The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, March 1, 2019

The Coming of the Lord
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, March 1, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15

Thanksgiving for Vindication
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.
1  It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
     to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2  to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
     and your faithfulness by night,
3  to the music of the lute and the harp,
     to the melody of the lyre.
4  For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
     at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
     and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
     they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 In old age they still produce fruit;
     they are always green and full of sap,
15 showing that the Lord is upright;
     he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Proverbs 15:1-9

1  A soft answer turns away wrath,
     but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2  The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,
     but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3  The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
     keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4  A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
     but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5  A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
     but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.
6  In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
     but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7  The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
     not so the minds of fools.
8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
     but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9  The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
     but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Coming of the Lord
4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

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
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, March 1, 2019

Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV) Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Read all of Psalm 73

Listen to Psalm 73

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 - Dios no te ha abandonado

Dios no te ha abandonado

El Señor omnipotente enjugará las lágrimas de todo rostro, y quitará de toda la tierra el oprobio de su pueblo. El Señor mismo lo ha dicho.

~ Isaías 25:8 (NVI)

A pesar de lo que hacemos en nuestra manera de vivir, vemos la mano de Dios.

Naigir, un hombre de bien y buena familia, es otro amigo que tuve la oportunidad de conocer. Un día, por ambición, acepta hacer uno de esos trabajitos por dinero. Sin pensarlo dos veces, se lanza y lo sorprenden. Lo que una vez le dijera un aparente amigo: «Tranquilo, todo está fríamente calculado», se convirtió en la pesadilla de su vida. Cae preso y sin ningún familiar en Estados Unidos. Lo que era una gran ambición quizá por ganarse unos cuantos verdes, se volvió en la más horrible de las tragedias.

Al igual que Víctor, conoce de Dios en ese lugar y empieza el cambio en su vida. Su testimonio llega a mis manos con una desgarradora carta, donde me pide que llame a su hijita por la radio el día del cumpleaños. Además, me pide que no le dijera a su hija dónde estaba.

Llegó el día e hicimos la llamada en mi programa radial «Buenos Días Familia». Cuando esa nena de solo ocho años de edad pasa al teléfono, escucha que es una sorpresa de su papá que dejó de ver de un día para otro hace cuatro años. Entonces se quebrantó y lloró de tal manera que todos en cabina quedamos en silencio.

¿Por qué llegar hasta el extremo de Naigir? Porque no nos conformamos con creerle a Dios. Dejemos que sea Dios el que nos provea todo lo que necesitamos. No vale la pena poner en riesgo nuestros hijos y nuestra felicidad. Recordemos que aunque Dios nos perdona, todo lo que hacemos mal tiene sus consecuencias.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
A pesar de lo que hacemos en nuestra manera de vivir, vemos la mano de Dios.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - ABC’S OF VICTORY

ABC’S OF VICTORY

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

~ Psalm 37:5-6 (NIV)

A lthough things are not perfect B ecause of trial or pain C ontinue in thanksgiving. D o not begin to blame, E ven when the times are hard. F ierce winds are bound to blow. G od is forever able. H old on to what you know; I magine life without His love, J oy would cease to be. K eep thanking Him for all the things L ove imparts to thee. M ove out of "Camp Complaining." N o weapon that is known, O n earth can yield the power P raise can do alone. Q uit looking at the future; R edeem the time at hand; S tart every day with worship. T o "thank" is a command U ntil we see Him coming V ictorious in the sky. W e'll run the race with gratitude; X alting God most high. Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but... 

Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad![1]

RESPONSE: I am too blessed to be stressed!

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the encouragement I receive from following Your ways.

1. Author unknown.

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

Men of the Bible - Moses

Moses

His name Is Associated with the Phrase "To Give Birth"

His work: To lead God's people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
His character: Moses enjoyed a depth of relationship with God that set him apart from every other figure in the Old Testament and enabled him to intercede powerfully on behalf of his people. Though a reluctant prophet, he obeyed God as he led the Israelites out of Egypt. Through him God communicated his plan to forge a people unique in history, a people who belonged to him.
His sorrow: To have been burdened with the leadership of a "stiff-necked" people whose failure to believe and obey God resulted in delaying their entrance into the Promised Land while they wandered for forty years in the desert wilderness. Moses died before entering the Promised Land.
His triumph: On numerous occasions Moses encountered both the power and the love of God to such a degree that his face shone. Unlike other men, Moses spoke with God directly, face to face.
Key Scriptures: Exodus 1-20; Numbers 13-14

A Look at the Man

When Moses witnessed how God had demolished the enemies of his people, he must have been filled with the knowledge of the greatness of God, utterly convinced that no one and nothing was beyond the reach of the Lord's power. That day Moses may have thought the worst was over in his struggle to lead the Israelites to freedom and into the land of promise. He couldn't have known how hard it would be to lead them across the Sinai Peninsula and into Canaan, a journey that would take not months but years.

For though God had freed the people, they were still in bondage—not to any military power but to their own way of looking at the world, to their stubbornness, and to their fear of taking the risks that inevitably accompany a life of faith.

When Moses appointed a contingent of leaders, one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, to conduct a reconnaissance mission in Canaan, all but two (Joshua and Caleb) came back with a bad report: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! But the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large. The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

The spies' report incited the people to rebellion, and they grumbled and complained, saying: "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"

Because the Israelites entertained an evil vision of God's intentions toward them, making it impossible for them to obey him, he punished them by making them wander in the desert until the last of their generation (except for Joshua and Caleb) had died off. The Israelites who had left Egypt as slaves were not yet ready for the full freedom God intended for them.

But though Moses was frustrated by their response, he did not abandon his people. He did not shrug off the burden of leadership God had given him. Instead, he led them, taught them God's commandments, judged their disputes, prayed for them, and stayed with them until a new generation had grown up that was no longer burdened by a slave's mentality. And God loved Moses and praised him for his faithfulness and strengthened him with everything he needed to stay faithful throughout his long ordeal.

Reflect On: Exodus 32:30–32
Praise God: For his mercy.
Offer Thanks: That God hears our prayers on behalf of others.
Confess: Any failure to regularly intercede for the needs of others.
Ask God: To bring people to mind for whom he wants you to pray regularly.

Today's reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book's title must be included when sharing the above content on social media.
When Moses witnessed how God had demolished the enemies of his people, he must have been filled with the knowledge of the greatness of God, utterly convinced that no one and nothing was beyond the reach of the Lord's power.

Girlfriends in God - Come to Me

Come to Me

Wendy Speake

Today’s Truth

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

~ Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

Since the start of the new year, three words have been ringing in my ears: “Come to Me.” Matthew 11:28 has been hidden in my heart for as long as I can remember, but recently I’ve heard the Lord speak this intimate invitation to me personally, in light of all the things I tend to run to, turn to, “come” to.

“Come to Me.”

As I turn to comfort food: “Come to Me, I’m the Great Comforter.”
As I turn on my computer; “Come to Me, I want to connect with you.”
As I head into Target for a little retail therapy, “Come to Me, let me be your Counselor.”
As I make a phone call to talk through my stress with a friend; “Come to Me… Call on Me!”
As I turn into Starbucks for something sweet; “Come to Me, my words are sweet as honey.”
As I scroll through Facebook; “Don’t follow them, follow Me. Come to Me.”
As I open up Amazon Prime; “Come to Me, I’m free and I’ll set you free!”
As I binge watch another late-night TV show; “Come. To. Me.”

“Come to Me.”

There are so many things that I mindlessly “come to” each day — so many things that I eat, read, watch, buy, consume… But God is speaking clearly to me: “Come to me, consume Me, and let me consume you.”

Are you weary and heavy laden? Experiencing a void that social media, food, and shopping simply can’t fill? Take the weight of it all to the Lord. If you’re worn out, exhausted, running to all the false gods this world has to offer… take it all to Him. He has the shoulders to carry your burdens. The One who shouldered the cross, can shoulder your pain. It’s what He does. Amazon Prime can’t do it. Facebook can’t do it. Brownies can’t do it for you either. It’s not their job. It’s God’s job.

“Come to Me.”

He is able to carry your hurting relationships square on His shoulders. He can handle your fears and your failures. He can carry your sin-struggles and your shame. He alone can carry the weight of it all, all the way up Calvary’s hill. And at the foot of the cross, He can lay it down on your behalf. In exchange for those heavy burdens, He offers His light yoke. That’s what He gives us when we give it all to Him.

“Come. Come to Me. Bring it all to Me, and I will give you rest.”

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Your Word isn’t a far off and long-ago record of an old and distant God. You are speaking clearly today to my listening heart. “Come to Me” You’re inviting me now. Holy Spirit, give me Your in-dwelt courage to stop turning to social media, to stop turning to my phone, to stop turning to shopping and eating and friendship with this world… none of those things have ever been able to alleviate my stress of lift my burdens. Give me the constant, kind conviction to come to You, with all that concerns me today.
In Jesus’ heavy-lifting Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Sweet friends, where have you been taking your burdens? Whether it’s to the gym or the mall or online… consider today how temporary those things are. Only Christ is eternal, every other solution is fleeting at best.

More from the Girlfriends

If you tend to take everything that concerns you to your online friends, as a means to alleviate your daily burdens, consider joining Wendy Speake for her annual 40 Day Social Media Fast this Lenten season, March 6th – April 18th. A Social Media Sabbatical may be just what you need to help you turn to Him (“come” to Him) daily. Sign up now and receive a journal template, 40 scripture memory cards, and a decorate screen saver to encourage you during the 40 Day Social Media Fast.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

Since the start of the new year, three words have been ringing in my ears: “Come to Me.”

LHM Daily Devotions - What Am I Doing Here?

"What Am I Doing Here?"

Mar. 1, 2019

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

~ Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)

"What am I doing here?" It's a question every one of us has probably asked many times.

Sometimes the question is asked in relation to a specific situation. The question then may really be "What am I doing here at the bridge table when my cards are so bad that I'm not enjoying the game?" Or "What am I doing here at this party when I should be home with my wife and kids?"

At other times, the question "What am I doing here?" is a question being asked in reference to certain areas of life. At those times, the nature of the question is "What am I doing in this job ... in this marriage ... in this friendship, etc.?"

All of these questions are, of course, interrelated. For what I see to be the meaning and purpose of my life on earth will relate directly to how I feel about my job, my marriage, my friendships, and everything else in my life. And what I believe to be my reason for being in this world will also relate to why I am in certain places and certain situations, and how I feel about being there.

As a Christian, the question "What am I doing here?" is related in all its implications to my Christian faith. For it is my Christian faith which determines the meaning and purpose of my life. And it is my faith which determines for me the specifics of what I should be doing from day to day, and where I should be or should not be in the course of my daily living.

In Ephesians 5:1-20, St. Paul gives the Christian answer to the question "What am I doing here?" Study Ephesians 5:1-2 to discover what the apostle says is to be the meaning and purpose of the Christian's life on earth.

Now look at verses 3-20. What do these verses tell you about the life you should strive to live as a Christian? What do they say about the kind of character you should display—the kind of example you should set? Take a few minutes and ask yourself this very personal question: "How does the way I live my life compare to the words of Paul?"

Some attempt to reduce the Christian life down to a system of do's and don'ts, but Paul is talking about much more than that here. These words are given as a practical means by which Christians express the meaning and purpose of their lives as "imitators of God" who "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us."

What am I doing here? By God's grace and the power of His Holy Spirit, I'm living my life as a child of God.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy and purpose You have given us as Your children. Let the lives we lead point to Your Son, our Lord and Savior. In His Name we pray. Amen.

From The Lutheran Layman, November 1978 issue, "What Am I Doing Here?" by Ron Schlegel. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"What am I doing here?" It's a question every one of us has probably asked many times.

Devocional de la CPTLN del 01 de Marzo de 2019 - ¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí?

ALIMENTO DIARIO

¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí?

01 de Marzo de 2019

Por tanto, imiten a Dios, como hijos amados. Vivan en amor, como también Cristo nos amó y se entregó a sí mismo por nosotros, como ofrenda y sacrificio a Dios, de aroma fragante.

~ Efesios 5:1-2 (RVC)

¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí? Es una pregunta que todos alguna vez nos hemos hecho.

A veces nos lo preguntamos en relación con una situación específica, en cuyo caso lo que realmente estamos preguntando, es: "¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí en esta fiesta, cuando debería estar en casa con mi esposa y mis hijos?

Otras veces, nos lo preguntamos en referencia a ciertas áreas de la vida, como por ejemplo: "¿Qué estoy haciendo en este trabajo ... en esta relación ... en estos estudios, etc.?"

Todas estas preguntas están, por supuesto, interrelacionadas. Porque lo que crea ser el significado y propósito de mi vida en la tierra estará directamente relacionado con lo que siento por mi trabajo, mi matrimonio, mis amistades y todo lo demás en mi vida. Y lo que crea ser mi razón de estar en este mundo también se relacionará con los lugares y situaciones en que me encuentre.

Como cristiano, la pregunta "¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí?" está relacionada en todas sus implicaciones para mi fe cristiana. Porque mi fe cristiana es la que determina el significado, razón y propósito de mi vida. Y también es mi fe la que determina lo específico que debería estar haciendo cada día y dónde debería o no debería estar en el curso de mi vida diaria.

En Efesios 5:1-20, donde San Pablo da a los cristianos la respuesta a la pregunta "¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí?" En Efesios 5:1-2 descubrirás lo que el apóstol dice que es el significado y el propósito de la vida cristiana en la tierra.

Ahora mira Efesios 5:3-20. ¿Qué te dicen estos versículos acerca de lo que debe ser la vida del cristiano? ¿Qué dicen sobre el carácter que debes exhibir, el ejemplo que debes dar? Piensa en la siguiente pregunta: "¿Cómo se compara la forma en que vivo, con las palabras de Pablo?"

Hay quienes intentan reducir la vida cristiana a una lista de reglas, pero aquí Pablo está hablando de mucho más que eso. Estas palabras están dadas como un medio práctico por el cual los cristianos expresan el significado y propósito de sus vidas como "imitadores de Dios" que "caminan en amor, como Cristo nos amó y se entregó a sí mismo por nosotros".

¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí? Por la gracia de Dios y el poder de su Espíritu Santo, estoy viviendo como un hijo de Dios.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, gracias por la alegría y propósito que has dado a tus hijos. Ayúdanos para que nuestra vida muestre a tu Hijo, nuestro Señor y Salvador. En su Nombre. Amén.

Ron Schlegel

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué estoy haciendo aquí? Es una pregunta que todos alguna vez nos hemos hecho.

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Không So Sánh

Không So Sánh

Đọc: Giăng 21:17-25 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Dân số ký 23-25; Mác 7:14-37

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Tấm lòng bình tịnh là sự sống của thân xác, còn sự ghen ghét làm mục nát trong xương. Châm Ngôn 14:30 

“Một ngày nào đó, em sẽ đăng tất cả lên Facebook—chứ không chỉ những gì tốt đẹp!”

Đó là lời bình luận ngẫu hứng của Sue, bạn tôi trong lúc ăn trưa với chồng—câu nói đó làm tôi bật cười và cũng khiến tôi suy nghĩ. Mạng xã hội có thể là phương tiện tốt, giúp chúng ta giữ liên lạc và cầu nguyện cho bạn bè cách xa nhiều năm và ở xa hàng cây số. Nhưng nếu chúng ta không cẩn thận, mạng xã hội sẽ tạo ra cái nhìn không thực tế về cuộc sống. Khi hầu hết những gì chúng ta thấy là “thước phim lung linh” về “điều tốt đẹp”, chúng ta sẽ có suy nghĩ sai trật rằng cuộc sống người khác không có nan đề, rồi tự hỏi cuộc sống mình đã trở nên tồi tệ từ lúc nào.

Tự so sánh mình với người khác là điều chắc chắn sẽ khiến bạn không hạnh phúc. Khi các môn đồ so sánh mình với nhau (xem Lu. 9:46; 22:24), Chúa Jêsus đã nhanh chóng ngăn chặn điều đó. Sau khi phục sinh, Chúa Jêsus cho Phi-e-rơ biết rằng ông sẽ chịu đau đớn thế nào vì cớ đức tin của mình. Phi-e-rơ quay sang Giăng và hỏi: “Thưa Chúa, còn người nầy thì sao?” Chúa Jêsus đáp: “Nếu Ta muốn người ấy cứ ở lại cho tới lúc Ta đến thì can hệ gì đến con? Phần con, hãy theo Ta” (Gi. 21:21-22).

Chúa Jêsus chỉ cho Phi-e-rơ thấy phương cách tốt nhất để tránh sự so sánh gây hại. Khi tâm trí chúng ta tập chú vào Chúa và tất cả những gì Ngài đã làm cho mình, thì những ý tưởng tập chú vào bản thân sẽ biến mất và chúng ta sẽ mong muốn theo Ngài. Giữa sự tranh đấu căng thẳng và áp lực của thế gian này, Chúa ban cho chúng ta sự bình an và sự hiện diện đầy yêu thương của Ngài. Không gì có thể so sánh với Ngài.

Làm thế nào để bạn có thể sử dụng mạng xã hội theo cách tôn cao Chúa? Mối liên hệ thật sự với Chúa sẽ giúp bạn tránh khỏi việc so sánh thế nào?

Việc so sánh với người khác khiến chúng ta đánh mất niềm vui. Theodore Roosevelt

bởi James Banks

© 2019 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

“Một ngày nào đó, em sẽ đăng tất cả lên Facebook—chứ không chỉ những gì tốt đẹp!”

The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, February 28, 2019

Adam and Christ
Romans 5:12—6:2

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, February 28, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15

Thanksgiving for Vindication
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.
1  It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
     to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2  to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
     and your faithfulness by night,
3  to the music of the lute and the harp,
     to the melody of the lyre.
4  For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
     at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
     and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
     they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 In old age they still produce fruit;
     they are always green and full of sap,
15 showing that the Lord is upright;
     he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Proverbs 13:1-12

1  A wise child loves discipline,
     but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2  From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
     but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
3  Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
     those who open wide their lips come to ruin.
4  The appetite of the lazy craves, and gets nothing,
     while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.
5  The righteous hate falsehood,
     but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.
6  Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,
     but sin overthrows the wicked.
7  Some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing;
     others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
8  Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,
     but the poor get no threats.
9  The light of the righteous rejoices,
     but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 By insolence the heedless make strife,
     but wisdom is with those who take advice.
11 Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle,
     but those who gather little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
     but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Romans 5:12—6:2

Adam and Christ
5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dying and Rising with Christ
6:1 What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?

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
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, February 28, 2019

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Read all of 2 Timothy 1

Listen to 2 Timothy 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 - Dios me hizo libre

Dios me hizo libre

Y conocerán la verdad, y la verdad los hará libres.

~ Juan 8:32 (NVI)

Necesitamos conocer los pensamientos de Dios, así aprendemos muchas cosas.

Hace unos cuantos años, antes de entregar mi vida por completo a Jesús, sentía muchos vacíos y necesitaba la libertad de Dios. Cuando te hablo de libertad, me refiero a que mi mente estuvo cautiva por varios años con pensamientos tristes o con desánimos en algunas ocasiones.

Debido a que fui madre soltera casi toda mi vida, aprendí a ser independiente. Tanto fue así, que no contaba siquiera con Dios. De modo que tuve que experimentar muchas situaciones que me hicieron madurar, sobre todo en Cristo.

Durante mucho tiempo viví atada a mi pasado y a mis fracasos, y no le daba la oportunidad a Dios. Entonces, al fin comprendí un día que Él es el único que da la paz que nadie es capaz de dar desde el punto de vista humano. Empecé a experimentar que Él era el que me suplía para todas mis necesidades y, además, veía su fidelidad de una manera sorprendente. Así que decidí creerle. Decidí empezar a ver las promesas que hay en la Biblia para mi vida y fue cuando en verdad Dios me hizo libre.

Quedé libre de culpas, libre de soledad, libre de envidias, libre de celos y pude declarar que vivía absolutamente feliz sola con mis hijas.

Experiméntalo tú también y te sentirás libre hoy de toda amargura del pasado. Si estás solo con tus hijos o solo en este país, piensa que Dios está contigo en todo momento. Vive feliz con lo que tienes, con los que hasta ahora te ha tocado vivir. Deja de renegar y empieza a ser agradecido.

¡Se libre!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Necesitamos conocer los pensamientos de Dios, así aprendemos muchas cosas.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - SUFFERING BRINGS A GREATER HARVEST OF SOULS

SUFFERING BRINGS A GREATER HARVEST OF SOULS

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

~ Acts 8:1, 4 (NIV)

Again and again we see that in many countries, right before persecution comes, the church grows rapidly. This happened in northern Korea one hundred years ago just before the Japanese occupation and persecution.

It is helpful to remember this theme from the book of Acts: persecution does not necessarily cause church growth but church growth appears to cause persecution!

Church leaders among the many house church networks in China (the fastest growing church in the world) repeatedly share that suffering for Jesus often brings about a greater harvest of souls.

Sariman was a young student preparing himself to serve the Lord among the thirty million Sundanese of Indonesia, the largest unreached people group in the world. During a violent attack on the Bible school, Sariman was killed and many other students were wounded. Sariman bravely assisted his friends although he could have saved himself. Before his death he was tortured and other students testified how Sariman was slaughtered. He was hit with a bar of wood and iron, then hacked, stabbed and his mouth was cut from the left cheek to the right cheek.

Upon hearing yet another testimony of martyrdom, many questions arise. “Why this tragedy, Lord? How long will you allow this to continue? This is such a terrible loss for this wonderful ministry. What is the sense in all of this?”

Then the dean of the Bible school completes the testimony and indirectly answers our questions: “The victory in this tragedy is that only ten days after the murder of Sariman we had ten new applicants to study at the Bible school. Today, six months after the incident, we have ninety-eight new students who are willing to go where Sariman would have gone. The blood of the martyrs is indeed seed.”

Paul clearly warns the Church in Galatia (Galatians 5:1) to stand firm in the midst of freedom. Freedom is not a time to relax. Freedom often creates a new kind of slavery. There is a price tag attached to freedom and we need to count the cost. It is time to open our hearts to the valuable lessons that we can learn from those that follow Christ in restricted countries—even to their death.

RESPONSE: Today I will accept the biblical teaching and the many church growth examples that suffering often brings about a greater harvest of souls.

PRAYER: Lord, we pray today for Your fast-growing suffering churches around the world. May they be encouraged as they see many more souls added to Your kingdom.

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 - The Highly Effective Christian

The Highly Effective Christian

Luke 19:11–27
Recommended Reading: Exodus 4:10–12; Isaiah 6:8; Ezekiel 2:1–7; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31

In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey recommends the following mental exercise: Imagine that you’ve died and that four people representing different aspects of your life speak at your funeral: a relative, a fellow church member, a business colleague and someone else from your community. What would each one honestly say about your life?

While it’s not easy to imagine others testifying to the effectiveness of our lives in the context of a funeral, this exercise does provide some much needed perspective. There’s nothing like the end of a life to get others to consider the course of their days. Take a few minutes to seriously think about what these individuals might say about you to a gathered crowd.

Now take a few moments to imagine what Jesus would say about your Christian life to this point. What does he think about your faith? What does he think about your accomplishments for his kingdom? Would he describe you as someone growing closer to him each day?

Jesus told a story about three servants in order to illustrate that God expects each of us to be faithful with what he has given us. Of course, any number of fears might hinder us from using the gifts God gives us: fear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of God’s disapproval, to name a few biggies. Failure to invest represents the most serious potential shortfall of all. Only when we use our faith does it stand a chance of growing. If we don’t exercise it, it becomes stagnant and lifeless. Can you think of anyone whose faith looks like that?

Let’s look ahead ten years and repeat the mental exercise. If you spend the next ten years investing your faith and wholeheartedly using the gifts God gives you to serve him, what would a relative, a fellow church member, a business colleague and someone else from your community be likely to say at your funeral? What would Jesus say?

To Take Away

• What gifts and opportunities has God provided that you can use for him?
• Be honest with yourself. How have you done at living a life of faith in God?
• What aspects of your life have you been withholding from God? What steps can you take to invest these areas in faithful service to him?

What gifts and opportunities has God provided that you can use for him?

Girlfriends in God - What’s Up With That, God?

What’s Up With That, God?

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten you or betrayed your covenant.

~ Psalm 44:17 (CSB)

Friend to Friend

Not gonna lie, sometimes life gets really hard. At times our battles are an intense, invisible boxing match, and the enemy seems to not only make contact on every upper cut but also win every round. There are seasons when we feel defeated, wounded, abandoned, vulnerable, frustrated and forgotten. The psalmists felt this way sometimes too.

“You make us a joke among the nations,

a laughingstock among the peoples.

My disgrace is before me all day long,

and shame has covered my face,

because of the taunts of the scorner and reviler,

because of the enemy and avenger.

All this has happened to us,

but we have not forgotten you

or betrayed your covenant.

Our hearts have not turned back;

our steps have not strayed from your path.”

(Psalm 44:14-18, CSB)

The Sons of Korah wrote Psalm 44 from a hard place, to say the least. They’d gone round after round and felt beat up. They wanted to know why God was allowing their enemies to crush them in light of the fact that they were actually faithful and obedient to Him. Essentially shrugging their shoulders to heaven and saying, What’s up with that, God? We’re Your people - fully committed to You - aware of Your power and love, grateful for the ways You’ve knocked our enemies out in the past. C’mon, now! Can we get a little help down here?

Let’s be honest here, sometimes it can feel like God is sleeping. Snoozing off as we scream for help. It can seem like He’s casual about our suffering. As if He’s talking to someone more important at the boxing match, clueless as to the bruises that ache and the bleeding cuts that sting.

But just because it FEELS this way doesn’t make it true.

You know it. I know it. The psalmists knew it.

God is always faithful, always able to step in and stop the swinging and always loving… even if He chooses to allow the fight to go on.

Why though?

Why does He sometimes allow such brutal seasons?

Why does He allow His own children to go through hardship and experience loss?

I don't know for sure, but perhaps to grow our faith and deepen our awareness of how much we truly need Him.

I take heart, confident in this: when life hits hard and knocks me down, I’m better positioned for battle as my knees hit the ground.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, I’m grateful for Your unfailing love that stands fixed between me and every attack, wound and blow that comes my way. You know the secrets of my heart and the struggles that hit hard. You are the source of victory I’m desperate for. I’m exhausted from the battle, Lord. Please rise up in my defense, remember and renew me.
I ask this in the Name of Jesus… the Name that has full authority to push back every enemy and trample every foe.
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Colossians 4:2. What three directives did Paul give to the church?

What are a few ways you could implement these directives today to inform any areas of your heart that are discouraged? Grab your journal and write a prayer response, or tell me on Instagram or on the wall of my blog.

More from the Girlfriends

SPECIAL OFFER: If today’s message is where you are and you need more practical help, we have a resource called Trusting God. Gwen is offering a 20% OFF discount on the Trusting God book from her site when you use the coupon code: 20OFF. Click here to get yours now.

PSST! If you’re on Instagram, Gwen would love to connect with you! Follow here.

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

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Not gonna lie, sometimes life gets really hard. At times our battles are an intense, invisible boxing match, and the enemy seems to not only make contact on every upper cut but also win every round.

LHM Daily Devotions - Jesus Alone

"Jesus Alone"

Feb. 28, 2019

And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory ... And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

~ Luke 9:30-31a, 35-36a (ESV)

Did you have heroes when you were a child? I'm talking about people you looked up to—people whose posters you had on the wall, whom you dressed up as on Halloween. The closest I got to this was with the original Star Trek characters, especially Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. I watched the show, read fan fiction about them, and worked hard on perfecting my Vulcan hand greeting. And I was delighted when "Mr. Scott" came to visit our bookstore to sign autographs!

It was a little like that for Peter and James and John, the day they went up on the mountain and saw Jesus in all His glory. With Him were two Old Testament heroes, Moses and Elijah. Jesus' disciples had known about those heroes all their lives. Moses was the lawgiver, the great leader who followed God's Word and brought out the Israelites from slavery to a new, free land. Elijah was the prophet of the Lord, who called Israel back from their faithless idolatry through an unforgettable face-off with the worshippers of Baal. How awed Jesus' disciples must have been to see these men face to face!

But Moses and Elijah weren't paying attention to the starstruck three. They were far too busy talking with Jesus Himself, speaking about His death, which was about to happen in Jerusalem. And when their conversation was finished, they were about to go away, when Peter struck in. "I know!" he said. "Let's make some tents for all three of you. Then you can stay here with us. No need to go away!"

But that wasn't God's plan at all. A cloud covered the mountain, and the disciples were scared as they entered it. And then a voice came: "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" And when the cloud had passed, there was Jesus alone. The lesser stars were gone. The Son remained.

I don't think we're that different from Peter, James, and John. We too live in a world where various people compete for our attention—politicians, actors and musicians, internet "influencers," and even people who seem to be famous for nothing more than being famous. It is easy to get caught up in watching them, in paying attention to them, in listening to what they say.

But God says to us, "No. Jesus is My Son. Listen to Him." There is no other like Him; there is no one besides Him. He is the Savior who laid down His life to make us God's children. He is the Son of God who rose from the dead victorious—who will also raise us from the dead on the great day when He returns.

So, let us listen to Him.

THE PRAYER: Dear Father, keep my eyes on Your Son Jesus, my Savior. 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).
Did you have heroes when you were a child? I'm talking about people you looked up to—people whose posters you had on the wall, whom you dressed up as on Halloween.

Devocional de la CPTLN del 28 de Febrero de 2019 - Solo Jesús

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Solo Jesús

28 de Febrero de 2019

Aparecieron entonces dos hombres, y conversaban con él. Eran Moisés y Elías, que rodeados de gloria hablaban de la partida de Jesús... Entonces, desde la nube se oyó una voz que decía: «Éste es mi Hijo amado. ¡Escúchenlo!» Cuando la voz cesó, Jesús se encontraba solo.

~ Lucas 9:30-31a, 35-36a (RVC)

¿Recuerdas haber tenido héroes cuando eras niño? Me refiero a personas a quienes admirabas, de quienes tenías fotografías pegadas en la pared, como quienes te disfrazabas en Halloween. En mi caso, fueron los personajes de Star Trek, especialmente el Capitán Kirk y el Sr. Spock. Miré todos los programas, leí todas las historias sobre ellos y practiqué interminables horas para perfeccionar mi saludo de Vulcano. Y me quedé encantada cuando "Mr. Scott" vino a visitar nuestra librería y firmó autógrafos.

El día que Pedro, Santiago y Juan subieron a la montaña y vieron a Jesús en toda su gloria, fue un poco así: con él estaban Moisés y Elías, dos héroes del Antiguo Testamento. Los discípulos de Jesús habían conocido a esos héroes toda su vida. Moisés había sido el legislador, el gran líder que había seguido la Palabra de Dios y sacado a los israelitas de la esclavitud en Egipto a una tierra nueva y libre. Elías era el profeta del Señor que había llamado a Israel de su infiel idolatría a través de un enfrentamiento inolvidable con los adoradores de Baal. ¡Cuánto se habrán asombrado los discípulos de Jesús al ver a esos hombres cara a cara!

Pero Moisés y Elías no les estaban prestando atención. Estaban demasiado ocupados hablando con Jesús, hablando de su muerte, que estaba a punto de ocurrir en Jerusalén. Y cuando terminaron la conversación y estaban a punto de irse, fue cuando Peter dijo: "¡Ya lo sé! Vamos a armar unas carpas para ustedes tres, así se pueden quedar aquí con nosotros. ¡No hay necesidad de que se vayan!"

Pero ese no era en absoluto el plan de Dios. Una nube cubrió la montaña. Los discípulos se asustaron. Y luego se oyó una voz: "Éste es mi Hijo amado. ¡Escúchenlo!" Y cuando la nube pasó, Jesús estaba solo. Las estrellas menores se habían ido. El Hijo había permanecido.

No somos tan diferentes de Pedro, Santiago y Juan. Nosotros también vivimos en un mundo donde muchos compiten por nuestra atención: políticos, actores y músicos, los medios sociales e incluso personas que parecen ser famosas nada más que por ser famosas. Es fácil quedar atrapados observándolos, prestándoles atención, escuchando lo que dicen.

Pero Dios nos dice: "No. Jesús es mi hijo. Escúchenlo a él." No hay otro como él, ni nadie además de él. Él es el salvador que dio su vida para hacernos hijos de Dios. Él es el Hijo de Dios que resucitó de la muerte victorioso, quien también nos resucitará de la muerte en el gran día, cuando regrese. Escuchémoslo.

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre, ayúdame a mantener mi mirada en tu Hijo Jesús, mi salvador. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Recuerdas haber tenido héroes cuando eras niño? Me refiero a personas a quienes admirabas, de quienes tenías fotografías pegadas en la pared, como quienes te disfrazabas en Halloween.

Хлеб наш насущный - Отличная новость!

Отличная новость!

Читать сейчас: Псалом 50:3-9 | Библия за год: Числа 20-22; Марка 7:1-13

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Помилуй меня, Боже, по великой милости Твоей. — Псалом 50:3

Статья в местной газете была короткой, но светлой. После участия в программе по укреплению семейных отношений группе заключенных устроили открытую встречу с семьями. Некоторые не видели своих детей годами. Вместо того чтобы общаться через стеклянную панель, они могли обнять дорогих людей, подержать их за руки. Слезы текли из их глаз, раны на сердце начинали затягиваться.

Для большинства читателей это была просто статья. Но для семей, которые участвовали в программе, это было событие с большой буквы. Во многих из них начался процесс прощения и восстановления.

Прощение грехов и примирение с Богом стало возможным для нас благодаря Его Сыну. И это намного больше, чем просто часть христианского учения. Жертва Иисуса Христа – это удивительная и прекрасная новость не только для мира, но и лично для меня и вас.

Когда нас мучает вина за сделанное в прошлом, нужно всеми силами ухватиться за эту новость. Истина о бесконечной Божьей милости должна стать нашим личным сокровищем. Иисус умер за нас, и поэтому мы можем прийти к Отцу омытыми и чистыми, «белее снега» (Пс. 50:9). Понимая, что недостойны милости, мы можем прибегнуть к единственной надежде – Божьей великой милости и множеству Его щедрот (ст. 3).

Небесный Отец, я прошу прощения, что часто принимал Твою милость и любовь как должное. Благодарю Тебя за удивительный дар и привилегию, которых я не заслужил, но которые Ты даришь мне по благодати.

Прощение – не просто хорошая новость. Это изумительная и личная новость!

автор: Лесли Ко

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Статья в местной газете была короткой, но светлой. После участия в программе по укреплению семейных отношений группе заключенных устроили открытую встречу с семьями.