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Reading
First Lesson
Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far;
The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my
mother hath he made mention of my name.
2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow
of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in
his quiver hath he hid me;
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I
will be glorified.
4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength
for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD,
and my work with my God.
5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be
his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not
gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and
my God shall be my strength.
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my
servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved
of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles,
that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
7 Thus
saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to
him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to
a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also
shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the
Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
QUESTIONS - Isaiah 49:1-7. Who is this Redeemer of Israel? (V. 7). Is He still despised by man? RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
Luke 3:15-22
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in
their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you
with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose
shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the
Holy Ghost and with fire:
17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his
floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff
he will burn with fire unquenchable.
18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto
the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias
his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod
had done,
20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that
Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove
upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art
my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
QUESTIONS - Luke 3:15-22. would I have had enough tenacity and stedfastness to stand up to Herod as John the Baptist did? Has there ever been a parallel opportunity in my life to do so, when I chose the easy way, instead of the right way? Why? RESOLVE.