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Reading
First Lesson
Isaiah 61
1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath
anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of
vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might
be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the
former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the
desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons
of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call
you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the
Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they
shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they
shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For
I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering;
and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting
covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their
offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge
them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
10 I
will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in
my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself
with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden
causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the
Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth
before all the nations.
QUESTIONS - Isaiah 61. Do I believe verse 8? What does that say about my relationship with God, during the last month or so? Has my offering ever been one of robbery? (V. 8) Has God clothed me with the garments of salvation (V. 10)? What has been my response in life? RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
Romans 15:8-21
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision
for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it
is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles,
and sing unto thy name.
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him,
all ye people.
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and
he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the
Gentiles trust.
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
14 And
I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also
are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to
admonish one another.
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto
you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace
that is given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles
might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ
in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which
Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient,
by word and deed,
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit
of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum,
I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ
was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall
see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
QUESTIONS - Romans 15:8-21. Ought I to be counted as those described in verse 14? Is my life reflective of this verse? RESOLVE.