Daily Bible Readings

August 30, 2011
1st READING
Christ’s return will be sudden and unexpected. As Christians, we should be alert and busy doing His work so that when He does come, we will not be ashamed to face Him. Paul tells us to put on the breastplate of faith and love. This will protect our hearts and ensure we are ready when Christ returns.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11
1 Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. 3 When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. 5 For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. 6 Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. 9 For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

P S A L M

Psalms 27:1, 4, 13-14
R: I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek, to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. (R)

G O S P E L

When the scribes and Pharisees taught the people, they often quoted famous scholars and rabbis to support what they were saying and to impress their audience. Jesus, in contrast, spoke with great simplicity and power, supporting what He taught with miracles and signs. He did not quote other authorities as He was Himself God, and so He said, “But I say unto you.” He even placed His teaching above that of Moses, the greatest of all the Jewish prophets.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Luke 4:31-37
31 Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 35 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

my reflections
t h i n k : Christ’s return will be sudden and unexpected.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 41-44