Daily Readings - Sun Mar 06 2022

⁴Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God.⁵"And you shall make response before the LORD your God, 'A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.⁶And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor.⁷Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.⁸And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.⁹And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.¹⁰And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God.

Romans

Chapter 10

⁸But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.¹¹For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.¹³For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Luke

Chapter 4

¹And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness²for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.³The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."⁴And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"⁵And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,⁶and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."⁸And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"⁹And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,¹⁰for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,'¹¹and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"¹²And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"¹³And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Sermon

**Sermon: Trusting God in All Circumstances** Today’s readings guide us through a journey of trust and faith in God, each from a unique perspective. In Deuteronomy, we witness the Israelites expressing gratitude for the land they received, remembering their journey from Egypt and offering first fruits as a sign of trust in God’s providence. This act is not just a ritual but a profound expression of faith, acknowledging God’s deliverance and provision. In Romans, Paul’s words remind us that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that this gift is universal—available to all, regardless of background. The passage underscores the importance of confessing Jesus as Lord and trusting in His resurrection, which unites us beyond our differences. This trust in God’s plan of salvation is central to our Christian identity. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus facing temptations in the wilderness. Each response to the devil’s challenges is rooted in Scripture, demonstrating Jesus’ unwavering trust in God’s word and plan. This trust is not passive; it is active, guiding His decisions and resistance to temptation, showing us that true strength lies in relying on God. These readings connect through the theme of trust. Deuteronomy shows trust through gratitude and remembrance, Romans through faith in salvation, and Luke through resisting temptation. In our daily lives, we face similar challenges—struggles, decisions, and uncertainties. The readings encourage us to trust God in all circumstances, whether in times of plenty or hardship. As we reflect, let us remember that trusting God leads to true freedom and fulfillment. It is through this trust that we find the strength to resist life’s temptations and remain faithful. May we, like Jesus, rely on God’s word and trust in His plan, knowing that He guides us towards eternal life.