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

Today SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, PRIEST Catholic Daily Readings First Reading  Je 14:17–22  or  1 Co 10:31–11:1 Response  Ps 79:9  or  Ps 34:2  or  Ps 34:9 Psalm  Ps 79:8–9 ,  11 ,  13  or  Ps 34:2–11 Gospel  Mt 13:36–43  or  Lk 14:25–33 Gospel Acclamation  Mt 5:3 Today JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA Lutheran Service Book Historic (One Year) Lectionary Today JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary Today TUESDAY AFTER PROPER 12 Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings Psalm   Ps 111  or  Ps 37:12–22 First Reading  Ex 24:1–11  or  2 Sa 11:22–27 Second Reading  Ro 15:22–33 Today PROPER 12, TUESDAY Book of Common Prayer (1979) Daily Office Lectionary Psalms ( Morning )  Ps 61 ;  62 Psalms ( Evening )  Ps 68:1–20 ,  21–23 ,  24–35 Old Testament  Jdg 2:1–5 , ...

July 31: Cosmic, Creation, Chaos 2 Samuel 23:1–24:25 ; Jude 1:17–25 ; Psalm 148:1–150:6 Psalm 148 is cosmic in scope and comforting in message. It’s a depiction of how Yahweh brought order to chaos in the very beginning. Yahweh put the heavens, heights, angels, hosts (His armies), sun, moon, stars, and waters in their place—each a sign of His rule over the universe ( Psa 148:1–5 ). Yahweh rules over the elements commonly depicted as gods in the ancient Near East; He rules over the symbols of chaos. And this cosmic depiction is comforting. The version of the creation story we typically hear tells how things came to be, which is good. But when the story is cast like it is in Psa 148 —where we see God as ruler and Lord over chaos—the message moves beyond an intellectual knowledge. If God rules over chaos, and has since the beginning, He can bring order to the chaos in our own lives. For this reason, the psalmist praises Yahweh both for His creation and for His work in his own lif...

Morning, July 31 Go To Evening Reading “I in them.” — John 17:23 If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion! This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of communion hath many pearly gates, every several gate is of one pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may enter, assured of welcome. If there were but one small loophole through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to send a messenger to him to carr...

July 31st Till you are entirely His Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect. James 1:4 (Moffatt). Many of us are all right in the main, but there are some domains in which we are slovenly. It is not a question of sin, but of the remnants of the carnal life which are apt to make us slovenly. Slovenliness is an insult to the Holy Ghost. There should be nothing slovenly, whether it be in the way we eat and drink, or in the way we worship God. Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the external expression of that relationship must be right. Ultimately God will let nothing escape, every detail is under His scrutiny. In numberless ways God will bring us back to the same point over and over again. He never tires of bringing us to the one point until we learn the lesson, because He is producing the finished product. It may be a question of impulse, and again and again, with the most persistent patience, Go...

Let Us Not Grow Weary Excerpt But Christians may become discouraged with spiritual sowing because the harvest is often long in coming. In the face of this reality the apostle charged the Galatians  not  to  become weary  or  give up because the  harvest  is sure. (Paul included himself as he no doubt contemplated his sometimes frustrating labors on behalf of the Galatian Christians.) The reaping will come at God’s  proper  time, which may be only in part in this life and in full in the life to come at the judgment seat of Christ.  More Campbell, Donald K. “ Galatians .”  The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 610. Print.

Humanity of Jesus Excerpt Theologians have puzzled over the exact relationship between Jesus’ humanity and deity. All we can say with confidence is that Jesus is both God and man. As a human being, He descended from Adam, was born, and lived a normal human life. He felt hunger and physical exhaustion. He knew rejection and pain. He enjoyed wedding celebrations and parties. He felt pity for the helpless, frustration at the dullness of His followers, and anger at the heartless indifference of the religious leaders to human suffering. He was truly human, in the best and the ideal sense of that word. As a human being He is our example.  More Richards, Lawrence O.  The Bible Reader’s Companion . electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

The Race of Life Excerpt Their encouragement has two purposes: to  throw off  everything that hinders  and to put away  the sin that so easily entangles.  As Moses laid aside the prerogatives of royalty for the sake of his God-given mission, so we must throw off whatever may hinder faith even though it may be right for others. Joseph properly ruled in Egypt, but for Moses it was a hindering weight. Other weights might well be ambition, anxieties, hobbies, wealth or fame. Each runner must honestly judge what hinders faith for him or her and resolutely lay it aside, even though others seem to be unhindered by the same thing. One cannot run well in an overcoat! But the primary block to gaining the prize is  the sin that so easily entangles.  Since the writer does not specify what this is, it may be taken for granted that it is the sin continually warned about in Hebrews — persistent unbelief. Do not take God’s Word lightly. Do not excuse any sin ...

Teachers James 3:1 Excerpt Obviously too many of the new Jewish Christians aspired to teach and thereby carry some of the rank and admiration given to Rabbis. It is doubtful that the reference here is to official teachers of the apostolic or prophetic status. These are the unofficial teachers ( didaskaloi ) in the synagogue meetings of the church family where much latitude was given for even strangers to speak. Paul frequently used this courtesy given visitors. James’ complaint was simply that too many believers were overly anxious to speak up and show off ( cf . John  3:10 ;  9:40-41 ).  More Blue, J. Ronald. “ James .”  The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 827. Print.

Today MONDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Catholic Daily Readings First Reading  Je 13:1–11 Response  Dt 32:18a Psalm   Dt 32:18–21 Gospel Acclamation  Jas 1:18 Gospel  Mt 13:31–35 Today ROBERT BARNES, CONFESSOR AND MARTYR Lutheran Service Book Historic (One Year) Lectionary Today ROBERT BARNES, CONFESSOR AND MARTYR Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary Today MONDAY AFTER PROPER 12 Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings Psalm  Ps 111  or  Ps 37:12–22 First Reading  Ge 18:1–15  or  2 Sa 11:14–21 Second Reading  Php 4:10–20 Today PROPER 12, MONDAY Book of Common Prayer (1979) Daily Office Lectionary Psalms ( Morning )  Ps 56 ;  57 ;  58 Psalms ( Evening )  Ps 64 ;  65 Old Testament  Jos 24:16–33 New Testament   Ro 16:1–16 Gospel   Mt 27:24–31 Today WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, 1833 Book of Commo...