The Daily Readings for SATURDAY, November 3, 2018

The Second Beast
Revelation 13:11-18

The Daily Readings

SATURDAY, November 3, 2018

Old Testament

Ecclesiasticus 35:1-17 (Sirach 35:1-17)
The Law and Sacrifices
35:1 The one who keeps the law makes many offerings;
2     one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.
3 The one who returns a kindness offers choice flour,
4     and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.
5 To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,
    and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.
6 Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,
7     for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the commandment.
8 The offering of the righteous enriches the altar,
    and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.
9 The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable,
    and it will never be forgotten.
10 Be generous when you worship the Lord,
    and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.
11 With every gift show a cheerful face,
    and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
12 Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
    and as generously as you can afford.
13 For the Lord is the one who repays,
    and he will repay you sevenfold.

Divine Justice
14 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;
15     and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
    and with him there is no partiality.
16 He will not show partiality to the poor;
    but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
17 He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,
    or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

The Epistle

Revelation 13:11-18
The Second Beast
13:11 Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all; 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived; 15 and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.

The Gospel

Luke 12:32-48
12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Watchful Slaves
35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

39 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

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.
Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

The Morning Prayer for SATURDAY, November 3, 2018

Saturday morning prayer

Dear Savior, help me remember as I begin my weekend activities. Whether work or leisure will engage me today, keep my thoughts and actions centered on You. Make it a day of contentment for me, no matter if the activities I face are pleasant or tedious. Keep me through the Holy Spirit from willful sins and from those sins I do not even realize I am committing. Help me be a positive influence in others' lives as I go my way. Let my inner rejoicing in Your salvation be evident in all I say and do so that I bring glory and not shame to Your most holy name.

Amen

Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, November 3, 2018

Romans 13:1 (NIV) Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Read all of Romans 13

Listen to Romans 13

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 - La lámpara del cuerpo

La lámpara del cuerpo

El ojo es la lámpara del cuerpo. Por tanto, si tu visión es clara, todo tu ser disfrutará de la luz.

~ Mateo 6:22 (NVI)

En un devocional anterior pudimos aprender que los ojos son la lámpara del cuerpo. Que debemos guardarlos no solo por la salud física, sino también por la salud espiritual debido a lo que vemos.

Si lo que vemos nos corrompe, nuestro cuerpo se dañará de igual manera. Claro, esto tiene toda la lógica del mundo: Una persona que solo ve pornografía, esa es la información diaria que le da a su mente y a su cuerpo.

Y si tu ojo es bueno, tu cuerpo será bueno del mismo modo.

Dios desea que tú seas libre y bueno.

Y lo puedes ser entregándole esa esfera o cualquier otra.

Él nos cambia y nos transforma… solo si se lo permitimos.

Te recuerdo que la luz y las tinieblas se rechazan entre sí.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
En un devocional anterior pudimos aprender que los ojos son la lámpara del cuerpo. Que debemos guardarlos no solo por la salud física, sino también por la salud espiritual debido a lo que vemos.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - STEADFAST TO THE END

STEADFAST TO THE END

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

~ 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

Christians in northern Nigeria have suffered severely from physical attacks resulting in destruction of Christian churches, houses and shops. Hundreds of believers have been badly injured, many macheted to death, some burnt alive and even more shot dead.

Despite all that has happened in northern Nigeria, the Body of Christ is not discouraged, declaring instead they are willing to continue carrying the cross. One Christian articulated their commitment: “We will be steadfast to the end.”

Another leader declared, “They destroyed our church buildings, houses and business centers, but the good Lord is comforting us. The Christians are growing in strength and total submission to God. Our challenge now is how to rebuild our churches and continue with the fellowship to encourage each other.”

The affected families of pastors and church members have gone through unimaginable hardship after all they labored for, all their lives, was destroyed within minutes. Many families were left unattended while some were able to move to refugee camps. Others are living under trees with their children, gazing at their destroyed houses and life belongings, shedding tears and calling for help in this desperate situation.

A lady who was crying inconsolably told Open Doors, “I have nowhere to go. All I have labored for is gone, I cannot afford to feed my children, and life is difficult. I almost gave up, but I will continue to wait on God to come to my rescue.”

“It is difficult to fathom the scale of destruction, but we have accepted it in good faith,” said one pastor’s wife who had lost her home. “It is nothing short of the fulfillment of the Gospel. We love these Muslims even though they hate us. They are not our enemies. We are only against the person behind their actions. We so much pray that they change their ways and accept Christ, so that we will rejoice together when we get to heaven.”

The believers in the affected areas are now confronted with the challenge of how to rebuild their churches and lives, while facing the call of sharing love and total forgiveness.

A pastor who lost his church building commented, “We are always ready to pay the price for our faith. This added strength to our faith, no going back. We are going to encourage our people to see this from God’s perspective. We want the world to know that what has happened in northern Nigeria…is even beyond politics. It is purely religious, and we need your prayers.

“Christ was rejected here on earth to the point that they crucified him on the cross for our sins; therefore, no amount of sacrifice for Christ would be too much. All we can do now is pray for the aggressors, because they do not know what they are doing. We will be steadfast to the end.”

RESPONSE: Today I will receive God’s restorative help in being strong, firm and steadfast.

PRAYER: Pray for brothers and sisters in northern Nigeria facing constant challenges to their faith.

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 - Giving With Grace

Giving With Grace

Deuteronomy 15:1–11

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

~ Deuteronomy 15:10 (NIV)

Years ago I said something that still bothers me when I think about it. I had led a young couple to faith in Jesus. The husband earned a good living in his hairstyling salon. In the basement of their home he kept the barber’s chair that his deceased father had once used in a shop in another town.

His father’s chair was more than an item of nostalgia, however. My friend used the chair in his basement two evenings and part of Saturday each week to seat customers who couldn’t afford to see him in his shop. In this homey room my friend clipped and snipped the hair of the poor. Some, like me, he charged a nominal fee; others he waved out the door with a smile.

After one splendid haircut, I pulled out my wallet and handed him a note that was twice what he normally charged me. It was my smallest note, but he had no change. “Just keep it,” I said. “Next time I won’t have to pay anything.”

Indeed, as I stepped out of the chair after my next grooming session and reached for my wallet, my friend said, “Wait! You’ve already paid for this one!”

It was then that I said some horrible words: “If you had remembered that earlier,” I teased, “you wouldn’t have done such a good job, would you?”

A slight grimace furrowed my friend’s brow before he caught himself and laughed. He was a generous man, and I had treated his kindness flippantly by joking that mercenary demons drove his heart.

It seems like materialism is all around us, and it is not uncommon for people to be driven by need and greed. During the lean years that many of us experience , we can become selfish and cheap. Those attitudes can stick, even when resources grow and demands diminish.

God built safeguards into Israelite society so that debt wouldn’t dehumanize those who became trapped in it. But God also knew that some people would try to manipulate handouts and bailouts and other kinds of welfare for their own cunning ends. So he asked his people to be generous to the poor, even if the poor appeared to be abusing the gifts.

Generosity and graciousness are learned qualities. They must be caught from the example of bighearted souls. Like God. Like the widow who gave two very small copper coins—all she had to live on (see Mark 12:41–44). Like the disciples who shared their lunch with a crowd (see Matthew 15:32–39). Like my barber.

We must practice giving so that generosity becomes an essential part of who we are. And when we give, we’ll find that our generosity is rewarded by God, who will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

Wayne Brouwer

Let’s Talk

• In what ways has God blessed us? In what ways are we tightfisted about sharing what we have? How can we make our spending and giving reflect our values?
• Who are some generous people who have helped us along the way? What have we learned from them? How are we becoming like them?
• What did we learn about money and generosity from our parents? Were these good or bad lessons? What will our children learn from us?

Years ago I said something that still bothers me when I think about it.

LHM Daily Devotions - Passing from Death to Life

"Passing from Death to Life"

Nov. 3, 2018

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. ... And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

~ Hebrews 11:1,3, 6 (ESV)

The issue of faith is something that's central to the life of a Christian. That's obvious enough. But what is it for a would-be follower of Jesus that indicates that he or she has an authentic and living faith?

Is it necessary to feel saved? The answer is no.

It is necessary, however, to "believe" the promises of God. As John 3:36 says, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

As you listen, you may be saying, "I would like to believe, but I am not able. Some people may believe, but I just cannot trust God's promises."

Have you ever stopped to think that each day you place your trust in things which are must less trustworthy than God and His Word? You ride an elevator from one floor to another. You trust your car to transport you on the highway. Whenever you sit in a chair, you trust it will hold you up. With a repentant heart, ask God to give you the gift of faith. Through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, He will create a living faith in your heart. Trust in Him. Believe in Him and what He has done out of love for you.

Speaking of the Holy Scriptures and its witnesses to Jesus Christ, the apostle John said, "These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name" (John 20:31). Again, in 1 John 5, we read, "I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13).

The great blessing of believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our only Savior is beautifully described in Romans 10, which says, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved" (Romans 10:9-10).

Believe! Believe today! No matter whether or not you have had an emotional experience, believe the beautiful promise of Jesus when He says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24).

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You know our weakness and disbelief. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, convict us of our sins, bring us to repentance, and lead us into faith in Jesus. In His Name we pray. Amen.

From "Must One 'Feel' Saved to Be Saved?" a sermon excerpt from Wallace Schulz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
The issue of faith is something that's central to the life of a Christian. That's obvious enough. But what is it for a ...

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Nhìn Thành Phố Của Bạn

Nhìn Thành Phố Của Bạn

Đọc: Sáng thế ký 12:1-3 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Giê-rê-mi 30-31; Phi-lê-môn

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Mọi dân trên đất sẽ nhờ con mà được phước. Sáng thế ký 12:3

“Hãy nhìn thành phố theo cách của chúng tôi.” Một nhóm phát triển đô thị ở thành phố Detroit, bang Michigan đã dùng khẩu hiệu đó để triển khai tầm nhìn tương lai của thành phố. Nhưng dự án đã phải dừng đột ngột khi cộng đồng nhận thấy một số thiếu sót trong dự án. Những người Mỹ gốc Phi chiếm phần lớn dân số và lực lượng lao động của thành phố. Tuy vậy, không có những người da màu trong đám đông toàn những người da trắng xuất hiện trên những bảng hiệu, biểu ngữ, và bảng thông báo cổ động mọi người nhìn thành phố theo cách của họ.

Những người đồng hương của Chúa Jêsus cũng không có cái nhìn trọn vẹn trong tầm nhìn đối với tương lai. Là con cháu Áp-ra-ham, họ chủ yếu quan tâm đến tương lai của dân Do Thái. Họ không hiểu sự quan tâm của Chúa Jêsus đối với người Sa-ma-ri, những người lính La Mã, hay bất kỳ ai khác không cùng nguồn gốc tổ tiên, lãnh đạo thuộc linh hay thờ phượng trong đền thờ như họ.

Tôi thấy mình cũng giống Detroit và Giê-ru-sa-lem, cũng thiếu hụt trong cách nhìn. Tôi cũng có xu hướng chỉ nhìn những ai có kinh nghiệm đời sống mà tôi hiểu được. Tuy nhiên, Chúa có phương cách đem lại sự hiệp nhất của Ngài giữa sự đa dạng của chúng ta. Chúng ta có nhiều điểm giống nhau hơn những gì mình nhận biết.

Chúa đã chọn một người du mục tên là Áp-ram để đem phước hạnh đến cho mọi dân tộc trên thế giới (Sáng. 12:1-3). Chúa Jêsus biết và yêu thương người mà chúng ta không hề biết hay yêu thương. Chúng ta hãy cùng nhau sống bởi ân điển và lòng thương xót của Đấng có thể giúp chúng ta nhìn nhau, nhìn thành phố của mình và vương quốc Ngài như cách Ngài nhìn.

Lạy Cha Thiên Thượng, xin mở mắt chúng con để nhìn thấy những con người và những tấm lòng giống chúng con rất nhiều, hơn những gì chúng con nghĩ. Xin giúp chúng con nhìn biết chính mình cần Ngài.

Mọi người ở mọi nơi đều giống chúng ta.

bởi Mart DeHaan

© 2018 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
“Hãy nhìn thành phố theo cách của chúng tôi.” Một nhóm phát triển đô thị ở thành phố Detroit, bang Michigan đã dùng khẩu hiệu đó để triển khai tầm nhìn tương lai của thành phố. Nhưng dự án đã phải dừng đột ngột khi cộng đồng nhận thấy một số thiếu sót trong dự án.