DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

Bible in a Year  :  Psalms 137–139; 1 Corinthians 13

Today's Scripture : Genesis 4:1–2  (NIV)

Insight  In Genesis 4:1–2 we find fulfillment of two events stated earlier in the book. In 1:28 God blessed Adam and Eve and told them to “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” The fact that Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel was the first sign that the blessing was still in effect. The second fulfillment relates to God’s promise of a redeemer in 3:15 . God told the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” God spoke this promise before there were children to fulfill it. Adam and Eve’s offspring made the ultimate offspring—Jesus—possible.

Parenthood is just one of many ways people make lasting contributions to this world. Perhaps your offering will burst forth from a room where you write or knit or paint. You might be an example for another who is deprived of godly influence. Or your investment might even come after your death in ways you could never imagine. It may be the work you leave behind or your reputation for integrity in business. In any case, will your words echo Eve’s dependency on God? With the help of the Lord, what will you do for His honor? By:    Elisa Morgan

Reflect & Pray How do you want to be remembered after you leave this world? In what ways will you seek God’s help to make that happen? Dear God, may I lean into You in all I do, because it is only with Your help that I can bring forth a lasting legacy.

September 2: Only the Very Beginning Hosea 3:1–5:15; Acts 2:1–41 ; Job 15:10–20 Beginnings are exciting. The freshness of a new project or a new relationship sharpens our senses. When that novelty diminishes, though, it’s difficult to maintain the same level of excitement. Acts 2 is all about beginnings. In this passage we get an inside view of how God worked to gather a new community of believers to Himself. Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit signaled a new era and produced a new community, as both Jews and “devout men from every nation under heaven” converted to the Christian faith (Acts 2:5). From where we stand, it’s easy for us to see Pentecost as the pivotal moment in the history of the Church—an unparalleled event that changed the world forever. Magnificent things happened. Peter gave a moving testimony. Three thousand people came to faith. When we celebrate the holiday of Pentecost , however, we are remembering the firstfruits of the harvest—the coming...

Mon, Sep 2, 2019 (Aug 20, 2019) | Octoechos Twelfth Monday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle 2 Corinthians 5:10–15 Gospel Mark 1:9–15   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print.

Monday, September 2, 2019 | Ordinary Time Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 1 | Roman Missal | Lectionary First Reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Response Psalm 96:13 b Psalm Psalm 96:1, 3–5 , 11–13 Gospel Acclamation Luke 4:18 Gospel Luke 4:16–30   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Monday, September 2, 2019 | After Pentecost Proper 17, Monday Year 1 Psalms ( Morning ) Psalm 25 Psalms ( Evening ) Psalm 9 , 15 Old Testament 2 Chronicles 6:32–7:7 New Testament James 2:1–13 Gospel Mark 14:53–65   The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Monday, September 2, 2019 | After Pentecost Monday after Proper 17 Year C Psalm , First Reading & Second Reading, Option I Psalm Psalm 119:65–72 First Reading 2 Chronicles 12:1–12 ( Complementary ) Second Reading...

Bible in a Year  :  Psalm 119:89–176; 1 Corinthians 8

Today's Scripture Micah 7:1–3, 18–20 (NIV)

Insight  Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, ministered some sixty-five years to both Israel and Judah (Micah 1:1; Hosea 1:1). Both kingdoms were at this time characterized by idolatry, corruption, injustice, and oppression of the poor (Micah 7:2–3). Even as he speaks of God’s disciplining hand, warning that Israel would be destroyed by the Assyrians ( 1:6 ), of the exile ( v . 16 ), and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple ( 3:12 ), Micah also speaks unequivocally of God’s benevolence and blessings if they would repent and “act justly . . . love mercy, and walk humbly with [their] God” ( 6:8 ). Micah also prophesied of the blessings of the return of a remnant back to Jerusalem ( 2:12 ) and the birth of the Messiah ( 5:2 ). Micah thus concludes with a proclamation, “Who is a God like you” ( 7:18 ), reminiscent of God’s own self-revelation in Exodus 34:6–7. Interestingly, Micah’s name means “Who is like Jehovah.”  Visit  christianuniversity.org/OT223...

We too can rejoice that God doesn’t abandon us because of our sins if we ask for forgiveness. As Micah declared of God, “Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!” ( v . 19   nlt ) . God’s love gives second chances to all who seek Him. By:    Patricia Raybon

Reflect & Pray What sin will you repent of and gain a second chance from our loving God? Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the grace of second chances.

August 26: Lives of Spiritual Opulence Isaiah 52:1–54:17; Luke 20:41–21:24 ; Job 12:1–12 The Pharisees upheld a faulty religious system. They were supposed to be the Jews’ spiritual leaders, but they were more interested in making themselves the religious elite. They loved “greetings in the marketplace and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets” (Luke 20:46). Their ministry was built on the backs of the poor. In contrast, the widow depicted in Luke 21 chose to give all she had. Because she had so little, her generosity was sacrificial. Those who gave out of abundance didn’t feel the loss of income like she did. But the contrast between the widow and the Pharisees shows us much more. Luke says that spiritual wealth can be present where we least expect it—that things aren’t always as they appear. Although Jesus is the long-anticipated Messiah, following Him is never going to bring a life of glory and fame. Jesus is ushering in a kingdom like a m...

Monday, August 26, 2019 | Octoechos Twelfth Monday after Pentecost Epistle 2 Corinthians 5:10–15 Gospel Mark 1:9–15   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print. Mon, Aug 26, 2019 (Aug 13, 2019) | Octoechos Eleventh Monday after Pentecost Dark Vestments On the same date: Leavetaking of the Transfiguration Epistle 2 Corinthians 2:4–15 Gospel Matthew 23:13–22   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Monday, August 26, 2019 | Octoechos Eleventh Monday after Pentecost Epistle 2 Corinthians 2:4–15 Gospel Matthew 23:13–22   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print.

Monday, August 26, 2019 | Ordinary Time Monday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year 1 | Roman Missal | Lectionary First Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1–5, 8b–10 Response Psalm 149:4a Psalm Psalm 149:1b–6a, 9b Gospel Acclamation John 10:27 Gospel Matthew 23:13–22   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Monday, August 26, 2019 | After Pentecost Proper 16, Monday Year 1 Psalms ( Morning ) Psalm 1 , 2 , 3 Psalms ( Evening ) Psalm 4, 7 Old Testament 1 Kings 1:5–31 New Testament Acts 26:1–23 Gospel Mark 13:14–27   The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Monday, August 26, 2019 | After Pentecos t Monday after Proper 16 Year C Psalm , First Reading & Second Reading, Option I Psalm Psalm 109:21–31 First Reading Ezekiel 20:1–17 ( Complementary ) Second Reading H...

Our New Home Bible in a Year :   Psalms 103–104; 1 Corinthians 2

Today's Scripture : Revelation 22:1–5  (NIV)

Insight  The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of what the future will be like when we exist together with God in eternity. Chapters 21–22 list a variety of “new” things we’ll experience in the new heaven and new earth. In today’s passage, we see the existence of two trees of life—or one tree that spans both sides of the river ( 22:2 ). Access to the tree of life was lost when Adam and Eve were banished from the garden (see Genesis 3:24 ). In the new heaven , its fruit, seemingly meant to be consumed, will always be available. The tree of life underscores the idea that life in the kingdom is ongoing.

How incredible to know that God , who loves His children and purchased us with the life of His Son , is preparing such an amazing new home—where He Himself will live with us and be our God ( 21:3 ). By:    Estera Pirosca Escobar