One of my favorite authors is Frederick Buechner. He says things that I can understand about words that I have a vague meaning. For instance, he says: "The hardest thing about really seeing and really hearing is that then you really have to do something about what you have seen and heard." That is true if you are more than an information-sucker.
But the truth is, most of us as Christians know the Scripture about "I was in prison" and we try to reach out at holiday times to feed the poor, etc. and we know about the Model Prayer but since prayer is like an after-thought in our worship services, we don't think it is something that we should strive for. People keep telling us that reading the Scripture counts for prayer as does praying while you are driving the car. Practically everything does. So why does Paul say time and time again, "Pray without ceasing" and why did Jesus teach prayer by example even though he had a straight shot to the prayer God! "Nobody told me" says Benson might have been a good enough reason, at one time, for not praying but it does not work now. And he adds: "What if we are being called to help restore this ancient prayer as a way to strengthen and sustain the Church in our time, as it strengthened and sustained the Church in its earliest days." Ponder this.
VERSICLE: "We lift our eyes to the hills from where does our help come." Psalm 121
VENITE: "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Psalm 91
COLLECT: (Formal prayer)
Let us find our role in being the hands and the voice of God on earth --help us to see need and respond whether it be a physical need, emotional need or spiritual need. We know we are called to feed the hungry and to preach Christ and him crucified. Help all of us to find our way, our voice and our service. Amen.
CANTICLE: (Hymn of praise)"Who is on the Lord's Side?"
Who is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the King? Who will be his helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world's side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord's side? Who for him will go?
By thy call of mercy, by thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord's side, Savior we are thine.
Reading of Scripture/Message (Daddy's) "The Highest Commandment of God"
Text: "Be thou a blessing" Genesis 12:2
Introduction:
Meets an old friend
Call to faith Abram means "exalted father". Abraham means "father of a multitude"
1. A great commission--it did not say to become great, not become rich, not become a great leader , not teacher or doctor but "be thou a blessing."
2. What is required?
Right relationship with God
Balanced on essentials
Qualified to look beyond what he could see
Able to adjust himself to other people.
These are the tests of Christianity.
3. The results:
He had difficulties
He became father of the faithful.
What is my prayer for the day? I pray now, Lord, that I would see Abraham, not as a far-fledged story of many religions but as a human being, with human faults, seeking to follow what he considered to be the promise. Help me to praise his success but worship his perseverence in his search. Many of my "heroes" of the faith have not found worldly success but have been found faithful. I hope the words of my father are true when he says that he believed that God gives people credit for the things they tried to do, not just their successes. Help me to be found faithful in all things, but especially in prayer and in those things that I feel led to try to accomplish. Amen.
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