Daily Bible Readings for Home Devotions – September 26 - October 1, 2022
Daily devotion – by P. Schaller
for Monday – September 26 – Luke 16:19-31
Jesus teaches vividly that a person’s wealth, or lack of it, does not determine his relationship to God. The poorest of people who has God as his helper (meaning of the name Lazarus) has much joy ahead of him. The richest of people who is deaf to the word and promise of God will never have more than he has in this life. Thank God for His enriching, life-giving Word (“Moses and the Prophets” vv29,31)!
Bible reading – Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Daily devotion – by P. Schaller
for Tuesday – September 27 – Amos 6:1-3
Trusting in power was not something new in Jesus’ day. In Old Testament times the prophet Amos pronounced woe on those who trusted in their positions of power, thought they could put off the day of judgment, and use violence to secure themselves. Jesus had to repeat such woes, though He came to end them.
Bible reading – Amos 6:1-3
1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion,
And trust in Mount Samaria,
Notable persons in the chief nation,
To whom the house of Israel comes!
2 Go over to Calneh and see;
And from there go to Hamath the great;
Then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
Or is their territory greater than your territory?
3 Woe to you who put far off the day of doom,
Who cause the seat of violence to come near;
Daily devotion – by P. Schaller
for Wednesday – September 28 – Amos 6:4-7
Also in Amos’ time were those who used their riches only to serve themselves, invented musical instruments – which David had invented to praise God – only for their own pleasure. They anointed themselves with the richest oil rather than grieving for the ruin of Israel, through whom the Savior would come.
Bible reading – Amos 6:4-7
4 Who lie on beds of ivory,
Stretch out on your couches,
Eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall;
5 Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments,
And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
6 Who drink wine from bowls,
And anoint yourselves with the best ointments,
But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives,
And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.
Daily devotion – by P. Schaller
for Thursday – September 29 – Hebrews 13:1-6
Let us show our love to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant (12:24), by loving one another, especially those who are suffering and ill-treated; and by honoring God’s institution of marriage. Let us look to Him for all good things and confidently say, “The Lord is my helper!” (Cf Lazarus, Monday’s reading)
Bible reading – Hebrews 13:1-6
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Daily devotion – by P. Schaller
for Friday – September 30 – 1 Timothy 6:11-16
Paul urges Timothy to flee the love of money (v10), and pursue Godly virtues, which will still be practiced in the life to come, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen!
Bible reading – 1 Timothy 6:11-16
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Daily devotion – by P. Schaller
for Saturday – October 1 – Psalm 146
Hallelujah = Praise the Lord! The help that earthly power can give is like the flowers, only lasting for a time. But he whose helper is the God of Jacob is blessed indeed! The Lord’s power and faithfulness are forever, giving food to the hungry, lifting up those who are bowed down, watching over travelers, upholding the widow and the fatherless! Hallelujah!
Bible reading – Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.
5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!