The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many - Daily Bible Readings September 27,2013

1^ST READING

 

Haggai assures the people that God is with them. This is all that we need to know. However, we often seek signs and further assurances of God’s presence and blessing to a particular task. Is it wrong to do this? It is hard to answer that question as it depends a lot on our motivation — the state of our hearts. It is important that we do not delay following God’s will, as the moment of grace may disappear. It is also important to discern His will so that we do not make an avoidable mistake.

 

Haggai 1:15-2:9

15 In the second year of King Darius, 2: 1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 Tell this to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people: 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes? 4 But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the Lord, and take courage, Joshua, high priest, son of Jehozadak, and take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts. 5 This is the pact that I made with you when you came out of Egypt, and my spirit continues in your midst; do not fear! 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: One moment  yet, a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the Lord of hosts. 9 Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give you peace, says the Lord of hosts.

 

P S A L M

 

 

Psalm 43:1, 2, 3, 4

R: Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

1 Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight against a faithless people; from the deceitful and impious man rescue me. (R) 2 For you, O God, are my strength. Why do you keep me so far away? Why must I go about in mourning, with the enemy oppressing me? (R) 3 Send forth your light and your fidelity; they shall lead me on and bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling-place. (R) 4 Then will I go in to the altar of God, the God of my gladness and joy; then will I give you thanks upon the harp, O God, my God! (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

Many of the questions of the Scriptures are valid for us today, especially this one. Our answer to the question of who we think Jesus is will govern our commitment to following Him and the conviction with which we do it. The Scriptures reveal to us a multifaceted image of God and we all have to choose how we interpret it and put it together. The way we do this will depend on our character. Let us seek to answer this question honestly in our lives.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

 

The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.                         

 

Luke 9:18-22

 

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

 

think:  It is important that we do not delay following God’s will, as the moment of grace may disappear.

 

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 Ezekiel 37-40