Humanity

I'm pleased to have a seat and let me invite you now to grab a Bible if you have one there

or look it out on your phone or whatever you need to do to get God's Word open in front of you and

turn to, I guess we're going to be in Genesis 1 and 2 and 3 this evening. We might dot in and

around elsewhere as well, but it's so important we have God's Word open in front of us. So tonight

we're going to be thinking about what the Bible teaches about human beings. As we continue this

series that we've been in over the last few weeks, and I really hope you found it helpful to think

about some of these things, to think about what the Bible teaches us about humanity. And I guess

since the idea of this series is it's designed to help us think biblically about some of the big

issues of our day, as we unpack what God says in His Word, what I want to do as we think about

humanity is through that lens. I want us to think about this whole issue of racism, to think

biblically about it so that we are equipped both to understand it and then be able to articulate to

the watching world our Christian response to this issue as it's presented itself in our day, right?

And in so doing, offer to the world a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ, who is the great lover and

transformer of human hearts. Because here's perhaps, just give you a little insight into my thinking

behind this, what I've become increasingly convinced of over the years as I've journeyed with Jesus,

is what the Bible says about human beings is both wonderfully dignifying and its holy

realistic. And the gospel which we encounter, as we encounter Jesus in the Word, is the hope for

our nation, is the hope for the people that we rub shoulders with every day, is Jesus Christ.

So you with me on this one? Okay, you can give me some kind of nod or a, yeah, this has really

excited me this week as I've prepared for it. So I really hope this thrills your heart as well as we

think about humanity and what the Bible says about humanity. But let me start by taking you to the

city of Rome. Okay, I don't know if any of you ever been to Rome. I've never been, it's on my kind of

bucket list to go to. But by far the most famous landmark in that city that I reported 6.4 million

people visited last year is the Roman Colosseum, right? I'm sure some of us in this room may be

watching this online. I've been to the Roman Colosseum. Incredible when you think about it.

Constructed in 70 AD, right? That is an old, old building. 70 AD. And in its heyday, it held

something like 50 to 80,000 people, which is a huge number of people when you think about it.

No wonder it's one of the most iconic structures ever built in human history, right? Incredible

feat of architecture. But if you travel to Rome today, what you'll see, I guess, is what they call

a glorious ruin, right? A glorious ruin. Because despite retaining the essence of its original beauty,

the Colosseum has been marred to the extent that what exists today is but a shadow of the glory that it

once had. And it's interesting because that is what C.S. Lewis, who's one of the great Christian

thinkers from, I guess, the last few hundred years, C.S. Lewis, the great Christian thinker, as he observed

people, said that we are exactly like the Roman Colosseum, right? Human beings. We are a glorious ruin.

And so what I want to do tonight is just kind of latch onto those two words,

that Lewis uses,

and unpack a little bit of what the Bible story says about these things. A glorious ruin.

And so here is what the Bible teaches us about humanity, right? Friends, we are glorious.

Human beings, glorious. If you've got it there, Genesis 1 and 2,

the opening chapters of the Bible

exclaim this at us, that human beings are

glorious. So we kind of tap into the Bible story at Genesis 1,

in the beginning was God, this God who has eternally been there, this God who has chosen to reveal

himself to us. We're introduced to this delightful God that we get in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2, who

eternally exists

as a community of one God in three persons,

Father, Son,

Son, and Spirit, who have always been eternally and lovingly delighting in one another.

Okay? Our God is triune, right? He is three in one. And because he is three in one, he is relational.

It's who he is. He's relational. He is love.

Okay? Now,

it's so important to park these kind of theological ideas because they're so important

to what we'll come on to see in a little while.

Okay? Our God is triune. He is relational.

He is love.

And this God creates the world. He didn't need to create the world.

He wasn't lacking in anything.

This God spoke and things came into being.

This God spoke and beauty happens.

Of an overflow of who he is, he creates the world.

Days 1 to 3 that we get in the Genesis 1 and 2 account, God forms the world.

Days 4 to 6, God fills the world.

And as the climax of God's good design, he creates human beings.

And he breathes life into them.

He creates them, body and soul.

He creates them intentionally and complementary as male and female.

Friends, meaning that our bodies, our very bodies,

carry inherent and wonderful dignity.

Right? Have you ever thought about that?

The body matters.

Matters.

Because, and this is the key phrase,

God made us in his image.

If you remember one thing from tonight,

and I really hope you remember more than one thing,

but if you're going to pick one, pick that one.

Okay? God made us in his image.

Here's what we get in Genesis 1.27.

Here's our first pit stop tonight.

So God created mankind in his own image.

In the image of God, he created them.

Male and female, he created them.

It's a wonderful bit of intricate Hebrew poetry there.

God made us in his image.

And of no other created thing,

in the opening account of the Bible,

is that said to be true.

No animal is made in the image of God,

yet human beings are.

And here's what that means.

That means that human life,

marvelous,

every human life,

marvelous,

valued,

known,

bestowed with dignity,

that is inherent,

right,

rather than earned.

Why?

Because each and every life,

from the moment of conception,

no matter how good or how bad,

we might deem somebody to be,

no matter how responsive,

or useful,

we might think someone is,

is a life that is made in the very image of God.

So the Bible teaches about what it fundamentally means

to be a human being.

Right?

Maybe you're here tonight and you're thinking,

I don't know,

am I really worth anything?

Is my life worth anything?

Is it worth carrying on going?

Because life's hard.

We'll see that in a minute,

why it's hard.

But friends,

this bestows,

or pronounces dignity over you that is inherent.

Right?

This is who you are.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made

in His loving image.

And it's no wonder,

isn't it,

that many of us have struggled during this season.

Because if we're made in the image of our relational gods,

friends,

it shouldn't surprise us that we are made for relationships

with one another.

It's been difficult,

hasn't it?

But this is who our God is.

And He pronounces dignity over each and every single human life.

And from that,

friends,

I hope you can see

why any kind of racism in our society,

any kind of prejudice,

any feeling of superiority,

any mindset that devalues human beings

for whatever reason that is,

and fails to see all human life is precious.

But as you see,

it is so stomach-wretchingly wrong.

It is sinful,

it is sinful,

and it's a very insult to our Maker who made us in His image.

Because all life matters to God.

all life matters to God.

And do you know what that means?

I was thinking about this week,

if that's the kind of pebble in the ocean,

if you like,

in the pond,

and all the ripples are coming out from it.

If you think about what that means,

friends,

it means that when any human life is under threat,

when inherent human rights are being overlooked,

when people are hurting,

when people are struggling,

for the many,

many reasons that you and I do in life,

that we as Christians,

friends,

we should be the first ones on the scene to help.

And speak up for those who can't speak for themselves,

and act with compassion and love,

because we have this understanding of what human life is.

And we have this understanding of who our God is.

You know,

it's a conviction like this that prompted William Wilberforce

to make a stand for people trafficking.

Well,

at the end of the 18th century,

he said this,

this is his famous line,

God Almighty has set before me two great objects,

the suppression of the slave trade,

and the reformation of manners.

Don't know how he got on with the second one,

but he certainly succeeded with the first.

You know,

let's make it our prayer from tonight,

that God would grant us something more of his heart for human beings.

You know,

recently Tim Farron,

I don't know if some of you maybe picked this up,

it was an interview that he did,

Tim Farron's the MP for Westmoreland and Lonsdale,

and from what I can understand,

he's a believer,

and he made what I thought was a huge challenge to the church

in an interview that he gave recently,

right?

He said that too often,

the only time that he hears passionately from Christians in his region,

in his constituency,

the only time he ever hears from them,

is on the issues of abortion or euthanasia,

right?

Now,

good and right that we have convictions about the beginning of life,

and the end of life,

but then he said,

if only I heard from the same Christians on issues to do with child poverty,

or single parents struggling to put food on the table,

or families struggling to make ends meet,

or people breaking down with mental health,

all these different issues concerning humanity as they arise in my constituency,

if only I heard from those Christians then.

I think that's a huge challenge to us.

Do you not think?

As we think about what it means to shine forth the love of Jesus in our community,

I think that's a huge challenge,

to take our understanding,

our biblical understanding of humanity,

and our love for human beings made in God's image,

and look for ways to apply it consistently across the board,

as we serve our community,

to think about how we could be salt and light in this city of ours.

Human beings are glorious because they're made in God's image.

Now,

here's a thing to think about just as we park this,

maybe sit on this for a moment.

Here's the thing.

Human beings are glorious,

but I'd imagine that you and I will be hard-pressed to find people in our day-to-day lives

who wouldn't affirm everything that I've just said there,

regardless of whether they're Christian or not.

Probably true, isn't it?

Don't need to be a Christian to believe a lot of what I've just said.

And we recognize, don't we,

and we're so thankful for many non-Christian people and organizations

who are doing wonderful work the world over.

We're so thankful for everything that they do to help in so many situations.

I remember when we traveled to Mozambique when I was a student,

in the middle of nowhere,

seeing Oxfam doing their thing,

thinking that is brilliant.

It's brilliant.

So thankful for what they do the world over.

But perhaps increasingly,

in my conversations with people,

having explained my Christian moorings,

friends,

here's how I always gently and lovingly probe people to think about their worldview

and how they think about human beings.

Just to ask good questions,

lovingly.

Okay?

So,

that sense of right and wrong that exists inside each one of us,

that sense of right and wrong,

we know that things are right,

we know when things are wrong.

Friends,

where does that come from?

Where does that come from?

Human life,

what is it?

What is it?

These human rights that we speak of,

that are so important,

I remember studying them in my legal days,

these human rights that we speak of,

when does somebody qualify for them?

And when does somebody disqualify for them?

And who decides that?

And on what grounds do they decide that?

She's just asking questions of people's worldview.

How do we know?

These are big questions, right?

These are big, big questions,

but it's so important that we think about these things,

think about these things.

You know,

I find it fascinating,

you know,

you've heard of a guy called Jordan Peterson,

right?

It's big in our culture at the minute,

Jordan Peterson,

who,

by his own admission,

is not a follower of Jesus,

but he was asked recently in an interview

about this whole idea of human dignity,

and he made this fascinating observation

about the image of God.

He said really simply,

and I've kind of shortened it down,

he said simply,

this is the cornerstone of civilization,

and we ignore it at our peril.

It's not fascinating for somebody

that doesn't believe in God at all,

but understands that our Western culture,

friends,

is built on this understanding

that human beings have an inherent dignity

because they are made in the image of God.

I find that incredible to think about.

We've got to move on,

our time is kind of speeding on.

Friends,

never lose sight of the fact

that human beings are made glorious.

They are glorious

because they are made

in the very image of God.

Isn't that a wonderful worldview

to have as a Christian?

I think we should go on the offensive

with that more.

I'm trying to help people understand

this is what the Bible teaches

about human life.

Human beings are glorious,

but then think about the flip side of that,

what I said earlier about the C.S. Lewis quote.

It also teaches us

that we are a ruin.

We're a ruin.

In the Bible story,

after Genesis 1 and 2,

we get Genesis 3.

Adam and Eve in the garden,

one rule.

Don't eat from that tree.

Don't eat from the tree.

And unpack that.

We really need to see

what's going on there.

God's saying to them,

it's only by trusting me,

by submitting to my gracious

and my good kingship over you.

In relationship with me

is the place where you'll flourish,

right, as human beings.

It's in the sphere of grace

that you will find your purpose

and you will find joy

as my creatures.

Friends, which is why

if we're looking to know

blessing in our lives,

we're looking to know

what life to the full is.

Do you see how it's to be found

in exactly the same place here

in a sphere of grace

and relationship

with this good God?

But Adam fails to lead

as God told him to.

Eve fails to listen

as God told her to.

They believe the whispers of Satan

who would just say,

did God really say?

Did God really say?

Which underneath it

is this question,

is God really good?

Is he really good?

What happens?

Eve takes the fruit

and friends,

it's an act of deliberate rebellion

against God.

It's the very definition of sin

as it enters the human condition

and mars each and every human heart.

We are by nature rebels

against this God,

against our creator.

We don't want his rule in our lives.

We want our rule.

And all of a sudden,

after Genesis 3

and the Bible story,

you start to get words like shame

and guilt and anger

and envy

and murder

and pride.

These weren't here

in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2.

The writer trying to show us

the ripple effects of sin

as it's affected

each and every single human being

and affected our world.

And you get death.

Death.

It seems to me that

we need to maybe re-grasp

a sense of the fact

that death wasn't the way

that it was supposed to be.

You know, each and every time

figures are read out to us

on our news at the minute,

we should be grieving.

Right?

We should be thinking about

those who have lost loved ones

because death is anything

but natural.

This wasn't the way

God designed it.

And it seems to me

that as Christians

we should be

modelling to the world

what real joy looks like.

What real joy looks like.

And we should be modelling

to the world

what it is to truly mourn.

Right?

Truly mourn.

And grieve.

That death isn't the way

it was supposed to be.

None of these things, friends,

were in God's good design.

And so here,

and I think this is really important

if you want to grasp this

for what we'll come back to

in a minute,

there's a three-way disruption

going on here

as sin enters the world.

A three-way disruption

to the harmony

that exists in Genesis 1

and Genesis 2.

Think about it

in three directions.

Okay, there's an upward disruption

that our sin has caused

that severed the relationship

between us and our Creator.

There's an outward disruption

between us

and our fellow human beings.

And there's an inward disruption

in our hearts

and in our minds

as the whole of creation

suffers the effects

of the sin sickness.

Okay?

I find it amazing

how many of these themes,

there's only one of you

that's ever thought about this.

And once I've mentioned this

you'll start seeing them everywhere, right?

How many of these themes

are reflected

in some of our culture's

most loved stories?

Okay, do you know

our girls love to watch,

they love to watch

Beauty and the Beast.

You ever watched that,

Beauty and the Beast?

Okay, it's a catchy tune or two,

Beauty and the Beast.

If you haven't watched it,

okay,

Disney Plus,

seven-day free trial,

you can get it over half-term,

knock yourself out, okay?

Beauty and the Beast.

The whole story is about this

prince,

who fails to be

the person

that he's called to be.

And there's a curse

over him

and the castle.

Right?

The castle, him,

and everything in it,

all of the people

are under this dark cloud

of her curse.

Why?

Because of the beast's failure

to be the person

that he was called to be.

And everything

and everyone in the castle

is longing one day

to be freed from the curse.

And the only way

that that will happen

is by an act

of sacrificial love.

And you begin to see

these themes everywhere

in our stories

that we love

in our culture.

It's exactly the same

with the sin sickness

that the Bible

is talking about.

Friends,

it's how we make sense

of a world full of pain

and hurt.

Death,

as I said,

was never the way

it was supposed to be.

Friends,

when it comes to

racism,

when it comes to prejudice,

when it comes to sin,

have you ever asked yourself

why it's even here

in the first place?

You know,

in a big lens,

understanding of things,

friends,

these things exist.

They originate from the sin

in every human heart

against God

or sin against Him.

Right?

It's really popular

for people to say,

I cannot believe

we're still talking

about these things

in 2020.

And you know

what they mean.

Right?

You know what people mean.

And we're so thankful

for the developments

that we have made

as a culture

over the last

kind of few decades

on a lot of these issues.

But in another sense,

friends,

heartbreakingly

with this worldview,

the fact that we are

still talking about

a lot of these things

in 2020

I don't think

it should surprise us.

Because the issue,

the core of the issue,

right,

it's not primarily

an educational one.

It's not primarily

about money.

It's not a legal one.

It's not about power.

The heart of the issue,

and these are all

great secondary things

that we want to use

to see these things

stamped out of our society.

But the core of the issue,

the Bible says,

is the human heart.

That's the problem.

Human beings

capable of tremendous goods

and yet capable

of terrible evil.

And we know

these things are true

in our own hearts,

but we know

these things are true

as we look out

on the world.

You know,

I still remember

the day that my dad

first brought home

our first family PC,

right?

Great day.

We were growing up,

right?

We had dial-up internet,

remember those glorious days,

only one person

on the phone at a time?

Great days.

But the internet

is a case in point

about what I'm talking

about here,

about humanity,

right?

Amazing invention.

How would we have coped

over the last six months

without the internet?

Think about it.

What would we have done?

I don't know.

Send carrier pigeons

to one another?

I don't know what we would have done,

right?

How would we have coped?

Amazing invention

that human beings

are using

for incredible goods.

But is it not true

to say that the internet

is the very source

of some of the worst things

about our world today?

It's true, isn't it?

Pornography

and cyberbullying,

money laundering,

people trafficking,

on and on and on

the list could go.

Human beings, friends.

You see what the Bible is saying?

A glorious ruin.

A glorious ruin.

Which is where the story

would have stayed

if this God

isn't who he is.

This is where the story

would have stayed

if it wasn't for

this God

who is in the habit

of loving his enemies,

of pursuing people

who want nothing

to do with him.

If it weren't for the gospel,

the message of Christ crucified,

that God has acted in Christ

out of his great love

for a world lost

and reveling in sin

and darkness,

offering great hope

for humanity.

humanity.

Right?

And there's two sides

of this transforming hope

that we have

in the gospel.

If you remember back

to our kind of

three-fold disruption,

remember God,

outward,

inward.

Right?

Think about those things.

Here's what the gospel does.

Friends,

there cannot be an act

that more rubber stamps

the dignity of humanity

than the incarnation.

That God would come down

in the person of Jesus.

that Jesus Christ,

God eternal,

took on flesh.

And he is the very embodiment

of perfect humanity,

which means to be transformed

more into his images,

to become more human,

as it were.

He is what it means

to live life to the full.

He is what it is

to live a fully joyous life.

He is the true

and better Adam,

whose life would end

at the cross

where he takes the place

of sinful humanity.

Friends,

we're all those

who would trust in him

for the forgiveness

of their sin.

How does this

king conquer?

He conquers through humility.

And we in turn,

friends,

as we turn to him,

are clothed

with his perfect righteousness.

We know mercy,

we know grace,

we know love abounding.

You know,

I was chatting to my friend

Paul Rees,

who's down at Charlotte Chapel.

He was telling me

a story recently

about a funeral he took

over the last couple of months

for an older man

and his congregation

and just family

clearing out the house

and they found his old Bible,

right,

and gave it to Paul

and Paul opens it

and there was a huge circle

around the opening verses

of Psalm 130.

Huge circle in this guy's Bible

around the phrase,

if you, Lord,

kept a record of sins,

Lord,

who could stand?

But with you,

there is forgiveness

so that we can,

with reverence,

serve you.

And Paul said,

that man knew the joy

of sins forgiven,

of being right with God.

Friends,

Jesus heals

our upward separation.

Heals our upward separation.

We are reconciled to God.

We are justified.

We are adopted into his family

because of his great love for us.

And now,

God has sent his spirit

into our hearts

to know his fatherly love.

Jesus has reconciled us that way

and he's reconciled us internally,

transforming us internally

by his grace

as God breathes into us

into spiritually dead corpses

and is transforming us

more into the image of Jesus.

Jesus.

Friends,

it's almost like God

is declaring over us

that

I made you,

I created you in my image

and I've redeemed you

from the power of sin

and death

and I am transforming you

more into the likeness of Jesus

so that you can come

increasingly

to bear that image

once again

to the watching world.

Jesus has reconciled us

to God,

transforming us internally

and it changes us corporately

as the church

and here's the logic of it

and follow with me

if you're still tracking here,

right?

If the very core

of who our God is

is that he is triune,

okay?

He is loving unity

in diversity.

If that is who our God is,

as this God claims for himself

and changes his people,

friends,

not only should we expect

to see something of that

being reflected

in the church,

but surely it makes sense

that we best image him

to the world

when we live out

loving unity

in diversity.

And we have a saviour,

don't we,

who is all about crossing divides,

who crossed the Jew

and Samaritan one

to reach the woman

at the well,

who crossed the clean

versus the unclean one

when he touched the leper.

We've got a God,

a king,

who is all about

crossing divides,

who is all about

bringing reconciliation.

Friends,

all of that is to say

that reconciliation

is the very heart

of the gospel

and the church is called

to reflect it

to the world.

And that's why

when it comes to displaying

that unity

and diversity,

friends,

I think we need to

take more seriously

the call

to actively pursue it

for the glory of God.

Right?

Particularly when it maybe

comes to social

and racial unity,

friends,

we need to get better

at listening.

And we need to get better

at learning

and entering into

other people's stories

and adapting.

Right?

Not the gospel,

but entering into

other people's lives

and thinking,

how can we help

introduce these people

to Jesus

and love them

and hearing from

other people's experiences.

And I think it might

mean us needing

to get a bit better

at being uncomfortable.

As we seek to display

and take seriously

what God has done

in Jesus,

as we reflect this God

to the watching world,

loving unity

in diversity.

And I love that picture

that we get

at the end of Revelation.

Right?

Chapters 4 and 5.

You can check this out

in your own time.

Who is gathered

around the throne

worshiping God?

Friends,

it is a people

from every tribe,

tongue,

and nation.

This people

who God

has gathered together

and made one

through his spirit.

This is God's

very good design.

His very good design.

And this is what

he is doing

in the gospel.

We saw that

in Ephesians 1,

didn't we?

Chapter 10.

About God's plan.

God's plan.

And how he is

displaying his glory

to the world.

And our girls,

we have got this little book

called God's

very good design.

Right?

Trying to explain

this stuff

to children.

And it ends

with these words,

God made it,

people ruined it,

Jesus rescued it,

and he will finish it.

It is beautiful,

isn't it?

Friends,

a glorious ruin.

We started in Rome.

Let's just finish

in Geneva.

Okay?

Not too far from Rome,

I guess.

It's a city that

450 years ago

was turned on its head

by the knowledge

of Jesus.

Okay?

At the beginning

of the 16th century,

the city's motto

translated into English,

after darkness,

I hope for light.

Right?

It was a city's motto.

Right?

If ever there was

a sentiment

that captured the mood

of our world right now,

I think there it is.

Right?

After darkness,

I hope for light.

What's the headline,

friends,

that you and I

hope to wake up to

every single morning

when we've done so

for the last

six to eight months?

Yeah?

Vaccine found.

That's what we're

hoping for,

isn't it?

Vaccine found.

Friends,

in the gospel

we have a better hope

that's available

to us now.

And do you know what?

The people of Geneva

encountered it.

After the Reformation

hit Geneva,

the city changed

its motto from

after darkness,

I hope for light.

Do you know what

they changed it to?

After darkness,

light.

Why?

Well,

the Reformation

had at its heart

all,

it was all about

heralding the glory

of Jesus,

how you can be made

right with your creator.

And as the people

of that city

heard and responded

to it,

friends,

they truly believed

that they'd found

the hope

that they'd been

looking for as people.

As we truly believe

this,

that Jesus Christ

is the great hope

for humanity.

Jesus Christ

is the great hope

for the church,

the beautiful community

that we are called

to be,

that displays

the power of God

as we come together

in unity and diversity,

as we reflect him

to the world.

Jesus is the great

life for the people

in our city.

And I guess the question

to end on,

friends,

is,

are you convinced

of it in your own heart?

You know,

what I want to do

just as we respond

to this tonight,

I realize there's been

a lot of big things

in there,

and I definitely felt

the pressure

of not being able

to do any of that

justice in,

what,

25,

30 minutes?

I don't know

what it's been.

But Jesus Christ

is the hope

for our nation,

and he's the great

restorer of life

and joy,

and he is the giver

of life.

And so,

friends,

I just want to maybe

just pause for a moment

and allow us

just in our own,

our own quiet,

perhaps just to respond

to this.

Maybe you want to,

you're thinking of

particular issues

or particular people

in your minds

or maybe something

that's going on

in your own life

as we thought

about what the Bible

says about humanity.

Maybe just in the quiet,

friends,

maybe you want to offer

your own prayers to God,

and then we'll come back

and we're going to pray

for some of the stuff

that we've talked about

tonight,

particularly as it affects

the people in our city

of Edinburgh.

So why don't we just

have a moment of quiet

and then I'll bring us

back and we'll pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Matthew chapter 9,

Matthew 9:35–38

verses 35 to 38.

Jesus went through

all the towns and villages,

teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming the good news

of the kingdom

and healing every disease

and illness.

When he saw the crowds,

he had compassion on them

because they were harassed

and helpless like sheep

without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,

the harvest is plentiful,

but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest,

therefore,

to send out workers

into his harvest field.

May we just spend a few moments

in prayer as we respond to this.

Heavenly Father,

we would pray tonight

as your people here

for Christ's heart

for the people of our city.

As we read there in Matthew 9

of Jesus having compassion

as he looked on the people

who made up the crowds.

Father,

that they were lost

and that they were desperately

in need of our shepherd.

And thank you

that he didn't just look and leave,

but he looked

and went to the cross

so that the universal call

of the gospel

could go out to people

to come to him

and to have life in his name

as they know forgiveness of sins.

And we just praise you, Lord,

for who you are.

Thank you just for the short time tonight

gazing upon who you are,

the God who is loving unity

and diversity.

And so, Father,

we would just maybe want to bring

to you our own prayers this evening.

Father,

for the times

perhaps in our lives

where we have got this wrong,

Lord,

we pray that you would help us, Lord,

to grasp what you say

is true of human beings.

Father,

we think of our own city this evening

and we would pray for Edinburgh.

And we think of the many different people

that we know in our circles,

the many different people

who live in this city.

Father,

we'd want to pray maybe tonight

for the most vulnerable in our city

as we think about

what you have said is true

about every single human being

as being made in the image of you.

Lord,

we would pray tonight

for those who are on our streets

and who are homeless.

Father,

we ask that they would get the support

and the shelter that they need.

Father,

we pray for different organisations

working so hard there

that you would help them,

Father,

to provide social care

and to provide physical help.

Lord,

that we might see people

not having to resort

to homelessness in our city.

Father,

we pray for those

who are struggling

with unemployment just now.

Lord,

we know the times

in which we live,

the recession

in which we are currently in.

And so,

Father,

we pray for those

who are finding themselves

out of work

that you would be near to them.

Father,

they would know you

as the great provider.

Lord,

we would think of those

in our city

who are struggling

with loneliness

and depression.

Father,

who are struggling

with this season

as a thought of perhaps

another lockdown

looms large in the mind.

Father,

we pray that you would be near

to these individuals,

that you surround them

with people

who can care for them well.

Maybe particularly

those,

Father,

tonight who are struggling

with the very thought

of keeping on going in life.

Father,

that you would put people

around them

who can speak

the truth of your word

into their lives,

that they are of value,

that they are known,

that they are loved.

Father,

we would think of the many

children in our city,

Lord,

who find themselves

in poverty,

those who are struggling,

Lord,

to go to school.

Father,

we pray for them

and particularly,

Lord,

we maybe pray

for half term this week

that you would give them

rest

and you would give them

a break.

And Father,

that you would help

provide for families,

so that children

can be brought up

well in this city.

Father,

we think of those

who find themselves

in care homes as well.

Lord,

realizing the heartbreaking

statistics

that we've maybe heard

over the last

number of months

as we thought about

those in care homes,

Lord,

we pray that you would

just be near to them.

Father,

for those who are

struggling with pain

and with hurts,

Father,

those who are grieving

the loss

of both family

and friends.

Lord,

that you would be

known as the great

comforter

in those situations.

And so,

Father,

we would just pray

tonight that you

would help us

to love people

well.

And so,

Father,

we just praise you

for your words,

your precious words.

Father,

where would we be

without your words?

And so,

Lord,

we just commit

ourselves to you

tonight.

and we just

praise you

that you hear us,

that our words

don't just bounce

off the ceiling,

that they don't

just echo

around the room,

but Father,

you hear us

because we pray

in Jesus'

precious name.

Amen.