“And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your
stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate it, and it was
in my mouth like honey in sweetness . . ..” (Ezekiel 3:3)
A THOUSAND SERVINGS
It is generally agreed that we realize the greatest measure of spiritual growth by opening our hearts and minds directly to the Word. Seeing with our eyes and hearing with our own ears.
So we offer, once again, Bible selections for each day of the year for us to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. They are chosen to extend the kingdom truth which you likely enjoy hearing at church on a Sunday or festival. For they embrace the thematic design of the popular THREE YEAR LECTIONARY. Over three years you will enjoy a thousand servings of the Bread of Life well balanced to the needs of our spiritual nourishment.
Most of us do benefit from the reflections and applications of trusted teachers of the Word, also in our personal devotions. We have some suggestions for that.
For Families
In his retirement years Professor C. M. Gullerud, now deceased, applied himself to writing gospel-centered devotions with children especially in mind. His grandfatherly heart and theological acumen qualified him well for the task. Three volumes of the Family Devotion Hour can be secured from the CLC Book House (ILC, 501 Grover Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701). Unit costs from $6.25 to $9.00.
For Adult Readers
Day by Day We Magnify Thee has many loyal users, and it is still available. But those who relish sampling the sturdy writings of Martin Luther will be delighted with a new collection, Daily Readings from Luther’s Writings (available from the Book House in paper for about $20.00). Editor Owen has made a fresh selection from the contemporary translations of Luther’s Works and from What Luther Says, Vol. III. Arranged by topics. Daily each week in the four seasons.
Reader Response
Last year a user of the daily Guide expressed her appreciation by telling how she was helped. She had been offered a high prestige administrative position. Very attractive career advancement. But it would leave little for the rest of life with church and spouse and family. The day she needed to decide she read the scheduled selection. From Ecclesiastes. “Vanity, vanity . . . All is vanity.” You know what her decision was after that pointed reminder!
January 1, The Name of Jesus Numbers 6:22-27 Tuesday: Luke 2:25-40; Wednesday: Colossians 3:12-17; Thursday: 1 Samuel 2:18-26; Friday: Luke 2:41-52
January 6, The Epiphany of Our Lord Ephesians 3:2-12
January 7, The Baptism of Our Lord Psalm 45:7-9; Isaiah 42:1-7; Mark 1:4-11; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:15-22; Titus 3:4-7
January 14, 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany Psalm 67; 1 Samuel 3:1-10; John 1:43-51, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Isaiah 62:1-5; John 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
January 21, 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany Psalm 62:5-12; Jonah 3:1-5,10; Mark 1:14-10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Isaiah 61:1-6; Luke 4:14-21; 1 Corinthians 12:12-21,26-27
January 28, 4th Sunday after the Epiphany Psalm 36; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Luke 4:20-32; 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
February 4, 5th Sunday after the Epiphany Psalm 103; Job 7:1-7; Mark 1:29-39; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Isaiah 6:1-13; Luke 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 14:12b-20
February 11, 6th Sunday after the Epiphany Psalm 32; 2 Kings 5:1-14; Mark 1:40-45; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Jeremiah 17:5-8; Luke 6:17-26; 1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20
February 18, The Transfiguration of Our Lord Psalm 148; 2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9
February 21, Ash Wednesday Psalm 51:1-13; Isaiah 59:12-20; Luke 18:9-14; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
February 25, 1st Sunday in Lent Psalm 6; Genesis 22:1-18; Mark 1:12-15; Romans 8:31-39; Deuteronomy 26:5-10; Luke 4:1-13; Romans 10:8b-13
March 3, 2nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 73; Genesis 28:10-22; Mark 8:31-38; Romans 5:1-11; Jeremiah 26:8-15; Luke 13:31-35; Philippians 3:17-4:1
March 10, 3rd Sunday in Lent Psalm 19:7-14; Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; Exodus 3:1-8,15; Luke 13:1-9; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
March 17, 4th Sunday in Lent Psalm 38; Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21; Ephesians 2:4-10; Isaiah 12:1-6; Luke 15:1-3,11-32; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
March 24, 5th Sunday in Lent Psalm 143; Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-33; Hebrews 5:7-9; Isaiah 43:16-21; Luke 20:9-19; Philippians 3:8-14
March 31, Palm Sunday Psalm 24; Zechariah 9:9-10; Mark 11:1-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Exodus 12:1-4; John 19:17-30; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
April 7, The Resurrection of Our Lord Psalm 118; Isaiah 25:6-9; Mark 16:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Exodus 15:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
April 14, 2nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 16; Acts 3:12-20; John 20:19-31; 1 John 5:1-6; Acts 5:12,17-32; John 20:19-31; Revelation 1:14-18
April 21, 3rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 139:1-12; Acts 4:8-12; Luke 24:36-49; 1 John 1:1-2:2; Acts 9:1-19; John 21:1-14; Revelation 5:11-14
April 28, 4th Sunday of Easter Psalm 23; Acts 4:23-33; John 10:11-18; 1 John 3:1-2; Acts 13:15,16a,26-33; John 10:22-30; Revelation 7:9-17
May 5, 5th Sunday of Easter Psalm 67; Acts 8:26-40; John 15:1-8; 1 John 3:18-24; Acts 13:44-52; John 13:31-35; Revelation 21:1-6
May 12, 6th Sunday of Easter Psalm 98; Acts 11:19-26; John 15:9-17; 1 John 4:1-11
May 16, The Ascension of Our Lord Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24:44-53; Ephesians 2:16-23
May 19, 7th Sunday of Easter Psalm 8; Acts 1:15-26; John 17:11b-19; 1 John 4:13-21; Acts 16:6-10; John 17:20-26; Revelation 22:12-17,20
May 26, The Day of Pentecost Psalm 51b; Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 14:25-27; Acts 2:1-21; Genesis 11:1-9; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-11; Acts 2:37-47
June 2, The Holy Trinity (1st Sunday after Pentecost) Psalm 150; Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-17; Romans 8:14-17; Numbers 6:22-27; John 16:12-15; Romans 5:1-5
June 9, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 126; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:23-28; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; 1 Kings 8:22-30,41-43; Luke 7:1-10; Galatians 1:1-10
June 16, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 30; Genesis 3:8-15; Mark 3:20-35; 2 Corinthians 4:13-18; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Luke 7:11-17; Galatians 1:11-24
June 23, 4th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 92:1-15; Ezekiel 17:22-24; Mark 4:26-34; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; 2 Samuel 11:26-12:15; Luke 7:36-50; Galatians 2:11-21
June 30, 5th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 46; Job 38:1-11; Mark 4:35-41; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Zechariah 13:7-9; Luke 9:18-24; Galatians 3:23-29
July 7, 6th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 30; Lamentations 3:22-33; Mark 5:24-43; 2 Corinthians 8:1-14; 1 Kings 19:14-21; Luke 9:51-62; Galatians 5:1,13-25
July 14, 7th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 66; Ezekiel 2:1-5; Mark 6;1-6; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Isaiah 66:10-14; Luke 10:1-12,16-20; Galatians 6:1-10,14-16
July 21, 8th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 78; Amos 7:10-15; Mark 6:7-13; Ephesians 1:3-14; Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Luke 10:25-37; Colossians 1:1-14
July 28, 9th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 23; Jeremiah 23:1-6; Mark 6:30-34; Ephesians 2:13-22; Genesis 18:1-14; Luke 10:38-42; Colossians 1:21-28
August 4, 10th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 84; Exodus 24:3-11; John 6:1-15; Ephesians 4:1-7,11-16; Genesis 18:20-32; Luke 11:1-13; Colossians 2:6-15
August 11, 11th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 145; Exodus 16:2-15; John 6:24-35; Ephesians 4:17-24; Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:18-26; Luke 12:13-21; Colossians 3:1-11
August 18, 12th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 34:1-8; 1 Kings 19:4-8; John 6:41-51; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; Genesis 15:1-6; Luke 12:32-40; Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16
August 25, 13th Sunday after Penteocst Psalm 1; Proverbs 9:1-6; John 6:51-58; Ephesians 5:15-20; Jeremiah 23:23-29; Luke 12:49-53; Hebrews 12:1-13
September 1, 14th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 71; Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18; John 6:60-69; Ephesians 5:21-31; Isaiah 66:18-24; Luke 13:22-30; Hebrews 12:18-24
September 8, 15th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119:129-136; Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8; Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23; Ephesians 6:10-20; Proverbs 25:6-7; Luke 14:1,7-14; Hebrews 13:1-8
September 15, 16th after Pentecost Psalm 146; Isaiah 35:4-7a; Mark 7:31-37; James 1:17-27; Proverbs 9:8-12; Luke 14:25-33; Philemon 1:1,10-21
September 22, 17th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 116:1-9; Isaiah 50:4-10; Mark 8:27-35; James 2:1-5,8-10,14-18; Exodus 32:7-14; Luke 15:1-10; 1 Timothy 1:12-17
September 29, 18th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 31; Jeremiah 11:18-20; Mark 9:30-37; James 3:13-18; Amos 8:4-7; Luke 16:1-13; 1 Timothy 2:1-8
October 6, 19th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 135:1-7,13-14; Numbers 11:16,24-29; Mark 9:38-50; James 4:7-12; Amos 6:1-7; Luke 16:19-31; 1 Timothy 6:6-16
October 13, 20th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139b; Genesis 2:18-24; Mark 10:2-16; Hebrews 2:9-11; Habakkuk 1:1-3; 2:1-4; Luke 17:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:3-14
October 20, 21st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 90; Amos 5:6-7,10-15; Mark 10:17-27; Hebrews 3:1-6; Ruth 1:1-19a; Luke 17:11-19; 2 Timothy 2:8-13
October 27, Reformation Sunday Psalm 46; Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 8:31-36; Romans 3:19-28; Isaiah 55:1-11; Matthew 11:12-15; Revelation 14:6-7
November 3, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 126; Jeremiah 31:7-9; Mark 10:46-52; Hebrews 5:1-10; Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Luke 18:9-14; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
November 10, The Last Judgment Psalm 90; Malachi 4:1-2a; John 5:19-24; Hebrews 9:24-28; Jeremiah 26:1-6; Luke 19:11-27; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
November 17, The Saints Triumphant Psalm 118; Daniel 12:1-3; John 5:25-29; Hebrews 10:11-18; Isaiah 65:17-25; Luke 20:27-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
November 24, Christ the King, Last Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 45; Daniel 7:13-14; John 18:33-37; Revelation 1:4b-8
November 28, Thanksgiving Day Deuteronomy 8:1-10; Luke 17:11-19; Philippians 4:6-20
(Note: The following coordinate with Series B of the Three Year Lectionary)
December 1, 1st Sunday in Advent Psalm 25:1-9; Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-36; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:37-44; Romans 13:11-14
December 8, 2nd Sunday in Advent Psalm 24; Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 3:1-6; Philippians 1:3-11; Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12; Romans 15:4-13
December 15, 3rd Sunday in Advent Psalm 130; Zephaniah 3:14-17; Luke 3:7-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11; James 5:7-10
December 22, 4th Sunday in Advent Psalm 85; Micah 5:2-5; Luke 1:39-55
December 25, The Festival of the Nativity Psalm 98; Isaiah 52:7-10; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-9
December 29, First Sunday after Christmas Psalm 111; 1 Samuel 2:18-20,26; Luke 2:41-52
LET US THANK OUR GOD, THEN, FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF HIS GRACE!
Editor’s note: Former pastor Rollin A. Reim continues to minister to God’s people as he finds opportunity to do so. One way is by putting together these annual daily Bible readings for the Spokesman — and for you. The opening “A Thousand Servings” are also his good suggestions. For all of you we say: “Thank you, Rollin!”
Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me. — John 5:39