Introduction: For hundreds of years, many Christian traditions have read passages of scripture using a tool called a lectionary. During this ordinary season, our devotional team decided to resource you with selections from the Revised Common Lectionary. You will encounter texts from the Psalms, the Prophets, and the New Testament as well as formal prayers.

Source: the Revised Common Lectionary Year A

(Note. If you desire to read these passages in a different version of the Bible, this link will provide all the readings for week 4 in ESV in Bible Gateway where you may also choose other versions of these passages.)

Genesis 25:19-34
25:19 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac,

25:20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean.

25:21 Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

25:22 The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.

25:23 And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.”

25:24 When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb.

25:25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau.

25:26 Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

25:27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.

25:28 Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

25:29 Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.

25:30 Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.)

25:31 Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.”

25:32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”

25:33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Psalm 119:105-112
119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

119:106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances.

119:107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word.

119:108 Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your ordinances.

119:109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.

119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.

119:111 Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

119:112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Ponder these texts and then you can pray this prayer:

Hear my prayers, God of power,
and through the ministry of your Son
free me from the grip of the tomb,
that I may desire you as the fullness of life
and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.