Daily Readings for Jan 16-22, 2011

Daily Lectionary

Jan 16  Hezekiah Purifies the Temple—2 Chronicles 28:22–29:36, Romans 4:1-25
Jan 17 Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover—2 Chronicles 30:1–31:1, Romans 5:1—6:2
Jan 18 The Destruction of Sennacherib’s Army—2 Chronicles 32:1-23, Romans 6:12-18
Jan 19 King Hezekiah’s Life Is Extended—2Kings 20:1-11, Romans 7:1-25
Jan 20 King Hezekiah Receives Envoys from Babylon—2 Kings 20:12-21, Romans 8:1–29
Jan 21 Romans 13:1-7
Jan 22 2 Kings 5:1-15a, Romans 1:8-17, Matthew 8:1-13

Look forward to the Third Sunday after Epiphany

2 Kings 5:1-15a: The cleansing of Naaman teaches us that the saving power of God rests solely with the Word of God and no where else. It was the Word of God, added to the water, that cleansed Naaman of his leprosy. What role does faith play? Faith receives what the Word gives. The strength of faith is not in the act of believing, but in the Word that is believed.

Romans 1:8-17: We are justified, declared righteous, by the faith which is in the Gospel of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel teaches that we have a gracious God who has put away our sins for Christ's sake, so that God no longer holds them against us. It is this Gospel of which St. Paul, and the whole Church of Christ, is not ashamed, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Matthew 8:1-13: It is the Lord's will, not only to save us poor miserable sinners, but to do so by taking our sin and corruption upon Himself to the death of the cross. Jesus manifested this grace of God by touching the unclean leprous man and saying, "I am willing [to take your sin and infirmity upon Myself], be cleansed." The Word, "be cleansed," carried Jesus' forgiveness, life, and salvation to this poor man. It is the same for us. None of us are worthy to receive the salvation that our Lord so willingly desires to give us, but by His grace alone He comes to us. The centurion rightly confessed both his unworthiness as a sinner, and the all sufficiency of Jesus' saving Word: "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed." The Word of Christ, the Gospel, is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.