I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me - Daily Bible Readings February 17,2014

1^ST READING

 

 

Living the faith is hard work. There is no doubt about this. James encourages us to persevere in living the truth because he knows the struggle himself. There is no easy path to salvation — we will all have our struggles and trials. Yet there is always the comfort and hope of knowing that Jesus is with us. He was tempted, too, in the desert. He knows what it means to struggle against the powers of sin.

 

James 1:1-11

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. 6 But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. 9 The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing, 10 and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” 11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76

R: Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I hold to your promise. (R) 68 You are good and bountiful; teach me your statutes. (R) 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. (R) 72 The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (R) 75 I know, O Lord, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me. (R) 76 Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

Let us avoid seeking signs and simply trust in God’s Word. If signs come, well and good, but let us try to keep our faith as simple as possible by accepting God’s Word and following it as well as we can. Seeking clarification if we do not understand what God wants us to do is one thing, but testing Him by seeking signs all the time is a totally different reality.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.

 

Mark 8:11-13

11 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

 

think: Jesus was tempted, too, in the desert. He knows what it means to struggle against the powers of sin.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ephesians 1-3