I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me - Daily Bible Readings February 21,2014

1^ST READING

 

  

Faith is all about action. Justice is all about putting right the wrongs we discover in our lives and in the world around us. True righteousness is not about seeing ourselves with a monopoly of the understanding of good and right, but about living the truth as we know it, and seeking to influence those around us with our commitment to it. Judgmentalism will never serve the Kingdom of God. It will simply turn people off to our message.

 

James 2:14-24, 26

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? 17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. 19 You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. 20 Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was comp leted by the works. 23 Thus the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 26 For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus is getting down to business now. He is making it clear that to be His disciple is not going to be easy. It will mean embracing many difficult and trying decisions. It will mean taking up our cross and following Him. The disciples could not fully understand what this meant as they had no idea that Jesus was going to die, and on a cross at that. However, I am sure they would be able to understand that what Jesus was saying to them constituted a warning that to follow Him would involve trial and suffering of one kind or another.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

 

Mark 8:34–9:1

34 Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. 36 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 What could one give in exchange for his life? 38 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 9: 1 He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.”

think: True righteousness is not about seeing ourselves with a monopoly of the understanding of good and right, but about living the truth as we know it.

 

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 1 Thessalonians 1-5