“Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.”” John 7:6-12
God of Truth,
Jesus was You among us but He was also a man. It is reassuring to know that You through Jesus know exactly how I feel sometimes. I get frustrated and downhearted sometimes when I hear people saying detrimental things about Him and those who believe.
Yet here is Jesus getting His disciples to go so he could go later alone and unnoticed. Knowing He had to keep going till the time was right. Having to hear all the negative things said about Him. Being called just good man is bad enough but being labelled a fraud. Offensive, disappointing and hurtful?
Help me not to carry the responsibility of proving everything in the face of negativity but to simply give my testimony as Paul did. “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12). There will always be grumbling against You and arguing – but there will always be those who choose You. Keep our spirits up.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
God of Truth,
We bring prayers for the needs of our family and friends. We bring prayers for our church to grow in faith and believers. We bring prayers for the family we long to see turning to You. We bring prayers for our community and our nation. For godliness, truth, compassion and giving to take precedence over sinfulness, lies, and selfishness. Thank You for all those who are living the best they can in their circumstances.
Move across Russia and into the lives of the military personal and speak an end to war. Lord let this conflict come to an end. Protect Your church in Ukraine and those who are trusting in You.
We pray for those who see only what might happen and dwell on what has and look to the darkness in everything. We pray You would lift up their faces to see Your light and Your hope and Your presence. Give the grumblers something good and the complainers reason to smile.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 2nd September 2023
This hymn never ceases to comfort, uplift and encourage me.
One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound
The former things shall all pass away
No more tears
One day You’ll make sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question resolved
Every anxious thought left behind
No more fear
When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory
One day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace
And in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day
And one day we’ll be free, free indeed, Jesus
One day all this struggle will cease
And we will see Your glory revealed
On that day
Chorus Twice
One day, one day we’ll be singing loud
Yes, one day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace?
And in a moment, we shall be changed
In a moment, we shall be changed
Yes in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day
Chorus
Yes we’ll sing, no more shame, no more struggle,
no more walking through the valley of the shadow,
no cancer, no depression, no more unanswered questions
We will see the glory of Your face
We will see Your glory one day
Lift Your eyes one day . . .