Thursday 26 February 2009<span style="mso-spacerun:
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<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Deuteronomy 7:6-11</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you—for you were the fewest of all peoples. It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your ancestors, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and who repays in their own person those who reject him. He does not delay but repays in their own person those who reject him. Therefore, observe diligently the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that I am commanding you today.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Titus 1:1-16</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Paul, a servant* of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began— in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Saviour,</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Grace* and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I left you behind in Crete for this reason, that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you: someone who is blameless, married only once,* whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. For a bishop,* as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">John 1:29-34</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 37:1-18</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 37:1-18</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Do not fret because of the wicked;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not be envious of wrongdoers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for they will soon fade like the grass,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and wither like the green herb.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Trust in the Lord, and do good;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Take delight in the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he will give you the desires of your heart.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Commit your way to the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>trust in him, and he will act.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will make your vindication shine like the light,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the justice of your cause like the noonday.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not fret over those who prosper in their way,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>over those who carry out evil devices.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do not fret—it leads only to evil.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the wicked shall be cut off,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the meek shall inherit the land,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and delight in abundant prosperity.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The wicked plot against the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and gnash their teeth at them;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but the Lord laughs at the wicked,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for he sees that their day is coming.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to bring down the poor and needy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to kill those who walk uprightly;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">their sword shall enter their own heart,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their bows shall be broken.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Better is a little that the righteous person has</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>than the abundance of many wicked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but the Lord upholds the righteous.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord knows the days of the blameless,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their heritage will abide for ever;</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 37:19-42</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 37:19-42</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">they are not put to shame in evil times,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the days of famine they have abundance.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But the wicked perish,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The wicked borrow, and do not pay back,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but the righteous are generous and keep giving;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but those cursed by him shall be cut off.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Our steps* are made firm by the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>when he delights in our* way;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">though we stumble,* we* shall not fall headlong,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the Lord holds us* by the hand.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have been young, and now am old,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or their children begging bread.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They are ever giving liberally and lending,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their children become a blessing.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Depart from evil, and do good;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so you shall abide for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord loves justice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will not forsake his faithful ones.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The righteous shall be kept safe for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The righteous shall inherit the land,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and live in it for ever.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their tongues speak justice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The law of their God is in their hearts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their steps do not slip.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The wicked watch for the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and seek to kill them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord will not abandon them to their power,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he will exalt you to inherit the land;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you will look on the destruction of the wicked.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I have seen the wicked oppressing,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Again I* passed by, and they were no more;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>though I sought them, they could not be found.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark the blameless, and behold the upright,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for there is posterity for the peaceable.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is their refuge in the time of trouble.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord helps them and rescues them;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because they take refuge in him.</p>
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