Mar 8

Exodus 19
Job 37
Luke 22
2Corinthians 7

Daily Readings:

Exodus 19

1 ¶  In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

2  For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

9 ¶  And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

10  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

11  And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12  And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

13  There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15  And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

16 ¶  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19  And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

20  And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

22  And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

23  And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

24  And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

25  So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

Job 37

1 ¶  At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

2  Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

3  He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

4  After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

5  God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

6 ¶  For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

7  He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

8  Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

9  Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10  By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11  Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12  And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13  He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 ¶  Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15  Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16  Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17  How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18  Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

19  Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20  Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 ¶  And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22  Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23  Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24  Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Luke 22

1 ¶  Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

2  And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

3  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

4  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

5  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

6  And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

7 ¶  Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8  And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9  And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10  And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11  And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12  And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

13  And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

14  And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

16  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

17  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

18  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

21 ¶  But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

22  And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

23  And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

24  And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25  And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

35  And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

36  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

38  And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

39 ¶  And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40  And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41  And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45  And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46  And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

47 ¶  And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

48  But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

49  When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

50  And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

51  And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

52  Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

53  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

54 ¶  Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.

55  And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

56  But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

57  And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

58  And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

59  And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

60  And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

63 ¶  And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

64  And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

65  And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

66  And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

67  Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

68  And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

69  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

70  Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

71  And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

2 Corinthians 7

1 ¶  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2  Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

3  I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5 ¶  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6  Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7  And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

8  For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12 ¶  Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13  Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14  For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15  And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16  I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Mediation of the Day: from Charles J Rolls’ book, ‘The Indescribable Christ’

F2-F01 The Firstborn F2-F02 The Firstborn

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