Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he is near - Daily Bible Readings December 4,2014

1ST READING   It is easy to simply give up in the face of difficulty. A man or woman of faith should never give up (despair at the hopelessness of a situation) because by faith we know that there is always a way through a difficult situation — if we put our faith in God and look hard enough for it. Jesus promised us that He will never abandon us and so we know that He will always provide what we need to be His disciples.   Isaiah 26:1-6 1 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. 2 Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. 3 A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” 4 Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. 5 He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; he tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. 6 It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.   P S A L M Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27 R: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (R) 19 Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This gate is the Lord’s; the just shall enter it. 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. (R) 25 O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R)   GOSPEL   Jesus makes it clear that faith is more than mere assent to a set of beliefs. It also involves acting upon those beliefs. We are saved by faith but faith is nothing unless it is lived. It is easy to say one believes in this or that, but the truth and reality of those beliefs is known through one’s life. The Letter of James challenges us to demonstrate our faith by the way we live. This is the ultimate demonstration or test of faith.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he is near.   Matthew 7:21, 24-27 21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 24 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”   think:  We are saved by faith but faith is nothing unless it is lived.     T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 33-36