Daily Worship

Power

Gordon Kennedy June 24, 2015 0 0

Acts 4:5-12

 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

God of all power,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
God before whom every knee shall bow.

Our experience teaches us
the power of men:
    to intimidate the timid,
    to terrify the weak,
    to silence your messengers.
Remind us that our experience
is a poor teacher of your power.

Yours is the power to create from nothing,
yours is the power to still the raging seas,
yours is the power to raise the dead to new life.
May your power be at work among us today.

Your power when we are timid to speak of Jesus before a challenging neighbour,
Your power when we are weak in the face of the challenge of need in our community,
Your power which raised Jesus from the dead to raise us in your service.

Strengthen us, O Lord,
before all creation,
that your power might be seen in our weakness. Amen.