Exodus 18:13-27
The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?" Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God." Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God; teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do. You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace." So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country.
1 Peter 5:1-14
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it-- not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Matthew 1:1-17, 3:1-6
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2 Let none who look to you be put to shame; let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3 Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
5 Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
7 Gracious and upright is the LORD; therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8 He guides the humble in doing right and teaches his way to the lowly.
9 All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10 For your Name's sake, O LORD, forgive my sin, for it is great.
11 Who are they who fear the LORD? he will teach them the way that they should choose.
12 They shall dwell in prosperity, and their offspring shall inherit the land.
13 The LORD is a friend to those who fear him and will show them his covenant.
14 My eyes are ever looking to the LORD, for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
15 Turn to me and have pity on me, for I am left alone and in misery.
16 The sorrows of my heart have increased; bring me out of my troubles.
17 Look upon my adversity and misery and forgive me all my sin.
18 Look upon my enemies, for they are many, and they bear a violent hatred against me.
19 Protect my life and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
20 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for my hope has been in you.
21 Deliver Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 9
1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing to your Name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies are driven back, they will stumble and perish at your presence.
4 For you have maintained my right and my cause; you sit upon your throne judging right.
5 You have rebuked the ungodly and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 As for the enemy, they are finished, in perpetual ruin, their cities plowed under, the memory of them perished;
7 But the LORD is enthroned for ever; he has set up this throne for judgment.
8 It is he who rules the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity.
9 The LORD will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble.
10 Those who know your Name will put their trust in you, for you never forsake those who seek you, O LORD.
11 Sing praise to the LORD who dwells in Zion; proclaim to the peoples the things he has done.
12 The Avenger of blood will remember them; he will not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13 Have pity on me, O LORD; see the misery I suffer from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gate of death;
14 So that I may tell of all your praises and rejoice in your salvation in the gates of the city of Zion.
15 The ungodly have fallen into the pit they dug, and in the snare they set is their own foot caught.
16 The LORD is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are trapped in the works of their own hands.
17 The wicked shall be given over to the grave, and also all the people that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19 Rise up, O LORD, let not the ungodly have the upper hand; let them be judged before you.
20 Put fear upon them, O LORD; let the ungodly know they are but mortal.
Psalm 15
1 LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? who may abide upon your holy hill?
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.
3 There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil to his friend; he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.
4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, but he honors those who fear the LORD.
5 He has sworn to do no wrong and does not take back his word.
6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
7 Whoever does these things shall never be overthrown.
