By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.
Daily Bible Reading: Friday, June 14, 2024
Hebrews 11:4-7 (NRSV)
4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap
Daily Bible Reading: Thursday, June 13, 2024
Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15 (NRSV)
1It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
4For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
12The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14In old age they still produce fruit;
they are always green and full of sap,
15showing that the LORD is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long.
Daily Bible Reading: Monday, June 10, 2024
Psalm 74 (NRSV)
1O God, why do you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
2Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago,
which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage.
Remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell.
3Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;
the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.
4Your foes have roared within your holy place;
they set up their emblems there.
5At the upper entrance they hacked
the wooden trellis with axes.
6And then, with hatchets and hammers,
they smashed all its carved work.
7They set your sanctuary on fire;
they desecrated the dwelling place of your name,
bringing it to the ground.
8They said to themselves, "We will utterly subdue them";
they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9We do not see our emblems;
there is no longer any prophet,
and there is no one among us who knows how long.
10How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
11Why do you hold back your hand;
why do you keep your hand in your bosom?
12Yet God my King is from of old,
working salvation in the earth.
13You divided the sea by your might;
you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14You crushed the heads of Leviathan;
you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
15You cut openings for springs and torrents;
you dried up ever-flowing streams.
16Yours is the day, yours also the night;
you established the luminaries and the sun.
17You have fixed all the bounds of the earth;
you made summer and winter.
18Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs,
and an impious people reviles your name.
19Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals;
do not forget the life of your poor forever.
20Have regard for your covenant,
for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence.
21Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame;
let the poor and needy praise your name.
22Rise up, O God, plead your cause;
remember how the impious scoff at you all day long.
23Do not forget the clamor of your foes,
the uproar of your adversaries that goes up continually.
The LORD says to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool."
Daily Bible Reading: Monday, February 12, 2024
Psalm 110:1-4 (NRSV)
1The LORD says to my lord,
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool."
2The LORD sends out from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your foes.
3Your people will offer themselves willingly
on the day you lead your forces
on the holy mountains.
From the womb of the morning,
like dew, your youth will come to you.
4The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind,
"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
ELCA's daily Bible readings are chosen from "Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings," prepared by Consultation on the Common Texts, © 2005.
All text is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyrighted, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches USA, and is used by permission. All rights reserved.
