546 THE GOD WHO COMFORTS
Isaiah 40:1-11, 29-31
Min: Comfort, yes, comfort My people! says your God.
Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
Min: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth.
Min: The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The voice said, Cry out! and he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
Min: The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
Min: O Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength.
Lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Min: Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.
He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.
Min: He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
Min: But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
547 GOD'S WORD MADE FLESH
John 1:1-14
Min: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Min: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Min: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
Min: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world.
Min: He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Min: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Min: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
548 YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
John 4:24; 6:63; 3:6-8; 1 John 3:1-3, 14, 16, 18, 24
Min: God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
Min: The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.
Min: So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Min: Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born again.'
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
Min: Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,
Min: But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Min: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Min: My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
549 GOD'S ETERNAL PRESENCE
Psalm 139:1-12; 17, 18, 23, 24
Min: O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
Min: You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
Min: You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
Min: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
Min: If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
Min: If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,'' Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
Min: How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
Min: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
550 THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Matthew 13:44-46; Luke 12:29, 31, 32; 13:18-21; Romans 14:17, 19 Hebrews 1:1, 2, 8, 9
Min: God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets
Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.
Min: To the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
Min: The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Min: Then Jesus said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."
Min: And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.
Min: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
Which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Min: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Min: And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind, but seek the kingdom of God.
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
551 THE LORD REIGNS!
Psalm 95:1-7; 93; 97:1, 2, 3-6, 9-12
Min: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Min: For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also.
The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.
Min: Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.
Min: The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.
Min: The floods have lifted up, O Lord, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves.
The Lord on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea. Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever.
Min: The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!
Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Min: A fire goes before Him; His lightnings light the world; The earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory.
Min: For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth. You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them.
Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
552 THE BREAD OF LIFE
John 4:13, 14; 6:30-35, 38; 7:37; Revelation 21:6
Min: Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life.
He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Min: If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
Min: But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Min: For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Therefore they said to Him, "What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
Min: Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
Min: For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always."
553 THE GOD WHO DELIVERS
Psalm 63:1-8; 107:1-8
Min: O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.
Min: Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
Min: My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Min: Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
Min: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
Min: And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in.
Min: Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses.
Min: And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for habitation.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
554 THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Psalm 23; John 10:7-11, 14-16, 27-30
Min: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Min: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Min: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Min: Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
Min: I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
Min: I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
Min: I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Min: And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give them eternal life.
Min: They shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.
555 THE GOD WHO REDEEMS
Deuteronomy 33:25, 27, 29; Psalm 62:1, 5-8; Isaiah 26:3, 4; 30:15, 18; 43:1-3, 5, 10
Min: Happy are you! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help?
As your days, so shall your strength be. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Min: Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
Min: In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Min: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord our God is everlasting strength.
Min: For thus says the Lord God: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
Min: But now, thus says the Lord: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
Min: When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God, your Savior. Fear not, for I am with you. "You are My witnesses," says the Lord.
556 THE GOD WHO SUSTAINS
Psalm 3; 5:1-4, 7, 12
Min: Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God.
Min: But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill.
Min: I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.
Min: Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!
Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people.
Min: Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray.
Min: My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.
For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.
Min: But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
557 A PRAYER OF PENITENCE
Psalm 51:1-4; 6-17
Min: Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Min: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
Min: For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Min: Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight
That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Min: Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Min: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Min: Make me to hear joy and gladness,
That the bones which You have broken may rejoice.
Min: Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Min: Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Min: Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Min: Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me with Your generous Spirit.
Min: Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
Min: Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
Min: O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
Min: For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
Min: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart These, O God, You will not despise.
558 CHRIST: THE TRUE VINE
John 15:1-14
Min: I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Min: You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Min: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Min: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Min: As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
Min: These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Min: Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
559 THE BLESSED LIFE
Psalm 1
Min: Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Min: He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Min: Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
560 THE DIVINE CONSOLATION
John 14:1-6
Min: Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Min: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
And where I go you know, and the way you know.
Min: Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
561 GRACIOUS INVITATION
Isaiah 55:1-4, 6-13
Min: Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Min: Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you the sure mercies of David.
Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people.
Min: Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Min: For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Min: For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Min: For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
562 THE BEATITUDES
Matthew 5:3-16
Min: Blessed are the poor in spirit:
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Min: Blessed are those who mourn:
For they shall be comforted.
Min: Blessed are the meek:
For they shall inherit the earth.
Min: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness:
For they shall be filled.
Min: Blessed are the merciful:
For they shall obtain mercy.
Min: Blessed are the pure in heart:
For they shall see God.
Min: Blessed are the peacemakers:
For they shall be called sons of God.
Min: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Min: Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Min: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Min: Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
563 THE GLORY OF GOD
Psalm 19
Min: The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
Min: There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun.
Min: Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Min: The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Min: The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Min: Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
Min: Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
564 TREASURES IN HEAVEN
Matthew 6:19-33
Min: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Min: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
Min: But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Min: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other;
Or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Min: Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;
Nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Min: Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns.
Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Min: Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin:
And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Min: Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?
Min: For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.