Friday 4 January 2008 DAILY LECTIONARY

[info at dailylectionary.org]

Friday 4 January 2008 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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

******************************************************************
Joshua 3:14-4:7

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the
priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people.
15Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest.
So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of
the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, 16the
waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far
off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing
towards the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea,* were wholly cut off. Then
the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17While all Israel were
crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the
covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan,
until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. 
Twelve Stones Set Up at Gilgal4When the entire nation had finished
crossing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua: 2'Select twelve men
from the people, one from each tribe, 3and command them, "Take twelve
stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where
the priests' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in
the place where you camp tonight." ' 4Then Joshua summoned the twelve
men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe.
5Joshua said to them, 'Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into
the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his
shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the Israelites, 6so that this
may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, "What
do those stones mean to you?" 7then you shall tell them that the waters
of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the
Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut
off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial for ever.'
******************************************************************
Ephesians 5:1-20

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love,
as Christ loved us* and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God. 
Renounce Pagan Ways3 But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed,
must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.
4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead,
let there be thanksgiving. 5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or
impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things
the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not
be associated with them. 8For once you were darkness, but now in the
Lord you are light. Live as children of light- 9for the fruit of the
light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out
what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of
darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention
what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light
becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it says,
'Sleeper, awake!
   Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.' 
15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,
16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk
with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as
you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing
and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the
Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
******************************************************************
John 9:1-12,35-38

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked
him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born
blind?' 3Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he
was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 4We* must
work the works of him who sent me* while it is day; night is coming when
no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world.' 6When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with
the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, 7saying to him, 'Go,
wash in the pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). Then he went and washed
and came back able to see. 8The neighbours and those who had seen him
before as a beggar began to ask, 'Is this not the man who used to sit
and beg?' 9Some were saying, 'It is he.' Others were saying, 'No, but it
is someone like him.' He kept saying, 'I am the man.' 10But they kept
asking him, 'Then how were your eyes opened?' 11He answered, 'The man
called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, "Go to
Siloam and wash." Then I went and washed and received my sight.' 12They
said to him, 'Where is he?' He said, 'I do not know.' 
Spiritual Blindness35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when
he found him, he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?'* 36He
answered, 'And who is he, sir?* Tell me, so that I may believe in him.'
37Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and the one speaking with you
is he.' 38He said, 'Lord,* I believe.' And he worshipped him.
******************************************************************
Morning Psalms:  Psalm 85, 87

Psalm 85

Lord, you were favourable to your land;
   you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 
2You forgave the iniquity of your people;
   you pardoned all their sin.
          Selah 
3You withdrew all your wrath;
   you turned from your hot anger. 


4Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
   and put away your indignation towards us. 
5Will you be angry with us for ever?
   Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 
6Will you not revive us again,
   so that your people may rejoice in you? 
7Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
   and grant us your salvation. 


8Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
   for he will speak peace to his people,
   to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.* 
9Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
   that his glory may dwell in our land. 


10Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
   righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 
11Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
   and righteousness will look down from the sky. 
12The Lord will give what is good,
   and our land will yield its increase. 
13Righteousness will go before him,
   and will make a path for his steps.


Psalm 87

On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 
2   the Lord loves the gates of Zion
   more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 
3Glorious things are spoken of you,
   O city of God.
          Selah 


4Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
   Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia*-
   'This one was born there,' they say. 


5And of Zion it shall be said,
   'This one and that one were born in it';
   for the Most High himself will establish it. 
6The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
   'This one was born there.'
          Selah 


7Singers and dancers alike say,
   'All my springs are in you.'
******************************************************************
Evening Psalms:  Psalm 89:1-29

Psalm 89:1-29

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord,* for ever;
   with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. 
2I declare that your steadfast love is established for ever;
   your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. 


3You said, 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
   I have sworn to my servant David: 
4"I will establish your descendants for ever,
   and build your throne for all generations." '
          Selah 


5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
   your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. 
6For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
   Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 
7a God feared in the council of the holy ones,
   great and awesome* above all that are around him? 
8O Lord God of hosts,
   who is as mighty as you, O Lord?
   Your faithfulness surrounds you. 
9You rule the raging of the sea;
   when its waves rise, you still them. 
10You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
   you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 
11The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;
   the world and all that is in it-you have founded them. 
12The north and the south*-you created them;
   Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. 
13You have a mighty arm;
   strong is your hand, high your right hand. 
14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
   steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 
15Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
   who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance; 
16they exult in your name all day long,
   and extol* your righteousness. 
17For you are the glory of their strength;
   by your favour our horn is exalted. 
18For our shield belongs to the Lord,
   our king to the Holy One of Israel. 


19Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said:
   'I have set the crown* on one who is mighty,
   I have exalted one chosen from the people. 
20I have found my servant David;
   with my holy oil I have anointed him; 
21my hand shall always remain with him;
   my arm also shall strengthen him. 
22The enemy shall not outwit him,
   the wicked shall not humble him. 
23I will crush his foes before him
   and strike down those who hate him. 
24My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
   and in my name his horn shall be exalted. 
25I will set his hand on the sea
   and his right hand on the rivers. 
26He shall cry to me, "You are my Father,
   my God, and the Rock of my salvation!" 
27I will make him the firstborn,
   the highest of the kings of the earth. 
28For-ever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
   and my covenant with him will stand firm. 
29I will establish his line for ever,
   and his throne as long as the heavens endure.
******************************************************************