Weekly Prayers around the Bible
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Man’s justice, God’s justice
Perhaps you have been nauseated, as many have, by hearing about horrible things that people have done, and ‘binging them to justice’. Along with it is the idea that ‘justice’ somehow eases the one who has been wronged. It diverts people away from God’s gifts of healing and forgiveness.
Can we ponder some Bible texts and perhaps add others, and pray them through, to understand what Jesus is saying to us and to our society.
My dear friends, do not seek revenge, but leave a place for divine retribution; for there is a text which reads, ‘Vengeance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay.’
But there is another text: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; by doing this you will heap live coals on his head.’
Do not let evil conquer you, but use good to conquer evil.
(Saint Paul in Romans 12:17—21)
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who treat you spitefully...
Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned; give, and gifts will be given you.
(Jesus in Luke 6:27—38)
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. For as you judge others, so you will yourselves be judged, and whatever measure you deal out to others will be dealt to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye, with never a thought for the plank in your own?
(Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:1—5)
If your brother does wrong, reprove him; and if he repents, forgive him.
(Jesus quoted by Luke 17:3—4)
Things to pray
FOR THE ABUSED forgiveness brings healing
FOR THE ABUSER repentance brings forgiveness and a new life
“Bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast. For this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And the festivities began.
(Luke 15: 23—24)
A prayer
Forgive us the wrong we have done,
as we have forgiven those who have wronged us.
And do not put us to the test,
but save us from the evil one.
(From Our Lord’s Prayer as given by Matthew 6:12—13)
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About the Book
Prayer is communication with The Father, fundamental in Jesus’ life on earth, and to ours too, as christians. To live the christian life we need to be in touch. The author has been concerned to deepen and broaden our prayer life, and thus promote our relationship with God and our christian service.
The book does not give a method for prayer, rather to extend horizons, as each reader finds their own way to pray for the churches and the community, and themselves.
Doing God’s Will is not our trying, but our responding to his prompts. God understands us; we need to understand how He is working. Then we will be productive servants. The Lord’s vineyard is our world and it is to everyone’s advantage, christian or otherwise, to prosper it.
About the Author
Jim was born in a village in the heart of England. As a young man three happenings shaped his life: he became a christian, he went to Tanganyika as an Education Officer, there he and his wife found each other.
They worked in Ethiopia when it was breaking free from the feudal system, which trapped people in extreme poverty, and landowners in their life-style.
They were in Botswana when Mugabe’s war veterans set up camps along the borders and later worked in Zimbabwe under Mugabe’s administration, which regarded Jim as a british spy.
Together they did a prayer plus study tour of Israel and visited churches in South America. They retired to live in Spain, and ran aid work in Nepal. Then the Lord gave Jim a new life, alone, in a village, in an area enjoying a mix of spanish, arab and jewish cultures.
Throughout Jim has done extensive Bible study and organised study groups. Jim’s interesting life has given him his particular perspective on christianity and christian living.