1 - 5 May
Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
One in Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
6 - 12 May
Ephesians 3
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
13 - 19 May
Ephesians 1:17-9
17I keep asking
that the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the
glorious Father, may
give you the Spirit[a]
of wisdom and
revelation, so that you
may know him better.
18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
Proverbs 21:29
A wicked man puts up a
bold front, but an
upright man gives
thought to his ways.
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard over my
mouth, O LORD; keep
watch over the door of
my lips.
Psalm 145
1 [a] I will exalt you, my God the King;I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2
Every day I will
praise you
and extol
your name for
ever and ever.
3
Great is the
LORD and most
worthy of
praise;
his
greatness no one
can fathom.
4
One generation
will commend
your works to
another;
they will
tell of your
mighty acts.
5
They will speak
of the glorious
splendor of your
majesty,
and I
will meditate on
your wonderful
works.
[b]
6
They will tell
of the power of
your awesome
works,
and I
will proclaim
your great
deeds.
7
They will
celebrate your
abundant
goodness
and
joyfully sing of
your
righteousness.
8
The LORD is
gracious and
compassionate,
slow to
anger and rich
in love.
9
The LORD is good
to all;
he has
compassion on
all he has made.
10
All you have
made will praise
you, O LORD;
your
saints will
extol you.
11
They will tell
of the glory of
your kingdom
and speak
of your might,
12
so that all men
may know of your
mighty acts
and the
glorious
splendor of your
kingdom.
13
Your kingdom is
an everlasting
kingdom,
and your
dominion endures
through all
generations.
The LORD
is faithful to
all his promises
and
loving toward
all he has made.
[c]
14
The LORD upholds
all those who
fall
and lifts
up all who are
bowed down.
15
The eyes of all
look to you,
and you
give them their
food at the
proper time.
16
You open your
hand
and
satisfy the
desires of every
living thing.
17
The LORD is
righteous in all
his ways
and
loving toward
all he has made.
18
The LORD is near
to all who call
on him,
to all
who call on him
in truth.
19
He fulfills the
desires of those
who fear him;
he hears
their cry and
saves them.
20
The LORD watches
over all who
love him,
but all
the wicked he
will destroy.
21
My mouth will
speak in praise
of the LORD.
Let every
creature praise
his holy name
for ever
and ever.
20 - 26 May
Job 17
1
My
spirit
is
broken,
my days
are cut
short,
the
grave
awaits
me.
2
Surely
mockers
surround
me;
my eyes
must
dwell on
their
hostility.
3
"Give
me, O
God, the
pledge
you
demand.
Who else
will put
up
security
for me?
4
You have
closed
their
minds to
understanding;
therefore
you will
not let
them
triumph.
5
If a man
denounces
his
friends
for
reward,
the eyes
of his
children
will
fail.
6
"God has
made me
a byword
to
everyone,
a
man in
whose
face
people
spit.
7
My eyes
have
grown
dim with
grief;
my whole
frame is
but a
shadow.
8
Upright
men are
appalled
at this;
the
innocent
are
aroused
against
the
ungodly.
9
Nevertheless,
the
righteous
will
hold to
their
ways,
and
those
with
clean
hands
will
grow
stronger.
10
"But
come on,
all of
you, try
again!
I
will not
find a
wise man
among
you.
11
My days
have
passed,
my plans
are
shattered,
and so
are the
desires
of my
heart.
12
These
men turn
night
into
day;
in the
face of
darkness
they
say,
'Light
is
near.'
13
If the
only
home I
hope for
is the
grave,
[a]
if I
spread
out my
bed in
darkness,
14
if I say
to
corruption,
'You are
my
father,'
and to
the
worm,
'My
mother'
or 'My
sister,'
15
where
then is
my hope?
Who can
see any
hope for
me?
16
Will it
go down
to the
gates of
death
[b]
?
Will we
descend
together
into the
dust?"
Footnotes:
- Job 17:13 Hebrew Sheol
-
Job
17:16
Hebrew
Sheol
Job 18
Bildad
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:2 "When will you end these speeches?
Be sensible, and then we can talk.3 Why are we regarded as cattle
and considered stupid in your sight?4 You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,
is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
Or must the rocks be moved from their place?5 "The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out;
the flame of his fire stops burning.6 The light in his tent becomes dark;
the lamp beside him goes out.7 The vigor of his step is weakened;
his own schemes throw him down.8 His feet thrust him into a net
and he wanders into its mesh.9 A trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare holds him fast.10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground;
a trap lies in his path.11 Terrors startle him on every side
and dog his every step.12 Calamity is hungry for him;
disaster is ready for him when he falls.13 It eats away parts of his skin;
death's firstborn devours his limbs.14 He is torn from the security of his tent
and marched off to the king of terrors.15 Fire resides [a] in his tent;
burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling.16 His roots dry up below
and his branches wither above.17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;
he has no name in the land.18 He is driven from light into darkness
and is banished from the world.19 He has no offspring or descendants among his people,
no survivor where once he lived.20 Men of the west are appalled at his fate;
men of the east are seized with horror.21 Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man;
such is the place of one who knows not God."Footnotes:
- Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
27 May - 2 June
Job 19
Job
1 Then Job replied:
2
"How
long
will you
torment
me
and
crush me
with
words?
3
Ten
times
now you
have
reproached
me;
shamelessly
you
attack
me.
4
If it is
true
that I
have
gone
astray,
my error
remains
my
concern
alone.
5
If
indeed
you
would
exalt
yourselves
above me
and use
my
humiliation
against
me,
6
then
know
that God
has
wronged
me
and
drawn
his net
around
me.
7
"Though
I cry,
'I've
been
wronged!'
I get no
response;
though I
call for
help,
there is
no
justice.
8
He has
blocked
my way
so I
cannot
pass;
he has
shrouded
my paths
in
darkness.
9
He has
stripped
me of my
honor
and
removed
the
crown
from my
head.
10
He tears
me down
on every
side
till I
am gone;
he
uproots
my hope
like a
tree.
11
His
anger
burns
against
me;
he
counts
me among
his
enemies.
12
His
troops
advance
in
force;
they
build a
siege
ramp
against
me
and
encamp
around
my tent.
13
"He has
alienated
my
brothers
from me;
my
acquaintances
are
completely
estranged
from me.
14
My
kinsmen
have
gone
away;
my
friends
have
forgotten
me.
15
My
guests
and my
maidservants
count me
a
stranger;
they
look
upon me
as an
alien.
16
I summon
my
servant,
but he
does not
answer,
though I
beg him
with my
own
mouth.
17
My
breath
is
offensive
to my
wife;
I
am
loathsome
to my
own
brothers.
18
Even the
little
boys
scorn
me;
when I
appear,
they
ridicule
me.
19
All my
intimate
friends
detest
me;
those I
love
have
turned
against
me.
20
I am
nothing
but skin
and
bones;
I
have
escaped
with
only the
skin of
my
teeth.
[a]
21
"Have
pity on
me, my
friends,
have
pity,
for the
hand of
God has
struck
me.
22
Why do
you
pursue
me as
God
does?
Will you
never
get
enough
of my
flesh?
23
"Oh,
that my
words
were
recorded,
that
they
were
written
on a
scroll,
24
that
they
were
inscribed
with an
iron
tool on
[b]
lead,
or
engraved
in rock
forever!
25
I know
that my
Redeemer
[c]
lives,
and that
in the
end he
will
stand
upon the
earth.
[d]
26
And
after my
skin has
been
destroyed,
yet
[e]
in
[f]
my flesh
I will
see God;
27
I myself
will see
him
with my
own
eyes—I,
and not
another.
How my
heart
yearns
within
me!
28
"If you
say,
'How we
will
hound
him,
since
the root
of the
trouble
lies in
him,
[g]
'
29
you
should
fear the
sword
yourselves;
for
wrath
will
bring
punishment
by the
sword,
and then
you will
know
that
there is
judgment.
[h]
"
Footnotes:
- Job 19:20 Or only my gums
- Job 19:24 Or and
- Job 19:25 Or defender
- Job 19:25 Or upon my grave
- Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
- Job 19:26 Or / apart from
- Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
-
Job
19:29
Or
/
that
you
may
come
to
know
the
Almighty
Job 20
Zophar
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:2 "My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.4 "Surely you know how it has been from of old,
ever since man [a] was placed on the earth,5 that the mirth of the wicked is brief,
the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.6 Though his pride reaches to the heavens
and his head touches the clouds,7 he will perish forever, like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'8 Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,
banished like a vision of the night.9 The eye that saw him will not see him again;
his place will look on him no more.10 His children must make amends to the poor;
his own hands must give back his wealth.11 The youthful vigor that fills his bones
will lie with him in the dust.12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth
and he hides it under his tongue,13 though he cannot bear to let it go
and keeps it in his mouth,14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;
it will become the venom of serpents within him.15 He will spit out the riches he swallowed;
God will make his stomach vomit them up.16 He will suck the poison of serpents;
the fangs of an adder will kill him.17 He will not enjoy the streams,
the rivers flowing with honey and cream.18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;
he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.19 For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute;
he has seized houses he did not build.20 "Surely he will have no respite from his craving;
he cannot save himself by his treasure.21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
his prosperity will not endure.22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;
the full force of misery will come upon him.23 When he has filled his belly,
God will vent his burning anger against him
and rain down his blows upon him.24 Though he flees from an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.25 He pulls it out of his back,
the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors will come over him;26 total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire unfanned will consume him
and devour what is left in his tent.27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
the earth will rise up against him.28 A flood will carry off his house,
rushing waters [b] on the day of God's wrath.29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
the heritage appointed for them by God."Footnotes: