The Daily Practice

Proverbs 15:26-33   New International Version     The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked,     but gracious words are pure in his sight. The greedy bring ruin to their households,     but the one who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,     but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. The Lord is far from the wicked,     but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,     and good news gives health to the bones. Whoever heeds life-giving correction     will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,     but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,     and humility comes before honor.

Psalm 98   New International Version     A psalm. Sing to the Lord a new song,     for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm     have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known     and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love     and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen     the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,     burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp,     with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—     shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it,     the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands,     let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord,     for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness     and the peoples with equity.

Matthew 13:24-30   New International Version     Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

1 Timothy 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh,     was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels,     was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world,     was taken up in glory.

Proverbs 15:16-25   New International Version     Better a little with the fear of the Lord     than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love     than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,     but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,     but the path of the upright is a highway. A wise son brings joy to his father,     but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,     but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course. Plans fail for lack of counsel,     but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—     and how good is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the prudent     to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead. The Lord tears down the house of the proud,     but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.

Matthew 12:43-50   New International Version     “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

1 Timothy 1:18-2:8   New International Version     Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

Proverbs 10:1-12   New International Version     The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father,     but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,     but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,     but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make for poverty,     but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,     but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. Blessings crown the head of the righteous,     but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. The name of the righteous is used in blessings,     but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise in heart accept commands,     but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,     but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,     and a chattering fool comes to ruin. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,     but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up conflict,     but love covers over all wrongs.

Psalm 96   New International Version     Sing to the Lord a new song;     sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name;     proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations,     his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;     he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols,     but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him;     strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,     ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;     bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;     tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”     The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;     he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;     let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;     let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,     he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness     and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Matthew 12:33-42   New International Version     “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

1 Timothy 1:1-17   New International Version     Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Job 38:1-11   New International Version     Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans     with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man;     I will question you,     and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?     Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!     Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set,     or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together     and all the angels shouted for joy? “Who shut up the sea behind doors     when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment     and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it     and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;     here is where your proud waves halt’? ............................... Job 42:1-5 New International Version   Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things;     no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’     Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,     things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;     I will question you,     and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you     but now my eyes have seen you.

Psalm 95   New International Version     Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;     let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving     and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God,     the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth,     and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it,     and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship,     let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God     and we are the people of his pasture,     the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,     as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me;     they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation;     I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,     and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger,     ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Matthew 12:22-32   New International Version     Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Revelation 19:4-6   New International Version     The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God,     all you his servants, you who fear him,     both great and small!” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!     For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Proverbs 8:22-36   New International Version     “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,     before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago,     at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,     when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place,     before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields     or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when he set the heavens in place,     when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above     and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary     so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.     Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day,     rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world     and delighting in mankind. “Now then, my children, listen to me;     blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise;     do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me,     watching daily at my doors,     waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life     and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves;     all who hate me love death.”

John 1:29-34   New International Version     The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

Ephesians 3:14-21   New International Version     For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Proverbs 8:13-21   New International Version     To fear the Lord is to hate evil;     I hate pride and arrogance,     evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine;     I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign     and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern,     and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me,     and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor,     enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold;     what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness,     along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me     and making their treasuries full.

Psalm 94:1-11   New International Version     The Lord is a God who avenges.     O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth;     pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long, Lord, will the wicked,     how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words;     all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, Lord;     they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner;     they murder the fatherless. They say, “The Lord does not see;     the God of Jacob takes no notice.” Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;     you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?     Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish?     Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The Lord knows all human plans;     he knows that they are futile.