September 22

Luke 24:13-27

On the Road to Emmaus

[13] That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. [16] But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” [19] And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. [22] Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, [23] and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” [25] And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Hebrews 12:1-13

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

[3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. [4] In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. [5] And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 

    “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

        nor be weary when reproved by him. 

    [6] For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

        and chastises every son whom he receives.”

    [7] It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? [8] If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. [9] Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? [10] For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. [11] For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

[12] Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, [13] and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Proverbs 29:1-14

    [1] He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,

        will suddenly be broken beyond healing. 

    [2] 

    When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

        but when the wicked rule, the people groan. 

    [3] 

    He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

        but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. 

    [4] 

    By justice a king builds up the land,

        but he who exacts gifts tears it down. 

    [5] 

    A man who flatters his neighbor

        spreads a net for his feet. 

    [6] 

    An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,

        but a righteous man sings and rejoices. 

    [7] 

    A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;

        a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. 

    [8] 

    Scoffers set a city aflame,

        but the wise turn away wrath. 

    [9] 

    If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

        the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. 

    [10] 

    Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless

        and seek the life of the upright. 

    [11] 

    A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

        but a wise man quietly holds it back. 

    [12] 

    If a ruler listens to falsehood,

        all his officials will be wicked. 

    [13] 

    The poor man and the oppressor meet together;

        the LORD gives light to the eyes of both. 

    [14] 

    If a king faithfully judges the poor,

        his throne will be established forever.

Isaiah 56

Salvation for Foreigners

    [1] Thus says the LORD:

    “Keep justice, and do righteousness,

    for soon my salvation will come,

        and my righteousness be revealed. 

    [2] Blessed is the man who does this,

        and the son of man who holds it fast,

    who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,

        and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

    [3] Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,

        “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”;

    and let not the eunuch say,

        “Behold, I am a dry tree.” 

    [4] For thus says the LORD:

    “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,

        who choose the things that please me

        and hold fast my covenant, 

    [5] I will give in my house and within my walls

        a monument and a name

        better than sons and daughters;

    I will give them an everlasting name

        that shall not be cut off.

    [6] “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,

        to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,

        and to be his servants,

    everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,

        and holds fast my covenant—

    [7] these I will bring to my holy mountain,

        and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

    their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

        will be accepted on my altar;

    for my house shall be called a house of prayer

        for all peoples.” 

    [8] The Lord GOD,

        who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,

    “I will gather yet others to him

        besides those already gathered.”

    Israel’s Irresponsible Leaders

    [9] All you beasts of the field, come to devour—

        all you beasts in the forest. 

    [10] His watchmen are blind;

        they are all without knowledge;

    they are all silent dogs;

        they cannot bark,

    dreaming, lying down,

        loving to slumber. 

    [11] The dogs have a mighty appetite;

        they never have enough.

    But they are shepherds who have no understanding;

        they have all turned to their own way,

        each to his own gain, one and all. 

    [12] “Come,” they say, “let me get wine;

        let us fill ourselves with strong drink;

    and tomorrow will be like this day,

        great beyond measure.”

Isaiah 57

Israel’s Futile Idolatry

    [1] The righteous man perishes,

        and no one lays it to heart;

    devout men are taken away,

        while no one understands.

    For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; 

    [2]     he enters into peace;

    they rest in their beds

        who walk in their uprightness. 

    [3] But you, draw near,

        sons of the sorceress,

        offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman. 

    [4] Whom are you mocking?

        Against whom do you open your mouth wide

        and stick out your tongue?

    Are you not children of transgression,

        the offspring of deceit, 

    [5] you who burn with lust among the oaks,

        under every green tree,

    who slaughter your children in the valleys,

        under the clefts of the rocks? 

    [6] Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;

        they, they, are your lot;

    to them you have poured out a drink offering,

        you have brought a grain offering.

        Shall I relent for these things? 

    [7] On a high and lofty mountain

        you have set your bed,

        and there you went up to offer sacrifice. 

    [8] Behind the door and the doorpost

        you have set up your memorial;

    for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed,

        you have gone up to it,

        you have made it wide;

    and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,

        you have loved their bed,

        you have looked on nakedness. 

    [9] You journeyed to the king with oil

        and multiplied your perfumes;

    you sent your envoys far off,

        and sent down even to Sheol. 

    [10] You were wearied with the length of your way,

        but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;

    you found new life for your strength,

        and so you were not faint.

    [11] Whom did you dread and fear,

        so that you lied,

    and did not remember me,

        did not lay it to heart?

    Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,

        and you do not fear me? 

    [12] I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,

        but they will not profit you. 

    [13] When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!

        The wind will carry them all off,

        a breath will take them away.

    But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land

        and shall inherit my holy mountain.

    Comfort for the Contrite

    [14] And it shall be said,

    “Build up, build up, prepare the way,

        remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” 

    [15] For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

        who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

    “I dwell in the high and holy place,

        and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

    to revive the spirit of the lowly,

        and to revive the heart of the contrite. 

    [16] For I will not contend forever,

        nor will I always be angry;

    for the spirit would grow faint before me,

        and the breath of life that I made. 

    [17] Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,

        I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,

        but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. 

    [18] I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;

        I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 

    [19]     creating the fruit of the lips.

    Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,

        “and I will heal him. 

    [20] But the wicked are like the tossing sea;

        for it cannot be quiet,

        and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 

    [21] There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 58

True and False Fasting

    [1] “Cry aloud; do not hold back;

        lift up your voice like a trumpet;

    declare to my people their transgression,

        to the house of Jacob their sins. 

    [2] Yet they seek me daily

        and delight to know my ways,

    as if they were a nation that did righteousness

        and did not forsake the judgment of their God;

    they ask of me righteous judgments;

        they delight to draw near to God. 

    [3] ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?

        Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

    Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,

        and oppress all your workers. 

    [4] Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight

        and to hit with a wicked fist.

    Fasting like yours this day

        will not make your voice to be heard on high. 

    [5] Is such the fast that I choose,

        a day for a person to humble himself?

    Is it to bow down his head like a reed,

        and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?

    Will you call this a fast,

        and a day acceptable to the LORD?

    [6] “Is not this the fast that I choose:

        to loose the bonds of wickedness,

        to undo the straps of the yoke,

    to let the oppressed go free,

        and to break every yoke? 

    [7] Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

        and bring the homeless poor into your house;

    when you see the naked, to cover him,

        and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 

    [8] Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

        and your healing shall spring up speedily;

    your righteousness shall go before you;

        the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 

    [9] Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

        you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

    If you take away the yoke from your midst,

        the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 

    [10] if you pour yourself out for the hungry

        and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

    then shall your light rise in the darkness

        and your gloom be as the noonday. 

    [11] And the LORD will guide you continually

        and satisfy your desire in scorched places

        and make your bones strong;

    and you shall be like a watered garden,

        like a spring of water,

        whose waters do not fail. 

    [12] And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

        you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

    you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

        the restorer of streets to dwell in.

    [13] “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,

        from doing your pleasure on my holy day,

    and call the Sabbath a delight

        and the holy day of the LORD honorable;

    if you honor it, not going your own ways,

        or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 

    [14] then you shall take delight in the LORD,

        and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;

    I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,

        for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”