Thursday, July 13, 2023

The Daily Lectionary for Friday, July 14, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Friday, July 14, 2023
Psalm 119:105-112; Deuteronomy 32:1-10; Romans 15:14-21
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 119:105-112
Your word is a lamp to my feet
Lucerna pedibus meis

Your word is a lantern to my feet *
  and a light upon my path.


I have sworn and am determined *
  to keep your righteous judgments.


I am deeply troubled; *
  preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.


Accept, O LORD, the willing tribute of my lips, *
  and teach me your judgments.


My life is always in my hand, *
  yet I do not forget your law.


The wicked have set a trap for me, *
  but I have not strayed from your commandments.


Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
  truly, they are the joy of my heart.


I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
  for ever and to the end.


Heavenly Father, Your word describes many blessings that believers can receive directly from Your hand. We trust Your word, and as believers we know by experience that Your word is true. You have never failed us, and You have never failed to keep Your word. But we confess that we have failed You and others, so teach us good judgment and give us greater knowledge of Your will. For Jesus' sake, forgive us for our failures and sins. Fill us now with the knowledge, love, power and Spirit of Jesus Christ so we can grow in faithfulness and grace. Use us to bring Your blessings to others that they might rejoice in You. We pray through Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray,
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
Deuteronomy 32:1-10
Jacob personification of Israel

Listen, you heavens, and I will speak;
    hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.
Let my teaching fall like rain
    and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
    like abundant rain on tender plants.


I will proclaim the name of the Lord.
    Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
    and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
    upright and just is he.


They are corrupt and not his children;
    to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation.
Is this the way you repay the Lord,
    you foolish and unwise people?
Is he not your Father, your Creator,
    who made you and formed you?


Remember the days of old;
    consider the generations long past.
Ask your father and he will tell you,
    your elders, and they will explain to you.
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
    when he divided all mankind,
he set up boundaries for the peoples
    according to the number of the sons of Israel.
For the Lord’s portion is his people,
    Jacob his allotted inheritance.


In a desert land he found him,
    in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded him and cared for him;
    he guarded him as the apple of his eye,


Romans 15:14-21
Sanctified by the Holy Spirit

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:
“Those who were not told about him will see,
    and those who have not heard will understand.”
Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for Friday, July 14, 2023
Psalm 119:105-112; Deuteronomy 32:1-10; Romans 15:14-21

The Morning Prayer for Friday, July 14, 2023

 
 
The Morning Prayer
Friday, July 14, 2023


At that time I will answer the prayers of my people Israel. I will make rain fall on the earth, and the earth will produce grain and grapes and olives. I will establish my people in the land and make them prosper. I will show love to those who were called “Unloved,” and to those who were called “Not-My-People” I will say, “You are my people,” and they will answer, “You are our God."

Lord our God, kindle true light in our hearts and minds, that we may recognize what we are and become free of everything false and dishonest. Let this light of righteousness, this judgment, go through all nations, that people no longer use empty words when they talk of "mercy" and "truth." Grant that your mercy and your truth find the right soil and bear fruit. May they find soil prepared by you, for you judge us and make right what is wrong in our earthly life. We thank you that however painful many of our experiences are, we may still say, "Through how much need has not our merciful God spread out his wings to protect us!" Amen.

Verse of the Day for Friday, July 14, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Friday, July 14, 2023


John 15:10
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
We must always test our motives for everything we do. Do we sacrifice our lives and possessions out of loving obedience to the Lord, or in doing so are we fulfilling a selfish need in our own lives? Do we address our conduct with an attitude of godly service, or are we motivated by personal ambition and conceit? If our actions do not reflect the love of God, they will have no power and will certainly not last (John 13:34, 35; 15:4–14; 1 Cor. 3:11–15).

Read all of John Chapter 15

Listen to John Chapter 15


Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.