One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible - Flipbook - Page 61
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January 14
he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral
music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t
dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed
at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the
hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this
miracle swept through the entire countryside.
27 After J
esus left the girl’s home, two blind
men followed along behind him, shouting,
“Son of David, have mercy on us!”
28 They went right into the house where he
was staying, and J esus asked them, “Do you
believe I can make you see?”
“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 Then
their eyes were opened, and they could see!
Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone
about this.” 31 But instead, they went out and
spread his fame all over the region.
32 When they left, a d
emon-possessed man
who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So
Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man
began to speak. The crowds were amazed.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in Is
rael!” they exclaimed.
34 But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out
demons because he is empowered by the
prince of demons.”
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and
villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about
the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he
had compassion on them because they were
confused and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray
to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask
him to send more workers into his fields.”
PSALM 11:1‑7
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for
safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the
bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right.
The foundations of law and order have
collapsed.
What can the righteous do?”
But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
the Lord still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
examining every person on earth.
The Lord examines both the righteous
and the wicked.
He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and
burning sulfur on the wicked,
punishing them with scorching winds.
For the righteous Lord loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face.
PROVERBS 3:11‑12
11
12
My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom
he delights.*
3:12 Greek version reads loves, / and he punishes those he accepts
as his children. Compare Heb 12:6.
JESUS’ DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HIS DISCIPLES would encounter as
they serve him is perfectly reflected in what the persecuted experience today. Now, like then, believers are handed over to the courts.
Now, like then, there are beatings and betrayal, hatred and fury. And
now, like then, those who thrive do so by walking in the power of
God. • LORD, FILL my persecuted brothers and sisters with your
power. Embolden them with your Spirit, and may they see your hand
even in their suffering. Hold them close. Amen.
GENESIS 30:1–31:16
When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any
children for Jacob, she became jealous of her
sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
2 Then
JANUARY
14
Jacob became furious with Rachel.
“Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has
kept you from having children!”
3 Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bil
hah, and sleep with her. She will bear children
