Revised Common Lectionary

Day 273 Jeremiah 2:31-4:9 ;  Philippians 2:12-30 ;  Psalm 115:12-18 The Lord calls us back from our backsliding: “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding” ( Jeremiah 3:22 ). The returning people say, “Yes, we will come to You, for You are the Lord our God ... surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel” ( Jeremiah 3:22-23 ). As we return to the Lord, He gives us this calling: “Become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of life” ( Philippians 2:15-16 ). To those who return to the Lord and seek to live as His holy people, the Lord gives His promise of blessing - “The Lord remembers us and will bless us ... He will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike” ( Psalm 115:12-13 ). Day 274 Jeremiah 4:10-5:31 ;  Philippians 3:1-4:1 ;  Psalm 116:1-11 The Word of God is like a fire, burning up the sin...

When I was living in Glasgow, at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, I met a lady who lived in three different centuries! She was a born a few months before the end of the nineteenth century. She died a few months into the twenty-first century. When someone achieves their century of years, it is a time for giving thanks to God. We look back over our life and we say, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life’. It is not only a time for looking back. It is also a time for looking forward – ‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever’ (Psalm 23:6). We look back, giving thanks to God for many precious and treasured memories. We look forward to something even better – ‘we will be with the Lord for ever’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:20 When we gather together to hear the preaching of Your Word, show us, Lord, that we need more than the “words” of the preacher. Show us that we need “the power of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Help us, when we hear Your Word, to know that it is more than “the word of men” – it is “the Word of God, which is at work in us believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4:12 Lord, we need both “love” and “holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13). Our love is to be holy. Our holiness is to be loving. Where do we learn to be loving? Where do we learn to be holy? We learn from Jesus, our Saviour – Jesus, Your Son. Jesus says, “I don’t condemn you” – This is love. He also says, “Go and sin no more” – This is holiness (John 8:3-11). Help us to be more like Jesus – in love and in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28 Lord, there are times when we feel like giving up. You never give up on us: “He who calls you is utterly faithful and He w...

God is holy. God is love. Let us come to Him with our prayers. In Moses, we see the holiness and love of God: a deep hatred of sin (Exodus 32:19), an intense longing for sinners to be forgiven (Exodus 32:32). Filled with ‘the fear of the Lord’, Moses was fearless before men. God’s Word to sinners is clear: He warns them (Proverbs 29:1); He calls them to repent (Acts 2:38); He invites them to return to Him (Hosea 6:1). Moses’ faithful and fearless preaching emerged from his closeness to God: ‘The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend’ (Exodus 33:11). Moses prayed; God heard; God answered (Exodus 33:17). Moses prayed for a revelation of God’s glory (Exodus 33:18). God revealed Himself as the good God, the God of grace and mercy (Exodus 32:19). Let us go up to God and bring down all that is needed to build the Body of Christ that God may take pleasure in it and that He may appear in His glory (Haggai 1:8). God is holy. God is love. Let us come t...