The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, October 25, 2018

The fifth angel blew his trumpet
Revelation 9:1-12

The Daily Readings

THURSDAY, October 25, 2018

Old Testament

Ecclesiasticus 10:1-18 (Sirach 10:1-18)
10:1 A wise magistrate educates his people,
    and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.
2 As the people’s judge is, so are his officials;
    as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.
3 An undisciplined king ruins his people,
   but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.
4 The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord,
    and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time.
5 Human success is in the hand of the Lord,
    and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver.

The Sin of Pride
6 Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury,
    and do not resort to acts of insolence.
7 Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,
    and injustice is outrageous to both.
8 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation
    on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.
9 How can dust and ashes be proud?
    Even in life the human body decays.
10 A long illness baffles the physician;
    the king of today will die tomorrow.
11 For when one is dead
    he inherits maggots and vermin and worms.
12 The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
    the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.
13 For the beginning of pride is sin,
    and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,
    and destroys them completely.
14 The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,
    and enthrones the lowly in their place.
15 The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations,
    and plants the humble in their place.
16 The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,
    and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.
17 He removes some of them and destroys them,
    and erases the memory of them from the earth.
18 Pride was not created for human beings,
    or violent anger for those born of women.

The Epistle

Revelation 9:1-12
9:1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit; 2 he opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given authority like the authority of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to damage the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were allowed to torture them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.

7 In appearance the locusts were like horses equipped for battle. On their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9 they had scales like iron breastplates, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails like scorpions, with stingers, and in their tails is their power to harm people for five months. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

12 The first woe has passed. There are still two woes to come.

The Gospel

Luke 10:25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
10:25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

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.
I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit ...

The Morning Prayer for THURSDAY, October 25, 2018

Thursday Morning Prayer

You gather Your faithful people and Your Word in the community of congregation, Lord. We thank You today for the gift of our congregation and for Your presence and working in our midst. Give all its members wisdom insight, joy and humility, the ability to operate with and support one another. Let the church in our place grow through the growth of Your Word among us, as You strengthen us through the daily renewal of our Baptism, the hearing and sharing of Your Word, the regular reception of absolution and the Lord's Supper. Give us through our congregation a foretaste of the feast to come through Jesus' redemption.

Amen

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, October 25, 2018

Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV) Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Listen to Ephesians 5

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 - Jesús y la ira

Jesús y la ira

Si estás presentando tu ofrenda en el altar y allí recuerdas que tu hermano tiene algo contra ti [...] ve primero y reconcíliate con tu hermano.

~ Mateo 5:23-24 (NVI)

Le damos gracias a Dios por este cuarto día donde le hemos pedido que nos hable y toque de una manera especial.

En esta parte de la Biblia, Él nos habla de no estar enojados con nadie, de arreglar las cuentas con todos, aun antes de dar una ofrenda en la iglesia.

Es más, Dios desea que nuestras relaciones con amigos y familiares sean saludables. También nos recuerda que juzgará nuestros pecados de la misma manera que lo hace con el que comete un crimen, como el que le dice necio a su hermano.

Nosotros los humanos somos los que clasificamos los pecados. Creemos que es más pecador un adúltero que un mentiroso. Sin embargo, para Dios todos los pecados son iguales.

Hoy mi invitación es a ponerse a cuentas con Él. Asimismo, debemos pensar que tú y yo no sabemos hasta cuándo viviremos en este mundo y es mejor estar siempre a bien con Dios. ¿Cómo lo logras? Lo puedes hacer solo a través de una oración y un corazón arrepentido de verdad.

Dios es el único que ve tu corazón y en su Palabra nos dice que no rechaza un corazón que se arrepiente.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Le damos gracias a Dios por este cuarto día donde le hemos pedido que nos hable y toque de una manera especial.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - SUPERNATURAL ANSWERS

SUPERNATURAL ANSWERS

But before all this they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourself. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

~ Luke 21:12-15 (NIV)

During her years of imprisonment in Eritrea’s wretched shipping containers, Helen Berhane was often interrogated and pressured to deny her faith. The Lord gave her supernatural answers each time as documents in her book Song of the Nightingale:

Yet another official visited and accused me of being anti-government. “Political agents are just using you,” he said. “Why do you let them do this? Why do you risk your life to please other people and support their cause? Why make yourself a sacrificial lamb? Perhaps you are a genuine believer, but the ones who have asked you to stick so rigidly to this rebellious religion are just taking advantage of you for their political agenda.”

I said, “If I may speak for myself: I have no other agenda but believing in the Bible. Since my childhood I have never had any other intention. This Bible is not new – my fathers and forefathers read it. I am reading the same Bible my grandfather read; the only difference is that he read it in Geez [old dialect] while I can read it in my language. He used to treat his Bible with special reverence and keep it in a sacred box, but I do not worry about handling mine. My grandfather went to church for fifty years but he didn’t understand the Bible; we know it better because it is in our language. If you are trying to take us back to the days of the older generation, then you cannot care about what is best for our country. Everything is changing and we have to adapt and move with the times. Each generation of inventors must bring new ideas, otherwise we will have nothing new and nothing will change or improve. In our generation, because we can understand the Bible, people are changing.”[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will trust the Lord for wisdom and words to answer those who challenge my faith.

PRAYER: Lord, give me grace to answer all challenges against You and Your Word with Your love and wisdom.

1. Helen Berhane, Song of the Nightingale, (Colorado Springs: Authentic Media, 2009), p. 72-73.

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

NIV Devotionals for Men - Tactics for the Thirsty Soul

Tactics for the Thirsty Soul

Psalm 42:1–11
Recommended Reading: Psalm 63:1–11; Luke 22:39–46

Isn’t it amazing how the Bible talks about the soul? Scripture not only portrays what the successful, victorious and satisfied life feels like, but God’s Word also offers many examples of people who battle for their faith and grow weary.

In this psalm the songwriter longs deeply for God. Taunted by his enemies, his soul knows deep despair and turmoil. But rather than caving in to the flood of adversity, the desperate follower cries out to God. How does he wage this battle?

First, the songwriter honestly expresses his feelings to God. Rather than denying his pain, he pours out his soul (see Psalm 42:4) and brings his frustration and sense of abandonment to God (see verse 9). Second, he engages his own memory. The songwriter recalls blessed times of worship with the people of God (see verse 4), and—more significantly—he remembers God himself (see verse 6). Third, the songwriter talks to himself. Or, perhaps more accurately, he addresses his own soul. He repeats the refrain: “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11). Although his adversaries taunt him and continually tell him lies, the psalmist aggressively counters their negative slurs with his own message of hope in God.

Finally, note that the songwriter wrote about his struggles. The fact that his words still exist today indicates that he battled for his soul by giving expression to his grief and hope.

If you’re engaged in a battle to make your faith real and are growing tired of the conflict, don’t give up the fight. Long for God. Thirst for him. If you feel comfortable doing so, record your struggles on paper or in a file on your computer. When you pursue God, Scripture promises that you’ll find him. Pray for God to flood your soul with relief. And don’t forget to challenge yourself in the same manner of the psalmist in Psalm 42:6, 11.

To Take Away

• Do you ever long for God so much that you feel yourself dying of thirst to experience his presence and refreshment?
• Have you ever “preached” to your own soul? If you were to do so now, what would you say to yourself?
• When have you sensed relief from your thirst for God? How can you repeat that experience?

Isn’t it amazing how the Bible talks about the soul?

Girlfriends in God - Two Ears, One Mouth… Enough Said

Two Ears, One Mouth… Enough Said

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

~ James 1:26 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

I want my words to be life-giving. I want to use my words and tone of voice to bless people and love them well. Isn’t that what we all want? Isn’t that what pleases God? To be clear: I’m still a work in progress when it comes to this, but by God’s grace I am making progress.

My heart is hushed as I reflect on the way James addressed the importance of our words in the New Testament.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. (James 1:19-20, 26, NIV)

I know this verse. Maybe you do too. Maybe you even know it by heart or have it written on an index card that’s taped to your bathroom mirror. But, as James reminds us not so subtly, knowing and doing are two different things (James 1:22). It is not good enough for us to be “knowers” of God’s Word. If we want to be women of great and godly impact, we must also be doers.

So let’s break down the verse so we can better implement what it has to say about how to ensure that our words will be life-giving.

Be “Quick to Listen”

My girlfriend Jodie said, “This is difficult for a girl who likes to finish sentences and finds silence to be the most uncomfortable sound in the world. I often have to turn off the voice in my own mind to really hear the other person.” I get her. Don't you? Such good advice. To be a good listener I have to turn off the voice in my mind. I don’t need to think of my answer while the person is talking, I need to listen and be in the moment. I need to hear. When I hear I am better equipped to be compassionate, understanding, gracious, and honorable.

I get myself in trouble when I don’t listen. I stumble over arrogant thoughts, confident that I know more, understand more, have a better idea than, a more correct idea than, or a holier idea. God knew this would be a struggle for most of us. He points us to a better way in His Word. Be quick to listen.

Be “Slow To Speak and Slow to Become Angry”

This may come as news to some of you, but I have lots of opinions. Gobs of them! And I have almost convinced myself that people need to hear them. Certainly my husband. He should know where I stand on everything he says and everything he thinks. Right? And my kids? “Oh, my kids LOVE when I give them my opinion twenty times a day!” said no mom of teenagers . . . ever. So with this directive to be slow to speak, I sit up a bit straighter in my chair.

And then there is that “slow to become angry” part. Ahem! Have I mentioned that I’m a bit spicy? I credit it to being a sassy girl from the ‘Burgh, but that’s just a way for me to make excuses for my sin. Some people hold their anger in. I’m not that people. My anger becomes a lovely fireworks display inside our home. Light my fuse and I will show you some sparkling color and allow you to hear my booms!

And with that vulnerable gem of an admission, we move on to the next oh-so-challenging point that will lead us toward the righteousness that God desires from us.

“Keep a Tight Rein on Your Tongue”

The Apostle Paul told the believers in Ephesus, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). One important word to notice in that verse is the word any. That doesn’t even leave room for a loophole or an excuse that starts with “But HE said . . . “

You and I may have a word-choice problem, but our word-choice problem does not have to have us! We are children of God who are filled with His righteousness. It is time for a new day with words, girlfriend.

Chin up. Shoulders back. Deep breath. Intentional step forward.

Let’s do this.

Let’s Pray

Holy Father, please forgive me for all of the times I’ve allowed sinful behavior to creep into my thoughts and conversations. I ask that you will now, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
In Jesus’s Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Proverbs 18:21. What two powers do our tongues posses? Which of those do you want your words to reflect? What can you do today to make that happen?

More from the Girlfriends

Today’s post is an excerpt from Gwen Smith’s new book, I WANT IT ALL, which gives you practical help to connect your struggles with the solutions and strength of God found in the Bible. Got Prime? Order yours from Amazon. For a signed copy, get yours from the store on Gwen’s website!

Pssst! Gwen wants to connect on Instagram! (Her stories are fun!)

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

Isn’t this what we all want?

LHM Daily Devotions - At Home

"At Home"

Oct. 25, 2018

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered Him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that You say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

~ John 8:31-36 (ESV)

"I want to go home." Who hasn't said that at one time or another? We want to be somewhere safe, comfortable, permanent. Even those of us who never had a home like that still yearn for one. If only we could be home -- in the best sense of that word -- forever!

But only family members stay in the home forever. Guests come and go; paid workers are there for a day or a week, and then they're gone. And slaves in Jesus' day had an extra fear on top of all the other evils of their situation; they knew that, if they got sick or grew old, they could lose their home. They could be sold or abandoned. They were not family members, so they had no security. How that fact must have weighed on their hearts.

Jesus knows this. He says, "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Jesus knows that we yearn for stability and peace --things we will never have while we are still enslaved by sin. So, Jesus took steps to free us from our slavery. He laid down His own life to pay the ransom for us, to redeem us from our slavery. As the risen Son of God, He made us freed men and women -- no, more than that -- He adopted us into God's own family. And now we can remain forever.

Think of that! We have a home now -- one that will never be destroyed or lost to us. We have brothers and sisters to love and care for. We have a Father who protects us and provides for our needs. And in God's home, we can grow to the full perfection God intended for us when He first made us -- the perfection of the children of God.

THE PRAYER: Dear Savior, thank You for setting me free at the cost of Your own life, and for bringing me into the family of God. Keep me with You always. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"I want to go home." Who hasn't said that at one time or another?

Devocional del CPTLN de 25 de Octubre de 2018 - No por obras

ALIMENTO DIARIO

No por obras

25 de Octubre de 2018

Ciertamente la gracia de Dios los ha salvado por medio de la fe. Ésta no nació de ustedes, sino que es un don de Dios; ni es resultado de las obras, para que nadie se vanaglorie.

~ Efesios 2:8-9 (RVC)

Joe Arpaio, ex sheriff del condado de Maricopa en el estado de Arizona, consideraba que los criminales no tienen por qué tener cosas mejores que sus víctimas, por lo que en su tiempo como sheriff estableció un programa llamado "PEDAL VISION".

Tal programa funciona así: si un prisionero quiere mirar televisión, tiene que subirse a una bicicleta estacionaria y pedalear para generar los 12 voltios de electricidad necesarios para encender el televisor. Una hora de pedaleo le permite ver una hora de televisión. Si no pedalea, la televisión deja de funcionar.

Vale aclarar que el único ejercicio que algunos de estos prisioneros hacen, es caminar alrededor del patio de la cárcel, por lo que este programa permite que se mantengan en forma.

Si bien este proyecto es digno de ser aplaudido, debemos estar agradecidos que el Señor no nos ha impuesto a nosotros tal requisito para obtener el perdón de nuestros pecados.

¿Por cuánto tiempo tendría que pedalear una persona para pagar por un mal pensamiento, un desliz de su lengua o una acción maliciosa? Ninguno de nosotros tiene tanta energía o tiempo para pagar por nuestros pecados.

El Señor nos salva por su gracia, y no por obras. Gracias al sufrimiento de Jesús, su sacrificio, su muerte y su resurrección, todo el que cree en él es perdonado y salvo. Así de simple: sin necesidad de hacer nada ni de preguntarnos si lo que hemos hecho es suficiente para ganar el perdón y la salvación.

Jesús ya lo ha hecho todo.

ORACIÓN: Señor, te doy gracias porque el Salvador es mi realidad y mi redentor. Te pido por quienes lo han rechazado, para que también un día lo reconozcan como Señor y Salvador de sus vidas. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
"PEDAL VISION"

Хлеб наш насущный - Где мир?

Где мир?

Читать сейчас: Иеремии 8:8-15 | Библия за год: Иеремии 6-8; Ефесянам 6

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Мы имеем мир с Богом через Господа нашего Иисуса Христа. — Римлянам 5:1

«Вы еще надеетесь на мир?» – спросил журналист Боба Дилана в 1984 г. «Не будет никакого мира», – ответил музыкант. Этот ответ вызвал негативную реакцию общественности. Хотя вряд ли кто-то будет отрицать, что мир в наше время – явление очень неустойчивое.

Примерно за шестьсот лет до Христа большинство пророков предсказывали мир. Но Божьего пророка Иеремии среди них не было. Он напоминал Израилю слова Бога: «Слушайтесь гласа Моего, и Я буду вашим Богом, а вы будете Моим народом» (Иер. 7:23). Но люди снова и снова отвергали Господа и Его заповеди. Лжепророки говорили: «Мир, мир» (Иер. 8:11), а Иеремия предсказывал бедствие. Иерусалим пал в 586 г. до Р.Х.

Но среди суровых пророчеств Иеремии мы находим и нечто прекрасное. Это образ Бога, Который любит нас как никто другой. «Любовью вечной Я возлюбил тебя… Я снова устрою тебя», – сказал Господь мятежному народу (Иер. 31:3-4).

Наш Господь – Бог любви и мира. Мир с Ним разрушаем мы сами. Грех лишает нас внутреннего умиротворения и забирает мир с земли. Но Иисус Христос пришел на землю, чтобы примирить нас с Богом и дать покой душе. «Итак, оправдавшись верой, мы имеем мир с Богом через Господа нашего Иисуса Христа» (Рим. 5:1). Его слова полны надежды больше всех, когда-либо написанных.

Живем ли мы в зоне конфликта или наслаждаемся спокойной жизнью, Христос призывает нас в Свой мир.

Господь, благодарим Тебя за Твой мир, который не может разрушить никакая война или конфликт. Помоги нам успокоиться в Тебе.

«Бог не может дать нам счастье и мир вне Себя Самого. Мира без Него не бывает».

— К. Льюис

автор: Тим Густафсон

© 2018 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Вы еще надеетесь на мир?