Monday 8 February 2010<!--StartFragment-->
<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">Genesis 25:19-34<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If it is to be this way, why do I live?’* So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Two nations are in your womb,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and two peoples born of you shall be divided;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">one shall be stronger than the other,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the elder shall serve the younger.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterwards his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.* Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When the boys grew up, Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!’ (Therefore he was called Edom.*) Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’* So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hebrews 13:1-16</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.* Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘The Lord is my helper;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will not be afraid.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What can anyone do to me?’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food,* which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent* have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">John 7:37-52</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As* the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart* shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit,* because Jesus was not yet glorified.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’* But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah* does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah* is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus* before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 80</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 80</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you who lead Joseph like a flock!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stir up your might,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and come to save us!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Restore us, O God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let your face shine, that we may be saved.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord God of hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have fed them with the bread of tears,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and given them tears to drink in full measure.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You make us the scorn* of our neighbours;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>our enemies laugh among themselves.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Restore us, O God of hosts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let your face shine, that we may be saved.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You brought a vine out of Egypt;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you drove out the nations and planted it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You cleared the ground for it;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it took deep root and filled the land.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mountains were covered with its shade,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the mighty cedars with its branches;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">it sent out its branches to the sea,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and its shoots to the River.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why then have you broken down its walls,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The boar from the forest ravages it,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all that move in the field feed on it.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Turn again, O God of hosts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>look down from heaven, and see;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">have regard for this vine,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the stock that your right hand planted.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the one whom you made strong for yourself.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then we will never turn back from you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give us life, and we will call on your name.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let your face shine, that we may be saved.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 77</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 77</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I cry aloud to God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>aloud to God, that he may hear me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul refuses to be comforted.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think of God, and I moan;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I meditate, and my spirit faints.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You keep my eyelids from closing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so troubled that I cannot speak.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I consider the days of old,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and remember the years of long ago.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I commune* with my heart in the night;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I meditate and search my spirit:*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Will the Lord spurn for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and never again be favourable?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Has his steadfast love ceased for ever?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Are his promises at an end for all time?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Has God forgotten to be gracious?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Has he in anger shut up his compassion?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And I say, ‘It is my grief</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that the right hand of the Most High has changed.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will remember your wonders of old.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will meditate on all your work,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and muse on your mighty deeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your way, O God, is holy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What god is so great as our God?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are the God who works wonders;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have displayed your might among the peoples.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With your strong arm you redeemed your people,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When the waters saw you, O God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>when the waters saw you, they were afraid;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the very deep trembled.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The clouds poured out water;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the skies thundered;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your arrows flashed on every side.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your lightnings lit up the world;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the earth trembled and shook.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your way was through the sea,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your path, through the mighty waters;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>yet your footprints were unseen.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You led your people like a flock</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>by the hand of Moses and Aaron.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
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