Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord - Daily Bible Readings July 4,2014

1^ST READING

 

The priests of the shrine of Bethel may not want to hear what Amos has to say but he is relentless. He is not going to give up on the message that the Lord has given to him to tell the leaders in the Northern Tribes. I doubt that his message is rejected because the people do not think it is true! I believe, and we have all probably experienced this at one time or another — that the people have become comfortable in their sin and are enjoying the fruits of it and, thus, do not want to upset their way of life.

 

Amos 8:4-6, 9-12

4 Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! 5 “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the containers for measuring, add to the weights, and fix our scales for cheating! 6 We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!” 9 On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. 10 I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations. I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth and make every head bald. I will make them mourn as for an only son, and bring their day to a bitter end. 11 Yes, days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send famine upon the land: Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord. 12 Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east in search of the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131

R: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 2 Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. (R) 10 With all my heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commands. (R) 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. (R) 30 The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me. (R) 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life. (R) 131 I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Tradition tells us that the man spoken of here could well be the author of the Gospel. That his name is withheld supports this hypothesis. Whatever the case, we see that Jesus is not afraid to call sinners into His service, even those particularly despised by the people whom He wishes to convince of the truth of His Gospel. God can use anyone who is willing to follow Him in the service of the Gospel. Let us never doubt His power to use us to bring about His will.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

 

Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

think:  God can use anyone who is willing to follow Him in the service of the

 

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 2 Chronicles 4-6