Scripture (Luke 4:23-30, NRSV)
The Home Daily Bible Readings for Monday through Saturday support the print passage for Sunday’s lesson in the Uniform Lessons Series, ©Winter 2020-2021.
Luke 4:23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
Prayer
Lord, teach us to remain in reverence to your sovereignty that we may worship only you as God. In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.
– Prayers and Scripture for January 1-6 are reprinted with permission from Prophecy and Expectation: An Advent Booklet for 2020, sponsored by the departments of Christian Education of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Today’s entry comes from Dr. Mary J. Matthews, President of the Connectional Lay Council of the AME Zion Church.
40 Days of Prayer to Transform: A Journey to Newness
Beginning December 12 and moving daily through January 20, members of the National Council of Churches and all communion partners join in praying for hope, unity, and healing. During this Advent/Christmas season and into the New Year we put our hope in the ability and desire of God, through Jesus Christ, to heal and transform hearts and minds. We look for the Holy Spirit to breathe God’s newness into individual lives, faith communities, the soul of our nation, indeed, the whole world.