The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God - Daily Bible Readings January 3,2014

1^ST READING

 

         Sin has never been a part of God’s plan and never will be. Sin is not a part of our human nature per se – it tis the result of bad choices we make. God responded to our sins and sent us a Redeemer. However, this does not give us a license to sin. The saints have realized this truth most strongly. When one reads the writings, it is quire plain to see that they have developed a horror and hatred for even the smallest of sins, as they understand the depth with which sin separates us from the love of God. Sin kills life – the fullness of life God desired for us.

 

1 John 2:29-3:6

       ²⁹If you consider that God is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him. 3: ¹/see what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure. ⁴Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. ⁵You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and him there is no sin. ⁶No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him.

 

P S A L M

Psalm 98:1,3-4, 5-6

 

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

        

¹Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) ³All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. ⁴Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) ⁵Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. ⁶With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the Lord. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

         John is never threatened by the greatness of Jesus and his own insignificance in the greater plan of God. If we are threatened by the greatness of those around us, if we are threatened by others who are better that us at particulars tasks, let us have the humility to ask why this is so. Each one of us is gifted by God in different ways, it does not matter what our gift may be; what matters is if and how we develop it to the full. We are all members of the Body of Christ, each with our own gifts to bring.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

         The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.

 

John 1:29-34

       ²⁹John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. ³⁰He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ ³¹I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” ³²John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. ³³I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

 

think: Each one of us is gifted by God in different ways. It does not matter what our gift may be, what matters is if and how we develop it to the full.

 

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 Luke 8-10