Friday, April 4, 2025

Bible Readings for April 4, 2025

 

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Deuteronomy 26:1–27:26; Luke 10:38–11:13; Psalm 76:1-12; and Proverbs 12:15-17. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version


Deuteronomy 26-27:26 (Contemporary English Version)


Deuteronomy 26

Give the LORD the First Part of Your Harvest
Moses said to Israel:

 1The LORD is giving you the land, and soon you will conquer it, settle down, 2and plant crops. And when you begin harvesting each of your crops, the very first things you pick must be put in a basket. Take them to the place where the LORD your God chooses to be worshiped, 3and tell the priest, " Long ago the LORD our God promised our ancestors that he would give us this land. And today, I thank him for keeping his promise and giving me a share of the land."     4The priest will take the basket and set it in front of the LORD's altar. 5Then, standing there in front of the place of worship, you must pray:
   My ancestor was homeless,
   an Aramean who went to live
   in Egypt.
   There were only a few
   in his family then,
   but they became great
   and powerful,
   a nation of many people.
    6The Egyptians were cruel
   and had no pity on us.
   They mistreated our people
   and forced us into slavery.
    7We called out for help
   to you,
   the LORD God
   of our ancestors.
   You heard our cries;
   you knew we were in trouble
   and abused.
    8Then you terrified the Egyptians
   with your mighty miracles
   and rescued us from Egypt.
    9You brought us here
   and gave us this land
   rich with milk and honey.
    10Now, LORD, I bring to you
   the best of the crops
   that you have given me.
   After you say these things, place the basket in front of the LORD's altar and bow down to worship him.
    11Then you and your family must celebrate by eating a meal at the place of worship to thank the LORD your God for giving you such a good harvest. And remember to invite the Levites and the foreigners who live in your town.     

Ten Percent of the Harvest
Moses said to Israel:

 12Every year you are to give ten percent of your harvest to the LORD. a<="" value="[a]" >[] But every third year, [b<="">]this ten percent must be given to the poor who live in your town, including Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows. That way, they will have enough to eat. 13Then you must pray: Our LORD and our God, you have said that ten percent of my harvest is sacred. I have obeyed your command and given this to the poor, including the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows.     14I have not eaten any of this sacred food while I was in mourning; in fact, I never touched it when I was unclean. [c<="">] And none of it has been offered as a sacrifice to the spirits of the dead. I have done everything exactly as you commanded. 15Our LORD, look down from your temple in heaven and bless your people Israel. You promised our ancestors that you would give us this land rich with milk and honey, and you have kept your promise.     

The LORD Is Your God, and You Are His People
Moses said to Israel:

 16Today the LORD your God has commanded you to obey these laws and teachings with all your heart and soul.     17In response, you have agreed that the LORD will be your God, that you will obey all his laws and teachings, and that you will listen when he speaks to you.
    18Since you have agreed to obey the LORD, he has agreed that you will be his people and that you will belong to him, just as he promised. 19The LORD created all nations, but he will make you more famous than any of them, and you will receive more praise and honor. You will belong only to the LORD your God, just as he promised.
    

Deuteronomy 27

Build an Altar on Mount Ebal

 1Moses stood together with the leaders and told the people of Israel:    Obey all the laws and teachings that I am giving you today. 2-4Soon you will enter the land that the LORD your God is giving to you. He is the God your ancestors worshiped, and he has promised that this land is rich with milk and honey.
   After you cross the Jordan River, go to Mount Ebal. Set up large slabs of stone, then cover them with white plaster and write on them a copy of these laws.
    5At this same place, build an altar for offering sacrifices to the LORD your God. But don't use stones that have been cut with iron tools. 6Look for stones that can be used without being cut. Then offer sacrifices to please the LORD, [d<="">] burning them completely on the altar. 7Next, offer sacrifices to ask the LORD's blessing, [e<="">] and serve the meat at a sacred meal where you will celebrate in honor of the LORD. 8Don't forget to write out a copy of these laws on the stone slabs that you are going to set up. Make sure that the writing is easy to read.     

Curses on Those Who Disobey

 9Moses stood together with the priests [f<="">] and said, " Israel, be quiet and listen to me! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God. [g<="">] 10So you must obey his laws and teachings that I am giving you." 11That same day, Moses gave them the following instructions:     12-13After you cross the Jordan River, you will go to Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. [h<="">] The tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh, [i<="">] and Benjamin will go up on Mount Gerizim, where they will bless the people of Israel. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali will go up on Mount Ebal where they will agree to the curses. 14-26The people of the Levi tribe will speak each curse in a loud voice, then the rest of the people [j<="">] will agree to that curse by saying, " Amen!" Here are the curses: We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who makes an idol or worships idols, even secretly. The LORD is disgusted with idols.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on all who do not show respect for their father and mother.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who moves the rocks that mark property lines.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who tells blind people to go the wrong way.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who keeps the poor from getting justice, whether these poor are foreigners, widows, or orphans.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on any man who sleeps with his father's wife; that man has shown no respect for his father's marriage.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who has sex with an animal.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on any man who sleeps with his sister or his half sister or his mother-in-law.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who commits murder, even when there are no witnesses to the crime.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who accepts money to murder an innocent victim.
   We ask the LORD to put a curse on anyone who refuses to obey his laws.
   And so, to each of these curses, the people will answer, " Amen!"
    
Footnotes:
  1. Deuteronomy 26:12 Every year. . . LORD: See 14.22-29.
  2. Deuteronomy 26:12 every third year: Probably the third and sixth years of the seven-year cycle described in 15.1-11 and Leviticus 25.1-7.
  3. Deuteronomy 26:14 in mourning. . . unclean: Touching a dead body made a person unclean and unfit to worship God. Ten percent of the harvest belonged to God, and was not to be touched by an unclean person.
  4. Deuteronomy 27:6 sacrifices to please the LORD: See the note at 12.5-19.
  5. Deuteronomy 27:7 sacrifices to ask the LORD's blessing: These sacrifices have traditionally been called " peace offerings" or " offerings of well-being." A main purpose was to ask for the LORD's blessing, and so in the CEV they are sometimes called " sacrifices to ask the LORD's blessing."
  6. Deuteronomy 27:9 priests: See the note at 17.8-12.
  7. Deuteronomy 27:9 Today you have become the people of the LORD your God: As a result of the agreement that the LORD had made with them, recorded in 26.16-19.
  8. Deuteronomy 27:12 Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal: These mountains were separated by a valley.
  9. Deuteronomy 27:12 Ephraim, Manasseh: The Hebrew text has " Joseph" ; the descendants of Joseph formed the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
  10. Deuteronomy 27:14 the rest of the people: Or " all the people who are standing on Mount Ebal."



Luke 10:38-11:13 (Contemporary English Version)

Martha and Mary

 38The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. 40Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!"     41The Lord answered, "Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her."
    

Luke 11

Prayer
(Matthew 6.9-13; 7.7-11)

 1When Jesus had finished praying, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his followers to pray."     2So Jesus told them, "Pray in this way:
   `Father, help us
   to honor your name.
   Come and set up
   your kingdom.
    3Give us each day
   the food we need. a<="" value="[a]" >[] 4Forgive our sins,
   as we forgive everyone
   who has done wrong to us.
   And keep us
   from being tempted.' "
    5Then Jesus went on to say:
   Suppose one of you goes to a friend in the middle of the night and says, "Let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6A friend of mine has dropped in, and I don't have a thing for him to eat." 7And suppose your friend answers, "Don't bother me! The door is bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you something."
    8He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you are his friend. But he will get up and give you as much as you need, simply because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.
    9So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. 10Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. 11Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 12Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? 13As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
    
Footnotes:
  1. Luke 11:3 the food we need: Or " food for today" or " food for the coming day."



Psalm 76:1-12 (Contemporary English Version)


Psalm 76

(A song and a psalm for the music leader. Use stringed instruments.)
God Always Wins

 1You, our God,    are famous in Judah
   and honored in Israel.
    2Your home is on Mount Zion
   in the city of peace.
    3There you destroyed
   fiery arrows, shields, swords,
   and all the other weapons.
    4You are more glorious than
   the eternal mountains. a<="" value="[a]" >[] 5Brave warriors were robbed
   of what they had taken,
   and now they lie dead,
   unable to lift an arm.
    6God of Jacob, when you roar,
   enemy chariots and horses
   drop dead in their tracks.
    7Our God, you are fearsome,
   and no one can oppose you
   when you are angry.
    8From heaven you announced
   your decisions as judge!
   And all who live on this earth
   were terrified and silent
    9when you took over as judge,
   ready to rescue
   everyone in need.
    10Even the most angry people
   will praise you
   when you are furious. [b<="">] 11Everyone, make your promises
   to the LORD your God
   and do what you promise.
   The LORD is fearsome,
   and all of his servants
   should bring him gifts.
    12God destroys the courage
   of rulers and kings
   and makes cowards of them.
    
Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 76:4 the eternal mountains: One ancient translation; Hebrew " the mountains of victims (of wild animals)."
  2. Psalm 76:10 furious: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.



Proverbs 12:15-17 (Contemporary English Version)


15Fools think they know
   what is best,
   but a sensible person
   listens to advice.
    16Losing your temper is foolish;
   ignoring an insult is smart.
    17An honest person
   tells the truth in court,
   but a dishonest person
   tells nothing but lies.



Thought for the Day

“Christ sacrificed his life's blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding,” (Ephesians 1:7 - Contemporary English Version) The freedom we have through the death of Jesus shows both divine kindness and wisdom. You see, God loves us and so he lifted this burden, enabling us to become everything we were created to be.


American politician who served as a United States Senator from Indiana from 1977 to 2013, Richard Lugar wrote, "I am convinced that the majority of American people do understand that we have a moral responsibility to foster the concepts of opportunity, free enterprise, the rule of law, and democracy. They understand that these values are the hope of the world."


Joke for Today

Two men were shipwrecked near an island. When they landed ashore, one of them began screaming and yelling, "We're going to die! We're going to die! There's no food! No water! We're going to die!"

The second man leaned calmly against a palm tree. When the first man saw how calm his friend was, he went crazy and shouted, "Don't you understand?! We're going to die!! "Undisturbed, the second man replied, "You don't understand, I make $100,000 a week. "Dumbfounded, the first man looked at him and asked, "What difference does that make?!? We're on an island with no food and no water! We're going to DIE!!! "The second man answered, "You just don't get it. I make $100,000 a week and I tithe ten percent on that $100,000 a week. Wherever I am, my pastor will be sure to find me!"



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 we put aside our self-interest for the sake of our neighbors.

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Daily Lectionary Readings for April 03, 2025

open book

Daily Lectionary Readings
(Two-Year Cycle)

yearbook text

Daily Lectionary Readings for April 03, 2025

By Daily Lectionary Readings, Thursday, April 3, 2025 12:00 AM

Morning Psalm 27

1   The LORD is my light and my salvation;
          whom shall I fear?
     The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
          of whom shall I be afraid?


2   When evildoers assail me
          to devour my flesh —
     my adversaries and foes —
          they shall stumble and fall.


3   Though an army encamp against me,
          my heart shall not fear;
     though war rise up against me,
          yet I will be confident.


4   One thing I asked of the LORD,
          that will I seek after:
     to live in the house of the LORD
          all the days of my life,
     to behold the beauty of the LORD,
          and to inquire in his temple.


5   For he will hide me in his shelter
          in the day of trouble;
     he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
          he will set me high on a rock.


6   Now my head is lifted up
          above my enemies all around me,
     and I will offer in his tent
          sacrifices with shouts of joy;
     I will sing and make melody to the LORD.


7   Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
          be gracious to me and answer me!
8   “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
          Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9        Do not hide your face from me.


     Do not turn your servant away in anger,
          you who have been my help.
     Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
          O God of my salvation!
10   If my father and mother forsake me,
          the LORD will take me up.


11  Teach me your way, O LORD,
          and lead me on a level path
          because of my enemies.
12  Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
          for false witnesses have risen against me,
          and they are breathing out violence.


13  I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
          in the land of the living.
14   Wait for the LORD;
          be strong, and let your heart take courage;
          wait for the LORD!

Morning Psalm 147:12-20

12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
          Praise your God, O Zion!
13  For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
          he blesses your children within you.
14  He grants peace within your borders;
          he fills you with the finest of wheat.
15  He sends out his command to the earth;
          his word runs swiftly.
16  He gives snow like wool;
          he scatters frost like ashes.
17  He hurls down hail like crumbs —
          who can stand before his cold?
18  He sends out his word, and melts them;
          he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
19  He declares his word to Jacob,
          his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20  He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
          they do not know his ordinances.
     Praise the Lord!

First Reading Jeremiah 22:13-23

13  Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,
          and his upper rooms by injustice;
     who makes his neighbors work for nothing,
          and does not give them their wages;
14   who says, “I will build myself a spacious house
          with large upper rooms,”
     and who cuts out windows for it,
          paneling it with cedar,
          and painting it with vermilion.
15  Are you a king
          because you compete in cedar?
     Did not your father eat and drink
          and do justice and righteousness?
          Then it was well with him.
16  He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
          then it was well.
     Is not this to know me?
          says the LORD.
17  But your eyes and heart
     are only on your dishonest gain,
     for shedding innocent blood,
          and for practicing oppression and violence.
     18Therefore thus says the LORD concerning King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah:
     They shall not lament for him, saying,
          “Alas, my brother!” or “Alas, sister!”"
     They shall not lament for him, saying,
“Alas, lord!” or “Alas, his majesty!”
19  With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried —
          dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

20  Go up to Lebanon, and cry out,
          and lift up your voice in Bashan;
     cry out from Abarim,
          for all your lovers are crushed.
21  I spoke to you in your prosperity,
          but you said, “I will not listen.”
     This has been your way from your youth,
          for you have not obeyed my voice.
22  The wind shall shepherd all your shepherds,
          and your lovers shall go into captivity;
     then you will be ashamed and dismayed
          because of all your wickedness.
23  O inhabitant of Lebanon,
          nested among the cedars,
     how you will groan when pangs come upon you,
          pain as of a woman in labor!

Second Reading Romans 8:12-27

12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Gospel Reading John 6:41-51

41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Evening Psalm 126

1   When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
          we were like those who dream.
2   Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
          and our tongue with shouts of joy;
     then it was said among the nations,
          “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3   The LORD has done great things for us,
          and we rejoiced.


4   Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
          like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5   May those who sow in tears
          reap with shouts of joy.
6   Those who go out weeping,
          bearing the seed for sowing,
     shall come home with shouts of joy,
          carrying their sheaves.

Evening Psalm 102

1   Hear my prayer, O LORD;
          let my cry come to you.
2   Do not hide your face from me
          in the day of my distress.
     Incline your ear to me;
          answer me speedily in the day when I call.


3   For my days pass away like smoke,
          and my bones burn like a furnace.
4   My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
          I am too wasted to eat my bread.
5   Because of my loud groaning
          my bones cling to my skin.
6   I am like an owl of the wilderness,
          like a little owl of the waste places.
7   I lie awake;
          I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.
8   All day long my enemies taunt me;
          those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9   For I eat ashes like bread,
          and mingle tears with my drink,
10  because of your indignation and anger;
          for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.
11  My days are like an evening shadow;
          I wither away like grass.


12  But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
          your name endures to all generations.
13  You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
          for it is time to favor it;
          the appointed time has come.
14  For your servants hold its stones dear,
          and have pity on its dust.
15  The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
          and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16  For the LORD will build up Zion;
          he will appear in his glory.
17  He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
          and will not despise their prayer.
18  Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
          so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD:
19  that he looked down from his holy height,
          from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
20  to hear the groans of the prisoners,
          to set free those who were doomed to die;
21  so that the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion,
          and his praise in Jerusalem,
22  when peoples gather together,
          and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.


23  He has broken my strength in midcourse;
          he has shortened my days.
24  “O my God,” I say, “do not take me away
          at the mid-point of my life,
     you whose years endure
          throughout all generations.”


25  Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth,
          and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26  They will perish, but you endure;
          they will all wear out like a garment.
     You change them like clothing, and they pass away;
27       but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28  The children of your servants shall live secure;
          their offspring shall be established in your presence.

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