Daily Devotion – Great Plains Episcopal Area – Friday, 27
December 2013
Today, please be in prayer for:
Pastor Melanie Martin of Manhattan First UMC of the Flint Hills
District of the Kansas East Conference
Pastor Aaron Wallace of Wichita Asbury UMC of the Wichita West
District of the Kansas West Conference
Pastor Andrew Finch of Omaha Living Hope Mission UMC of the
Missouri River District of the Nebraska Conference
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This Week's Lectionary
4th Sunday of Advent – Purple or Blue
Isaiah 7: Isaiah Gives Ahaz the Sign of Immanuel
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask a sign of the
Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12 But Ahaz said, I
will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13 Then Isaiah[a] said:
“Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that
you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Look, the young woman[b] is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him
Immanuel.[c] 15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse
the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the
evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will
be deserted.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 7:13 Heb he
b. Isaiah 7:14 Gk the virgin
c. Isaiah 7:14 That is God is with us
Psalm 80: Prayer for Israel’s Restoration
To the leader: on Lilies, a Covenant. Of Asaph. A Psalm.
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph
like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
2 before Ephraim and
Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be
angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears
to drink in full measure.
6 You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh
among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 80:6 Syr: Heb strife
17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made
strong for yourself.
18 Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we
will call on your name.
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.
Romans 1: Salutation
1 Paul, a servant[a] of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his
prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was
descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be Son of God
with power according to the spirit[b] of holiness by resurrection from the
dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and
apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for
the sake of his name, 6 including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus
Christ,
7 To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Footnotes:
a. Romans 1:1 Gk slave
b. Romans 1:4 Or Spirit
Matthew 1: The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[a] took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived
together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband
Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace,
planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill
what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name
him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep,
he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but
had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;[b] and he named
him Jesus.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 1:18 Or Jesus Christ
b. Matthew 1:25 Other ancient authorities read her firstborn son
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Today's Devotional:
1 Kings 3: 3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes
of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high
places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the
principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that
altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God
said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great
and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before
you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you;
and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a
son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your
servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I
do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the
people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be
numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to
govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern
this your great people?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said
to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life
or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself
understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word.
Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before
you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have
not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare
with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my
commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”
15 Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem
where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt
offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his
servants.
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Great Churches. Great Leaders. Great Disciples. Transformed
World.
Contact Information:
Great Plains Episcopal Office
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
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