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“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

Today’s Bible Reading

In the aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba, David pleads to the Lord for a clean heart and a right spirit. This is the fourth of the seven “penitential psalms.”

BibleGateway: Psalm 51 ESV Text: Psalm 51 Psalm 51 (Listen) Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 51:1   Have mercy on me,1 O God,    according to your steadfast love;  according to your abundant mercy    blot out my… In the aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba, David pleads to the Lord for a clean heart and a right spirit. This is the fourth of the seven “penitential psalms.”

“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] Yet even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of the Lord our Savior. Praise the Lord for His greatness: “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] But even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of Lord, our Rock.

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BibleGateway: Psalm 95 ESV Text: Psalm 95 Psalm 95 (Listen) Let Us Sing Songs of Praise 95:1   Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2   Let… “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] Yet even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of the Lord our Savior. Praise the Lord for His greatness: “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] But even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of Lord, our Rock.

Complain! Complain! Complain. Sound familiar? Just like Israel of old don’t we find ourselves whining about every little thing? May God lead us to repent of this terrible sin, and then to stand in amazement at how He so richly blesses us despite our grumbling ways.

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BibleGateway: Exodus 17:1-16 ESV Text: Exodus 17:1-16 Exodus 17 (Listen) Water from the Rock 17:1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment… Complain! Complain! Complain. Sound familiar? Just like Israel of old don’t we find ourselves whining about every little thing? May God lead us to repent of this terrible sin, and then to stand in amazement at how He so richly blesses us despite our grumbling ways.

So the rich go to hell, and the poor to heaven? No. While it is true that living only for the pleasures of this world is foolish and eternally devastating, Jesus’ main point is that, whether rich or poor, the only way to prepare for eternity is by giving heed to the faith creating power of God’s Word.

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BibleGateway: Luke 16:19-31 ESV Text: Luke 16:19-31 Luke 16:19–31 (Listen) The Rich Man and Lazarus 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And… So the rich go to hell, and the poor to heaven? No. While it is true that living only for the pleasures of this world is foolish and eternally devastating, Jesus’ main point is that, whether rich or poor, the only way to prepare for eternity is by giving heed to the faith creating power of God’s Word.

In this world of wickedness, the Law serves to curb the course outbreak of sin. As a mirror it also shows our sin, along with the hell we deserve because of our sin. Our one hope? “. . . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .” [v.15]

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BibleGateway: 1 Timothy 1:1-15 ESV Text: 1 Timothy 1:1-15 1 Timothy 1:1–15 (Listen) Greeting 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my… In this world of wickedness, the Law serves to curb the course outbreak of sin. As a mirror it also shows our sin, along with the hell we deserve because of our sin. Our one hope? “. . . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .” [v.15]

Praise the Lord as Creator: “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made.” [v.6] Praise Him as the Lord of history: “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing.” [v.10] Praise Him as our Savior: “. . . to deliver their soul from death.” [v.19]

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BibleGateway: Psalm 33 ESV Text: Psalm 33 Psalm 33 (Listen) The Steadfast Love of the Lord 33:1   Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!    Praise befits the upright.2   Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;    make… Praise the Lord as Creator: “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made.” [v.6] Praise Him as the Lord of history: “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing.” [v.10] Praise Him as our Savior: “. . . to deliver their soul from death.” [v.19]

Seven amazing promises from the Lord are given to Abram. The crowning jewel is the last one: “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” From the descendants of Abraham would come One who would bring the superb blessings of forgiveness and salvation for all. Yes, that One is Jesus Christ!

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BibleGateway: Genesis 12:1-9 ESV Text: Genesis 12:1-9 Genesis 12:1–9 (Listen) The Call of Abram 12:1 Now the LORD said1 to Abram, “Go from your country2 and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that… Seven amazing promises from the Lord are given to Abram. The crowning jewel is the last one: “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” From the descendants of Abraham would come One who would bring the superb blessings of forgiveness and salvation for all. Yes, that One is Jesus Christ!

Even if it meant tearing apart a roof, nothing would stop them from getting their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Jesus not only had the power to get him up and walking, He has the authority to make the man’s soul whole through the forgiveness of sins. Jesus has all we need for body and soul.

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BibleGateway: Luke 5:17-26 ESV Text: Luke 5:17-26 Luke 5:17–26 (Listen) Jesus Heals a Paralytic 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come… Even if it meant tearing apart a roof, nothing would stop them from getting their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Jesus not only had the power to get him up and walking, He has the authority to make the man’s soul whole through the forgiveness of sins. Jesus has all we need for body and soul.

Whoever seeks to establish his own righteousness (perfection) before God will fail in a big way. “Christ is the end of the law.” Christ’s righteousness is given to all sinners as a free gift. That means “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [whoever trusts in Him and not his own works] shall be saved.”

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BibleGateway: Romans 10:1-13 ESV Text: Romans 10:1-13 Romans 10:1–13 (Listen) 10:1 Brothers,1 my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a… Whoever seeks to establish his own righteousness (perfection) before God will fail in a big way. “Christ is the end of the law.” Christ’s righteousness is given to all sinners as a free gift. That means “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [whoever trusts in Him and not his own works] shall be saved.”

Under the Lord’s perfect care we can be confident that He will be with us in every trouble, that He will answer our every prayer, and that He will finally show us His salvation. “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” [v.1]

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BibleGateway: Psalm 91 ESV Text: Psalm 91 Psalm 91 (Listen) My Refuge and My Fortress 91:1   He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2   I will say1 to… Under the Lord’s perfect care we can be confident that He will be with us in every trouble, that He will answer our every prayer, and that He will finally show us His salvation. “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” [v.1]

The Lord gives instructions on how the Israelites should express their thanks to Him for bringing them out of captivity, and for giving them the land of Cannon as an inheritance. You and I thank our Savior God for setting us free the captivity of sin, and for our inheritance in Heaven.

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BibleGateway: Deuteronomy 26:1-15 ESV Text: Deuteronomy 26:1-15 Deuteronomy 26:1–15 (Listen) Offerings of Firstfruits and Tithes 26:1 “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken… The Lord gives instructions on how the Israelites should express their thanks to Him for bringing them out of captivity, and for giving them the land of Cannon as an inheritance. You and I thank our Savior God for setting us free the captivity of sin, and for our inheritance in Heaven.