Daily Bible Readings - January 11, 2012

1st READING

Eli is a holy man and it still takes him some time to realize that it is the Lord who is speaking to Samuel. Is this because he is jealous of Samuel? Maybe, but I doubt it. It is quite common for us to struggle to recognize God’s voice when He speaks to us; it can take us even longer to respond to it. Yet the most important thing is that we understand and respond well. This is what we should pray for in our own lives.

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
1 During the time young Samuel was minister to the Lord under Eli, a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent. 2 One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. 3 The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. 4 The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” 5 Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. 6 Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” 7 At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. 9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, 10 the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 19 Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. 20 Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the Lord.

P S A L M

Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-8, 8-9, 10
R: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
1 [2] I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. 4 [5] Blessed the man who makes the Lord his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; 7 [8] then said I, “Behold I come.” (R) “ 8 In the written scroll it is prescribed for me. 8 [9] To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) 9 [10] I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R)

GOSPEL

How many times have we gotten up long before dawn to pray? This is what Jesus did, and judging from the number of times it is mentioned in the Scriptures, probably often. Why? Jesus knows that prayer is an essential aspect of His relationship with His Father. There is nothing more important than prayer. What priority do I give to prayer in my life?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Mark 1:29-39
29 On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33 The whole town was gathered at the door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him 37 and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” 39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
BLESSING
LIST
SING
LIST
think: There is nothing more important than prayer. What priority do I give to prayer in my life?

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 Mark 5-8