One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible - Flipbook - Page 43
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January 8
The wicked conceive evil;
they are pregnant with trouble
and give birth to lies.
They dig a deep pit to trap others,
then fall into it themselves.
The trouble they make for others backfires
on them.
The violence they plan falls on their
own heads.
I will thank the Lord because he is just;
I will sing praise to the name of the Lord
Most High.
7:title Hebrew A shiggaion, probably indicating a musical
setting for the psalm. 7:12 Hebrew he.
PROVERBS 2:1‑5
1
2
3
4
5
My child,* listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means
to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
2:1 Hebrew My son.
PERSECUTION SOMETIMES COMES in the form of oppressive laws.
In India, Christians are often arrested and held for up to three weeks
after being falsely accused of forcing or bribing Hindus to convert to
Christianity. Without legal assistance, they’re unable to post bail or
prove that charges are unfounded. • LORD, I PRAY for my persecuted
brothers and sisters in Indian prisons. May they stand firmly on you as
their foundation. And may they receive the encouragement, strength,
and help they need as they face laws meant to ensnare and to prevent
them from giving a faithful witness in their communities. Amen.
GENESIS 18:16–19:38
Then the men got up from their meal and
looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abra
ham went with them to send them on their
way.
17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?”
the Lord asked. 18 “For Abraham will certainly
become a great and mighty nation, and all the
nations of the earth will be blessed through
him. 19 I have singled him out so that he will
direct his sons and their families to keep the
way of the Lord by doing what is right and
just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have
promised.”
20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard
a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah,
because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going
down to see if their actions are as wicked as I
have heard. If not, I want to know.”
22 The other men turned and headed toward
Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham.
23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will
you sweep away both the righteous and the
wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty righteous
people living there in the c ity—will you still
sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?
25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why,
you would be treating the righteous and the
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wicked exactly the same! Surely you w
ouldn’t
do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth
do what is right?”
26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire
city for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have
begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even
though I am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose
there are only forty-five righteous people
rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole
city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I
find f orty-five righteous people there.”
29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it
for the sake of the forty.”
30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abra
ham pleaded. “Let me s peak—suppose only
thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it
if I find thirty.”
31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to
speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose
there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please d
on’t
