Thursday 27 December 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

[info at dailylectionary.org]

Thursday 27 December 2007 (St. John)
DAILY LECTIONARY

Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org

******************************************************************
Proverbs 8:22-30

The Lord created me at the beginning* of his work,*
   the first of his acts of long ago. 
23Ages ago I was set up,
   at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 
24When there were no depths I was brought forth,
   when there were no springs abounding with water. 
25Before the mountains had been shaped,
   before the hills, I was brought forth- 
26when he had not yet made earth and fields,*
   or the world's first bits of soil. 
27When he established the heavens, I was there,
   when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 
28when he made firm the skies above,
   when he established the fountains of the deep, 
29when he assigned to the sea its limit,
   so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 
30   then I was beside him, like a master worker;*
and I was daily his* delight,
   rejoicing before him always,
******************************************************************
John 13:20-35

Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me;
and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.' 
Jesus Foretells His Betrayal21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in
spirit, and declared, 'Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray
me.' 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was
speaking. 23One of his disciples-the one whom Jesus loved-was reclining
next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of
whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him,
'Lord, who is it?' 26Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I give this
piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.'* So when he had
dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.*
27After he received the piece of bread,* Satan entered into him. Jesus
said to him, 'Do quickly what you are going to do.' 28Now no one at the
table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, because Judas
had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, 'Buy what we need for the
festival'; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30So, after
receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

The New Commandment31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, 'Now the Son of
Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has
been glorified in him,* God will also glorify him in himself and will
glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little
longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to
you, "Where I am going, you cannot come." 34I give you a new
commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you
also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one another.'
******************************************************************
Isaiah 44:1-8

But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
   Israel whom I have chosen! 
2Thus says the Lord who made you,
   who formed you in the womb and will help you:
Do not fear, O Jacob my servant,
   Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 
3For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
   and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my spirit upon your descendants,
   and my blessing on your offspring. 
4They shall spring up like a green tamarisk,
   like willows by flowing streams. 
5This one will say, 'I am the Lord's',
   another will be called by the name of Jacob,
yet another will write on the hand, 'The Lord's',
   and adopt the name of Israel. 


6Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
   and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the first and I am the last;
   besides me there is no god. 
7Who is like me? Let them proclaim it,
   let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?*
   Let them tell us* what is yet to be. 
8Do not fear, or be afraid;
   have I not told you from of old and declared it?
   You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
   There is no other rock; I know not one. 
******************************************************************
1 John 5:1-12

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ* has been born of God,
and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that
we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers
the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God? 
Testimony concerning the Son of God6 This is the one who came by water
and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and
the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is
the truth. 7There are three that testify:* 8the Spirit and the water and
the blood, and these three agree. 9If we receive human testimony, the
testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he
has testified to his Son. 10Those who believe in the Son of God have the
testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God* have made
him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given
concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life;
whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
******************************************************************
Morning Psalms:  Psalm 97, 98

Psalm 97

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;
   let the many coastlands be glad! 
2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
   righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 
3Fire goes before him,
   and consumes his adversaries on every side. 
4His lightnings light up the world;
   the earth sees and trembles. 
5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
   before the Lord of all the earth. 


6The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
   and all the peoples behold his glory. 
7All worshippers of images are put to shame,
   those who make their boast in worthless idols;
   all gods bow down before him. 
8Zion hears and is glad,
   and the towns* of Judah rejoice,
   because of your judgements, O God. 
9For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
   you are exalted far above all gods. 


10The Lord loves those who hate* evil;
   he guards the lives of his faithful;
   he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. 
11Light dawns* for the righteous,
   and joy for the upright in heart. 
12Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
   and give thanks to his holy name!


Psalm 98

O sing to the Lord a new song,
   for he has done marvellous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
   have gained him victory. 
2The Lord has made known his victory;
   he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 
3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
   to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
   the victory of our God. 


4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
   break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 
5Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
   with the lyre and the sound of melody. 
6With trumpets and the sound of the horn
   make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. 


7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
   the world and those who live in it. 
8Let the floods clap their hands;
   let the hills sing together for joy 
9at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
   to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
   and the peoples with equity.
******************************************************************
Evening Psalms:  Psalm 145

Psalm 145

I will extol you, my God and King,
   and bless your name for ever and ever. 
2Every day I will bless you,
   and praise your name for ever and ever. 
3Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
   his greatness is unsearchable. 


4One generation shall laud your works to another,
   and shall declare your mighty acts. 
5On the glorious splendour of your majesty,
   and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 
6The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
   and I will declare your greatness. 
7They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
   and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 


8The Lord is gracious and merciful,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 
9The Lord is good to all,
   and his compassion is over all that he has made. 


10All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
   and all your faithful shall bless you. 
11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
   and tell of your power, 
12to make known to all people your* mighty deeds,
   and the glorious splendour of your* kingdom. 
13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
   and your dominion endures throughout all generations. 


The Lord is faithful in all his words,
   and gracious in all his deeds.* 
14The Lord upholds all who are falling,
   and raises up all who are bowed down. 
15The eyes of all look to you,
   and you give them their food in due season. 
16You open your hand,
   satisfying the desire of every living thing. 
17The Lord is just in all his ways,
   and kind in all his doings. 
18The Lord is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth. 
19He fulfils the desire of all who fear him;
   he also hears their cry, and saves them. 
20The Lord watches over all who love him,
   but all the wicked he will destroy. 


21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
   and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever.
******************************************************************