Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Isaiah 54:1–57:13; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; and Proverbs 24:8. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Isaiah 54-57:13 (Contemporary English Version)
Isaiah 54
A Promise of the LORD's Protection
1Sing and shout, even though you have never had children! The LORD has promised that you will have more children than someone married for a long time. 2Make your tents larger! Spread out the tent pegs; fasten them firmly. 3You and your descendants will take over the land of other nations. You will settle in towns that are now in ruins. 4Don't be afraid or ashamed and don't be discouraged. You won't be disappointed. Forget how sinful you were when you were young; stop feeling ashamed for being left a widow. 5The LORD All-Powerful, the Holy God of Israel, rules all the earth. He is your Creator and husband, and he will rescue you. 6You were like a young wife, brokenhearted and crying because her husband had divorced her. But the LORD your God says, "I am taking you back! 7I rejected you for a while, but with love and tenderness I will embrace you again. 8For a while, I turned away in furious anger. Now I will have mercy and love you forever! I, your protector and LORD, make this promise."
even though you have never
had children!
The LORD has promised that you
will have more children
than someone married
for a long time.
2Make your tents larger!
Spread out the tent pegs;
fasten them firmly.
3You and your descendants
will take over the land
of other nations.
You will settle in towns
that are now in ruins.
4Don't be afraid or ashamed
and don't be discouraged.
You won't be disappointed.
Forget how sinful you were
when you were young;
stop feeling ashamed
for being left a widow.
5The LORD All-Powerful,
the Holy God of Israel,
rules all the earth.
He is your Creator and husband,
and he will rescue you.
6You were like a young wife,
brokenhearted and crying
because her husband
had divorced her.
But the LORD your God says,
"I am taking you back!
7I rejected you for a while,
but with love and tenderness
I will embrace you again.
8For a while, I turned away
in furious anger.
Now I will have mercy
and love you forever!
I, your protector and LORD,
make this promise."
The LORD Promises Lasting Peace
9I once promised Noah that I would never again destroy the earth by a flood. Now I have promised that I will never again get angry and punish you. 10Every mountain and hill may disappear. But I will always be kind and merciful to you; I won't break my agreement to give your nation peace.
would never again
destroy
the earth by a flood.
Now I have promised that I
will never again
get angry
and punish you.
10Every mountain and hill
may disappear.
But I will always be kind
and merciful to you;
I won't break my agreement
to give your nation peace.
The New Jerusalem
11Jerusalem, you are sad and discouraged, tossed around in a storm. But I, the LORD, will rebuild your city with precious stones; [a] for your foundation I will use blue sapphires. 12Your fortresses [b] will be built of rubies, your gates of jewels, and your walls of gems. 13I will teach your children and make them successful. 14You will be built on fairness with no fears of injustice; every one of your worries will be taken far from you. 15I will never send anyone to attack your city, and you will make prisoners of those who do attack. 16Don't forget that I created metalworkers who make weapons over burning coals. I also created armies that can bring destruction. 17Weapons made to attack you won't be successful; words spoken against you won't hurt at all. My servants, Jerusalem is yours! I, the LORD, promise to bless you with victory.
and discouraged,
tossed around in a storm.
But I, the LORD,
will rebuild your city
with precious stones; [a] for your foundation
I will use blue sapphires.
12Your fortresses [b] will be built of rubies,
your gates of jewels,
and your walls of gems.
13I will teach your children
and make them successful.
14You will be built on fairness
with no fears of injustice;
every one of your worries
will be taken far from you.
15I will never send anyone
to attack your city,
and you will make prisoners
of those who do attack.
16Don't forget that I created
metalworkers
who make weapons
over burning coals.
I also created armies
that can bring destruction.
17Weapons made to attack you
won't be successful;
words spoken against you
won't hurt at all.
My servants, Jerusalem is yours!
I, the LORD, promise
to bless you with victory.
Isaiah 55
The LORD's Invitation
1If you are thirsty, come and drink water! If you don't have any money, come, eat what you want! Drink wine and milk without paying a cent. 2Why waste your money on what really isn't food? Why work hard for something that doesn't satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will enjoy the very best foods. 3Pay close attention! Come to me and live. I will promise you the eternal love and loyalty that I promised David. 4I made him the leader and ruler of the nations; he was my witness to them. 5You will call out to nations you have never known. And they have never known you, but they will come running because I am the LORD, the holy God of Israel, and I have honored you.
come and drink water!
If you don't have any money,
come, eat what you want!
Drink wine and milk
without paying a cent.
2Why waste your money
on what really isn't food?
Why work hard for something
that doesn't satisfy?
Listen carefully to me,
and you will enjoy
the very best foods.
3Pay close attention!
Come to me and live.
I will promise you
the eternal love and loyalty
that I promised David.
4I made him the leader and ruler
of the nations;
he was my witness to them.
5You will call out to nations
you have never known.
And they have never known you,
but they will come running
because I am the LORD,
the holy God of Israel,
and I have honored you.
God's Words Are Powerful
6Turn to the LORD! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near. 7Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts. Return to the LORD our God. He will be merciful and forgive your sins. 8The LORD says: "My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. 9Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours. 10"Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don't return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. 11That's how it is with my words. They don't return to me without doing everything I send them to do."
He can still be found.
Call out to God! He is near.
7Give up your crooked ways
and your evil thoughts.
Return to the LORD our God.
He will be merciful
and forgive your sins.
8The LORD says:
"My thoughts and my ways
are not like yours.
9Just as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways
are higher than yours.
10"Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don't return
without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant
and grain to eat.
11That's how it is with my words.
They don't return to me
without doing everything
I send them to do."
God's People Will Celebrate
12When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace. Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap. 13Cypress and myrtle trees will grow in fields once covered by thorns. And then those trees will stand as a lasting witness to the glory of the LORD.
you will celebrate
and travel home in peace.
Mountains and hills will sing
as you pass by,
and trees will clap.
13Cypress and myrtle trees
will grow in fields
once covered by thorns.
And then those trees will stand
as a lasting witness
to the glory of the LORD.
Isaiah 56
All Nations Will Be Part of God's People
1The LORD said: Be honest and fair! Soon I will come to save you; my saving power will be seen everywhere on earth. 2I will bless everyone who respects the Sabbath and refuses to do wrong. 3Foreigners who worship me must not say, "The LORD won't let us be part of his people." Men who are unable to become fathers must no longer say, "We are dried-up trees." 4To them, I, the LORD, say: Respect the Sabbath, obey me completely, and keep our agreement. 5Then I will set up monuments in my temple with your names written on them. This will be much better than having children, because these monuments will stand there forever. 6Foreigners will follow me. They will love me and worship in my name; they will respect the Sabbath and keep our agreement. 7I will bring them to my holy mountain, where they will celebrate in my house of worship. Their sacrifices and offerings will always be welcome on my altar. Then my house will be known as a house of worship for all nations. 8I, the LORD, promise to bring together my people who were taken away, and let them join the others.
Be honest and fair!
Soon I will come to save you;
my saving power will be seen
everywhere on earth.
2I will bless everyone
who respects the Sabbath
and refuses to do wrong.
3Foreigners who worship me
must not say,
"The LORD won't let us
be part of his people."
Men who are unable
to become fathers
must no longer say,
"We are dried-up trees."
4To them, I, the LORD, say:
Respect the Sabbath,
obey me completely,
and keep our agreement.
5Then I will set up monuments
in my temple
with your names
written on them.
This will be much better
than having children,
because these monuments
will stand there forever.
6Foreigners will follow me.
They will love me
and worship
in my name;
they will respect the Sabbath
and keep our agreement.
7I will bring them
to my holy mountain,
where they will celebrate
in my house of worship.
Their sacrifices and offerings
will always be welcome
on my altar.
Then my house will be known
as a house of worship
for all nations.
8I, the LORD, promise
to bring together my people
who were taken away,
and let them join the others.
God Promises To Punish Israel's Leaders
9Come from the forest, you wild animals! Attack and gobble down your victims. 10You leaders of Israel should be watchdogs, protecting my people. But you can't see a thing, and you never warn them. Dozing and daydreaming are all you ever do. 11You stupid leaders are a pack of hungry and greedy dogs that never get enough. You are shepherds who mistreat your own sheep for selfish gain. 12You say to each other, "Let's drink till we're drunk! Tomorrow we'll do it again. We'll really enjoy ourselves."
you wild animals!
Attack and gobble down
your victims.
10You leaders of Israel
should be watchdogs,
protecting my people.
But you can't see a thing,
and you never warn them.
Dozing and daydreaming
are all you ever do.
11You stupid leaders are a pack
of hungry and greedy dogs
that never get enough.
You are shepherds
who mistreat your own sheep
for selfish gain.
12You say to each other,
"Let's drink till we're drunk!
Tomorrow we'll do it again.
We'll really enjoy ourselves."
Isaiah 57
God's Faithful People Suffer
1God's faithful people are dragged off and killed, and no one even cares. Evil sweeps them away, 2but in death they find peace for obeying God. [c]
are dragged off and killed,
and no one even cares.
Evil sweeps them away,
2but in death they find peace
for obeying God. [c]
The LORD Condemns Idolatry
3You people are unfaithful! You go to fortunetellers, and you worship idols. Now pay close attention! 4Who are you making fun of? Who are you sneering at? Look how your sins have made fools of you. 5All you think about is sex under those green trees where idols are worshiped. You sacrifice your children on altars built in valleys under rocky slopes. 6You have chosen to worship idols made of stone; [d] you have given them offerings of wine and grain. Should I be pleased? 7You have spread out your beds on the tops of high mountains, where you sacrifice to idols. 8Even in your homes you have placed pagan symbols all around your huge beds. Yes, you have rejected me, sold yourselves to your lovers, and gone to bed with them. [e] 9You smear on olive oil and all kinds of perfume to worship the god Molech. [f] You even seek advice from spirits of the dead. 10Though you tired yourself out by running after idols, you refused to stop. Your desires were so strong that they kept you going. 11Did you forget about me and become unfaithful because you were more afraid of someone else? Have I been silent so long [g] that you no longer fear me? 12You think you're so good, but I'll point out the truth. 13Ask your idols to save you when you are in trouble. Be careful though-- it takes only a faint breath to blow them over. But if you come to me for protection, this land and my holy mountain will always belong to you. Footnotes:- Isaiah 54:11 with precious stones: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 54:12 fortresses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 57:2 Evil. . . God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 57:6 You have. . . stone: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 57:8 them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 8.
- Isaiah 57:9 the god Molech: Or "the king." In Hebrew "Molech" and "king" sound alike.
- Isaiah 57:11 so long: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
You go to fortunetellers,
and you worship idols.
Now pay close attention!
4Who are you making fun of?
Who are you sneering at?
Look how your sins
have made fools of you.
5All you think about is sex
under those green trees
where idols are worshiped.
You sacrifice your children
on altars built in valleys
under rocky slopes.
6You have chosen to worship
idols made of stone; [d] you have given them offerings
of wine and grain.
Should I be pleased?
7You have spread out your beds
on the tops of high mountains,
where you sacrifice to idols.
8Even in your homes
you have placed pagan symbols
all around your huge beds.
Yes, you have rejected me,
sold yourselves to your lovers,
and gone to bed with them. [e] 9You smear on olive oil
and all kinds of perfume
to worship the god Molech. [f] You even seek advice
from spirits of the dead.
10Though you tired yourself out
by running after idols,
you refused to stop.
Your desires were so strong
that they kept you going.
11Did you forget about me
and become unfaithful
because you were more afraid
of someone else?
Have I been silent so long [g] that you no longer fear me?
12You think you're so good,
but I'll point out the truth.
13Ask your idols to save you
when you are in trouble.
Be careful though--
it takes only a faint breath
to blow them over.
But if you come to me
for protection,
this land and my holy mountain
will always belong to you.
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 54:11 with precious stones: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 54:12 fortresses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 57:2 Evil. . . God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 57:6 You have. . . stone: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Isaiah 57:8 them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 8.
- Isaiah 57:9 the god Molech: Or "the king." In Hebrew "Molech" and "king" sound alike.
- Isaiah 57:11 so long: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Ephesians 6:1-24 (Contemporary English Version)
Ephesians 6
Children and Parents
1Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says, 2"Obey your father and your mother, 3and you will have a long and happy life." 4Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.
4Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5Slaves, you must obey your earthly masters. Show them great respect and be as loyal to them as you are to Christ. 6Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do. 7Gladly serve your masters, as though they were the Lord himself, and not simply people. 8You know that you will be rewarded for any good things you do, whether you are slaves or free. 9Slave owners, you must treat your slaves with this same respect. Don't threaten them. They have the same Master in heaven that you do, and he doesn't have any favorites.
9Slave owners, you must treat your slaves with this same respect. Don't threaten them. They have the same Master in heaven that you do, and he doesn't have any favorites.
The Fight against Evil
10Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. 11Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks. 12We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. 13So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day [a] comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm. 14Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor. 15Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. 16Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit. 18Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people. 19Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain the mystery about the good news. 20I was sent to do this work, and that's the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should.
18Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people. 19Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain the mystery about the good news. 20I was sent to do this work, and that's the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should.
Final Greetings
21-22I want you to know how I am getting along and what I am doing. That's why I am sending Tychicus to you. He is a dear friend, as well as a faithful servant of the Lord. He will tell you how I am doing, and he will cheer you up. 23I pray that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give peace, love, and faith to every follower! 24May God be kind to everyone who keeps on loving our Lord Jesus Christ. Footnotes:- Ephesians 6:13 that evil day: Either the present (see 5.16) or the day of death or the day of judgment.
23I pray that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give peace, love, and faith to every follower! 24May God be kind to everyone who keeps on loving our Lord Jesus Christ.
Footnotes:
- Ephesians 6:13 that evil day: Either the present (see 5.16) or the day of death or the day of judgment.
Psalm 70:1-5 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 70
(By David for the music leader. To be used when an offering is made.)
God Is Wonderful
1Save me, LORD God! Hurry and help. 2Disappoint and confuse all who want to kill me. Turn away and disgrace all who want to hurt me. 3Embarrass and shame those who say, "We told you so!" 4Let your worshipers celebrate and be glad because of you. They love your saving power, so let them always say, "God is wonderful!" 5I am poor and needy, but you, the LORD God, care about me. You are the one who saves me. Please hurry and help!
Hurry and help.
2Disappoint and confuse
all who want to kill me.
Turn away and disgrace
all who want to hurt me.
3Embarrass and shame those
who say, "We told you so!"
4Let your worshipers celebrate
and be glad because of you.
They love your saving power,
so let them always say,
"God is wonderful!"
5I am poor and needy,
but you, the LORD God,
care about me.
You are the one who saves me.
Please hurry and help!
Proverbs 24:8 (Contemporary English Version)
-23-
8 No one but troublemakers think up trouble.
think up trouble.
Thought for the Day
“That's why only someone who has God's Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn't have God's Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 - Contemporary English Version) You can't argue or cajole people into the kingdom of God. If they have the Spirit, they'll understand. If they don't, they won't.
“That's why only someone who has God's Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn't have God's Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 - Contemporary English Version) You can't argue or cajole people into the kingdom of God. If they have the Spirit, they'll understand. If they don't, they won't.
Quote for the Day
Indian spiritual master, Sai Baba wrote, “Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it.”
Joke for Today
Two old friends met for the first time in several years. They had a good talk and one asked, "Is your wife still as pretty as ever?"
"She sure is," the other replied. "It just takes her longer."
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That the racial, ethnic, religious, and political divisions within the United States be healed.
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