Feb 21

Exodus 4
Job 21
Luke 7
1Corinthians 8

Daily Readings:

Exodus 4

1 ¶  And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

2  And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

3  And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

5  That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

6  And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

7  And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

8  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

9  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

10 ¶  And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

11  And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

12  Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

13  And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

14  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

15  And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16  And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

17  And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

18 ¶  And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

19  And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

20  And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

21  And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

22  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

23  And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

24 ¶  And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

25  Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

26  So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

27  And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

28  And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

29  And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

30  And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

31  And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Job 21

1 ¶  But Job answered and said,

2  Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

3  Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4  As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5  Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6  Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7 ¶  Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8  Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

9  Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10  Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11  They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12  They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13  They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

14  Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15  What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16  Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 ¶  How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18  They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19  God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20  His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21  For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22  Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23  One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24  His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25  And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26  They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

27 ¶  Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28  For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29  Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

30  That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

31  Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32  Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

33  The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34  How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

Luke 7

1 ¶  Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2  And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3  And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4  And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5  For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6  Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

7  Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

8  For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

9  When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10  And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

11 ¶  And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12  Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16  And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

17  And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

18  And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

19 ¶  And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20  When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21  And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

22  Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

24  And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

25  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

26  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

27  This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

29  And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

30  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

31  And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32  They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34  The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

35  But wisdom is justified of all her children.

36 ¶  And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

37  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40  And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41  There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43  Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49  And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50  And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

1 Corinthians 8

1 ¶  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

4 ¶  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 ¶  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

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

D13-D01 The Dissolver of All Things D13-D02 The Dissolver of All Things D13-D03 The Dissolver of All Things

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