Unworthy, but welcome…

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The following is adapted from John Knox’s liturgy (c. 1560). My thanks to Martin Downes for showing me this:

Almighty God, we are unworthy to come into your presence, because of our many sins. We do not deserve any grace or mercy from you, if you dealt with us as we deserve. We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you.

And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offenses, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favorable Father, to all who turn to you. And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your son, to show mercy to us, and forgive us all our offenses. Forgive the sins of our youth, and the sins of our old age.

By your Spirit, O God, take possession of our hearts, so that, not only the actions of our life, but also the words of our mouths, and the smallest thought of our minds, may be guided and governed by you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Friday Joy: “Our Happy God!”

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I’m tweaking “Friday Fun” posting to “Friday Joy” as the following so warmed my heart, i wanted to share it with you… Simple and insightful I think…

OUR HAPPY GOD
By Dr David Murray, from Head Heart Hand
What makes God so happy? Three times we are told that our God is “blessed forever” (Rom. 1:25; 9:5; 2 Cor. 11:31). But what makes Him so happy? Well, I’m sure there are many contributing factors. For example, being perfectly holy must be a great source of happiness. The absence of uncertainty, through knowing the end from the beginning, must also engender huge happiness.

But maybe we can also learn about divine happiness from human happiness. I’ve just been reading Where does happiness come? in which Oscar del Ben reflects on this question, and gives four possible answers. I couldn’t help but think of how his “human” answers may give theological insight into some sources of God’s happiness.

1. Giving “stuff” away. As the giver of every good and perfect gift, God is always extraordinarily and immeasurably happy. But what all-surpassing happiness accompanied His greatest gift, the gift of His only Son for sinners.

2. Creating something. What happy days for God, when He was creating the universe! What satisfaction as He spoke the universe into existence. Each day His happiness was expressed as He saw everything so good. Then came the apex, the climax, when He made humanity: “All very good!”

3. Connecting people. While the devil is the great divider and separator of humanity, God is the great “connector.” By His plan of grace, He is connecting people with Himself and with one another. By the Gospel of Christ, He smashes barriers and tears down walls (Eph. 2:14-17). By the Gospel, He creates unity and community.

4. Doing something new. Ultimately, God is behind every discovery, every advance, every invention. He is the source of all newness, all imagination, and all innovation. With every soul saved, He makes all things new (2 Cor.5:17). By His Holy Spirit, He is renewing His people day by day (Eph. 4:24). Finally, He will make all things new (Rev. 21:5). What an exuberantly happy day that will be, both for God and His people!

No wonder Paul calls his message “the glorious Gospel of the happy (blessed) God” (1 Tim. 1:11).

(AMEN! pdb)