Father,
From the beginning you told your people that you are the God of gods and that heaven and earth belong to you. Ignoring all evidence to the contrary, your prophets said that one day the whole world would come to you. And yet for centuries more, only the people of one small nation worshiped you while the people of the bigger and more powerful nations served other gods. Then one night your light came to dwell among men. The astrologers saw your son’s birth star and came to worship. And since that day all nations have continued to come to your light. Who today serves the gods of the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, or Romans who seemed so strong for so many centuries? The pagan darkness could not overcome your light. Nearly a third of the world calls your son Lord.
Shine your divine light inside us until our hearts nearly explode for joy. You have said that we are, in turn, the light of the world because we bear witness to your light. Help us to live lives worthy of those who see, full of good works. May our good works be seen, and the people come to your light, and worship.
When I consider Toronto and Canada, there are lots of reports and rumors to be anxious about. But what I see around me with my own eyes that disturbs me most is media. You made us and so you know that we are sheep and that we are followers. If all our billboards and youtube shorts exhorted the people of Toronto to godliness, more people would go that way. But that is not what is happening. Your people don’t want to live in Vanity Circus. We want to live in a city where people sin little, love their neighbor, and honor you. At the very least, media diverts people’s attention toward trivialities so that no one lifts their eyes from their phone long enough to turn them to heaven and call your name. But if that wasn’t bad enough, people’s minds are turned away from you not just to nonsense, but to depravity. It seems like anyone who has escaped an addiction of the body has been trapped by an addiction of the mind. I don’t even know what request to make to you on behalf of Toronto about this except see and help.
For we who are your people, you promised that you would not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability. Highlight for the sake of our dullness where you have put the way of escape. Stir up in us a hunger and thirst for righteousness that is stronger than the mind-hack of our screens. Help us to be whole and quiet and simple inside, not fragmented and frantic. Make us drunk with faith and love, and joy and peace because of your Spirit and not crushed with fear and anxiety. As the world, the flesh, and the devil pour out a torrent of darkness, help us to overcome, loving you more than life. Make us blameless and innocent, worthy bearers of your name. Fill us so full of your light that we shine like stars in the darkness of the world.
Father, we thank you for the cross of our Lord. Inexcusable and depraved sins have been committed by we who are gathered in this room. But you washed us. And so we delight in the cross because, by it, you remain just while justifying we who are not sinless, but have faith in Jesus. Since we have this hope, strengthen us to continue to purify ourselves and forgive us for our continued failings.
We pray for our service this morning and ask that you would be honored in all that is done here. May our songs be pleasant to you. May you be pleased as the truth is taught through the reading and exposition of the scriptures. Help us to be receptive hearers, that we would not be hearers only but doers of the word. Help us to love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. In our fellowship, help us to speak truth with each other, always seeking others' interests ahead of our own. We ask that you would specially encourage those who serve in the nursery that we might gather here.