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Sunday
First Lesson
1 Maccabees 2:49-64
49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he
said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength,
and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give
your lives for the covenant of your fathers.
51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time;
so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name.
52 Was
not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed
unto him for righteousness?
53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and
was made lord of Egypt.
54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the
covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
55 Jesus
for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.
56 Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received
the heritage of the land.
57 David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting
kingdom.
58 Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken
up into heaven.
59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out
of the flame.
60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.
61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages that none that put
their trust in him shall be overcome.
62 Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall
be dung and worms.
63 To day he shall be lifted up, and to morrow he shall not be
found, because he is returned into his dust, and his thought
is come to nothing.
64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant, and shew yourselves men
in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory.
1st Lesson Questions -
In Mattathias' day arrogance and reproach were big problems. Are they today? If I were to insert my name in Vs. 52-60, how would I fare? Why am I not doing that to which I am called, more fully? Who is the Jesus V. 55 mentions? (Use a Revised Standard Version to find out.) RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
1 Timothy 6:11-19
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto
thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before
many witnesses.
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all
things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed
a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable,
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only
Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no
man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to
whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not
highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That
they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against
the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Am I fighting the good fight of faith, or a temporal one, most of the time? (V. 12) Am I rich in good works? (V. 18) How can I become more so? RESOLVE.