Daily Lectionary:

Morning: Psalm 147:1-11
Joshua 8:30-35
Romans 14:13-23
Matthew 26:57-68
Evening: Psalm 4:1-8

 

Morning: Psalm 147:1-11

¹Praise the Lord!

How good it is to sing praises to our God;

for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.

²The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

³He heals the brokenhearted,

and binds up their wounds.

⁴He determines the number of the stars;

he gives to all of them their names.

⁵Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;

his understanding is beyond measure.

⁶The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;

he casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre.

⁸He covers the heavens with clouds,

prepares rain for the earth,

makes grass grow on the hills.

⁹He gives to the animals their food,

and to the young ravens when they cry.

¹⁰His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;

¹¹but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Joshua 8:30-35

³⁰Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, ³¹just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, "an altar of unhewn stones, on which no iron tool has been used"; and they offered on it burnt-offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed offerings of well-being. ³²And there, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. ³³All Israel, alien as well as citizen, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark in front of the levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel. ³⁴And afterwards he read all the words of the law, blessings and curses, according to all that is written in the book of the law. ³⁵There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them.

Romans 14:13-23

¹³Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. ¹⁴I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. ¹⁵If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. ¹⁹Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. ²⁰Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; ²¹it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. ²²The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. ²³But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Matthew 26:57-68

⁵⁷Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. ⁵⁹Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward ⁶¹and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" ⁶²The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?" ⁶³But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." ⁶⁴Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." ⁶⁵Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death." ⁶⁷Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, ⁶⁸saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?"

Evening: Psalm 4:1-8

¹Answer me when I call, O God of my right!

You gave me room when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

²How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?

How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah

³But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself;

the LORD hears when I call to him.

⁴When you are disturbed, do not sin;

ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah

⁵Offer right sacrifices,

and put your trust in the LORD.

⁶There are many who say, "O that we might see some good!

Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!"

⁷You have put gladness in my heart

more than when their grain and wine abound.

⁸I will both lie down and sleep in peace;

for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.