Daily Lectionary
Read all of God's word..in two years...one day at a time.
Tuesday, September 7
Job 29:1-20 He lighted the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness. (v.3)
Job’s story is such a classic. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He loved God. He was successful and wealthy. Then he lost it all, even his health. His friends and his wife told him to curse God and die. Yet Job remained faithful, and in the end the Lord again richly blessed him.
Many years ago we lost two dearly loved members of our family in a fishing accident in Alaska. Many days we felt our tragedy was like Job’s, as we had to face our fears and cry our tears.
Our Christian community and family upheld us with their prayers and acts of love and kindness. We felt our Lord walking with us “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). Like the poem “Footsteps” we look back and see how Jesus carried us through those difficult times.
We still miss our loved ones, but each year the pain is a little less intense. We look forward to being with them in heaven!
Thank you, Jesus, for the hope of resurrection.
Psalm 45; Acts 14:1-18; John 10:31-42
Birthdays Today: Joe Davis III, Edwin Wallis
Wednesday, September 8
Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength. (v.1a)
The story is told of a young man who dropped to his knees in prayer: “Lord, I cannot go on, this cross is too heavy to bear.” So the Lord told him to lay down his cross and pick out another one. He looked over many crosses but they all seemed too big or too heavy or had too many splinters or their edges were too sharp. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. “I’d like that one, Lord,” he whispered. And the Lord replied, “My son, that is the cross you brought with you.”
God always strengthens us for the load we carry. He never allows more than we can bear. When we face temptation, He always gives us a way out so we will not give in to it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
He is also our refuge or hiding place. In every worship service He refreshes and strengthens us for the days to come. That is why it is so important to gather with our fellow Christians to worship. Then, when the storms of life come, our house will be built upon rock.
Thank You, God, for being my refuge and strength.
Job 29:1, 30:1-2, 16-31; Psalm 119:49-72;
Acts 14:19-28; John 11:1-16
Thursday, September 9
John 11:17-29 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (v.25)
Lazarus, Jesus’ friend, had died. His sisters Mary (who had poured expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair) and Martha had called for Jesus. He arrived in Bethany after Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. Martha told Jesus that her brother would not have died if he had been there. When Jesus told her “Your brother will rise again” (v.23), she answered, “Yes, when everyone else rises on resurrection day” (v.24). He then gave her the comforting words of our text, and she gave him her witness: “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God” (v.27). And Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!
In verse 44 Jesus told the gathered friends and relatives to unwrap Lazarus. It seems to me that this is an important step for the Church to take with new believers. They have been brought to new life in Christ, but many have just left an old sinful lifestyle and need brother and sister believers to walk beside them and help them learn about life under Jesus’ management.
Thank you, Jesus, that because you live, we too shall live!
Job 29:1, 31:1-23; Psalm 50; Acts l5:1-11
Birthday Today: Jeff Garrety
Friday, September 10
Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. (v.1)
This psalm of David has so many wonderful lessons: the first is that God follows His own perfect timetable, not my demand of wanting my prayer answered yesterday! He lifts my feet out of the mud, sets me on solid ground and steadies me as I walk.
He gives me a new song to sing (rather than my complaints), a hymn of praise to God. This will help others put their trust in the Lord. He does many miracles for us. We just need the eyes of our hearts opened to see all His wonderful deeds.
As we allow Him to write His law in our hearts we take joy in doing His will. We love to talk about His faithfulness and saving power. Those of us who love His salvation shout “The Lord is great!” (v.16).
Our redeeming God can make all things new. He restores the years the locust have eaten. He rescues us. Praise His name!
Thank You, Lord, that You are my Helper and my Savior.
Job 29:1, 31:24-40; Psalm 54; Acts 15:12-21; John 11:30-44
Saturday, September 11
Psalm 55 Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! (v.6)
This psalm seems to be written for a busy mother who doesn’t have a moment for herself, or for a person who is being overwhelmed by their job. We are thankful to be parents, and we are glad to have plenty of work, but sometimes it all gets to be too much!
The psalmist gives great advice: “Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you” (v.22). We do not have to do it all. We can hire a babysitter or cleaning person or trade off with a neighbor. We can ask for assistance on the job; it does not all depend on us. God is still in control of the universe.
When we stop trying to be in control, He will rescue us and keep us safe from the battle that rages against us. Then we can “run and not grow weary....walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Dear Jesus, help me rest in you.
Job 38:1-17; Acts 15:22-35; John 11:45-54
by Jacqueline Littleford
Sunday, September 12
Job 38:1, 18-41 “Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me if you know all this.” (v.18 NIV)
When “the Lord answered Job out of the storm,” His words never struck me as particularly comforting. My Bible commentary to the string of questions the Lord poses to Job says it is a form of rhetoric. I, personally, had always sensed sarcasm in these refrains. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the former is “a question that doesn’t need an answer”—true. The latter is an “ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain.” In my opinion, also true. Why would a good and loving God want to cause Job more pain? The answer lies in the question. Who is your God? What might His purposes be?
Psalm 24, 29; Revelation 18:1-8; Matthew 5:21-26
Birthday Today: George Googe
Monday, September 13
Psalm 57 I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. (v.1b)
When do we turn to God? When all is well or when trouble comes our way? When do we admit we have need for him? Apathy and complacency are the enemies of my soul. A favorite analogy of mine is the way we grow stronger and the way a tree grows stronger. When a tree is stressed, needing water during the drought or dry season, its root system goes deep into the soil to find its source of water (life). It is therefore able to withstand the dry seasons much better and longer in the future.
We can all learn from this example. When we are stressed or when disaster is upon us, we can also go “deeper” into our connectedness to the Lord as our source of life. Sometimes the “soil” is hard. Sometimes we will “wilt” for awhile. But by seeking Him through His Word and fellowship with His people, our “roots” will be stronger once the “pruning” process is complete.
Job 40:1-24; Psalms 56, 58; Acts 15:36—16:5; John 11:55—12:8
Birthday Today: Festus Arinze
Tuesday, September 14
John 12:9-19 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” (v.13)
Who doesn’t remember being part of a procession like this as a child? The feel of carrying a palm branch (heavier than you think), walking single file through the sanctuary and chanting Hosanna all made it so real. The tradition continues today with our own children and grand-children. Hosanna is a “cry of acclamation and adoration.” As children, we cry Hosanna to the Jesus who “…loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” I don’t know about you, but as an adult, I still cry Hosanna for the same reason.
Job 40:1, 41:1-11; Psalms 61, 62; Acts 16:6-15
Birthdays Today: Anna Clare Pearson,
Mary Peyton Pettigrew
Wednesday, September 15
Job 42:1-17 “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (v.5)
How big the difference between hearing of the Lord and “seeing” Him! Job had spent his life hearing of the Lord and His commandments, following those commandments, and being blessed for doing so. There comes a time in each of our lives when we have to question what we really believe. Job encountered this soul searching question when, in the midst of his obedience, tragedy struck and the blessings were removed. He still believed that God was essentially good, loved him, and that His ways were best. During his long conversation with God, Job found validation for his faith in the presence of God. This took his relationship to a new and higher level. In discovering the difference between hearing of the Lord and being in His presence, our relationship with Him will go to a higher level as well. Pray for “seeing” His presence every day.
Psalm 72; Acts 16:16-24; John 12:20-26
Thursday, September 16
Job 28:1-28 “He searches in the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire.” (vv.3b, 5)
I was struck with a new insight to some of these verses when reading them this morning. The primary meaning from the whole chapter is about how man relies on himself so much of the time to pierce the darkness in the earth’s mines to bring forth treasure. How “wisdom” is the greatest treasure, which all other treasures cannot compare and are not worthy of mention. How wisdom is hidden from man, concealed from our eyes. How only God knows the way to wisdom and how to acquire it. Fear of the Lord is wisdom. In verses 2-6, however, I was struck with a deeper, more spiritualized sense of where “treasure” is found and the processes used to form it. It is out of the “blackest darkness,” the “earth is transformed below as by fire.” Isn’t this the same process for how we are transformed? And, once we have emerged from the darkness and been refined by the fire, precious eternal jewels come forth? Isn’t it in these dark places where “no other man has set foot” that we meet the God that is Wisdom, the greatest Jewel of all?
Psalms 70, 71; Acts 16:25-40; John 12:27-36a
Friday, September 17
Acts 17:1-15 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. (v.5)
“What’s old is new again.” “There is nothing new under the sun.” These same clichés can be applied to the tactics used today to hinder the spread of the Gospel and the ways of God! There is just no telling what some people will resort to in attempting to prevent the Word of God from being shared. Perversion and distortion of the truth, all kinds of arguments, and deceptions are employed to justify positions of unbelief and damage the cause of Christ. Jealousy was the primary motivation two thousand years ago. This remains an ongoing motivator in contemporary society. Jealousy is just another form of anger. Anger about what’s “rightfully mine.” Jealousy desires the trappings of this life’s position and possessions above the wealth available to all who would just believe. Only God can unblock the view to the eternal for those who are lost, but He asks us to pray for this to happen. We are His chosen channel of operation to effect change in this world and the hearts of men. Pray for those in your circle who need Him.
Esther 1:1-4, 10-19; Psalm 69; John 12:36b-43
Anniversary Today: Bruce and Vicki Burch
Saturday, September 18
Acts 17:16-34 Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious… I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. (vv.22-23)
I think Paul gives a great example here of how to reach those of a different culture, faith and background for the cause of Christ. He chooses not to offend them by exposing everything they are doing/believing that is heretical or in error, but builds on what truth there is in their belief system. For example, Paul builds on the truth of what they were familiar with in the saying, “as some of your own poets said, ‘we are his offspring’” (Acts 17:28). One thing I’ve learned over the years is that in all religions, even cults, there are elements of truth. That is what makes some so hard to speak against or criticize because the lies are so close to the truth. There is a saying, “the closer to the truth a lie is, the harder it is to discern.” I’ve also learned that the one starting point in all discussions of truth is Jesus. It is with him that truth begins and ends. It is with him that we stand or fall. It is with him that others will be drawn to the truth. May we all reflect him to the lost and deceived of this world.
Esther 2:5-8, 15-23; Psalms 75, 76; Acts 17:16-34; John 12:44-50
by Diane Brennan
Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP
P. O. Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790
www.biblereading.org