Wednesday, July 26, 2023

The Daily Lectionary for Thursday, July 27, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b; Genesis 29:1-8; 1 Corinthians 4:14-20
(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 105:1-11, 45b
Give thanks to God
Part I Confitemini Domino

Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; *
  make known his deeds among the peoples.


Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
  and speak of all his marvelous works.


Glory in his holy Name; *
  let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.


Search for the LORD and his strength; *
  continually seek his face.


Remember the marvels he has done, *
  his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,


O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
  O children of Jacob his chosen.


He is the LORD our God; *
  his judgments prevail in all the world.


He has always been mindful of his covenant, *
  the promise he made for a thousand generations:


The covenant he made with Abraham, *
  the oath that he swore to Isaac,


Which he established as a statute for Jacob, *
  an everlasting covenant for Israel,


Saying, “To you will I give the land of Canaan *
  to be your allotted inheritance.”
   Hallelujah!


Father God, You created all things. You created a beautiful world for us to enjoy; a world designed to meet our physical needs. Then, when we sinned and dishonored You, You sent Your only Son to meet our spiritual needs. All that we truly enjoy comes from Your hand. Therefore, with thankful hearts, we 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.”
Genesis 29:1-8
Jacob meets Rachel

Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”

“We’re from Harran,” they replied.

He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”

“Yes, we know him,” they answered.

Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”

“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

“Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

“We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”

1 Corinthians 4:14-20
Reign of God depends not on talk but power

I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

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 Thursday, July 27, 2023
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b; Genesis 29:1-8; 1 Corinthians 4:14-20

The Morning Prayer for Thursday, July 27, 2023

 

The Morning Prayer
Thursday, July 27, 2023


I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Lord our God, bring us together as one. Give us your Spirit so that we may know you, so that joy may fill our hearts, not only for ourselves but also for others. Root out evil from the earth. Sweep away all that offends you, all lying, deceit, and hate between nations. Grant that all people may come to know you, so that disunity and conflict may be swept away and your eternal kingdom may arise on earth and we may rejoice in it. For your kingdom can come to people even while on earth to bring them happiness and to make them your own children. Yes, Lord God, we want to be your children, your people, held in your hand, so that your name may be honored, your kingdom may come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Thursday, July 27, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Thursday, July 27, 2023

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 11 is filled with excellent examples of faith for us to draw strength and courage from when our walk with the Lord becomes difficult. Like them, we must let go of anything that hinders our relationship with God and, as Paul says, “Count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:8). We cannot succeed in this race with the passions of this world weighing us down. We must run wholeheartedly for Christ—or not at all.

Read all of Hebrews Chapter 12

Listen to Hebrews Chapter 12


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