St Paul refers to himself as “servant” and “the very least of all the saints”. In doing so he echoes the call of Jesus upon us all: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all”. (Mark 9: 35) A willingness to be a servant
Continue reading1 You, O God, have overthrown usand have cast us clean away.You have dealt with us in anger;now restore us, Lord, we pray. 2 You have torn the land asunder;you have made the land to shake.O come down and mend its fractures,for you caused the earth to quake. 3 You
Continue readingThis is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles – for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation,
Continue readingSo then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’ – a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands – remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
Continue readingYou were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions
Continue readingI have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
Continue readingIn him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his
Continue reading1 From foes and all who threaten me,O God, be my defence.2 Save me from evildoers’ handsand men of violence. 3 See how they lie in wait for me!Ferocious men combineAgainst me, LORD, for no offenceor sinful deed of mine. 4 I have not done them any wrong,yet they prepare
Continue readingThen Job answered: ‘No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?I am a laughing-stock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless
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