The Daily Readings for SATURDAY, April 21, 2018

[Jesus] said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

Daily Readings

SATURDAY, April 21, 2018

Old Testament

Exodus 25:1-22
Offerings for the Tabernacle
25:1 The Lord said to Moses: 2 Tell the Israelites to take for me an offering; from all whose hearts prompt them to give you shall receive the offering for me. 3 This is the offering that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue, purple, and crimson yarns and fine linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, fine leather, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them. 9 In accordance with all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
The Ark of the Covenant
10 They shall make an ark of acacia wood; it shall be two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make a molding of gold upon it all around. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry the ark. 15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 You shall put into the ark the covenant that I shall give you. 17 Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width. 18 You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other; of one piece with the mercy seat you shall make the cherubim at its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They shall face one to another; the faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the mercy seat. 21 You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.

The Epistle

Colossians 3:1-17
The New Life in Christ
3:1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Gospel

Matthew 4:18-25
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
4:18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

The Morning Prayer for SATURDAY, April 21, 2018

Merciful God, You call us to be salt of the earth and light of the world. We confess that our witness is often bland and gloomy. Forgive us when we fail to be an influence for good, and when we condone or do what is wrong in Your sight. Help us to flavor the earth with righteousness and to reflect the light of Your love in a dark world; through Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.

Amen

Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, April 21, 2018

Matthew 5:13 (NIV) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Read all of Matthew 5

Listen to Matthew 5

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

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - The Salt of the Earth

The Salt of the Earth

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

~ Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

Salt was kind of a big deal in the first century. In fact, it was so important and valuable that Roman soldiers sometimes were paid in salt. Hence the expression, “He’s not worth his salt.”

Salt can make an impact as well. A little bit of salt will go a long way. Salt takes watermelon or cantaloupe to another level. Just a little works on oatmeal too. Salt also stops the rotting process. Without refrigeration in the first century, people would preserve meat by rubbing salt into it.

In the same way, a disciple of Jesus can stop the spread of evil. When something is wrong, a Christian can speak up for what is right—in a classroom, in an office, in a neighborhood, or in our culture. And most importantly, we can speak up for Jesus Christ.

The greatest compliment that can be paid to a Christian is when a nonbeliever says, “What is it about you? I admire you. I want to know what makes you tick.” You’ve done your job, Christian, because you’ve created thirst in another.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matthew 5:13). Flavorless salt is neither good for the soil nor for the manure pile. It’s thrown away. It’s like an espresso without caffeine.

In effect Jesus was saying, “What good is a halfhearted Christian? What good is a diluted believer? What good is a decaf disciple?” The answer is, not much. Disciples of Jesus must impact their culture.

You are the salt of the earth. This means that as a disciple of Jesus, you are valuable. Your life can make difference.

Merciful God, You call us to be salt of the earth and light of the world. We confess that our witness is often bland and gloomy. Forgive us when we fail to be an influence for good, and when we condone or do what is wrong in Your sight. Help us to flavor the earth with righteousness and to reflect the light of Your love in a dark world; through Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Devotion by Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.
A little salt can make a big impact.

Un dia a la Vez - Honremos a los pastores

Honremos a los pastores

En fin, que conozcan ese amor que sobrepasa nuestro conocimiento, para que sean llenos de la plenitud de Dios.

~ Efesios 3:19 (NVI)

Los pastores son una tremenda bendición. Muchos dan de su vida y tiempo por sus ovejas. Son tan entregados a la causa, que a veces dejan para el final las necesidades de sus familias y las suyas propias. Ponen como prioridad la atención a los demás. Varios se han preguntado si ese trabajo vale la pena. Tanto sacrificio, no vivir los días normales, sino poner la cara por cada situación que se presenta en la iglesia y, además, ser los consejeros de cada familia. Sin duda alguna, para ser pastor se necesita tener un llamado de parte de Dios, pues este trabajo no es por vocación.

Hoy quiero agradecerles a mi pastor Albert Ixchu y su esposa, Lizbeth, por todo lo que han hecho por mí y por mis princesas. No solo me han orientado en momentos de crisis, sino que han estado incondicionalmente con mis hijas dándoles consejos cuando lo han necesitado. No importa el día, ni la hora… solo sirviendo.

Así que te motivo a que le agradezcas hoy de una manera especial a Dios por la vida de tus pastores, mentores y líderes. También pidámosle a Dios que los bendiga a ellos y a sus familias.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Los pastores son una tremenda bendición. Muchos dan de su vida y tiempo por sus ovejas.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - THE SANDALS OF PEACE

THE SANDALS OF PEACE

…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

~ Ephesians 6:15 (NIV)

The cry for peace is as old as the dawn of history and as fresh as the morning newspaper. Several centuries before Christ, the prophet Isaiah said, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace….” (Isaiah 52:7)

When the Hebrew prophets foretold the coming of a divine deliverer, they said one of his names would be “Prince of Peace.” When the Savior was born, the note struck by the angelic chorus in the nativity story of the shepherds was “…and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

Therefore, it is not surprising that when describing the armor of God, Paul included the element of peace. As God’s peacemakers, our sandals enable us to march into circumstances to bring peace, not destruction. Christ calls people who have made their peace with God to fight for fellowship, not against it (Hebrews 12:2-3). So we must be ready to go where God sends us with the message of peace, forgiveness and hope. We may be called to march right to the gates of hell—which He promised would not hold us back (Matthew 16:18). It is in this sense that we can be considered “waging” peace.

Your life thus centers on the good news of the kingdom. Everything else comes second. Know how to share the good news. Understand what it has done in your life. See how it can help others. Ask God to give you opportunities to share with others. Be alert for the opportunities. Be prepared to take advantage of them…standing strong in your sandals of peace.

Brother Alagaw in Ethiopia started an aggressive gospel ministry in his region. People accepted the Lord through his preaching. The people of the traditional church colluded with the Muslim fundamentalists to fight Alagaw and his followers. They said, “These people will destroy our country, nation and religions if we do not stop them immediately.”

Alagaw and his followers organized their first evangelistic meeting at the local stadium. They hired sound systems for this big occasion. Early in the morning they started with their outreach. At about 10:00 a.m. a big crowd approached the stadium. Without saying a word, they destroyed the sound system and a lot of other property. Some believers went to the local police station, but the police refused to help. During the attack, a pregnant woman lost her baby.

After this incident other forms of harassment followed. During church services stones were thrown on the roof of the church building. Faceless people burned down their church building. However, the Lord has blessed their ministry and their peaceful responses with one hundred and twenty new believers.

RESPONSE: Today I put on the sandals of peace and stand firm in the good news of the Gospel.

PRAYER: Lord, may Your peace shine through me today and be a light to all I encounter.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

The NIV Couples Devotional - The Really Good Life

The Really Good Life

Read Micah 6:1–16

He has showed you, O mortal, what is good.

~ Micah 6:8 (NIV)

My friend Meg keeps a fuzzy blue sock filled with diamond rings, bracelets and earrings—all gifts from her husband—inside her top dresser drawer. She wears expensive clothes, which her husband insists she buy, and they’re always taking trips to the Bahamas or Hawaii.

My friend is tanned, toned, her hair highlighted and her face lifted, but she’s miserable. Although most people who know Meg and her high-profile husband envy their “good life,” only Meg’s closest friends know how much she hates it.

Most people associate the good life with a nice house, the latest electronic toys and sleek cars, but those things don’t necessarily make life good. My friend would gladly give up everything she owns for a more fulfilling life.

In the community, Meg’s husband is generous and giving and the life of every party. He does favors for everyone and is the first to make a showy donation to a cause. But at home, he’s aloof, demanding, cutting and very controlling. With each new gift he tells my friend, “See how much I love you?” Outwardly, his life looks good, but he misses the mark when it comes to what God requires of him in loving his wife.

The Israelites were also guilty of making showy declarations of love for God, but those gifts were mere bribes. And God abhors such sacrifices. Micah told Israel that God was not impressed or pleased with the offerings of “thousands of rams” and “ten thousand rivers of olive oil” (Micah 6:7).

Instead, what God requires, what he says is good, is to act justly, with fairness and equity; to love mercy and kindness, to be steadfastly dependable, respectful and committed; and to walk humbly with God (see Micah 6:8).

So too in marriage spouses are called to live together sacrificially and with respect (see Ephesians 5:33). We are to “clothe [ourselves] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). We are to “keep [our] lives free from the love of money and be content with what [we] have” (Hebrews 13:5).

We are to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above [ourselves], not looking to [our] own interests but each of [us] to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3–4).

The good life, according to Micah 6:8, is not diamonds stashed in fuzzy socks; it’s doing what is good.

Nancy Kennedy

Let’s Talk

• How do we define the “good life”?
• In what ways can we show each other justice, mercy and humility? What do I treasure from you as acts of justice, mercy and kindness? What do you treasure from me? In what ways do these differ? In what ways are they the same?
• What areas do we specifically need to work on in our marriage to live according to Micah 6:8?

My friend Meg keeps a fuzzy blue sock filled with diamond rings, bracelets and earrings...

LHM Devotion - April 21, 2018 - Pinky Has an Advocate, as Do We

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Pinky Has an Advocate, as Do We"

Apr. 21, 2018

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

~ 1 John 2:1 (ESV)

Pinky, the pet pit bull, was on death row.

Pinky sat on death row as for two years the court debated on whether he was a vicious menace to society -- deserving of death -- or just a dog who liked to chase cats. The question arose after an event in 2016 when Pinky -- who was neither fenced in nor leashed -- attacked Rebel, the neighbor's cat.

Even though Rebel's owner didn't want to press charges, and the cat's vet bills had been paid for by insurance, the city of Des Moines said Pinky was "dangerous" and planned to have him "put down." You see, the Des Moines city code says some dog breeds are high risk and therefore subject to arrest and destruction.

To shorten the story, ultimately, the Iowa Court of Appeals, in a split decision, reversed the ruling which said one, Pinky was dangerous and two, he needed to be destroyed. The court also said the Des Moines dangerous animal ordinance was too vague. Speaking for the majority, Judge Tabor said, "It is difficult to imagine how any Des Moines pet owner would know whether an altercation between their pet and another animal would spur the humane officer to declare their pet dangerous."

Pinky's life was spared because of the work of advocate Dianna Helmers who

1. took ownership of Pinky from the family after the case went to court;

2. defended Pinky, paid the bills;

3. convinced the courts that Pinky is a dog who was only doing what dogs do.

The important point in the above paragraph is Pinky had an advocate.

My friends, you and I also have an Advocate. Our Advocate is Jesus Christ who pleads our case against the accusations of the law which, because of our sins, condemn us to eternal death. Please understand, God does not release us from the penalty of damnation because sinning is what people just naturally do. Such an action would undermine the law and be inconsistent with God's justice.

The harsh reality is this: we have broken the Law and punishment must be given. But, God is also merciful and has sent His Son to be our Advocate. Jesus is the Advocate who is our Counsel, our Redeemer, our Hope.

Jesus successfully pleads our case, and we are found "innocent." That is because the Redeemer has, through His life, suffering, death, and burial, paid the price for our transgressions. The Christ's third-day resurrection is proof His sacrifice has been accepted.

In other words, Jesus' atonement for our sins is the action which allows our divine Judge to look at us and declare us innocent. Because of the work of the Christ we are set free -- free to live in God's kingdom, free to live forever with our Advocate.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the Advocate who speaks the word of peace on my behalf, who carried a world of sin upon Himself so that I would belong to You. Your Son, given as the world's Advocate, has made it so all who believe on Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Grant that the lost of the world may be brought to a saving faith in our Advocate. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Today's devotion was written by a good friend, the Rev. Eric Zacharias, who serves at Zion Lutheran Church in Cologne, Minnesota. He wrote, "An unusual news item in Des Moines inspired these thoughts, which you might tailor for a devotion. Thanks for all you do. Blessings in our Risen Lord!"
With only the most minor of changes, that devotion is shared. Pastor Klaus

The above devotion was inspired by an article written by Stephen Gruber-Miller. "Court rules in favor of Pinky the dog, says Des Moines ordinance too vague" in the Des Moines Register for 4 April 2018. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2018/04/04/pinky-dog-des-moines-dangerous-animal-ordinance-too-vague-court-rules/485462002/

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Pinky, the pet pit bull, was on death row...

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Bất Cứ Nơi Nào

Bất Cứ Nơi Nào

Đọc: Giê-rê-mi 2:1-8; 3:14-15 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: II Sa-mu-ên 12-13; Lu-ca 16

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Ta nhớ đến lòng trung thành của ngươi lúc ngươi còn trẻ, tình yêu của ngươi như cô dâu mới về nhà chồng, lúc ngươi theo Ta trong hoang mạc, trên vùng đất không gieo trồng. Giê-rê-mi 2:2

Khi tôi lật từng tấm hình trong hộp hình cưới năm nào, ngón tay tôi dừng lại ở bức hình chụp hai vợ chồng tôi hồi mới được gọi là vợ chồng. Tôi luôn bày tỏ sự tận tâm với chồng. Tôi sẵn sàng đi cùng anh đến bất cứ nơi đâu.

Gần bốn mươi năm sau, hôn nhân của chúng tôi càng khắng khít hơn, tình yêu và sự cam kết đã đưa chúng tôi vượt qua cả thuận cảnh lẫn nghịch cảnh. Hết năm này đến năm khác, tôi đã tái cam kết sẽ đi bất cứ nơi đâu cùng với anh ấy.

Trong Giê-rê-mi 2:2, Chúa mong ngóng dân Y-sơ-ra-ên yêu dấu nhưng lầm lạc của Ngài: “Ta nhớ đến lòng trung thành của ngươi lúc ngươi còn trẻ, tình yêu của ngươi như cô dâu mới về nhà chồng, lúc ngươi theo Ta trong hoang mạc.” Chữ lòng trung thành trong tiếng Hê-bơ-rơ truyền tải sự trung thành và cam kết cao nhất có thể. Ban đầu, dân Y-sơ-ra-ên trung thành với Chúa, không chút dao động, nhưng dần dần họ đã lui đi.

Dù không thể phủ nhận tình yêu mãnh liệt của những ngày đầu cam kết, nhưng sự tự mãn có thể khiến tình yêu phai mờ và thiếu sốt sắng có thể dẫn đến bất trung. Chúng ta biết tầm quan trọng của việc chống lại tình trạng trì trệ như vậy trong hôn nhân. Nhưng lòng nhiệt thành trong tình yêu đối với Chúa thì sao? Bây giờ chúng ta có còn trung thành với Ngài như khi mới tin không?

Chúa thành tín cho phép con cái Ngài quay trở lại với Ngài (3:14-15). Hôm nay chúng ta hãy làm mới lại lời hứa nguyện sẽ theo Ngài đến bất cứ nơi đâu.

Lạy Chúa, xin giúp con giữ trọn những lời hứa với Ngài. Con sẽ theo Ngài đến bất cứ nơi đâu.

Bạn không cần biết mình đang đi đâu nếu biết chắc Chúa đang dẫn đường.

bởi Elisa Morgan

© 2018 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Khi tôi lật từng tấm hình trong hộp hình cưới năm nào, ngón tay tôi dừng lại ở bức hình chụp hai vợ chồng tôi hồi mới được gọi là vợ chồng...