Daily Readings for Sunday, 8 February 2015

Daily Readings for Sunday, 8 February 2015
Job 7: The human condition
1 Isn’t slavery everyone’s condition on earth,
    our days like those of a hired worker?
2         Like a slave we pant for a shadow,
            await our task like a hired worker.
3 So I have inherited months of emptiness;
    nights of toil have been measured out for me.
4 If I lie down and think—When will I get up?—
    night drags on,[a] and restless thoughts fill me until dawn.[Footnotes:
Job 7:4 Heb uncertain]
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;
    they reach their end without hope.[a]
7 Remember that my life is wind;
    my eyes won’t see pleasure again.[Footnotes:
Job 7:6 Or thread]
Psalm 147:1 Praise the Lord!
    Because it is good to sing praise to our God!
    Because it is a pleasure to make beautiful praise!
2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem, gathering up Israel’s exiles.
3 God heals the brokenhearted
    and bandages their wounds.
4 God counts the stars by number,
    giving each one a name.
5 Our Lord is great and so strong!
    God’s knowledge can’t be grasped!
6 The Lord helps the poor,
    but throws the wicked down on the dirt!
1 Corinthians 9:16 If I preach the gospel, I have no reason to brag, since I’m obligated to do it. I’m in trouble if I don’t preach the gospel. 17 If I do this voluntarily, I get rewarded for it. But if I’m forced to do it, then I’ve been charged with a responsibility. 18 What reward do I get? That when I preach, I offer the good news free of charge. That’s why I don’t use the rights to which I’m entitled through the gospel.
19 Although I’m free from all people, I make myself a slave to all people, to recruit more of them.
22 I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. 23 All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.
Mark 1: Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law
29 After leaving the synagogue, Jesus, James, and John went home with Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed, sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. 31 He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.
Jesus’ ministry spreads
32 That evening, at sunset, people brought to Jesus those who were sick or demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered near the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases, and he threw out many demons. But he didn’t let the demons speak, because they recognized him.
35 Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer. 36 Simon and those with him tracked him down. 37 When they found him, they told him, “Everyone’s looking for you!”
38 He replied, “Let’s head in the other direction, to the nearby villages, so that I can preach there too. That’s why I’ve come.” 39 He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and throwing out demons.

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