The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, December 18, 2018

Paul Preaches in Rome
Acts 28:23-31

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, December 18, 2018

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Isaiah 11:1-9

The Peaceful Kingdom
1   A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
      and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2   The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
      the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
      the spirit of counsel and might,
      the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3   His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
      or decide by what his ears hear;
4   but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
      and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
    he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
      and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5   Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
      and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

6   The wolf shall live with the lamb,
      the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
    the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
      and a little child shall lead them.
7   The cow and the bear shall graze,
      their young shall lie down together;
      and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8   The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
      and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9   They will not hurt or destroy
      on all my holy mountain;
    for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
      as the waters cover the sea.

Numbers 16:20-35

16:20 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: 21 Separate yourselves from this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment. 22 They fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one person sin and you become angry with the whole congregation?”

23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 24 Say to the congregation: Get away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram; the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He said to the congregation, “Turn away from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be swept away for all their sins.” 27 So they got away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrance of their tents, together with their wives, their children, and their little ones. 28 And Moses said, “This is how you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works; it has not been of my own accord: 29 If these people die a natural death, or if a natural fate comes on them, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.”

31 As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the ground under them was split apart. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households—everyone who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they with all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 All Israel around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth will swallow us too!” 35 And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred fifty men offering the incense.

Acts 28:23-31

Paul Preaches in Rome
28:23 After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. 25 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,

26   ‘Go to this people and say,
     You will indeed listen, but never understand,
       and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
27   For this people’s heart has grown dull,
       and their ears are hard of hearing,
          and they have shut their eyes;
          so that they might not look with their eyes,
       and listen with their ears,
    and understand with their heart and turn—
       and I would heal them.’

28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.

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.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2018 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.

The Morning Prayer for TUESDAY, December 18, 2018

Tuesday morning prayer

Lord, on this day I chose to put You first. Thank You that when You are at the center of our family, our lives are rich with love and goodness. Lord, be the running stream, springing up at the very heart of our household. Might we drink daily from the water of life, that our days would be filled with kindness, forgiveness, trust and love.

May this day be a gentle time of love and kindness shown, to all my friends and family a love that helps us grow.

Let Tuesday always prompt my heart to place my life in You. To see Your holy will be done I give my life anew.

Amen

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, December 18, 2018

Luke 1:68-70 (NIV) “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago)

Read all of Luke 1

Listen to Luke 1

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 - Respuestas tardías

Respuestas tardías

El Señor tu Dios es el Dios verdadero, el Dios fiel, que cumple su pacto [...] y muestra su fiel amor a quienes lo aman y obedecen sus mandamientos.

~ Deuteronomio 7:9 (NVI)

Ya hemos hablado en este libro devocional que los tiempos de Dios no son nuestros tiempos y esto afecta en gran medida a ciertas personas.

Hay muchos de ustedes que no tienen mayor problema con sentarse a esperar que Papá Dios conteste a una pregunta u oración. Otros, por el contrario, son tan desesperados que necesitan las respuestas de inmediato y en cuanto las solicitan.

Cuando vamos a la Biblia, encontramos ejemplos que nos muestran que en algunos casos Dios tardaba mucho tiempo en contestar. Uno de estos lo tenemos en Job. Su tiempo de prueba fue tan difícil que se le murieron todos sus hijos, perdió todos sus bienes y terminó con sarna y rascándose con una teja. A pesar de eso, y en medio de su frustración, confiaba en que Dios no lo abandonaría. Aunque, claro, hubo ocasiones en que se quejó por la indeferencia ante la maldad y hasta le reprochó al Señor lo que consideraba su descuido cuando le dijo: «Recuerda, oh Dios, que mi vida es un suspiro; que ya no verán mis ojos la felicidad» (Job 7:7).

Luego, Dios cambió las cosas a su tiempo y le aumentó al doble la prosperidad anterior a Job.

Le extendió la vida a ciento cuarenta años y pudo ver a sus hijos, y a los hijos de sus hijos, hasta la cuarta generación.

El Señor no permite que suframos sin motivo, y aunque ese motivo esté oculto en los propósitos divinos y nunca sepamos el porqué, debemos confiar que Él siempre hace lo bueno.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hay muchos de ustedes que no tienen mayor problema con sentarse a esperar que Papá Dios conteste a una pregunta u oración.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - GOD IS AT WORK IN HIS CHURCH

GOD IS AT WORK IN HIS CHURCH

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

~ Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)

Daniel, a young “underground” house church believer from Muslim background (MBB) would not attend the open church in his Middle Eastern city because he felt its leaders were cooperating with the government. Everything had to be secretive in the house church meetings with no loud singing. It was risky meeting like this. Daniel shares his story of discovery and what he learned from the experience:

“A few months ago, I was at the church leader’s house. They were old family friends and I was helping their kids to repair their computer. The mother answered the door and men came into the house. They were plainclothes police with papers that showed they were from security and had authority to arrest. They took everyone’s phones, disconnected the internet, and gathered all of the computers while they searched the house for Bibles. They found 300. They didn’t want to touch the Bibles, like they were dirty. They took the husband and wife away in handcuffs.

“The leaders were still imprisoned when the police came to my house about a month and a half later pretending to be postmen. In my whole life, that was the first time I saw my father cry. They searched through my room and took my computer, my books, my prayer notebook, my written plans for our youth group, and my personal Bible. They also took my sister’s laptop and all of our cell phones. At the end of their search, they told my parents that they were going to take me with them. My mother was distressed, but I hugged her and told her I would be back.

“They took me to the central prison. I was there for two weeks. They only beat me the first day, but they still threatened me. For the first week I didn’t answer their questions, but the second week was difficult. I was imagining my mom and dad—I had talked to my dad and knew it was a more difficult time for them than for me. I still wondered what I had done wrong and why I didn’t have the right to praise my Lord.

“After two weeks they let me go after guaranteeing I wouldn’t flee. About a month later they also released our leaders on bail. After that, they told me my case was still open and they could call me in at any time. We were uncertain of our sentence because they wouldn’t hold a trial for around six months. Constant pressure. It was a pleasure to be persecuted for my Lord.”

Asked what he learned from the experience, Daniel replied, “First, God taught me patience. Eventually, even though I was worried about my family, God gave me a chance to witness to my persecutors. I really don’t hate them. I love them because they don’t know what they’re doing. They’ve been taught bad things, they’re not bad themselves. I felt a responsibility to tell them about the light of Jesus that can break through their spiritual darkness…I want western people to know that God is working in the Middle East, through persecution, deception, and difficulties.”

RESPONSE: Today I will be thankful that God can work through my fellowship of believers regardless of the level of freedom we enjoy.

PRAYER: Pray for those in underground house churches who risk everything to meet and fulfill the five functions of the church.

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 - The Only Way to Get Rid of Darkness Is to Add More Light

The Only Way to Get Rid of Darkness Is to Add More Light

Holley Gerth

Today’s Truth

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

~ John 1:4-5 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

The news drifts in from the other room as I sit at my desk and try to write. Heartbreaking headlines. Scary statistics. Pessimistic predictions. It seems peace is nowhere to be found on this planet and the night is anything but silent. Feeling overwhelmed and helpless I silently ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do about all of this?” And it seems I hear a quiet whisper within my heart: “The only way to get rid of darkness is to add more light.”

As much as we’d like to, we can’t go after darkness directly. We can only crowd it out with something better and brighter. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). He lives within us and wants to shine through us. Here are three ways we can let that happen this Christmas season.

First, we shine when we are kind. Just visit any shopping center and it’s easy to sense the pressure and stress this time of year brings. Smiles are a hard-to-find item. Fuses are short. Lines are long. By simply treating those we interact with in a considerate way we can make a difference. Jesus said our love for others would show we belong to Him.

We also radiate when we are real. One of my favorite Christmas decorations is a mosaic candleholder. When a candle is placed inside it, all the broken pieces multiply and spread the light. The seemingly imperfect places in our lives and hearts can do the same. We don’t need to have it all together. We just need to say, “Jesus, please use all of me for your glory.”

When we are real, others are drawn to us. I’ve attended a Christmas Eve candlelight service several times. At the end a single flame is lit and then passed from one person to another. That’s what encouragement does in our world. Every thoughtful word or act is a spark that can spread farther than we might ever realize.

Most importantly, we shine because we keep Jesus first. No matter what anyone may say, He is still the reason for the season—and the reason for the light within us. Our Savior knows there will always be news headlines like the ones I heard. They existed the night He was born as a baby in Bethlehem and will continue until He comes again. But He also knows that because of what He did on the cross and through His resurrection the darkness has already been defeated.

So every time we see a Christmas light this year let’s remember this invitation and celebration: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you” (Isaiah 60:1). The darkness will not last forever. The light always wins in the end. And we can all make this world a little brighter wherever we are today.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, sometimes the darkness in our world can feel overwhelming. But you promise that Your light will never be overcome. This is true no matter what I hear on the news or what I feel in my heart. Please give me peace, strength, hope and shine through me today.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Be a light wherever you are by doing one small kindness for someone else today.

More from the Girlfriends

Holley Gerth is a bestselling author, encourager and life coach who loves empowering women to embrace who they are and become all God created them to be. Her book Fiercehearted is a great Christmas gift or way to kick-off the New Year. It will help you and those you love live more fully and love more bravely.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

The news drifts in from the other room as I sit at my desk and try to write. Heartbreaking headlines. Scary statistics. Pessimistic predictions.

LHM Daily Devotions - A DONE DEAL

"A DONE DEAL"

Dec. 18, 2018

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David."

~ Luke 1:67-69 (ESV)

Take a close look at what Zechariah says to his newborn baby John. Speaking by the Holy Spirit, he says, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people ..." Wait a minute. Has visited, has redeemed? Why are we in the past tense here?

I can only think of one reason: Zechariah is using the past tense because it's already a done deal. Jesus has visited His people—at this very moment His mother Mary is three months pregnant with Him—and all the rest of it is going to follow just as surely as the sun comes up in the morning. Has God visited His people? Then He has redeemed them, too. Has He raised up a strong Savior (that's what "horn of salvation" means) in the house of David? Oh yes, even if that baby won't reach the cross for another 30-some years. It's a done deal. Jesus our Savior is with us now and always. As the writer of Hebrews says, "He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

Sometimes when we look at our lives we see only the unfinished business—the trouble we deal with daily, the sins still tripping us up. The finish line, when we are with Jesus forever, seems so far away. But that's not how it is in God's eyes. As Paul explains, "For those whom [God] foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified" (Romans 8:29-30). Paul knows it, too. Our salvation—and even our sanctification—is not some far-off, way-in-the-future thing. In Jesus, it's a done deal.

THE PRAYER: Lord, help me to trust in You with my whole heart, because I know that my salvation is complete in You. Amen.

The Coming King REFLECTION QUESTIONS!

• In your daily life, what kinds of guarantees do you count on? Which make you feel the most secure, and why?

• When you were a child, who was the most trustworthy person you knew? What kinds of promises did you have from that person?

• What is your favorite promise from God, and why?

Advent Devotions were 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).
In your daily life, what kinds of guarantees do you count on?

Devocional del CPTLN de 18 de Diciembre de 2018 - Ya está hecho

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Ya está hecho

18 de Diciembre de 2018

Lleno del Espíritu Santo, Zacarías, su padre, profetizó: «Bendito sea el Señor, Dios de Israel, porque ha venido a redimir a su pueblo. Nos ha levantado un poderoso Salvador en la casa de David, su siervo».

~ Lucas 1:67-69 (RVC)

Miremos de cerca lo que Zacarías le dice a Juan, su hijo recién nacido. Hablando por el Espíritu Santo, dice: "Bendito sea el Señor, Dios de Israel, porque ha venido a redimir a su pueblo...". ¿Cómo, que ha venido? ¿Por qué está hablando en tiempo pasado?

Sólo puedo pensar en una razón: Zacarías está usando el tiempo pasado porque ya está hecho. Jesús ha venido a su pueblo: su madre María está embarazada con él. ¿Dios ha venido a su pueblo? Entonces también lo ha redimido. ¿Ha provisto un Salvador de la casa de David? Sin lugar a duda, aun cuando ese Niño no llegará a la cruz por más de 30 años. Ya está hecho. Jesús, nuestro Salvador, está con nosotros ahora y siempre. Como dice el escritor de Hebreos: "... puede salvar para siempre a los que por medio de él se acercan a Dios, ya que vive siempre para interceder por ellos" (Hebreos 7:25).

Hay veces en que sólo vemos las cosas pendientes, los problemas y los pecados que nos molestan. La meta final, cuando estaremos con Jesús para siempre, parece estar muy lejos. Pero Dios no lo ve así. Como explica Pablo: "Porque a los que [Dios] antes conoció, también los predestinó para que sean hechos conforme a la imagen de su Hijo, para que él sea el primogénito entre muchos hermanos. Y a los que predestinó, también los llamó; y a los que llamó, también los justificó; y a los que justificó, también los glorificó" (Romanos 8:29-30). Nuestra justificación y salvación ya están hechas en Jesús.

ORACIÓN: Señor, ayúdame a confiar en ti con todo mi corazón, porque sé que mi salvación está completa en ti. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:

• ¿Con qué garantías cuentas en tu vida? ¿Cuáles te hacen sentir más seguro y por qué?

• ¿Cuál de las promesas de Dios es tu favorita y por qué?

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Con qué garantías cuentas en tu vida?

Nuestro Pan Diario - El grandioso despertar

El grandioso despertar

Leer: Deuteronomio 34:1-8 | La Biblia en un año: Abdías Apocalipsis 9

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… traerá Dios con Jesús a los que durmieron en él (1 Tesalonicenses 4:14).

Recuerdo con mucho cariño las reuniones con amigos de la familia cuando nuestros hijos eran pequeños. Los adultos conversaban hasta entrada la noche, mientras que los niños, cansados de jugar, se acurrucaban en un sofá o una silla y se dormían.

Cuando era hora de irnos, los tomaba en mis brazos, los llevaba al auto, los acostaba en el asiento trasero, y nos íbamos a casa. Cuando llegábamos, los volvía a levantar, los ponía en la cama y los tapaba, les daba un beso y apagaba la luz. Por la mañana, al despertarse… estaban en casa.

Para mí, esta experiencia se ha convertido en una hermosa metáfora de la noche en la que dormiremos en Cristo (1 Tesalonicenses 4:14). Nos dormimos… y despertamos en nuestra casa celestial; el hogar que sanará todas las angustias que marcaron nuestros días en este mundo.

Hace unos días, me encontré con un texto que me sorprendió; un comentario de cierre en Deuteronomio 34:5: «murió allí Moisés […], conforme al dicho del Señor». El texto hebreo significa literalmente: con la boca del Señor; frase que los antiguos rabinos traducían: «Con el beso del Señor».

¿Está mal imaginar a Dios inclinándose sobre nosotros la última noche de nuestra vida, arropándonos y dándonos el beso de las buenas noches? Y luego, despertar con Él «en casa».

Señor, en tus brazos, podemos dormir en paz.

«La muerte no es más que darnos vuelta del tiempo a la eternidad». William Penn

Por David H. Roper

© 2018 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
¿Está mal imaginar a Dios inclinándose sobre nosotros la última noche de nuestra vida, arropándonos y dándonos el beso de las buenas noches?