Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord Be Praised

111 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart where those who are right with God gather together and in the meeting of the people. ² The works of the Lord are great. All who find joy in them try to understand them. ³ His work is great and powerful. And He is right and good forever. ⁴ He has made His great works to be remembered. The Lord shows loving-favor and pity. ⁵ He gives food to those who fear Him. He will remember His agreement forever. ⁶ He has shown His people the power of His works by giving them the land of other nations.

⁷ The works of His hands are faithful and right. All His Laws are true. ⁸ They stand strong forever and ever. They are done by what is true and right. ⁹ He has made a way for His people to be free. He has set up His agreement forever. His holy name is to be honored with fear. ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All who obey His Laws have good understanding. His praise lasts forever.

Abraham Is Promised a Son

18 The Lord showed Himself to Abraham by the oak trees of Mamre, as he sat at the tent door in the heat of the day. ² Abraham looked up and saw three men standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them. He put his face to the ground ³ and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant. ⁴ Let us have a little water brought to wash your feet. Rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ And I will get a piece of bread so you may eat and get strength. After that you may go on your way, since you have come to your servant.”

The men said, “Do as you have said.” ⁶ So Abraham ran into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Hurry and get three pails of fine flour, mix it well, and make bread.” ⁷ Then Abraham ran to the cattle and took out a young and good calf. He gave it to the servant to make it ready in a hurry. ⁸ He took milk and cheese and the meat which he had made ready, and set it in front of them. He stood by them under the tree while they ate.

⁹ Then they said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There in the tent.” ¹⁰ The Lord said, “I will be sure to return to you at this time next year. And your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. ¹¹ Now Abraham and Sarah were old. They had lived many years. The way of women had stopped for Sarah. ¹² So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Will I have this joy after my husband and I have grown old?” ¹³ Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I give birth to a child when I am so old?’ ¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” ¹⁵ But Sarah said, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

¹⁰ The Lord gives me a reason to be full of joy. It is because you are able to care for me again. I know you wanted to before but you did not have a way to help me. ¹¹ I am not saying I need anything. I have learned to be happy with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy. ¹³ I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.

¹⁴ It was kind of you to help me when I was in trouble. ¹⁵ You Philippians also know that when I first preached the Good News, you were the only church that helped me. It was when I left for the country of Macedonia. ¹⁶ Even while I was in the city of Thessalonica you helped me more than once. ¹⁷ It is not that I want to receive the gift. I want you to get the pay that is coming to you later. ¹⁸ I have everything I need and more than enough. I am taken care of because Epaphroditus brought your gift. It is a sweet gift. It is a gift that cost you something. It is the kind of gift God is so pleased with. ¹⁹ And my God will give you everything you need because of His great riches in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now may our God and Father be honored forever. Let it be so.