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First Reading: Hosea Chapter 5 and 6
Hosea 5
5:1
"Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, O royal
house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net
spread out on Tabor. 2 The rebels are deep in slaughter. I will discipline all
of them. 3 I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim,
you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.
4 "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution
is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. 5 Israel's arrogance testifies
against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also
stumbles with them. 6 When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD,
they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. 7 They are unfaithful
to the LORD; they give birth to illegitimate children. Now their New Moon festivals
will devour them and their fields.
8 "Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry
in Beth Aven; lead on, O Benjamin. 9 Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of
reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain. 10 Judah's
leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on
them like a flood of water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent
on pursuing idols. 12 I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of
Judah.
13 "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned
to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure
you, not able to heal your sores. 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like
a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry
them off, with no one to rescue them. 15 Then I will go back to my place until
they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will
earnestly seek me."
Hosea 6
6:1
"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will
heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days
he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in
his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge
him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the
winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
4 "What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your
love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. 5 Therefore
I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth;
my judgments flashed like lightning upon you. 6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 Like Adam, they have
broken the covenant- they were unfaithful to me there. 8 Gilead is a city of
wicked men, stained with footprints of blood. 9 As marauders lie in ambush for
a man, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, committing
shameful crimes. 10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel. There
Ephraim is given to prostitution and Israel is defiled.
11 "Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed.
"Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,
Second Reading: 2 Timothy Chapter 4
2 Timothy 4
4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and
the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke
and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will
come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own
desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what
their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth
and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure
hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has
come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only
to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world,
has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,
and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with
you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls,
especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay
him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because
he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me
strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the
Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord
will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly
kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed
in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here
before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all
the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
WHO IS JESUS?
HE IS WORTHY
Jesus is the only man who lived a sinless life. We are told that he was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. He became the spotless, perfect lamb led to the sacrifice. When he died, God raised him because it was impossible that death could keep its hold on him. Death is the wage of sin but there was no sin in Jesus.
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