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Wednesday
The First
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus 4:20-5:7
20 Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed
when it concerneth thy soul.
21 For
there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which
is glory and grace.
22 Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence
of any man cause thee to fall.
23 And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good,
and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.
24 For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word
of the tongue.
25 In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the
error of thine ignorance.
26 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course
of the river.
27 Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept
the person of the mighty.
28 Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight
for thee.
29 Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.
30 Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.
31 Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when
thou shouldest repay.
1 Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for
my life.
2 Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the
ways of thy heart:
3 And say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord
will surely revenge thy pride.
4 Say
not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for
the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.
5 Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto
sin:
6 And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the
multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and
his indignation resteth upon sinners.
7 Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from
day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth,
and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the
day of vengeance.
1st Lesson Questions -
Am I more into the shame which brings sin, or the shame "which is glory and grace"? (V. 21) Have I ever asked the question in 5:4? Have I ever lived that belief out in my life? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Matthew 2:13-23
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young
child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there
until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child
to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night,
and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt
have I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men,
was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children
that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two
years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently
inquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet,
saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping,
and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would
not be comforted, because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth
in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and
go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the
young child's life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and
came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the
room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding,
being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts
of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called
a Nazarene.
2nd Lesson Questions -
How does the Church remember Herod's heinous act? (Pgs 102-104, BCP) RESOLVE.