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

Bible in a Year  :  Psalms 54–56; Romans 3

Today's Scripture : Acts 9:13–16  (NIV)

Insight  Paul’s conversion story is recorded three times in the book of Acts ( 9:1–19 ; 22:3–21 ; 26:9–29 ). He also testified to it in 1 Corinthians 15:9–10 ; Galatians 1:11–17 ; Philippians 3:4–6 ; and 1 Timothy 1:12–17 . As a sworn enemy of Christ , Paul was ever grateful that God would still save him, considering himself the least qualified and the most undeserving recipient of God’s mercy and grace ( 1 Timothy 1:13–14 ). God told Ananias that Paul was to be His “chosen instrument” to take the gospel to the gentiles ( Acts 9:15 ). But Paul saw another reason that God used him: he was “a prime example of [ God’s ] great patience with even the worst sinners” ( 1 Timothy 1:16 NLT ). God had us in mind when He saved Paul. If he, the worst of sinners, could be saved, then no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and love .

We can sometimes view ourselves only as we have been—with all of our failures and shortcomings. But God sees us as new creations, not who we were but who we are in Jesus and who we’re becoming through the power of the Holy Spirit . O God , teach us to view ourselves and others in this way! By   Peter Chin

Reflect & Pray How can you begin to better view yourself and others in light of who you are in Christ today? How does it encourage you to know God isn’t through growing and refining you? Heavenly Father , help me to find my full identity in You . Allow me to humbly see others through Your eyes of grace !

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 h...

Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | Octoechos Eighth Wednesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle 1 Corinthians 10:12–22 Gospel Matthew 16:20–24   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print. Wed, Jul 31, 2019 (Jul 18, 2019) | Octoechos Seventh Wednesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle 1 Corinthians 7:12–24 Gospel Matthew 14:35–15:11   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | Octoechos Seventh Wednesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle 1 Corinthians 7:12–24 Gospel Matthew 14:35–15:11   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print.

Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | Memorial Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Years 1 & 2 | Roman Missal | Lectionary From Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time First Reading Exodus 34:29–35 Response Psalm 99:9c Psalm Psalm 99:5–7 , 9 Gospel Acclamation John 15:15b Gospel Matthew 13:44–46 Or from the Proper of Saints First Reading 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1 Response Psalm 34:2 or Psalm 34:9 Psalm Psalm 34:2–11 Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:3 Gospel Luke 14:25–33   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | After Pentecost Proper 12, Wednesday Year 1 Psalms ( Morning ) Psalm 72 Psalms ( Evening ) Psalm 119:73–96 Old Testament 2 Samuel 3:22–39 New Testament Acts 16:16–24 Gospel Mark 6:47–56  The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Wednesday, ...

Bible in a Year  :  Psalms 51–53; Romans 2

Today's Scripture : Psalm 85  (NIV)

Insight  Psalm 85 begins with a reference to Jacob ( v . 1 ). Some translations say “Israel,” since the songwriter is referring not just to the nation’s ancestral father but to his descendants as well. The psalmist’s word choice of “Jacob” is worth noting. When God’s people realized that once again they were in need of mercy , they often referred to themselves as “the house of Jacob.” As humbling as it was, the family likeness was the point. It was common knowledge that Jacob seemed to be destined to be remembered as an incurable liar and schemer until God changed his heart and renamed him Israel. From the beginning, God Himself had taught His people to think of Him as the God of Abraham, Isaac , and Jacob ( Genesis 50:24 ; Exodus 3:15 ; Acts 7:32 ). This was a way of reminding them that—then and now—their only hope was in a God good enough to forgive and change them.

Who among us doesn’t occasionally feel battered, bruised, broken? And sometimes it’s because of something we’ve done to ourselves. But because the Lord is the God of restoration and forgiveness , those who humbly come to Him are never without hope. With open arms He welcomes those who turn to Him ; and those who do, find safety in His arms . By   Arthur Jackson

Reflect & Pray Are there signs in your life that restoration is in order? What’s your response to the God of restoration ? Lord , help me not to ignore the signs that restoration is needed in my life.

July 30: Destructive People 2 Samuel 22:1–51 ; Jude 1:1–16 ; Psalm 147:1–20 Some destructive people don’t realize the carnage they leave in their wake. Others intentionally cause rifts and pain, driven by selfish motives. Jude’s letter, which contains succinct prose, startling imagery, and a swift warning, is unlike anything we read in Scripture . The letter equipped early Christ ians to deal wisely with false teachers who had entered the church community. Today, it can provide us with wisdom to respond to some of the most difficult people and situations we encounter. The community that Jude addressed contained destructive false teachers “who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord , Jesus Christ ” ( Jude 4 ). They did not respect authority, but acted out of instinct rather than conviction: “But these persons blaspheme all that they do not understand, and all that they understand by instinct like the irrational animals, by these thin...

Tuesday, July 30, 2019 | Octoechos Eighth Tuesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle 1 Corinthians 10:5–12 Gospel Matthew 16:6–12   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print. Tue, Jul 30, 2019 (Jul 17, 2019) | Octoechos Seventh Tuesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle 1 Corinthians 6:20–7:12 Gospel Matthew 14:1–13   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Tue, Jul 30, 2019 (Jul 17, 2019) | Octoechos Seventh Tuesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle 1 Corinthians 6:20–7:12 Gospel Matthew 14:1–13   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019 | Ordinary Time Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year 1 | Roman Missal | Lectionary On the same date: Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church First Reading Exodus 33:7–11 , 34:5b–9 , 28 Response Psalm 103:8a Psalm Psalm 103:6–13 Gospel Acclamation Text Gospel Matthew 13:36–43   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 | After Pentecost Proper 12, Tuesday Year 1 Psalms ( Morning ) Psalm 61 , 62 Psalms ( Evening ) Psalm 68:1–20 ( 21–23 ) 24–35 Old Testament 2 Samuel 3:6–21 New Testament Acts 16:6–15 Gospel Mark 6:30–46  The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 | After Pentecost Tuesday after Proper 12 Year C Psalm , First Reading & Second Reading, Option I Psalm Psa...