If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you - Daily Bible Readings November 5,2014

1^ST READING

 

Paul is right that it is God at work within us, providing both the desire and doing the work that leads to our salvation. Our cooperation with the grace of God needs to be given freely, or else we will tremble when we stand before God’s judgment seat when we die. This is not meant to instill fear but simply to present the truth as clearly as possible.

 

Philippians 2:12-18

12 My beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. 14 Do everything without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, 16 as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. 18 In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

R: The Lord is my light and my salvation.

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)

 

GOSPEL

 

What does Jesus mean when He says that we must hate our own parents or we cannot be His disciple? He is trying to make the point that a disciple should know where his focus lies, and when it comes to Christianity that focus must be God and no one else. It is true that the most important relationship for a Christian is the one with Jesus. Thus, Jesus’ words should be no surprise to us.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you.

 

Luke 14:25-33

25 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 

think:  It is God at work within us, providing both the desire and doing the work that leads to our salvation.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

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God’s special verse/thought for me today_

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 53-56