Ichthus Ministries: 10/02/16

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Unser Täglich Brot - Keine Außenseiter

Lesen: 5.Mose 10,12-22 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Jesaja 17–19; Epheser 5,17-33

Was fordert der Herr, dein Gott, noch von dir, als dass du den Herrn, deinen Gott, fürchtest, dass du in allen seinen Wegen wandelst und ihn liebst. (5.Mose 10,12)

In der abgelegenen Gegend Ghanas, in der ich aufwuchs, lautete ein gängiges Sprichwort: „Mahlzeit, kein Freund.“ Es galt als unhöflich, jemanden während den Mahlzeiten zu besuchen, weil das Essen oft knapp war. Die Parole galt für Nachbarn wie für Fremde.

Auf den Philippinen, wo ich später wohnte, besteht der Gastgeber darauf, sein Essen zu teilen, auch wenn man unangemeldet zur Essenszeit kommt und egal, wieviel er selbst hat. Andere Länder—andere Sitten.

Als die Israeliten aus Ägypten zogen, gab Gott ihnen genaue Anweisungen. Aber Regeln—selbst wenn sie von Gott kommen—können kein Herz verändern. Deshalb sagte Mose: „Reinigt eure Herzen und seid nicht mehr so eigensinnig“ (5.Mose 10,16 NLB). Kurz danach spricht er interessanterweise vom Umgang Israels mit Fremdlingen. Gott „hat die Fremdlinge lieb“, sagt er, „dass er ihnen Speise und Kleider gibt. Darum sollt ihr auch die Fremdlinge lieben, denn ihr seid auch Fremdlinge gewesen in Ägyptenland“ (V.18-19).

Israel diente dem „Gott aller Götter“ und „Herr über alle Herren“, dem Mächtigen und Schrecklichen (V.17). Und eine Art, ihre Identifikation mit diesem Gott zu zeigen, bestand darin, die Fremden zu lieben—Menschen aus einer anderen Kultur.

Was könnte das heute für uns bedeuten? Wie können wir den Bedürftigen und Außenseiter in unserer Welt seine Liebe zeigen?

Himmlischer Vater, hilf uns, anderen heute zum Segen zu werden, indem wir ihnen deine Liebe zeigen.

In Jesus gibt es keine Außenseiter.

Хлеб наш насущный - Проигравших нет

автор: Тим Густафсон

Читать сейчас: Второзаконие 10:12-22 | Библия за год: Исаия 17-19; 2 Коринфянам 5

Чего требует от тебя Господь, Бог твой? Того только, чтобы ты боялся Господа, Бога твоего, ходил всеми путями Его и любил Его. — Второзаконие 10:12

В удаленном районе Ганы, где я рос, существовала поговорка: «Обед – друзей нет». Считалось неприличным ходить в гости во время обеда, потому что с едой было туго. То же касалось не только друзей, но и родственников, и соседей.

А вот на Филиппинах, где я тоже жил некоторое время, даже если вы приходили без приглашения, хозяева радостно усаживали вас за стол, как бы бедны они ни были. Культуры различны, и у каждой есть свое обоснование.

Когда израильтяне вышли из Египта, Бог дал им особые указания, определяющие культуру. Но указания, будь то даже Божьи заповеди, никогда не смогут изменить сердце. Поэтому Моисей сказал: «Обрежьте крайнюю плоть сердца вашего и не будьте впредь жестоковыйны» (Втор. 10:16). Интересно, что сразу после этого призыва законодатель заговорил об обращении с иноземцами. Бог «любит пришельца, и дает ему хлеб и одежду. Любите и вы пришельца, ибо сами были пришельцами в земле египетской» (Втор. 10:18-19).

Израиль служил Богу богов и Владыке владык, великому, сильному и страшному (Втор. 10:17). И одним из способов, которым они могли показать свою принадлежность Господу, была любовь к иностранцам, не принадлежавшим к их культуре.

Что значит эта грань Божьего характера для нас сегодня? Как мы можем показать Его любовь страдающим и нуждающимся людям в нашем мире?

Небесный Отец, помоги нам благословлять других, являя им Твою любовь.

Во Христе нет чужих.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Non aux étrangers

par Tim Gustafson

Lisez : Deutéronome 10.12‑22 | La Bible en un an : Ésaïe 17 – 19 et Éphésiens 5.17-33

Maintenant, Israël, que demande de toi l’Éternel, ton Dieu, si ce n’est que tu craignes l’Éternel, ton Dieu, afin de marcher dans toutes ses voies, d’aimer et de servir l’Éternel. (Deutéronome 10:12)

Dans la région éloignée du Ghana où je vivais enfant, il n’était pas rare d’entendre un certain proverbe : « À l’heure du repas, point d’ami. » Les gens de l’endroit jugeaient impoli de se présenter chez quelqu’un à l’heure du repas, car la nourriture était souvent rare. Cette maxime s’appliquait tant aux voisins qu’aux étrangers.

Par contre, aux Philippines, où j’ai également vécu un certain temps, même si vous débarquez sans vous annoncer à l’heure du repas, vos hôtes insisteront pour le partager avec vous, et cela, qu’ils aient assez de nourriture pour eux‑mêmes ou non. Et voilà toutes de bonnes raisons.

Alors que les Israélites quittaient l’Égypte, Dieu leur a donné des règles à suivre. Reste que les règles – même celles de Dieu – ne sauraient transformer les coeurs. Le sachant, Moïse a déclaré : « Vous circoncirez donc votre coeur, et vous ne raidirez plus votre cou » (DE 10.16). Un fait intéressant : juste après que Moïse les a ainsi exhortés, il a abordé la question du traitement qu’ils devaient réserver aux étrangers. Dieu « aime l’étranger et lui donne de la nourriture et des vêtements. Vous aimerez l’étranger, car vous avez été étrangers dans le pays d’Égypte » (V. 18,19).

Israël a servi le « Dieu des dieux, le Seigneur des seigneurs » (V. 17). Or, un des meilleurs moyens de s’identifier à Dieu consistait à aimer l’étranger.

Que signifie pour nous cette image des attributs de Dieu ? Comment témoigner de son amour aux marginalisés et aux démunis ?

En Christ, point d’étrangers.

Night Light for Couples - Where Is Your Treasure?

Night Light for Couples, the couples' devotional from Focus on the Family ministry founder Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley, brings spouses together each evening, helping them stay connected with each other and their Lord.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10

Money. Men and women have lusted for it, killed for it, died for it, and gone to hell for it. Money has come between the best of friends, fractured families, and brought down the proud and mighty. And it has torn millions of marriages limb from limb! According to Larry Burkett, founder and CEO of Christian Financial Concepts, 80 percent of couples seeking divorce say the focus of their disagreements is money. During Jesus’ time on earth, He spoke more about money than any other subject. Most of His pronouncements came in the form of warnings: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21); “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26); “You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24).

If we want to love and serve God—and keep our marriages intact— we need to regularly examine our relationship with money, then ask: “Whom do we serve?”

Just between us…

Have you ever had a hurtful disagreement with family or friends over money?
How do you feel about the way we handle our finances?
Are there ways in which we push God aside to “serve” money?
What could we do to make sure our financial decisions are in line with Jesus’ teachings?

Dear God, we confess that we’re so often beguiled by the allure of money and possessions. But we want You to be Lord of our money and all our belongings. Lead us into an enduring obedience to You in this area, we pray. Amen.

From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.
Larry Burkett excerpt from Love for a Lifetime by Dr. James Dobson (Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah Publishers, Inc. 1998).

The cross was never meant to be on the inside

by Archbishop Fulton Sheen

“Every unhappy soul in the world has a cross embedded on it. The cross was never meant to be on the inside, but only on the outside. When the Israelites were bitten by the serpents, and the poison seeped within, Moses planted a brazen serpent on a stick and all who looked on it were healed….So the Son of Man came in the likeness of man, but was without sin, and all who look upon Him on His cross are saved. In like manner, the inner cross disappears when one catches a vision of the great outer Cross on Calvary.”

The Daily Readings for October 2, 2016 - 20th Sunday after Pentecost

Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous-- therefore judgment comes forth perverted. I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.

Psalm 37:1-10
1   Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
2   For they shall soon wither like the grass, and like the green grass fade away.
3   Put your trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
4   Take delight in the LORD, and he shall give you your heart's desire.
5   Commit your way to the LORD and put your trust in him, and he will bring it to pass.
6   He will make your righteousness as clear as the light and your just dealing as the noonday.
7   Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.
8   Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
9   Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil.
10   For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait upon the LORD shall possess the land.

2 Timothy 1:1-14
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God-- whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did-- when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

The Sunday Sermon for October 2, 2016 - 20th Sunday after Pentecost

“Genuine faith”

Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Jesus teaches about faith as a quality and the quality of a disciple’s response to faith as a gift.

Jesus is not really talking about moving physical mountains or uprooting physical trees. Who would want to do such things anyway? Maybe a magician or a charlatan might want to do such things in order to get notoriety or money. No, Jesus is speaking metaphorically, that is, a figure of speech in which one word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making a comparison, as in “a sea of troubles” or “All the world’s a stage,” “Shakespeare.” Jesus does this in order to tersely make a serious point. He is talking about the power to do what humans would normally consider impossible, and yes, even marvelous. He is telling us that faith empowers us to love and that forgiveness, limitless forgiveness, is simply a form of that faith-filled loved.

Just as there is no “amount” of forgiveness that is “enough” or “too much,” so it is with the faith that engenders it. Neither forgiveness or love nor the faith that makes it possible comes in amount form. Faith is not like a commodity that comes in two, four, or six oz bottles. Faith is more like pure air or pure energy. It is more an atmosphere we breathe or in which we breathe. In eternity, it really will be the earthly counterpart of air or energy, “and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Faith is the surrounding, permeating, penetrating presence of God. Without that presence or here, since we are speaking of God’s presence under the aspect of faith, we would say without that “faith,” we simply do not have the power to behave in ways consistent with eternity. Time is so heavy, that it weighs us down and slows us down. Eternal faith, on the other hand, in its “pure,” form travels even faster than the speed of light. It must be slowed down, if we are to “grasp” it. That happens not when it enters earth’s atmosphere, but when it enters into a human body, a human person. When Christ, the eternal, enters a human person, he slows down, so to speak, speaking metaphorically ourselves, slows down enough that we can benefit from his presence and breathe his air or energy and love. From this perspective we would say that God almost had to enter into Jesus of Nazareth, his human body, human person, human being, if we humans were to have any chance of living in the abiding presence of God and have any hope of benefiting from the power he thereby makes available to us.

So far, all of this is rather theoretical and somewhat “rarefied” or “air-ified.” Jesus did not speak in such theoretical ways. He remained down-to-earth. While it is all right to think about him and what he did and does in theoretical, even metaphysical ways, Jesus himself prefers not to explain himself so philosophically. So, he does not so much tell us what “faith” is as what faith does. Faith empowers us to do what he tells us is possible, even though non-faith tells us it is impossible. He tells us that we can love as God loves, forgive as God forgives and live and God lives, live the quality of life that God himself enjoys. He does not really explain it in detail. He just promises it. Then, if we trust in him, he delivers it.

Trusting in the Lord and in his words, promises really, means obeying him, even before we know the reasons for doing so. Obedience includes “delaying gratification,” as M. Scott Peck puts it in his best-selling book, “The Road Less Traveled.” It means a willingness to forego the “pleasure” of accomplishment, to undergo the pain of growth necessary to reach a goal. In following Jesus, it means not even knowing the details of the goal, but trusting him that they will be good, good beyond measure or limit. In fact, in this gospel periscope, Jesus tells us to be “good” even when it does not “feel” good, like when one is tired being good, expecting some instant gratification for being good, yet commanded to do more good before resting or even catching one’s, own, breath. Indeed, with the “breath” of God, God’s Spirit, we can keep going when our physical, earthly energies are spent.

His hearers would have easily grasped the down-to-earth example Jesus uses. They knew about slaves working outside all day long and coming in at night only to have to get supper ready for their master, a master who had been rather idle all day while they slaved. While the slaves would do it, they would resent it, the injustice of it all. Jesus is telling them, and of course us, that sometimes we may resent, in our lower brain, what God commands and expects of us and think we do not have the power to do it, yet that mustard seed-sized faith is more than enough to accomplish it. It is not a pill. It is not a commodity. It is a free will choice to switch perspectives and breathe the air of God, his Spirit. Then, we are grateful to God for providing that air, rather than expecting him to be grateful to us for absorbing it. A matter of perspective, faith.

Faith is God’s perspective on reality, offered, given, to humans by God, empowering them, us, to live in his atmosphere.

Living in faith and by the power of faith, humans can accomplish what would otherwise be impossible.

No matter how much we do under the power of faith we should not expect God to be grateful to us; rather we should be grateful to him for making it possible.

The gift of faith is God’s unconditional love for us, but it is given with the condition that we live according to its standards.

Language: Reading the Lord’s words, indeed reading any of Scripture, literalistically can get us into trouble. We always need to know the literary form being used. For instance, if a piece of Scripture is poetry, it should not be read as if it were prose.

We would miss the nuances that only poetry, poetic license if you will, can express. If we are reading prose but encounter a metaphor, like “the size of a mustard seed,” we need to compare what is being said with what is being intended, what is denoted, example, the physical size of an entity, with what is connoted, what it is said for. Here Jesus is talking about trees and pea-sized seeds, but only to make a larger point. From a human point of view we would say that Jesus is a master at tersely expressing himself, a master of metaphor. He could say a lot in a few words. Witness all the commentary, including this one, on the words of Jesus, indeed the words of all Scripture. Metaphor packs a lot of meaning into a small package, a few words. That is why Jesus could say that faith, a lot of meaning, can come in small packages and that its real size cannot be measured by the size of the container. Later on, some human being would express this same truth, though with much less punch, and say, “Good things come in small packages.” Human language is well suited to express human experience. However, when it is put into service to express divine experience it needs to be stretched to do so and even then only with difficulty and with limits. Jesus was especially good at this. People who read their Bible literalistically are especially bad at getting his point. They get lost in the details and neglect to recognize metaphor as well as other oratorical literary techniques such as hyperbole. Because Jesus had both perspectives- human and divine- simultaneously, we can trust his use of language, his “stretching,” language, to express how the two perspectives converge in earthly life. He does not use language to prove his point, only to express it. It is up to us to bow to his vastly superior ability and vision and to follow his lead even without understanding. He calls that ‘faith.”

Frustration: What Jesus says about working all day and coming home to find even more work to do certainly rings true in the lives of many workingwomen. Woman and men who stay at home to run the household also work, though not for pay, also get tired, also are unappreciated, but they are not the topic here. They might even be put off at first by what Jesus is saying. What he says is true for all of us who believe in him, but especially true for women who work all day and then come home to housekeeping chores, like dinner. And the working single mother or father, can identify even more so. Now, Jesus could have said that the “master” of the house the ‘husband,’ if indeed there is one, should chip in and help or even have dinner ready. Had he done so, Jesus would have been consistent with his teaching about loving others by helping them out. That teaching is still valid. The “master,” should help. However, Jesus is down-to-earth, realistic, and knows that does not always happen. Indeed, it is rare. So, he provides insight for the frustrated and over-worked person, whether or not anyone else helps. He says that we need to keep our perspective. If we do everything for the Lord, no matter what others do or do not do, we really should expect no gratitude or even help from others. We are, after all, only doing our duty. That awareness will not change others and get them to chip in, but it will change the frustration, relieve it, and empower the tired one to continue on, knowing God appreciates it and will show his appreciation at a later date- in eternity.

Heavenly Father, thank you for genuine faith, which can accomplish what experience, reason, and probability would disallow. Amen.

Sermon shared by Dr. Jerry Morrissey
October 2001

The Daily Meditation for October 2, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Scott B. Hayashi

Luke 17:5-6 (NRSV) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

I play the guitar. I have a handmade Stratocaster style guitar with a Fender Twin 65 reissue amp plus a number of pedals to dirty up the guitar’s tone. My goal is to sound like Jimi Hendrix. Guess what? I still sound like me…and that is not good. If I want to improve my guitar-playing ability, no one can do that for me but me. Even if Jimi Hendrix were my teacher, it would still be my responsibility to practice, take chances, and risk making mistakes.

The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. Their request is a good one—but Jesus can’t do it for them. They must take personal responsibility for their own growth. Perhaps this is why Jesus answers their request the way that he does.

Increase faith? Encouragement from others helps, but increasing our faith requires each of us to actively practice our faith—to trust, to take a leap.

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Standing Strong Through the Storm - CHRISTIAN PRISONER ENCOURAGEMENT

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. Philemon 1:7

Twenty-nine-year-old Maryam Rostampour and thirty-two-year old Marzieh Amirizadeh spent 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison in 2009 in Iran. They had to overcome the fear of life imprisonment and the possibility of execution because they loved and followed Jesus Christ. They had to remain strong through weeks in solitary confinement, and endless hours of interrogation by Iranian officials and religious leaders. They had to endure months of harsh living conditions and debilitating sickness. In their first interview (with Sam Yeghnazar of Elam Ministries), they shared what life was like in prison and how they survived.

Marzieh said, “I would like to thank them [prayer partners] for their prayers and support, and the letters they sent us. During this time it wasn’t just Maryam and Marzieh who were imprisoned, but all these prayer warriors. This was a great encouragement for us. We felt their presence alongside us. So please keep praying for those who are in prison for their faith, believers in Afghanistan and Pakistan…Don’t think that your prayers are unimportant.”

She added, “We heard that people sent us letters in prison, but we didn’t get any of them. Just hearing that people sent us letters, was a great encouragement to us. And what’s interesting is that the guards who opened our letters, read the Bible verses and the prayers, and were impacted. We know this because they told us and mentioned some of the verses from the gospel. I can’t thank them [those who sent letters] with all that is in my heart; I can say ‘thank you,’ but this is not enough.”

Maryam concluded, “I thank them. It’s true we didn’t see the letters they sent, but we knew there was a large group supporting us. This was a huge encouragement to us and helped us to stand firm. We heard from our guards that forty to fifty letters were coming every day. They saw how Christians stood together to support their own. This was something that gave us hope.”

Check our website for names and addresses of Christians in prison for their faith whom you can write to and pray for.

www.opendoors.org

RESPONSE: Today I will pray for and send letters to Christians in prison for their faith to encourage them in their persecution.

PRAYER: Pray for hope and encouragement for Christian prisoners—especially those in solitary confinement—in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Un Dia a la Vez - Dominio propio

Porque no nos ha dado Dios espíritu de cobardía, sino de poder, de amor y de dominio propio. 2 Timoteo 1:7, RV-60

Creo que lo más difícil para cualquier ser humano es el dominio propio. Es decir, controlar los deseos, las cosas nocivas y las que más nos gustan. Por diferentes razones, y debido a que somos débiles, no tenemos una razón por la cual renunciar a algo que no es bueno para nosotros.

También es posible que el problema esté en que no tengamos motivación para hacer cambios. Sin embargo, cuando tenemos temor de Dios, esa lucha se hace aun más difícil porque queremos cumplirle. Entonces, si le fallamos, nos sentimos muy mal con Él.

Déjame aclararte que el domino propio no necesariamente es útil para abandonar una falta grave. Puede ayudarnos en otras cosas como trabajar en exceso, comer sin control, fumar, beber y descuidar a la familia. Asimismo, es conveniente para la gente que va al gimnasio, pero no por salud ni por deporte, sino porque idolatra su cuerpo. En fin, el dominio propio les resulta provechoso también a los compradores compulsivos y los malos administradores del dinero.

Todos estos ejemplos que menciono quizá te identifiquen y no es que seas una mala persona, ni que te desprecie Dios. Todo lo contrario. Dios es tu Padre y te ama. A Él le interesa que seas feliz y una persona equilibrada en todo lo que haces.

Así que ahora quiero hacerte la pregunta del millón: «¿Cómo lo logras?». Depende de ti, pues si quieres ver un cambio, la oración es más que suficiente para respaldar tu decisión.

Verse of the Day - October 02, 2016

Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Read all of Proverbs 29

Our Daily Bread - God’s Reminders

By David McCasland

Read: Mark 8:11–21 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 14–16; Ephesians 5:1–16

He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:21

My friend Bob Horner refers to Jesus as “the Master Reminder.” And that is good, because we are so doubting and forgetful. No matter how often Jesus met the needs of the people who came to Him when He was here on earth, His first disciples feared they would somehow be left in need. After witnessing miracles, they failed to understand the greater meaning the Lord wanted them to remember.

On a journey across the Sea of Galilee, the disciples realized they had forgotten to bring bread and were talking about it. Jesus asked them, “Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?” (Mark 8:17–18). Then He reminded them that when He fed five thousand people with five loaves, the disciples had collected twelve basketfuls of leftover pieces. And when He fed four thousand with seven loaves, they filled seven baskets with leftovers. Then “He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’” (v. 21).

The Lord’s miraculous provision for people’s physical needs pointed to the greater truth—that He was the Bread of Life and that His body would be “broken” for them and for us.

Every time we eat the bread and drink the cup during the Lord's Supper, we are reminded of our Lord’s great love and provision for us.

In the Lord's Supper, Jesus left us a great reminder of His sacrifice. Read about it in Matthew 26:17–30; Luke 22:14–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.

Communion is the Lord’s reminder to us of His love and provision.

Unser Täglich Brot - Gedächtnisstütze

Von David McCasland

Lesen: Markus 8,11-21 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Jesaja 14–16; Epheser 5,1-16

Und er sprach zu ihnen: Begreift ihr denn noch nicht? (Markus 8,21)

Ein Freund von mir bezeichnet Jesus als seine größte „Gedächtnisstütze”. Das ist gut, weil wir so vergesslich und voller Zweifel sind. Egal, wie oft Jesus den Menschen half, die zu ihm kamen, als er auf der Erde lebte, seine Jünger befürchteten, sie könnten irgendwie zu kurz kommen. Obwohl sie ein Wunder nach dem anderen miterlebten, verstanden sie nicht, was Jesus ihnen sagen wollte.

Als sie einmal im Schiff über den See Genezareth fuhren, merkten sie, dass sie kein Brot mitgenommen hatten und begannen zu diskutieren. „Versteht ihr noch nicht, und begreift ihr noch nicht?“, fragte Jesus sie. „Ihr habt doch Augen—könnt ihr nicht sehen? Ihr habt doch Ohren—könnt ihr nicht hören?“ (Mark. 8,18). Dann erinnerte er sie an die zwölf Körbe mit Resten, die sie eingesammelt hatten, als er fünftausend Menschen mit fünf Broten satt gemacht hatte. Und als er viertausend mit sieben Broten speiste, hatten sie sieben Körbe mit den Resten gefüllt. Dann fragte er: „Begreift ihr denn noch nicht?“ (V.21).

Damit, dass Jesus den Hunger der Menschen stillte, wollte er eine tiefere Wahrheit veranschaulichen—dass er das Brot des Lebens ist und sein Leib für sie und für uns „gebrochen“ würde.

Jedes Mal, wenn wir beim Abendmahl vom Brot essen und vom Kelch trinken, erinnert uns das an die große Liebe Gottes und seine Fürsorge für uns.

Mit dem Abendmahl hat uns Jesus eine wunderbare Gedächtnisstütze an sein Opfer hinterlassen. Lies dazu Matthäus 26,17-30; Lukas 22,14-20; 1.Korinther 11,23-26.

Durch das Abendmahl erinnert Gott uns an seine Liebe und Fürsorge.

Хлеб наш насущный - Божьи напоминания

автор: Дэвид Маккасланд

Читать сейчас: Марка 8:11-21 | Библия за год: Исаия 14-16; 2 Коринфянам 4

И сказал им: «Как же не разумеете?» — Марка 8:21

Мой друг Боб Хорнер назвал Иисуса Христа Мастером напоминаний. И это хорошо, потому что мы все забывчивы и полны сомнений. Сколько бы Иисус, будучи на земле, ни восполнял нужды приходящих к Нему людей, ученики все равно боялись, что им чего-то не хватит. Они видели многие чудеса, но так и не смогли понять того, что Господь хотел им сказать.

Отправившись в плавание по Галилейскому морю, апостолы вспомнили, что не взяли хлебов, и принялись рассуждать об этом. На это Иисус сказал им: «Еще ли не понимаете и не разумеете? Еще ли окаменено у вас сердце? Имея очи, не видите? Имея уши, не слышите? И не помните?» (Мк. 8:17-18). А затем напомнил, что, когда Он накормил пять тысяч человек пятью хлебами, ученики набрали двенадцать коробов остатков. В другой раз после насыщения четырех тысяч семью хлебами оставшихся кусков набралось семь корзин. «Как же не разумеете?» – спросил Он (Мк. 8:21).

Чудесная забота Господа о телесных потребностях людей указывала на великую истину: Он является Хлебом жизни, и Он пришел на землю, чтобы Его тело было изломано за нас.

Каждый раз, участвуя в Вечере Господней, мы напоминаем себе о великой любви Господа и Его заботе о нас.

В образе вечери Иисус Христос оставил нам великое напоминание о Его жертве. Прочитайте об этом в следующих текстах: Матфея 26:17-30; Луки 22:14-20; 1 Коринфянам 11:23-26.

Вечеря – это Господне напоминание о Его любви и заботе.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Les rappels de Dieu

par David McCasland

Lisez : Marc 8.11‑21 | La Bible en un an : Ésaïe 14 – 16 et Éphésiens 5.1-16

Et il leur dit : Ne comprenez‑vous pas encore ? (Marc 8.21)

Mon ami Bob Horner parle de Jésus comme du « Maître Rappel ». Or, c’est une bonne chose, car nous sommes très enclins au doute et à l’oubli. Malgré les nombreuses fois où Jésus a répondu aux besoins des gens qui venaient à lui, ses disciples ont toujours craint de manquer de quelque chose. Ces témoins de tant de miracles n’ont pas su comprendre le sens plus profond de la vie que le Seigneur voulait leur faire garder en mémoire.

En traversant la mer de Galilée, les disciples évoquaient leur oubli. Jésus leur a alors demandé : « Pourquoi raisonnez‑vous sur ce que vous n’avez pas de pains ? Êtes‑vous encore sans intelligence, et ne comprenez‑vous pas ? Avez‑vous le coeur endurci ? Ayant des yeux, ne voyez‑vous pas ? Ayant des oreilles, n’entendez‑vous pas ? Et n’avez‑vous point de mémoire ? » (MC 8.17,18.) Puis il leur a rappelé que, lorsqu’il avait nourri cinq mille hommes avec cinq pains, ils avaient récolté douze corbeilles pleines de morceaux de pain. Lorsqu’il avait nourri quatre mille hommes avec sept pains, ils avaient récolté sept corbeilles de morceaux de pain. « Et il leur dit : Ne comprenez‑vous pas encore ? » (V. 21.)

La réponse miraculeuse de Dieu aux besoins physiques des gens les tournait vers une plus grande vérité : il est le pain de vie et son corps allait être « rompu » pour eux et nous.

Chaque fois que nous prenons la sainte Cène, le Seigneur nous rappelle son grand amour et sa grande générosité à notre égard.

La sainte Cène nous rappelle l’amour et la générosité de Dieu.

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Sunday, October 2, 2016