Reading of the Law of God
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in
heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain
on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward
do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only
your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do
the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew
5.43-48
Confession of Sin
Our Father, once again Your Law points out our sin. We find
it easy to love those who love us back. But Your Law requires more. It requires
us to love those who do not love us back but rather want to harm us. We find
that so hard to do. But that is no excuse. Our failure to do this is sin. And
so, we ask again for the forgiveness that Jesus provided for us by His life and
death. We also ask that Your Spirit might do His powerful work in our lives so
that we might love as You love. Amen.
Declaration of Pardon
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose
sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and
in whose spirit there is no deceit. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not
cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and
you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalms 32.1-2,5