I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me - Daily Bible Readings July 7,2015

1ST READING   Sometimes, following God’s will involves wrestling with Him. It is not always easy to accept and follow God’s Word. It is OK to clarify and confirm whether this is truly His will for your life or not. Sometimes, we can be mistaken about the source of a particular instruction and it may not be from God. In order to be certain, we need to dig deeper into the meaning of the call.   Genesis 32:23-33 23 In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives, with the two maidservants and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 24 After he had taken them across the stream and had brought over all his possessions, 25 Jacob was left there alone. Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. 26 When the man saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled. 27 The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” 28 The man asked, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” 29 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed.” 30 Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please.” He answered, “Why should you want to know my name?” With that, he bade him farewell. 31 Jacob named the place Peniel, “Because I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” 32 At sunrise, as he left Penuel, Jacob limped along because of his hip. 33 That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket, inasmuch as Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.   P S A L M   Psalm 17:1, 2-3, 6-7, 8, 15 R: In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord. 1 Hear, O Lord, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. (R) 2 From you let my judgment come; your eyes behold what is right. 3 Though you test my heart, searching it in the night, though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me. (R) 6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word. 7 Show your wondrous mercies, O savior of those who flee from their foes. (R) 8 Hide me in the shadow of your wings. 15 I in justice shall behold your face; on waking, I shall be content in your presence. (R)   GOSPEL   Are you ready to be a laborer sent to the harvest? Are you willing to become a priest or a nun? We need to examine our hearts and decide how much of our lives we will give to the Lord and His work, and in what ways we are willing to serve. Each of us has received the grace of God through the ministry of others. There will come a time when we need to decide what we will give back to the ministry.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.   Matthew 9:32-38 32 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”   think: Sometimes, following God’s will involves wrestling with Him.     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 2 Chronicles 21-22