The Daily Readings for WEDNESDAY, August 1, 2018

The Death of Jesus
Matthew 27:45-54

The Daily Readings

WEDNESDAY, August 1, 2018

Old Testament

Judges 3:12-30
Ehud
3:12 The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 13 In alliance with the Ammonites and the Amalekites, he went and defeated Israel; and they took possession of the city of palms. 14 So the Israelites served King Eglon of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent tribute by him to King Eglon of Moab. 16 Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length; and he fastened it on his right thigh under his clothes. 17 Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. 18 When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent the people who carried the tribute on their way. 19 But he himself turned back at the sculptured stones near Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” So the king said, “Silence!” and all his attendants went out from his presence. 20 Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he rose from his seat. 21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon’s belly; 22 the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out. 23 Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them.

24 After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber.” 25 So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor.

26 Ehud escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the sculptured stones, and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites went down with him from the hill country, having him at their head. 28 He said to them, “Follow after me; for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and allowed no one to cross over. 29 At that time they killed about ten thousand of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; no one escaped. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.

The Epistle

Acts 1:1-14
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1:1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The Ascension of Jesus
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

The Gospel

Matthew 27:45-54
The Death of Jesus
27:45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

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.
About three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The Morning Prayer for WEDNESDAY, August 1, 2018

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You this day. I thank You for my being able to be awake again, to see and hear the morning. I am blessed because You are a forgiving Father and an understanding one at that.

You have done marvelous things for me and my loved ones yet You still continue to bless me with so much more. Please forgive me every day for some things I may have done, said or thought. That may not have pleased You and I ask You now for your forgiveness.

Please keep me and my loved ones from all danger and harm. Help me start this day with a new, pleasant attitude with plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so I can hear Your loving voice. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things without judgement. Let me not whine or complain over things I have no control over. And when the world closes in on me, let me remember the example of Jesus, to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. Continue to use me to do Your Will.

Amen

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, August 1, 2018

Psalm 119:114 (NIV) You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Read all of Psalm 119

Listen to Psalm 119

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

Un dia a la Vez - Mi Capitán

Mi Capitán

Pero fiel es el Señor, que os afirmará y guardará del mal.

~ 2 Tesalonicenses 3:3 (RV-60)

Quizá te parezca extraño que todo lo que lo que diga en este libro lo lleve siempre a mi experiencia con Dios. Si te incomoda, perdóname, pero no pudiera dejar nunca más de testificar lo es que es vivir y rendir mi vida por entero a Dios.

En lo personal, he vivido las dos cosas: He estado con el Capitán a bordo y también he vivido sin Capitán. Incluso, me he ido a la deriva. Les confieso que el viaje ha sido largo y fuerte. Cuando estás a la deriva, no sabes para dónde vas, ni los peligros a los que estás expuesto. Estar sin control es arriesgarse a chocar, a perderse o, lo que es peor, a naufragar. Los golpes en mi vida han sido muchos y he regresado lastimada y herida. A decir verdad, no vale la pena.

No hay nada más hermoso que entregar ese barco al Capitán que es Dios y descansar sabiendo que Él tiene todo el control, los recursos y los planes perfectos para nosotros.

Por eso te sugiero que rindas tu vida a Dios. Esto incluye trabajo, hogar y los hijos, a fin de que Él sea el que guíe tu vida y salgas victorioso en todo lo que emprendas.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Quizá te parezca extraño que todo lo que lo que diga en este libro lo lleve siempre a mi experiencia con Dios.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - GOD’S CARE

GOD’S CARE

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

~  1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Ron Boyd-MacMillan shares the story of Sister Lin and family from North Korea. As Christians, she and her husband prayed for a child for years. After many years she finally conceived. They asked God for a safe delivery because it was now the severe famine period of the mid-1990’s.

Her husband went to search for food but came home weeping. All he could offer her was bark from a tree to make soup. It was not enough to nourish a woman with child. Then her husband went further afield to find food and was shot to death by soldiers as he foraged food from the garbage bags on a train. She was now alone.

When contractions started, she lay on the ground and gave birth to a dead baby boy. She named him after her husband and buried the body. From there she began to walk north and crossed the river into China. A Korean Christian family in China nurtured her back to health.

Telling Ron her story, she asked, “Can I forgive God for making the world this way?” Many of us, if honest, would acknowledge that we often have doubts about God when we see the suffering and pain in our world, just like Sister Lin. But we should value our doubts because they end up bringing God close.

Ron answered her poignant question with another question, “Why are you still a Christian?”

Sister Lin replied, “First because my Lord died young and alone in excruciating pain without knowing why either. And secondly, because I have gradually come to see that God’s care is everywhere to be seen, if I can look beyond my own suffering.”

RESPONSE: Today I will look beyond the suffering I see around me and see God’s love and care.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that You do care for Your creation and that in our moments of doubt You draw close and reveal the truth of Your love and care.

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

Girlfriends in God - You Don’t Have to Carry Your Worries (God’s Carrying Them for You)

You Don’t Have to Carry Your Worries (God’s Carrying Them for You)

Jessica Smartt

Today’s Truth

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

~ I Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

I am mom to a child with life-threatening allergies. It’s been nine years, but it hasn’t ever gotten easier, or less scary, or normal. I wouldn’t trade this kid for the whole world, but at times, the job of managing it all seems too much.

What struck me the other day, as it often has, is how carefree my son is. Gradually he will shoulder the load of managing his allergies, but to this point, it is mostly ME doing all the things: reading the labels, washing the hands and the dishes before prepping his food, calling companies, knowing what’s safe and what’s not safe.

My son isn’t worried, because he knows I am. He doesn’t ask me a million times what I’m giving him, or where it came from, or, “Is it really safe for me to eat”? He sits down and enjoys, because he trusts that I have handled all that. (And I have.)

And I felt a gentle reminder recently, “You can be like that, too, Jessica. I have this handled, and you can relax.”

Oh, to embrace this kind of carefree peace that the Lord is offering me.

Oh, to believe so completely that my Heavenly Father has handled all of the details, from beginning to end of my story.

Oh, to sit down at the table of life and freely eat, enjoying each bite of goodness that is on my plate, knowing that what is in front of me is safe, and good, because it has passed through my Father’s hands.

Friend, I don’t know what load is burdening you today. I don’t know what worries are dragging you down, what fears haunt your thoughts, what concerns press in all around. I do know that whatever it is that’s keeping us up at night - He’s already up, and He’s already handled it. We don’t have to worry, because He is carrying those worries for us.

And perhaps that is where the analogy breaks down. When I care for my son, my “care” often tips into worry, fear and anxiety. Yet Our Lord is never like this. He is fully equipped to manage every jot and iota in our lives, He loves us beyond measure, and His plan is unequivocally good. His is a powerful, nearby love that wraps around us even in the most terrifying times. He is always present, always loving, always in control. This is tremendously comforting to me.

Let’s Pray

Lord, sometimes the load of life is overwhelming, and we cannot carry it. At those times, Lord, let us not seek to become stronger, but to rest in Your mighty hands. The things we are worried about - will You carry them for us? It’s too much for us, Lord. We need You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

That heavy thing that you know that you are carrying - right now, open your hands up. Close your eyes and imagine releasing that load to the Lord. Let Him carry your burden. (Hint: He already is.)

More from the Girlfriends

Jessica Smartt is an author/speaker, a wife, and homeschooling mom of three kids in beautiful North Carolina. Jessica loves to encourage families to build memories and traditions together. Check out her new resource: 101 Awesome Summer Bucket List Ideas for Families. To receive your free copy, sign up HERE.

Love Instagram? Check out Jessica over there!

Seeking God?

Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

I am mom to a child with life-threatening allergies.

LHM Devotion - August 1, 2018 - The Death Clock

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"The Death Clock"

August 1, 2018

(Jesus said) "Because I live, you also will live."

~ John 14:19b (ESV)

Properly used, the internet is a wonderful thing. To have ready access to the world's greatest library, most beautiful art, most wonderful music, and most brilliant literature is a blessing beyond words. On the other hand, the internet is a place where almost anything goes.

That being said, I believe I recently stumbled upon the worldwide web's most depressing webpage. It is entitled the Poodwaddle World Health Clock with Diseases. The whole purpose of the clock is to keep track of how many people die, and what do they die from. It is a grim reminder that the clock is ticking away the minutes and months, the days and years of our lives.

Now for many people the day of their demise is a frightening proposition. They are unsure of what is going to happen, unconvinced that everything is going to be all right.

I can understand why they are afraid. Jesus is not at their sides.

My friends, you can be ready -- you will be ready -- if Jesus is standing at your side when death arrives. When death came for Peter and Paul during the Roman persecutions, Jesus was there. Some time ago, when a misguided swordsman beheaded some Christians in Somalia, Jesus was there, too.

All those souls were victorious because the risen Jesus was there. Like St. Paul, they could say, "I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

Which really is the point of this message: Jesus keeps coming back. It's not all that important if you know when the end of the whole world is going to happen and when Jesus is going to judge the living and the dead. The truth is the Bible is clear. You're never going to know that unknown hour.

What is important is for you to be prepared for that moment when your personal end comes, for you to be ready for that day when death shows up and points his bony finger at you. On that day, if you have faith in Jesus as your Savior, it will not be frightening. His victory will be yours.

When I began this message I set the Poodwaddle death clock. Since this message began, the clock said death has come for 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360.

Death is coming. Statistically speaking, some of you reading this devotion will not be among the living a week from now. Are you ready? Is your family ready? Your friends? Death is coming for you. But you don't have to face it alone. Jesus, who has, with His glorious resurrection, managed to defeat death, has promised to do the same for you. He says it plainly, "Because I live, You shall live also."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, death is coming, but I am not afraid. I am not afraid because my Savior has also come and given His life to rescue me. For that act of love, I will praise Him in eternity. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The above devotion was inspired by the following online resource. 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: http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock/hea1/

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Properly used, the internet is a wonderful thing.

Devocional del CPTLN del 1 de Agosto de 2018 - No robarás

ALIMENTO DIARIO

No robarás

1 de Agosto de 2018

... y todos los que habían creído se mantenían unidos y lo compartían todo; vendían sus propiedades y posesiones, y todo lo compartían entre todos, según las necesidades de cada uno.

~ Hechos 2:44-45 (RVC)

De acuerdo con el libro de Hechos, hubo un tiempo en la historia de la iglesia en que todas las cosas eran propiedad común y compartida por todos.

En la ciudad de Nueva York, una mujer fue arrestada cuando salía de la iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza porque, aparentemente, tenía por costumbre robar de las carteras de quienes estaban sentados cerca de ella.

Cada vez que los feligreses se arrodillaban para orar o iban a tomar la comunión, esta mujer hurgaba en las carteras y robaba el efectivo que encontraba.

Cuando fue interrogada por la policía dijo que, como era pobre, creía que tenía derecho a que los demás compartieran sus bienes con ella, lo cual no fue visto con agrado por los demás miembros de la iglesia.

Supongo que hay ciertas ventajas en robar dentro de la iglesia, ya que la gente es más bien cortés y menos violenta, por lo que probablemente no sacarán una pistola. Pero, por otro lado, robar no es una actividad muy apreciada.

En sus comienzos, la iglesia cristiana supo organizarse para ayudar a quienes sufrían necesidades. En estos días también hay muchos que están en necesidad: hay personas sin trabajo, hay quienes están preocupados porque quizás vayan a perder su casa, hay quienes no tienen dinero para pagar las cuentas médicas, hay quienes no saben cómo van a hacer para dar de comer a su familia...

Ante todo esto, ¿qué podemos hacer? Nosotros que hemos recibido tanto del Salvador; nosotros, que no teníamos esperanza, ni futuro, ni salvación, es tiempo de que nos pongamos en marcha para dar esperanza y futuro a quienes hoy no lo tienen.

Si usted es un empresario que está ofreciendo trabajo, publíquelo en el boletín de su iglesia y de las otras iglesias y supermercados de su barrio. Si tiene algo que ya no necesita más, ofrézcaselo a su vecino o compañero de estudio o de trabajo, o alguien que pueda necesitarlo.

Nunca se sabe lo mucho que Dios puede hacer con nuestras ofrendas de amor.

ORACIÓN: Amado Jesús, gracias por haber comprado mi perdón y eternidad con tu sangre. Ayúdame a ayudar a otros. Te lo pido y hago en tu nombre. Amén

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
De acuerdo con el libro de Hechos, hubo un tiempo en la historia de la iglesia en que todas las cosas eran propiedad común y compartida por todos.

Ministérios Pão Diário - O melhor ainda está por vir

O melhor ainda está por vir

Leia: Dt 34:1-12 | A Bíblia em um ano: Salmos 57–59; Romanos 4

Baixe a versão MP3

O Deus eterno é a tua habitação e, por baixo de ti, estende os braços eternos… 33:27

Os melhores dias de sua vida já se passaram ou ainda virão? Nossa visão sobre a vida — e nossa resposta a essa pergunta — podem mudar com o tempo. Quando somos mais jovens, olhamos à frente, querendo crescer. E, quando ficamos mais velhos, ansiamos pelo passado, querendo ser jovens de novo. Mas quando andamos com Deus, seja qual for a nossa idade, o melhor ainda está por vir!

Em sua extensa vida, Moisés testemunhou as coisas surpreendentes que Deus fez; muitas aconteceram quando ele já não era mais tão jovem. Moisés tinha 80 anos ao confrontar Faraó e ver Deus libertar milagrosamente Seu povo da escravidão (Êxodo 3–13). Ele viu o mar Vermelho se abrir, viu o maná cair do céu e até falou com Deus “face a face” (14:21; 16:4; 33:11).

Moisés viveu toda a sua vida com expectativas, ansiando por aquilo que Deus faria (Hebreus 11:24-27). Ele tinha 120 anos ao deixar este mundo e, mesmo então, compreendia que sua vida com Deus estava apenas começando e que ele nunca veria o fim de Sua grandeza e amor.

Independentemente de nossa idade, “O Deus eterno é a tua habitação e, por baixo de ti, estende os braços eternos…” (Deuteronômio 33:27), que fielmente nos leva à Sua alegria todos os dias.

Quando andamos com Deus, o melhor ainda está por vir.

por jb

© 2018 Ministérios Pão Diário
Os melhores dias de sua vida já se passaram ou ainda virão?