Invitation — Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat —
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
Bible Reading — Isaiah 53:1-6
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Quiet
Dwelling
Leisurely read again ... is there a word or idea that stirred within you? Linger over it and give it your attention ... is there something about the reading you'd like to ask God about? Pray your life to God ... take a moment to rest in God's presence.
Free Prayer
- for a yearning to know God and the diligence to seek him
- for the joy of salvation to be experienced
- for family members and friends who do not yet have faith
Prayer — HC 37
Suffering Savior, throughout your whole life you tasted loneliness and rejection, grief and pain; like us you knew the suffering of this world. But you knew another suffering far beyond any link to my pain and tears. You suffered the wrath of God against the sin of the world; you took on my punishment so I might go free. I worship you, my crucified Lord. Amen.
Blessing — Psalm 119:41
"May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise."