Sovereign God, you ordered this day for all creation according to your plan. Today you held my hand over rough places and calmed the tumults of my heart. Grant rest to my body and peace to my soul, for in your love alone are absolute acceptance and joy. As I come to the close of this day and I close my eyes, I ask you write in my heart an everlasting covenant with you. Grant that my life seeks, above all, to fulfill it. In the blessed name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
78 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
2 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
“Your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5).
No matter how strong or agile, active or independent you are, you have something in common with this paralyzed man. In fact, we all do: We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We have all preferred ourselves to the One who created us, choosing our way over God’s way and, therefore, against our own good. and so we all need to hear Jesus say, “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).
Yes, your sins are forgiven! No matter what you’ve done, why you’ve done it, or who you’ve done it to, Jesus still forgives you when you earnestly seek his forgiveness. The world has never seen anything like the kind of transformation that can occur in a forgiven soul. You don’t have to remain paralyzed by guilt or shame. If you feel that your hands are too weak to serve God and your knees are too feeble to follow him, they can be strengthened by the flow of his mercy and grace.
Yes, your sins are forgiven! And because of God’s mercy, the eyes of the blind can be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. The lame can leap, and the mute can sing for joy (Isaiah 35:4-6). Jesus has done it. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, and he now says to you: “Child, your sins are forgiven!”
If you’ve never heard Jesus speak those glorious words, get in the presence of our Lord by repenting of your sins, in order that you may hear him say, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Let the Holy Spirit show you what Jesus wants to heal in your life. Perhaps it’s anger and bitterness or resentments and grudges. Let him massage the hard knots of unforgiveness until they relax and your pain is eased. Fears and feelings of unworthiness because of your past sins, whether sins of omission or of commission, can melt away. Right now, even today, Jesus stands ready to say to you: “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus, forgive me. Heal me. Strengthen what is weak, soften what is hard, and set my feet again on the pathway to you. Raise me up to walk with you today. Amen.
O, almighty God, who by the birth of thy holy child Jesus hast given us a great light to dawn upon our darkness: Grant, we pray thee, that in this light we may see light. Bestow upon us, we beseech thee, that most excellent Christmas gift of charity to all, that so the likeness of thy Son may be formed in us, and that we may have the ever brightening hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Feasting On The Word: Daily Bible Reading
Sunday, January 10th:
Genesis 23:1-24:51
Matthew 8:1-17
Psalm 9:13-20
Proverbs 3:1-6
Monday, January 11th:
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
Tuesday, January 12th:
Genesis 26:17-27:46
Matthew 9:1-17
Psalm 10:16-18
Proverbs 3:9-10
Wednesday, January 13th:
Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
Thursday, January 14th:
Genesis 30:1-31:16
Matthew 10:1-23
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 3:13-15
Friday, January 15th:
Genesis 31:17-32:12
Matthew 10:24-11:6
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 3:16-18
Saturday, January 16th:
Genesis 32:13-34:31
Matthew 11:7-30
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 3:19-20
Sunday, January 17th:
Genesis 35:1-36:43
Matthew 12:1-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 3:21-26
Monday, January 18th:
Genesis 37:1-38:30
Matthew 12:22-45
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:27-32
Tuesday, January 19th:
Genesis 39:1-41:16
Matthew 12:46-13:23
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 3:33-35
Wednesday, January 20th:
Genesis 41:17-42:17
Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 4:1-6
Thursday, January 21st:
Genesis 42:18-43:34
Matthew 13:47-14:12
Psalm 18:16-36
Proverbs 4:7-10
Friday, January 22nd:
Genesis 44:1-45:28
Matthew 14:13-36
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 4:11-13
Saturday, January 23rd:
Genesis 46:1-47:31
Matthew 15:1-28
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 4:14-19
Sunday, January 24th:
Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27
Monday, January 25th:
Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.