Sunday, December 4, 2022

The Daily Bible Readings for Monday, December 5, 2022

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The Daily Lectionary
Monday, December 5, 2022
Psalm 21; Isaiah 24:1-16a; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions


Psalm 21
(God comes with judgment and strength)

In your strength we rejoice, O Lord, and in your help we exult greatly!

You meet us with rich blessings; and give us length of days forever and ever.

You bestow on us blessings forever; you make us glad with the joy of your presence.

Through the steadfast love of the Most High we shall not be moved. Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power forever.

Heavenly Father, we trust in You, even as we trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We trust in Your word, and in Your many demonstrations of strength to help all those in need, especially those who call out to You in prayer. You have continually blessed us in ways innumerable. And most especially, You have promised us the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life through Your only Son, Jesus the Messiah. We find great joy in the opportunity to worship You this day. We sing Your praises for the love and peace that You have poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who indwells us and directs our thoughts toward You as 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.”

(Judgment is coming but glorify God)
Impending Judgment on the Earth
1  Now the Lord is about to lay waste the earth and make it
         desolate,
     and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.
2  And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest;
     as with the slave, so with his master;
     as with the maid, so with her mistress;
   as with the buyer, so with the seller;
     as with the lender, so with the borrower;
     as with the creditor, so with the debtor.
3  The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly
         despoiled;
     for the Lord has spoken this word.

4  The earth dries up and withers,
     the world languishes and withers;
     the heavens languish together with the earth.
5  The earth lies polluted
     under its inhabitants;
   for they have transgressed laws,
     violated the statutes,
     broken the everlasting covenant.
6  Therefore a curse devours the earth,
     and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
   therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled,
     and few people are left.
7  The wine dries up,
     the vine languishes,
     all the merry-hearted sigh.
8  The mirth of the timbrels is stilled,
     the noise of the jubilant has ceased,
     the mirth of the lyre is stilled.
9  No longer do they drink wine with singing;
     strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10 The city of chaos is broken down,
     every house is shut up so that no one can enter.
11 There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine;
     all joy has reached its eventide;
     the gladness of the earth is banished.
12 Desolation is left in the city,
     the gates are battered into ruins.
13 For thus it shall be on the earth
     and among the nations,
   as when an olive tree is beaten,
     as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is ended.

14 They lift up their voices, they sing for joy;
     they shout from the west over the majesty of the Lord.
15 Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord;
     in the coastlands of the sea glorify the name of the Lord,
         the God of Israel.
16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise,
     of glory to the Righteous One.

(Live in holiness and love one another)
A Life Pleasing to God
4:1 Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

9 Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, 12 so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.

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 New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

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 Bible Readings for Monday, December 5, 2022
Psalm 21; Isaiah 24:1-16a; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

The Morning Prayer for Monday, December 5, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Monday, December 5, 2022


Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.
Daniel 7:27 (NIV)

Lord our God, dear Father, you have made yourself known on earth so that we may love you and be loved by you. Give us your Spirit, we pray. Give us your Spirit to strengthen us in the life and work you offer us. Watch over us on all our ways. Wherever your children are sighing and calling for you, protect and guide them with your mighty hand. Let your kingdom spread over the whole world, over all people, over all races and nations, that we may become united as servants of Jesus Christ to your honor. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Monday, December 5, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Monday, December 5, 2022


John 10:7, 9–10
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.… I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
There is only one door to heaven. Jesus is not one route among several to an intimate relationship with God, but the only way. Some may think, “That is very narrow-minded.” However, it was the greatest mind, the most profound wisdom, and the deepest thoughts that ever existed that implemented the plan of how you and I would be reconciled to God and have a home in heaven. The Lord, who created us is the One who decides how we can know Him—and that way is through Jesus Christ.

Do you know how Jesus gives us abundant life? He does so by giving us Himself! You could have all the money, relationships, wealth, and power, but you would still have a deep sense of emptiness because life isn’t found in these things. The only One who can truly satisfy you is Jesus Christ. To live the abundant Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life through us. His love motivates and empowers us, so we obey Him out of joy and thankfulness.


Read all of John Chapter 10

Listen to John Chapter 10


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