LHM Daily Devotion - "Flee the Coming Wrath"

March 2, 2017

And he (John) went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 3:3, ESV)

Read Luke 3:1-9

Luke anchors John's ministry in human history by listing the Roman emperor, the governor of Judea, and the ruler of the northern province of Galilee where Jesus is living. John preaches in the region near the Jordan River. Huge crowds come out to him, but he is aware that some are here for the wrong reasons. Some are merely curious; others don't recognize any sins in themselves that need to be washed away. John boldly challenges them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"

These strong words challenge us to look deep within our hearts. John has come to prepare the way for God's mighty Son. He calls us to recognize our faults and failings and humble ourselves before our God. This baptism is not an empty, meaningless ceremony. It is God's solution to the deadly poison of our sin. Through water and the Word God washes away our sins, delivering us from death and hell, and saving us from His destructive wrath.

On the Last Day, Jesus will return to earth to execute God's judgment. He will cast into the eternal fires of hell all that refuse to accept the forgiveness and salvation He came to win for them. Today is the day for you to escape God's wrath and find peace and eternal salvation in Jesus your Savior.

THE PRAYER:  Almighty God, You sent John to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of Your Son Jesus. Through the powerful words spoken by John, prepare me for Jesus' second coming, that I may escape Your fiery wrath. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Devociones de Cuaresma - ¡Mira lo que hiciste!

2 de Marzo

Desgárrense el corazón, no los vestidos, y vuélvanse al Señor su Dios, porque él es misericordioso y clemente, lento para la ira y grande en misericordia, y le pesa castigar.
Joel 2:13, RVC (2:12-13)

¡Mira lo que hiciste! Esa frase me recuerda las veces que mi madre le hablaba al perro que teníamos en casa, cuando éste rompía alguna maceta y destrozaba una de las plantas que ella cuidaba tan celosamente. He escuchado esta frase también en algunos padres cuando, enojados, le gritaban a su hijo por algo malo que habían hecho.

¿Te imaginas a Dios diciéndote algo así? ¡Mira lo que hiciste! En verdad, eso es lo que Dios le está diciendo a su pueblo por medio del profeta Joel. Israel se había enceguecido en su pecado. No veía claramente a Dios, por lo tanto, tampoco veía lo que pasaba en su corazón. Así es que, en forma simple, de parte de Dios, Joel les dice: ¡Miren lo que hicieron! Reconozcan su pecado. Rómpanse el corazón. Dense cuenta de su ceguera y de la vida impía que están llevando.

Sólo cuando miramos lo que hemos hecho, y reconocemos cuánto hemos seguido nuestros caprichos y cuánto daño hemos causado a los que están a nuestro alrededor, podemos ver y entender lo que Dios ha hecho por nosotros. El mensaje de la Cuaresma es: ¡Mira lo que Dios ha hecho! Ha colgado a Jesús en tu lugar. Ha castigado a su propio Hijo en vez de castigarte a ti. Ha arreglado lo que tú rompiste. El profeta Joel nos trae un Dios grande en misericordia y en salvación, porque grande es nuestro pecado.

¡Mira lo que Dios ha hecho! ¡Mira lo que todavía sigue haciendo por ti! El Señor sigue siendo lento para la ira. A él le pesa castigarnos porque está cargado de misericordia. El Señor sigue amándote hasta la muerte. Acércate sin miedo. Disfrútalo.

Gracias, Padre, por lo que has hecho, en Cristo, por nosotros. Amén.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC) Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas.

Our Daily Bread - One of Us

Read: Hebrews 2:9–18 | Bible in a Year: Numbers 26–27; Mark 8:1–21

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

At the memorial service for Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of the beloved Peanuts comic strip, friend and fellow cartoonist Cathy Guisewite spoke of his humanity and compassion. “He gave everyone in the world characters who knew exactly how all of us felt, who made us feel we were never alone. And then he gave the cartoonist himself, and he made us feel that we were never alone. . . . He encouraged us. He commiserated with us. He made us feel he was exactly like us.”

When we feel that no one understands or can help us, we are reminded that Jesus gave us Himself, and He knows exactly who we are and what we are facing today.

Hebrews 2:9–18 presents the remarkable truth that Jesus fully shared our humanity during His life on earth (v. 14). He “taste[d] death for everyone” (v. 9), broke the power of Satan (v. 14), and freed “those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (v. 15). Jesus was made like us, “fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God” (v. 17). Thank You, Lord, for sharing our humanity so that we might know Your help today and live in Your presence forever.

What fears and concerns do you have? What should you do with those fears? (1 Peter 5:6–7). What does the Lord promise to do for you? (Heb. 13:5).

For further study read Is Jesus God? at discoveryseries.org/q0205.

No one understands like Jesus.

By David McCasland

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Trở Nên Như Chúng Ta

Đọc: Hê-bơ-rơ 2:9-18 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Dân số ký 26-27; Mác 8:1-21

Vì chính Ngài đã chịu khổ trong khi bị cám dỗ nên có thể giúp đỡ những ai bị cám dỗ. (Hê-bơ-rơ 2:18)

Vào lễ truy điệu cho Charles Schulz (1922-2000), họa sĩ vẽ truyện tranh Peanuts được yêu mến, một người bạn và đồng nghiệp vẽ tranh biếm họa tên Cathy Guisewite đã nói về lòng nhân đạo và trắc ẩn của ông. “Ông ấy đã tặng cho mọi người trên thế giới những nhân vật biết chính xác cảm xúc của chúng ta, khiến chúng ta không bao giờ cảm thấy cô đơn. Và sau đó ông cũng tạo cho chính mình một nhân vật hoạt hình, và ông khiến chúng ta cảm thấy mình không bao giờ cô đơn… Ông khích lệ chúng ta. Ông cảm thông với chúng ta. Ông khiến chúng ta cảm thấy ông cũng giống như chúng ta.

Khi cảm thấy không ai hiểu hay có thể giúp đỡ mình, hãy nhớ rằng Chúa Jêsus đã ban chính mình Ngài cho chúng ta, và Ngài biết rõ chúng ta là ai và đang đối diện với điều gì hôm nay.

Hê-bơ-rơ 2:9-18 trình bày một lẽ thật đặc biệt rằng Chúa Jêsus cũng trải qua cuộc sống như con người khi Ngài sống trên đất (c.14). Ngài “nếm sự chết vì mọi người” (c.9), “tiêu diệt kẻ cầm quyền sự chết là ma quỷ (c.14), và “giải phóng mọi người vì sợ chết mà sống trong nô lệ suốt đời” (c.15). Chúa Jêsus đã trở nên giống như chúng ta, “giống như anh em mình trong mọi phương diện, để trở nên thầy tế lễ thượng phẩm đầy lòng thương xót và trung tín trong sự phục vụ Đức Chúa Trời” (c.17).

Bạn có những nỗi sợ và lo lắng nào? Bạn nên làm gì với những nỗi sợ đó? (I Phi. 5:6-7). Chúa hứa sẽ làm gì cho bạn? (Heb. 13:5)

Lạy Chúa, cảm ơn Ngài đã trở nên giống như loài người để chúng con có thể kinh nghiệm sự giúp đỡ của Ngài hôm nay và sống trong sự hiện diện của Ngài mãi mãi.

Không ai thấu hiểu như Chúa Jêsus.

bởi David McCasland

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Uno de nosotros

Leer: Hebreos 2:9-18 | La Biblia en un año: Marcos 8:1-21

Pues en cuanto él mismo padeció siendo tentado, es poderoso para socorrer a los que son tentados (Hebreos 2:18).

En el funeral de Charles Schultz (1922-2000), creador de la historieta Peanuts, su amiga y también humorista Cathy Guisewite habló de su humanidad y compasión: «Le dio al mundo personajes que sabían exactamente cómo nos sentimos todos, que nos hacían sentir que no estábamos solos nunca. Además, se dio a sí mismo e hizo que siempre nos sintiéramos acompañados […]. Nos alentaba. Se compadecía con nosotros. Nos hacía sentir que era exactamente igual a nosotros».

Cuando sentimos que nadie nos comprende ni puede ayudarnos, podemos recordar que Jesús se dio a sí mismo y que sabe exactamente cómo somos y lo que estamos enfrentando hoy.

Hebreos 2:9-18 presenta la asombrosa verdad de que Jesús compartió plenamente nuestra humanidad durante su vida en la Tierra (v. 14). Gustó la muerte por todos (v. 9), destruyó el poder de Satanás (v. 14) y libró «a todos los que por el temor de la muerte estaban durante toda la vida sujetos a servidumbre» (v. 15). Jesús se hizo como nosotros: «semejante a sus hermanos, para venir a ser misericordioso y fiel sumo sacerdote en lo que a Dios se refiere (v. 17).

Señor, gracias por participar de nuestra humanidad para que podamos hoy sentir tu ayuda y vivir en tu presencia para siempre.

Nadie entiende como Cristo.

Por David C. McCasland

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Einer von uns

Lesen: Hebräer 2,9-18 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 4.Mose 26–27; Markus 8,1-21

Denn worin er selber gelitten hat und versucht worden ist, kann er helfen denen, die versucht werden. Hebräer 2,18

Beim Abschiedsgottesdienst für Charles Schulz (1922-2000), den Erfinder der bekannten Peanuts-Comics, rühmte eine gute Bekannte von Schulz und ebenfalls Cartoonistin, Cathy Guisewite, seine Menschlichkeit und sein Mitgefühl. „Er schenkte uns Figuren, die genau wissen, wie uns zumute ist, die uns das Gefühl geben, nie allein zu sein. Und dann schenkte er uns sich selbst, den Cartoonisten, und gab uns das Gefühl, dass wir nie allein sind . . . Er machte uns Mut. Er litt mit uns. Er vermittelte uns das Gefühl, dass er genauso war wie wir.“

Wenn wir das Gefühl haben, keiner könnte uns verstehen oder helfen, dürfen wir daran denken, dass Jesus uns sich selbst geschenkt hat, und er weiß genau, wer wir sind und womit wir es heute zu tun haben.

In Hebräer 2,9-18 lesen wir die bemerkenswerten Worte, dass Jesus in der Zeit, als er auf der Erde lebte, ein Mensch wie jeder andere war (V.14). Er „sollte für alle den Tod schmecken“ (V.9). Er brach Satans Macht (V.14) und befreite die, „die durch Furcht vor dem Tod im ganzen Leben Knechte sein mussten“ (V.15). Jesus wurde wie wir, „in allem seinen Brüdern gleich . . ., damit er barmherzig würde und ein treuer Hoherpriester vor Gott“ (V.17). Danke, Herr, dass du Mensch wurdest, damit wir heute deine Hilfe erfahren und für immer in deiner Gegenwart leben dürfen.

Welche Ängste und Sorgen quälen dich? Was solltest du damit machen? (1.Petrus 5,6-7). Was hat Gott versprochen, für dich zu tun? (Hebr. 13,5).

Keiner versteht uns so wie Jesus.

Von David McCasland

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - L’un des nôtres

Lisez : Hébreux 2.9‑18 | La Bible en un an : Nombres 26 – 27 et Marc 8.1-21

[Car], ayant été tenté lui‑même dans ce qu’il a souffert, il peut secourir ceux qui sont tentés. (Hébreux 2.18)

Lors des funérailles de Charles Schulz (1922‑2000), créateur de la bande dessinée prisée Peanuts, son amie bédéiste Cathy Guisewite a vanté son humanité et sa compassion : « Il a donné à notre monde des personnages qui savaient ce que nous ressentions tous, qui nous donnaient l’impression de ne jamais être seuls. Puis il a donné la personne même du bédéiste, qui nous a donné l’impression de ne jamais être seuls. […] Il nous a encouragés. Il a éprouvé de la compassion envers nous. Il nous a donné le sentiment d’être exactement comme nous. »

Lorsque nous avons l’impression de n’être compris de personne, nous devons nous rappeler que Jésus s’est donné lui‑même pour nous et qu’il sait précisément qui nous sommes et ce que nous devons affronter aujourd’hui.

Hébreux 2.9‑18 présente la vérité remarquable selon laquelle Jésus a partagé notre humanité dans son intégralité au cours de sa vie ici‑bas (V. 14). Il « souffrit la mort pour tous » (V. 9), il « anéantit celui qui a la puissance [du] diable » (V. 14) et il « délivra tous ceux qui, par crainte de la mort, étaient toute leur vie retenus dans la servitude » (V. 15). De plus, Jésus « a dû être rendu semblable en toutes choses à ses frères, afin qu’il soit un souverain sacrificateur miséricordieux et fidèle dans le service de Dieu » (V. 17). Merci, Seigneur, d’avoir partagé notre humanité afin que nous puissions obtenir ton aide aujourd’hui même et vivre en ta présence pour toujours.

Personne ne sait mieux comprendre les choses que Jésus.

par David McCasland

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Один із нас

Читати: Євреїв 2:9-18 | Біблія за рік: Числа 26–27 ; Марка 8:1-21

Бо в чому був Сам постраждав, випробовуваний, у тому Він може й випробовуваним помогти. — Євреїв 2:18

Під час похоронної церемонії на честь Чарльза Шульца (1922–2000) – творця популярних коміксів “Пінатс” – Кеті Гайсвайт, його колега, свідчила про людяність покійного, його здатність співчувати. “Він дав усьому світу героїв, яким відомі всі наші почуття, – сказала вона. – А потім він подарував нам самого себе. Він завжди підбадьорював нас. Щиро співчував. Він викликав у нас стійке відчуття, що він – такий самий, як ми”.

Коли нам здається, що ніхто нас не розуміє і не може нам допомогти, Біблія нагадує, що Ісус – Той, Хто віддав Себе заради нас – знає нас цілковито, і Йому відоме все, що спіткає нас на життєвому шляху.

Текст з Послання до євреїв 2:9-18 містить чудову істину, що Ісус, коли був на землі, стовідсотково розділив нашу людську природу (Євр. 2:14). Він “смерть скуштував за всіх” (Євр. 2:9) і зруйнував силу сатани (Євр. 2:14) і “визволив тих усіх, хто все життя страхом смерти тримався в неволі” (Євр. 2:15). Ісус мав таку ж людську природу, як усі ми – був “у всьому подібний братам, щоб стати милостивим та вірним Первосвящеником у Божих справах” (Євр. 2:17). Дякую Тобі, Господи, за те, що Ти розділив з нами людську природу, щоб ми могли отримувати Твою поміч сьогодні й жити вічно у Твоїй присутності.

Чого ви боїтесь? Що вас непокоїть? Що потрібно робити з цими страхами? (1 Петр. 5:6-7). Що Бог обіцяє зробити для вас? (Євр. 13:5).

Ніхто так не розуміє нас, як Ісус.

Автор Давид Маккасланд

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Один из нас

Читать сейчас: Евреям 2:9-18 | Библия за год: Числа 26-27; Марка 8:1-21

Ибо как Сам Он претерпел, быв искушен, то может и искушаемым помочь. — Евреям 2:18

Во время погребального богослужения на похоронах Чарльза Шульца (1922-2000), создателя серии комиксов «Орешки», его коллега, мультипликатор Кэти Гайсвайт, говорила о человечности и чуткости покойного. «Каждому человеку в мире он придумывал персонажа, который в точности знал, что тот чувствует. Благодаря этому мы никогда не чувствовали себя одинокими. А нам он отдал самого себя... Он ободрял нас. Он сочувствовал нам. Мы видели, что он в точности как мы».

Когда кажется, что никто нас не понимает, вспомним, что Иисус Христос отдал Себя за нас. Он в точности знает, кто мы и что с нами происходит.

В Послании к евреям 2:9-18 содержится важная истина о том, что Иисус в годы Своей земной жизни полностью воспринял человеческую природу (Евр. 2:14). Он вкусил «смерть за всех» (Евр. 2:9), лишил силы сатану (Евр. 2:14) и избавил «тех, которые из страха перед смертью всю жизнь были подвержены рабству» (Евр. 2:15). Спаситель решил «во всем уподобиться братьям, чтобы быть милостивым и верным первосвященником пред Богом» (Евр. 2:17). Благодарим, Господь, что Ты принес такую жертву, чтобы мы могли вечно жить в Твоем присутствии.

Какие страхи и заботы вас тревожат? Что вам следует с ними делать? (1 Петр. 5:6-7). Что обещает сделать для вас Господь? (Евр. 13:5).

Никто не понимает нас так, как Иисус Христос.

автор: Дэвид Маккасланд

 © 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

Commentary: The Two Things We Must Say About the Transgender Debate

by Kevin DeYoung

The challenge with the transgender debate is that Christians must say two very different things at the same time.

To those pushing an agenda that says your bathroom is my bathroom and your gender is whatever you want it to be, we want to say:

This is absurd. Patently absurd. There is no scientific reason, no justice reason, no internally consistent reason to think we can be boys or girls just by declaring it so. In our saner moments we know this to be true. No one would allow me to “become” Asian or African American even if I thought that’s who I was deep down. There are facts about my biology that cannot be denied. Why is gender open to self-definition while race and ethnicity are not?

As many others have pointed out, the logic of our transgender moment simply does not hold together. Are male and female distinct categories so that we should we be pushing “equal work for equal pay” and celebrating every “first woman to do X” achievement? Or are the categories completely malleable so that even the talk of binary gender norms is offensive? Two nights ago I watched a few minutes of the Oscars and then flipped to watch some of the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships on ESPN. It struck me that many of the people attending the Oscars and many of the universities represented on the track would fully applaud the transgender agenda. And yet, here they are with their antiquated categories of Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress and their old-fashioned ideas of men and women running the mile in totally separate races.

I live in East Lansing, Michigan. I love my city. It’s a great place to live. It’s also a university town that tries to be at the cutting edge of progressive cultural trends. Which is why the local school board has pushed for students to be able to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. At the same time, when I go to the community center—operated by the city of East Lansing—there is a sign on the men’s locker room stating clearly that girls should not be brought into the locker room (but can accompany their parents in the family bathroom). So does biology matter or not? Is it a matter of safety to keep boys and girls separate, or is it matter of safe space to let boys use the girls facilities if they think they are girls? The idea that the whole world must accommodate my declared sense of self is soul-destroying, culture-poisoning folly and deserves to be treated as such.

That’s what’s must be said about the arguments and the agenda.

But that’s not all that must be said. There are people—men and women made in God’s image—who feel all sorts of confusion about who they are and what they want to be.

To those struggling with feelings they don’t understand and a sense of self that feels horribly unsettled, we want to say:

This happens. All the time. Not necessarily with gender, but human identity. We all struggle to figure out who we are, especially in our growing-up years. Sometimes that means we don’t know how to makes sense of our own bodies and our own sexuality. We don’t want anyone to feel unsafe in a bathroom. So let’s figure out how to have more unisex single stalls. Let’s provide well-trained, warmhearted counselors. Let’s make sure kids are not made fun of for being tomboys or for being sensitive or for being immigrants or for being Muslim or for being Christian or for being whatever.

And let’s make sure we aren’t constantly in full-on culture warrior mode. We should empathize with those who genuinely feel threatened, scared, or all alone. Standing up for the truth doesn’t mean we have to say everything we think in every situation. It’s okay to be tactful, respectful, and even keep our mouths shut at times. Charging ahead with zeal is not an excuse for trampling over people.

The Christian response to the transgender debate depends on whether we are talking about the debate or about a transgender person. I understand the two cannot be completely divorced, but they are not the same thing either. The ideas bandied about in the public square are often ridiculous. The people struggling with gender identity are not. This is what makes the controversy especially difficult for Christians. As a pastor, I need to shepherd a flock that faces pressures from a world that is trying every day to remake them in its image (Rom. 12:2). But I also need to shepherd a flock that likely has sheep in it who wonder how they can live a holy and acceptable life to God when they don’t feel like (or simply don’t like) the person they see in the mirror (Rom 12:1).

That means while we do not have patience for secular agendas, we must have patience for struggling people. We may be quick with rebuttals in the public square, but we must be quick with a listening ear in the neighbor’s kitchen. It means we must show private care in a way that is not confused with public indifference, and make known our public concern in a way that is not confused with private disdain. We have two different things to say depending on the context—not contradictory things, but complementary things the world is eager to confuse.

The agenda ought to be lampooned. The people ought to be loved.

Kevin DeYoung is senior pastor of University Reformed Church (PCA) in East Lansing, Michigan, near Michigan State University. He and his wife Trisha have seven young children. You can follow him on Twitter.

The Daily Readings for WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2017 - Ash Wednesday

Polish painting of a priest sprinkling ashes on the heads of worshippers - Julian Fałat - 1881

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Isaiah 58:1-12

Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Psalms

Psalm 103 Benedic, anima mea
1   Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
2   Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
3   He forgives all your sins and heals all your infirmities;
4   He redeems your life from the grave and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
5   He satisfies you with good things, and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
6   The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed.
7   He made his ways known to Moses and his works to the children of Israel.
8   The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness.
9   He will not always accuse us, nor will he keep his anger for ever.
10   He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
11   For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
12   As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.
13   As a father cares for his children, so does the LORD care for those who fear him.
14   For he himself knows whereof we are made; he remembers that we are but dust.
15   Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field;
16   When the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.
17   But the merciful goodness of the LORD endures for ever on those who fear him, and his righteousness on children's children;
18   On those who keep his covenant and remember his commandments and do them.
19   The LORD has set his throne in heaven, and his kingship has dominion over all.
20   Bless the LORD, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding, and hearken to the voice of his word.
21   Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, you ministers of his who do his will.
22   Bless the LORD, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion; bless the LORD, O my soul.

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in Matthew 6:1-6, 6:16-21
Glory be to Thee, O Lord

"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Here ends the Gospel lesson for today.
Glory be to Thee ,O Christ!

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.

Verse of the Day - March 01, 2017

Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV) Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Read all of Psalm 73

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - "How Sin Affects Your Prayer Life"

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.

—Psalm 66:18 (NKJV)

Habitual sin in the life of a Christian can bring his or her prayer life to a screeching halt. That is not to say we have to be sinless to pray. If that were the case, none of us could ever approach God. The Bible even says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). It also tells us that when we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (see 1 John 2:1).

The Bible makes allowances for sin in our lives and offers God’s mercy and forgiveness to us, but unconfessed sin certainly can hinder our prayers. The psalmist said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (66:18). Another way to translate the word regard would be “hold on to.” In other words, if we cling to iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us.

There is a difference between sin and willful sin. There is a difference between stumbling, being sorry for it, and turning from it, and continually, willfully, and habitually sinning. If you are sensing God’s conviction and know what you’re doing isn’t right, that is God’s Holy Spirit lovingly trying to wake you up and warn you of the perilous path you have put yourself on.

Hebrews 12:6 says, “Whom the Lord loves He chastens.” To loosely paraphrase, “Whom God really loves, He spanks.” Because He cares about you, He applies the “board of education” to your “seat of understanding.” Some of us need a trip behind God’s woodshed. When that happens, don’t recoil and complain that it’s unfair. Instead, rejoice that God loves you enough to deal with you as a father deals with his son or daughter.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Devotion by Greg Laurie © 2016 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.

Un Dia a la Vez - Dios no te ha abandonado

El Señor omnipotente enjugará las lágrimas de todo rostro, y quitará de toda la tierra el oprobio de su pueblo. El Señor mismo lo ha dicho. 
Isaías 25:8 (NVI)

A pesar de lo que hacemos en nuestra manera de vivir, vemos la mano de Dios.

Naigir, un hombre de bien y buena familia, es otro amigo que tuve la oportunidad de conocer. Un día, por ambición, acepta hacer uno de esos trabajitos por dinero. Sin pensarlo dos veces, se lanza y lo sorprenden. Lo que una vez le dijera un aparente amigo: «Tranquilo, todo está fríamente calculado», se convirtió en la pesadilla de su vida. Cae preso y sin ningún familiar en Estados Unidos. Lo que era una gran ambición quizá por ganarse unos cuantos verdes, se volvió en la más horrible de las tragedias.

Al igual que Víctor, conoce de Dios en ese lugar y empieza el cambio en su vida. Su testimonio llega a mis manos con una desgarradora carta, donde me pide que llame a su hijita por la radio el día del cumpleaños. Además, me pide que no le dijera a su hija dónde estaba.

Llegó el día e hicimos la llamada en mi programa radial «Buenos Días Familia». Cuando esa nena de solo ocho años de edad pasa al teléfono, escucha que es una sorpresa de su papá que dejó de ver de un día para otro hace cuatro años. Entonces se quebrantó y lloró de tal manera que todos en cabina quedamos en silencio.

¿Por qué llegar hasta el extremo de Naigir? Porque no nos conformamos con creerle a Dios. Dejemos que sea Dios el que nos provea todo lo que necesitamos. No vale la pena poner en riesgo nuestros hijos y nuestra felicidad. Recordemos que aunque Dios nos perdona, todo lo que hacemos mal tiene sus consecuencias.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón. La Santa Biblia, Nueva Versión Internacional® NVI® Copyright © 1986, 1999, 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - ABC’S OF VICTORY

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:5-6 (NIV)

A lthough things are not perfect B ecause of trial or pain C ontinue in thanksgiving. D o not begin to blame, E ven when the times are hard. F ierce winds are bound to blow. G od is forever able. H old on to what you know; I magine life without His love, J oy would cease to be. K eep thanking Him for all the things L ove imparts to thee. M ove out of "Camp Complaining." N o weapon that is known, O n earth can yield the power P raise can do alone. Q uit looking at the future; R edeem the time at hand; S tart every day with worship. T o "thank" is a command U ntil we see Him coming V ictorious in the sky. W e'll run the race with gratitude; X alting God most high. Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad![1]

RESPONSE: I am too blessed to be stressed!

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the encouragement I receive from following Your ways.

1. Author unknown.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Girlfriends in God - Chasing Beauty

by Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30, NIV)

Friend to Friend

From the time I was a young girl I wanted to be beautiful. In the fifth grade, I resorted to desperate measures in a very “eleven-year-old, clueless-adolescent” kind of way. I distinctly remember some bright blue eye shadow being involved.

I can even picture in my mind what said unauthorized makeup looked like in its case – like a pallet that would normally hold watercolor paint. Five fabulous, or not so fabulous, color options ranging from pale green to bright blue were available to this pre-adolescent.

Mercy!

Keep in mind, we are talking about the early eighties here. Blue eye shadow was all the rage and a very accepted beauty solution. It was everywhere! On magazine covers, commercials, and on every older woman at church. I think even Marsha Brady was wearing it on TV. Trust me, back then most of the girls my age took beauty cues from Marsha Brady.

I know. Scary.

I rode the bus to elementary school, which gave me a brief, unsupervised window of opportunity in the mornings to misbehave and sneak around between exiting the big yellow taxi and entering the classroom.

My neighbors Brenda and Sally sometimes adventured with me to the West Hempfield Elementary School beauty salon: the girls’ bathroom. As long as we made it to our classrooms before the bell rang, we were golden.

Enter the blue eye shadow.

I’m not sure where my eye shadow kit came from. It could’ve been a hand-me-down from an aunt or a family friend. It could have been a garage sale find. I don’t remember. I am certain, however, that at that point in my life, eye shadow was supposed to be for play, not for school.

Not being one to get tripped up over details, I ran to the girls’ room and generously smudged the bright blue cream on my eyelids. Then, feeling I had reached a higher level of beauty, I proceeded to Miss Lewis’s boring fifth grade class.

As I remember it, several days of eye-colored bliss passed.

In my mind, I was cool and hip.

In reality, not so much.

During some quiet work time one morning, Miss Lewis called me up to her desk. With a hushed teacher-tone, she asked me, “Does your mother know you’re wearing that eye shadow to school?”

“Yes, Miss Lewis,” I said. “My mom lets me wear this.”

“Well, Gwen,” She whispered, “I might just need to call your mother and ask her about that.”

Then she sent me back to my seat.

I sat in fear as I entertained dreadful thoughts of being found out. Miss Lewis never did call my mom, but the day I was called up to her desk was the last day I wore bright blue eye shadow at school. (At least in the fifth grade.)

The truth of the matter is I just wanted to feel beautiful. I thought that if I were beautiful, people would like me better. They would accept me more. I cared about what other people thought about me.

I wanted to measure up.

To some degree, I still do.

Can you relate?

We all want to be beautiful people. And that’s okay! It’s fine to want be beautiful. To take care of yourself. To gloss your lips and throw Spanks on your hips. But we need to be cautious of blurring the lines between physical beauty, spiritual beauty, and personal worth.

Measuring up to Hollywood’s version of beautiful has never been, nor ever will be, what God desires for us. God cares much more about our internal beauty, our reverence and love for Him, than our external beauty. The Bible says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

Join me in chasing His beauty today.

Let’s Pray

Dear God, You are the true source of all that is good and lovely! Help me to quit chasing the attention and approval of others and instead pursue the deep beauty found in Your presence and Your promises.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now it’s Your Turn

Pray and ask God to make His beauty known to you. Pray that He will open your eyes to see beauty as He sees beauty. Write in your journal about what God is teaching you.

GIVEAWAY: CLICK HERE to take this conversation deeper in the comments section of my blog. Today I am giving away 3 FREE digital copies of the My Strength My Song CD to random blog commenters.

More from the Girlfriends

Portions of today’s devotion are excerpts from Gwen’s book, Broken Into Beautiful, which features her testimony, along with Scriptural truths and stories of how God brings restoration to the hearts of those wounded by painful life experiences. Explore God’s healing and hope for your life today as you read Broken Into Beautiful. To order the book, go to Amazon, your favorite Christian bookstore, or for a signed copy, order from Gwen’s web store.

Get 20% OFF Gwen’s BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL book today when you order from her website and use the coupon code: 20OFF

Seeking God?

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