Morning Reading: Luke 6.24-26 NLT – sorrows

Reading: Luke 6:24-26 NLT

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Sorrowing Old Man (‘At Eternity’s Gate’)
Vincent Van Gough (1890)

“What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.

What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.

What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God – you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us… and grant us your peace. Amen.

Hymn: “Man of Sorrows” – Philip P. Bliss (1875)

Man of sorrows, what a name for the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood, sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, helpless, lost were we; blameless Lamb of God was he, sacrificed to set us free: Hallelujah, what a Savior!

He was lifted up to die; “It is finished” was his cry; now in heaven exalted high: Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring, then anew this song we’ll sing: Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Morning Reading: Luke 6.12-16 NLT – the twelve

Reading: Luke 6.12-16 NLT

One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

The 12 (1)Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Prayer: Lord Jesus – You chose the twelve prayerfully… and carefully. They were your friends – the people you lived and died with.  You spent more time with them than anyone else on earth – you taught them, trained them and sent them out in your Name. You envisioned great things for them and they became bearers of your Good News throughout the world.

Lord Jesus – Make me a bearer of your Good News as well. Help me to chose my friends and associates with the same amout of prayer and care. Surround me with people who love you and will help me become more like you. Teach me, train me, send me out as an agent of your truth and grace. That I might glorify you, in all I do. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Be Glorified” – Bob Kilpatrick (1978) (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 6.6-11 NLT – making enemies

Reading: Luke 6.6-11 NLT

president-ronald-reagan-right-handOn another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”

He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – You made enemies by doing right. I confess, however, that I have made enemies by doing wrong. Please forgive me and show me how I can make right the wrongs I have done. For Your Name’s sake, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Lord Reign in Me” (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 5.27-32 NLT – calling sinners

Reading: Luke 5.27-32 NLT

“The Calling of St. Matthew”
by Hendrick Terbrugghen, c. 1621

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me Your love and compassion for lost souls. Make me an instrument of Your mercy and grace. Give me Your eyes to see, Your words to speak, and Your kindness to welcome the sick and weary back home… into Your family. Amen.

Hymn: “Softly and Tenderly” – Will L. Thompson (1880)

Please click on audio link – “Softly and Tenderly” by Bart Millard

Welcome Home
Welcome Home

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me; See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!

Morning Reading: Luke 4.42-44 NLT – preaching

Reading: Luke 4.42-44 NLT

Kingdom-of-God Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.

Prayer: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” and, partucularly, in me today. Amen

Hymn: “The Lord’s Prayer” – (YOUTUBE)