Wednesday, May 3, 2023

The Daily Lectionary for Thursday, May 4, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 6:8-15

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
I commend my spirit
In te, Domine, speravi

1 In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
      let me never be put to shame; *
    deliver me in your righteousness.


2 Incline your ear to me; *
    make haste to deliver me.


3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
      for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
    for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.


4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
    for you are my tower of strength.


5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
    for you have redeemed me,
      O LORD, O God of truth.


15 My times are in your hand; *
     rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
       and from those who persecute me.


16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
     and in your loving-kindness save me.”


O God, we praise and thank You for the many mercies we have received from Your steadfast love. We continue to pray for all those in need, knowing that You will keep your many precious promises, revealed in Your word, to us. And now 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 12:1-3
The call of Abram

12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
     and I will bless you;
  I will make your name great,
     and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
     and whoever curses you I will curse;
  and all peoples on earth
     will be blessed through you.”
Acts 6:8-15
Stephen is arrested

6:8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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, May 4, 2023
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 6:8-15

The Morning Prayer for Thursday, May 4, 2023

 

The Morning Prayer
Thursday, May 4, 2023


And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14, RSV


Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for guiding us on all our ways with power from on high. We thank you that again and again you have led us through the darkness on a path of light. Looking back, we cannot be thankful enough. May our hearts turn to you and be filled with quiet certainty in all we are still awaiting. Remember us and remember the many who lie under heavy bondage. Let the time come when you will bring a great deliverance to those who are in darkness. Then we can find meaning for our lives in all that happens, knowing that you have been faithful in everything. You have done more than we asked, more than we can understand. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Thursday, May 4, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Thursday, May 4, 2023


2 Chronicles 7:14
…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
When the construction of the temple and the days of dedication were completed, the Lord taught Solomon a very important principle. Whenever the people were disobedient, He would punish their sin. He also made it clear that when they sought His forgiveness, He would surely restore them. He does the same for us (1 John 1:9).