today. Pick up and read, and you’ll be astonished at what you might find.

What do we pray for in the sixth petition? In the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, (Matt. 6:13)) we pray, That God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, (Matt. 26:41) or support and deliver us when we are tempted. (2 Cor. 12:7–8)

A congregation consisting of 10,000 souls, streaming into the hall, mounting the galleries, humming, buzzing, and swarming – a mighty hive of bees – eager to secure at first the best places, and, at last, any place at all.

Q. 105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition? A. In the fifth petition, (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, (Matt. 6:12)) we pray, That God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; (Ps. 51:1–2,7,9, Dan. 9:17–19) which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. (Luke 11:4, Matt. 18:35)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) - Trust that we need not do any more, trust that this will be effective, trust that this actually applies to you

Q. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? A. In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread, (Matt. 6:11)) we pray, That of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them. (Prov. 30:8–9, Gen. 28:20, 1 Tim. 4:4–5)

The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the Word

Q. What do we pray for in the third petition? A. In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, (Matt. 6:10)) we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, (Ps. 67, Ps. 119:36, Matt. 26:39, 2 Sam. 15:25, Job 1:21) as the angels do in heaven. (Ps. 103:20–21)

Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” (John 12:30-31) - May God reign more fully in me, and drive out the wrong that I do and the temptations which plague me.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2) - “That is the answer the poor man gave me last night. It cannot be possible that this is he!”

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:11) - Now - alas - the psalms seemed to have slipped away unnoticed from our corporate worship.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans 7:15) - The joy of the Christian gospel is that it proclaims that we are able to be judged not on the basis of our own life, but on the basis of Jesus’ life. So

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) - So leave God’s business to God.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine; But God, who call'd me here below, will be forever mine.

101. What do we pray for in the first petition? In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name, (Matt. 6:9)) we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; (Ps. 67:2–3) and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. (Ps. 83)

What doth the preface of the Lord’ s prayer teach us? The preface of the Lord’ s prayer, (which is, Our Father which art in heaven, (Matt. 6:9)) teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; (Rom. 8:15, Luke 11:13) and that we should pray with and for others. (Acts 12:5, 1 Tim. 2:1–2)