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Friday
First Lesson
Malachi 3:1-15
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the
way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come
to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight
in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand
when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like
fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he
shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant
unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift
witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and
against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling
in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside
the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD
of hosts.
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob
are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine
ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will
return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein
shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein
have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this
whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may
be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD
of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive
it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall
not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine
cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of
hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a
delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet
ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is
it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully
before the LORD of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness
are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
1st Lesson Questions -
Malachi 3:1-15 God admonishes his people for giving into despair and a feeling of futility. (V. 14) Do I sometimes fall into that trap, particularly when I’m doing all the “right” things and nothing seems to come of it? RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
1 Peter 2:18-25
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only
to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God
endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,
ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer
for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered,
he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto
the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
2nd Lesson Questions -
I Peter 2:18-25 Do I tend to respond “in kind” – to lash back or to want revenge – when I’m ill-treated? How would Jesus respond? (V. 23) Do I truly forgive the wrongdoer? RESOLVE.
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