Daily Lectionary Readings for October 01, 2025

Daily Lectionary Readings (Two-Year Cycle)

Daily Lectionary Readings for October 01, 2025 By Daily Lectionary Readings, Wednesday, October 1, 2025 12:00 AM Morning Psalm 96 1   O sing to the LORD a new song;           sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2   Sing to the LORD, bless his name;           tell of his salvation from day to day. 3   Declare his glory among the nations,           his marvelous works among all the peoples. 4   For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;           he is to be revered above all gods. 5   For all the gods of the peoples are idols,           but the LORD made the heavens. 6   Honor and majesty are before him;           strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7   Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,           ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8   Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;           bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9   Worship the LORD in holy splendor;           tremble before him, all the earth. 10  Say among the nations, “The LORD is king!           The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.           He will judge the peoples with equity.” 11  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;           let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12       let the field exult, and everything in it.      Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13       before the LORD; for he is coming,           for he is coming to judge the earth.      He will judge the world with righteousness,           and the peoples with his truth. Morning Psalm 147:1-11 1   Praise the Lord!           How good it is to sing praises to our God;           for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. 2   The Lord builds up Jerusalem;           he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3   He heals the brokenhearted,           and binds up their wounds. 4   He determines the number of the stars;           he gives to all of them their names. 5   Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;           his understanding is beyond measure. 6   The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;           he casts the wicked to the ground. 7   Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;           make melody to our God on the lyre. 8   He covers the heavens with clouds,           prepares rain for the earth,           makes grass grow on the hills. 9   He gives to the animals their food,           and to the young ravens when they cry. 10  His delight is not in the strength of the horse,           nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; 11  but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,           in those who hope in his steadfast love. First Reading 2 Kings 18:9-25 9In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against Samaria, besieged it, 10and at the end of three years, took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of King Hoshea of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria, settled them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant — all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; they neither listened nor obeyed. 13In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 14King Hezekiah of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear.” The king of Assyria demanded of King Hezekiah of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house. 16At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the doorposts that King Hezekiah of Judah had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria. 17The king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Fuller’s Field. 18When they called for the king, there came out to them Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebnah the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder. 19The Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah: Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you base this confidence of yours? 20Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me? 21See, you are relying now on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him. 22But if you say to me, ‘We rely on the LORD our God,’ is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’? 23Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 24How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master’s servants, when you rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 25Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.” Second Reading 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 1Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3but anyone who loves God is known by him. 4Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are many gods and many lords — 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 7It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. 12But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. Gospel Reading Matthew 7:13-21 13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will know them by their fruits. 21“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.” Evening Psalm 132 1   O LORD, remember in David’s favor           all the hardships he endured; 2   how he swore to the LORD           and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3   “I will not enter my house           or get into my bed; 4   I will not give sleep to my eyes           or slumber to my eyelids, 5   until I find a place for the LORD,           a dwelling-place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6   We heard of it in Ephrathah;           we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7   “Let us go to his dwelling place;           let us worship at his footstool.” 8   Rise up, O LORD, and go to your resting place,           you and the ark of your might. 9   Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,           and let your faithful shout for joy. 10  For your servant David’s sake           do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 11  The LORD swore to David a sure oath           from which he will not turn back:      “One of the sons of your body           I will set on your throne. 12  If your sons keep my covenant           and my decrees that I shall teach them,      their sons also, forevermore,           shall sit on your throne.” 13  For the LORD has chosen Zion;           he has desired it for his habitation: 14  “This is my resting place forever;           here I will reside, for I have desired it. 15  I will abundantly bless its provisions;           I will satisfy its poor with bread. 16  Its priests I will clothe with salvation,           and its faithful will shout for joy. 17  There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David;           I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one. 18  His enemies I will clothe with disgrace,           but on him, his crown will gleam.” Evening Psalm 134 1   Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,           who stand by night in the house of the LORD! 2   Lift up your hands to the holy place,           and bless the LORD. 3   May the LORD, maker of heaven and earth,           bless you from Zion. Read more »

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The PC(USA) Store - Your Advent 2025 Resource Guide Is Here!

Whether you're planning worship, leading a class, gathering with family, or looking for a personal devotional, our Advent resources are designed to be easy to use and meaningful for your whole congregation. With the season often arriving quickly amid a busy fall, our Advent 2025 Resource Guide helps you find thoughtful, ready-to-use materials to make the most of the season. This year’s guide features The Advent Tree: Meeting Jesus in God’s Big Story by Kara Eidson, a creative and flexible resource inspired by the Jesse Tree tradition. With forty Bible readings, family devotions, worship materials, and downloadable illustrations for coloring or decorating, it’s perfect for use at home, in classrooms, and in worship settings. Click any title or cover in the guide to visit the product page on PC(USA) Store. Dark blue blocks indicate where you can download resource samples. You can also email or print the guide to share with colleagues and committees.

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Bible Readings for October 1, 2025

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Isaiah 62:6–65:25; Philippians 2:19–3:4a; Psalm 73:1-28; and Proverbs 24:13-14. The readings are the Contemporary English Version. 

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Isaiah 62:6-65:25 (Contemporary English Version)

⁶Jerusalem, on your walls
   I have stationed guards,
   whose duty it is
   to speak out day and night,
   without resting.
   They must remind the LORD
    ⁷and not let him rest
   till he makes Jerusalem strong
   and famous everywhere.
    ⁸The LORD has given his word
   and made this promise:
   "Never again will I give
   to your enemies
   the grain and grapes
   for which you struggled.
    ⁹As surely as you harvest
   your grain and grapes,
   you will eat your bread
   with thankful hearts,
   and you will drink your wine
   in my temple."
    ¹⁰People of Jerusalem,
   open your gates!
   Repair the road to the city
   and clear it of stones;
   raise a banner to help
   the nations find their way.
    ¹¹Here is what the LORD has said
   for all the earth to hear:
   "Soon I will come to save
   the city of Zion,
   and to reward you.
    ¹²Then you will be called,
   `The LORD's Own People,
   The Ones He Rescued!'
   Your city will be known
   as a good place to live
   and a city full of people."
   

Isaiah 63

The LORD's Victory over the Nations

 ¹Who is this coming   from Bozrah ^a] in Edom with clothes stained red?
   Who is this hero marching
   in his glorious uniform?
   "It's me, the LORD!
   I have won the battle,
   and I can save you!"
    ²What are those red spots?
   Your clothes look stained
   from stomping on grapes. ^b] 3"I alone stomped the grapes!
   None of the nations helped.
   I stomped nations in my anger
   and stained my clothes
   with their blood.
    ⁴I did this because I wanted
   to take revenge--
   the time had come
   to rescue my people.
    ⁵No one was there to help me
   or to give support;
   my mighty arm won the battle,
   strengthened by my anger.
    ⁶In my fury I stomped on nations
   and made them drunk;
   their blood poured out
   everywhere on earth."   

The LORD's Goodness to His People

 ⁷I will tell about the kind deeds   the LORD has done.
   They deserve praise!
   The LORD has shown mercy
   to the people of Israel;
   he has been kind and good.
    ⁸The LORD rescued his people,
   and said,
   "They are mine.
   They won't betray me."
    ⁹It troubled the LORD
   to see them in trouble,
   and his angel saved them. ^c] The LORD was truly merciful,
   so he rescued his people.
   He took them in his arms
   and carried them all those years.
    ¹⁰Then the LORD's people
   turned against him
   and made
   his Holy Spirit sad.
   So he became their enemy
   and attacked them.
    ¹¹But his people remembered
   what had happened
   during the time of Moses. ^d] Didn't the LORD ^e] bring them and their leaders
   safely through the sea?
   Didn't he ^f] give them his Holy Spirit?
    ¹²The glorious power of the LORD
   marched beside Moses.
   The LORD will be praised forever
   for dividing the sea.
    ¹³He led his people across
   like horses running wild
   without stumbling.
    ¹⁴His Spirit gave them rest,
   just as cattle find rest
   when led into a valley. ^g] The name of the LORD was praised
   for doing these things.   

A Prayer for Mercy and Help

 ¹⁵Please, LORD, look down   from your holy and glorious
   home in the heavens
   and see what's going on.
   Have you lost interest?
   Where is your power?
   Show that you care about us ^h] and have mercy!
    ¹⁶Our ancestors Abraham and Jacob
   have both rejected us.
   But you are still our Father;
   you have been our protector
   since ancient times.
    ¹⁷Why did you make us turn away
   from you, our LORD?
   Why did you make us want
   to disobey you?
   Please change your mind!
   We are your servants,
   your very own people.
    ¹⁸For a little while,
   your temple belonged to us; ^i] and now our enemies
   have torn it down.
    ¹⁹We act as though you
   had never ruled us
   or called us your people.
   

Isaiah 64

 ¹Rip the heavens apart!   Come down, LORD;
   make the mountains tremble.
    ²Be a spark that starts a fire
   causing water to boil. ^j] Then your enemies will know
   who you are;
   all nations will tremble
   because you are nearby.
    ³Your fearsome deeds
   have completely amazed us;
   even the mountains shake
   when you come down.
    ⁴You are the only God
   ever seen or heard of
   who works miracles
   for his followers.
    ⁵You help all who gladly obey
   and do what you want,
   but sin makes you angry.
   Only by your help
   can we ever be saved. ^k] 6We are unfit to worship you;
   each of our good deeds
   is merely a filthy rag.
   We dry up like leaves;
   our sins are storm winds
   sweeping us away.
    ⁷No one worships in your name
   or remains faithful.
   You have turned your back on us
   and let our sins melt us away. ^l] 8You, LORD, are our Father.
   We are nothing but clay,
   but you are the potter
   who molded us.
    ⁹Don't be so furious
   or keep our sins
   in your thoughts forever!
   Remember that all of us
   are your people.
    ¹⁰Every one of your towns
   has turned into a desert,
   especially Jerusalem.
    ¹¹Zion's glorious and holy temple
   where our ancestors praised you
   has been destroyed by fire.
   Our beautiful buildings
   are now a pile of ruins.
    ¹²When you see these things,
   how can you just sit there
   and make us suffer more?
   

Isaiah 65

The LORD Will Punish the Guilty

 ¹I, the LORD, was ready   answer even those
   who were not asking
   and to be found by those
   who were not searching.
   To a nation that refused
   to worship me, ^m] I said, "Here I am!"
    ²All day long I have reached out
   to stubborn and sinful people
   going their own way.
    ³They keep making me angry
   by sneering at me,
   while offering sacrifices
   to idols in gardens
   and burning incense
   to them on bricks.
    ⁴They spend their nights
   hiding in burial caves;
   they eat the meat of pigs, ^n] cooked in sauces
   made of stuff unfit to eat.
    ⁵And then they say to others,
   "Don't come near us!
   We're dedicated to God."
   Such people are like smoke,
   irritating my nose all day.
    ⁶I have written this down;
   I won't keep silent.
   I'll pay them back
   just as their sins deserve.
    ⁷I, the LORD, will make them pay
   for their sins
   and for those
   of their ancestors--
   they have disgraced me
   by burning incense
   on mountains.
    ⁸Here is what the LORD says:
   A cluster of grapes
   that produces wine
   is worth keeping!
   So, because of my servants,
   I won't destroy everyone.
    ⁹I have chosen the people
   of Israel and Judah,
   and I will bless them
   with many descendants.
   They will settle here
   in this land of mountains,
   and it will be theirs.
    ¹⁰My people will worship me.
   Then the coastlands of Sharon
   and the land as far
   as Achor Valley ^o] will turn into pastureland
   where cattle and sheep
   will feed and rest.
    ¹¹What will I, the LORD, do
   if any of you reject me
   and my holy mountain?
   What will happen to you
   for offering food and wine
   to the gods you call
   "Good Luck" and "Fate"?
    ¹²Your luck will end!
   I will see to it
   that you
   are slaughtered with swords.
   You refused to answer
   when I called out;
   you paid no attention
   to my instructions.
   Instead, you did what I hated,
   knowing it was wrong.
    ¹³I, the LORD God, will give
   food and drink
   to my servants,
   and they will celebrate.
   But all of you sinners
   will go hungry and thirsty,
   overcome with disgrace.
    ¹⁴My servants will laugh and sing,
   but you will be sad
   and cry out in pain.
    ¹⁵I, the LORD God, promise
   to see that you are killed
   and that my chosen servants use
   your names
   as curse words.
   But I will give new names ^p] to my servants. ^q] 16I am God! I can be trusted.
   Your past troubles are gone;
   I no longer think of them.
   When you pray for someone
   to receive a blessing,
   or when you make a promise,
   you must do it in my name.
   I alone am the God
   who can be trusted.   

The LORD's New Creation

 ¹⁷I am creating new heavens   and a new earth;
   everything of the past
   will be forgotten.
    ¹⁸Celebrate and be glad forever!
   I am creating a Jerusalem,
   full of happy people.
    ¹⁹I will celebrate with Jerusalem
   and all of its people;
   there will be no more crying
   or sorrow in that city.
    ²⁰No child will die in infancy;
   everyone will live
   to a ripe old age.
   Anyone a hundred years old
   will be considered young,
   and to die younger than that
   will be considered a curse.
    ²¹My people will live
   in the houses they build;
   they will enjoy grapes
   from their own vineyards.
    ²²No one will take away
   their homes or vineyards.
   My chosen people will live
   to be as old as trees,
   and they will enjoy
   what they have earned.
    ²³Their work won't be wasted,
   and their children won't die
   of dreadful diseases. ^r] I will bless their children
   and their grandchildren.
    ²⁴I will answer their prayers
   before they finish praying.
    ²⁵Wolves and lambs
   will graze together;
   lions and oxen
   will feed on straw.
   Snakes will eat only dirt!
   They won't bite
   or harm anyone
   on my holy mountain.
   I, the LORD, have spoken! 

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 63:1 Bozrah: The main city of Edom.
2. Isaiah 63:2 stomping on grapes: This is one way that grapes were crushed to make them into juice.
3. Isaiah 63:9 It. . . them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
4. Isaiah 63:11 But. . . Moses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
5. Isaiah 63:11 the LORD: Or "Moses."
6. Isaiah 63:11 he: Or "Moses."
7. Isaiah 63:14 His. . . valley: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
8. Isaiah 63:15 us: Hebrew "me."
9. Isaiah 63:18 For. . . us: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
10. Isaiah 64:2 Be. . . boil: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
11. Isaiah 64:5 saved: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 5.
12. Isaiah 64:7 and let. . . away: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
13. Isaiah 65:1 refused. . . me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
14. Isaiah 65:4 burial. . . pigs: Coming in contact with the dead or eating the meat of pigs made a person unacceptable to God.
15. Isaiah 65:10 coastlands of Sharon. . . Achor Valley: Sharon is the coastal plain on the west, and Achor Valley is in the east near Jericho. These two places stand for the whole country.
16. Isaiah 65:15 new names: The giving of a new name suggests the beginning of a new life.
17. Isaiah 65:15 But I. . . servants: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
18. Isaiah 65:23 their children. . . diseases: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

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Philippians 2:19-3:4 (Contemporary English Version)

Timothy and Epaphroditus

 ¹⁹I want to be encouraged by news about you. So I hope the Lord Jesus will soon let me send Timothy to you. ²⁰I don't have anyone else who cares about you as much as he does. ²¹The others think only about what interests them and not about what concerns Christ Jesus. ²²But you know what kind of person Timothy is. He has worked with me like a son in spreading the good news. ²³I hope to send him to you, as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me. ²⁴And I feel sure that the Lord will also let me come soon.    ²⁵I think I ought to send my dear friend Epaphroditus back to you. He is a follower and a worker and a soldier of the Lord, just as I am. You sent him to look after me, ²⁶but now he is eager to see you. He is worried, because you heard he was sick. ²⁷In fact, he was very sick and almost died. But God was kind to him, and also to me, and he kept me from being burdened down with sorrow.
    ²⁸Now I am more eager than ever to send Epaphroditus back again. You will be glad to see him, and I won't have to worry any longer. ²⁹Be sure to give him a cheerful welcome, just as people who serve the Lord deserve. ³⁰He almost died working for Christ, and he risked his own life to do for me what you could not.
   

Philippians 3

Being Acceptable to God

 ¹Finally, my dear friends, be glad that you belong to the Lord. It doesn't bother me to write the same things to you that I have written before. In fact, it is for your own good.    ²Watch out for those people who behave like dogs! They are evil and want to do more than just circumcise you. ³But we are the ones who are truly circumcised, because we worship by the power of God's Spirit ^a] and take pride in Christ Jesus. We don't brag about what we have done, ⁴although I could. Others may brag about themselves, but I have more reason to brag than anyone else.

Footnotes:

1. Philippians 3:3 by the power of God's Spirit: Some manuscripts have "sincerely."

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Psalm 73:1-28 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 73

BOOK III

(Psalms 73-89)

(A psalm by Asaph.)

God Is Good

 ¹God is truly good to Israel, ^a] especially to everyone   with a pure heart.
    ²But I almost stumbled and fell,
    ³because it made me jealous
   to see proud and evil people
   and to watch them prosper.
    ⁴They never have to suffer, ^b] they stay healthy,
    ⁵and they don't have troubles
   like everyone else.
    ⁶Their pride is like a necklace,
   and they commit sin
   more often
   than they dress themselves.
    ⁷Their eyes poke out with fat,
   and their minds are flooded
   with foolish thoughts.
    ⁸They sneer and say cruel things,
   and because of their pride,
   they make violent threats.
    ⁹They dare to speak against God
   and to order others around.
    ¹⁰God will bring his people back,
   and they will drink the water
   he so freely gives. ^c] 11Only evil people would say,
   "God Most High cannot
   know everything!"
    ¹²Yet all goes well for them,
   and they live in peace.
    ¹³What good did it do me
   to keep my thoughts pure
   and refuse to do wrong?
    ¹⁴I am sick all day,
   and I am punished
   each morning.
    ¹⁵If I had said evil things,
   I would not have been loyal
   to your people.
    ¹⁶It was hard for me
   to understand all this!
    ¹⁷Then I went to your temple,
   and there I understood
   what will happen
   to my enemies.
    ¹⁸You will make them stumble,
   never to get up again.
    ¹⁹They will be terrified,
   suddenly swept away
   and no longer there.
    ²⁰They will disappear, Lord,
   despised like a bad dream
   the morning after.
    ²¹Once I was bitter
   and brokenhearted.
    ²²I was stupid and ignorant,
   and I treated you
   as a wild animal would.
    ²³But I never really left you,
   and you hold my right hand.
    ²⁴Your advice has been my guide,
   and later you will welcome me
   in glory. ^d] 25In heaven I have only you,
   and on this earth
   you are all I want.
    ²⁶My body and mind may fail,
   but you are my strength
   and my choice forever.
    ²⁷Powerful LORD God,
   all who stay far from you
   will be lost,
   and you will destroy those
   who are unfaithful.
    ²⁸It is good for me
   to be near you.
   I choose you as my protector,
   and I will tell about
   your wonderful deeds.
  

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 73:1 to Israel: Or " to those who do right."
2. Psalm 73:4 They. . . suffer: Or " They die a painless death."
3. Psalm 73:10 gives: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.
4. Psalm 73:24 in glory: Or " with honor."

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Proverbs 24:13-14 (Contemporary English Version)

-26-

 ¹³ Honey is good for you,   my children,
   and it tastes sweet.
    ¹⁴Wisdom is like honey
   for your life--
   if you find it,
   your future is bright.

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Thought for the Day

 

“God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.” (Matthew 5:11-12 - Contemporary English Version) Standing up for the gospel isn't easy. Even some Christians will accuse us of weakness and naivety when we proclaim love, grace and mercy. And nothing upsets those who have secular power more than holding them accountable for what they do and leave undone.

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Quote for the Day

English actress, comedian and writer, Diane Morgan wrote, "I want to play oddballs. I want to play weirdos. There's not enough weird. Everything just seems a bit mainstream to me, and I long for anything that's a bit unusual."

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A Joke for Today

A driver is pulled over by a policeman. The police man approaches the driver's door.

"Is there a problem Officer?"

The policeman says, "Sir, you were speeding. Can I see your license please?"

The driver responds, "I'd give it to you but I don't have one."

"You don't have one?"

The man responds, "I lost it four times for drink driving."

The policeman is shocked. "I see. Can I see your vehicle registration papers please?"

"I'm sorry, I can't do that."

The policeman says, "Why not?"

"I stole this car."

The officer says, "Stole it?"

The man says, "Yes, and I killed the owner."

At this point the officer is getting irate. "You what!?"

"She's in the boot if you want to see."

The Officer looks at the man and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes, five police cars show up, surrounding the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

The senior officer says "Sir, could you step out of your vehicle please!"

The man steps out of his vehicle. "Is there a problem sir?"

"One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner."

"Murdered the owner?"

The officer responds, "Yes, could you please open the boot of your car please?"

The man opens the boot, revealing nothing but an empty boot.

The officer says, "Is this your car sir?"

The man says "Yes," and hands over the registration papers.

The officer, understandably, is quite stunned. "One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license."

The man digs in his pocket revealing a wallet and hands it to the officer. The officer opens the wallet and examines the license. He looks quite puzzled. "Thank you sir, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, stole this car, and murdered the owner."

The man replies, "I bet you the big liar told you I was speeding, too!"

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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 God bring peace to the Middle East.