The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, January 16, 2019

The Light of the Body
Luke 11:33-36

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, January 16, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 106:1-12

A Confession of Israel’s Sins
1  Praise the Lord!
     O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
     for his steadfast love endures forever.
2  Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord,
     or declare all his praise?
3  Happy are those who observe justice,
     who do righteousness at all times.

4  Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people;
     help me when you deliver them;
5  that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
     that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
     that I may glory in your heritage.

6  Both we and our ancestors have sinned;
     we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.
7  Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt,
     did not consider your wonderful works;
   they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,
     but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.
8  Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
     so that he might make known his mighty power.
9  He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry;
     he led them through the deep as through a desert.
10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe,
     and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their adversaries;
     not one of them was left.
12 Then they believed his words;
     they sang his praise.

Numbers 27:1-11

The Daughters of Zelophehad
27:1 Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward. Zelophehad was son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh son of Joseph, a member of the Manassite clans. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and they said, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin; and he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.”

5 Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 7 The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying; you shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father’s brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them. 8 You shall also say to the Israelites, “If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall pass his inheritance on to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. It shall be for the Israelites a statute and ordinance, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Luke 11:33-36

The Light of the Body
11:33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”

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
If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness.

The Morning Prayer for WEDNESDAY, January 16, 2019

Wednesday morning prayer

Lord on this day of the week I recall the strength of the Trinity in my life. Thank you for the strands that hold me safe in the Father, that bring redemption and grace in the Son, and freedom and hope through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for this cord of strength. May I celebrate with the Three that encircle my life! And this day may I give out the love of the Father, the grace of the Son and the freedom of the Holy Spirit in all I do. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, January 16, 2019

Galatians 5:16 (NIV) So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Read all of Galatians 5

Listen to Galatians 5

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

Un dia a la Vez - Vive tu vida… ¡y no critiques!

Vive tu vida… ¡y no critiques!

No juzguen, y no se les juzgará [...] Perdonen, y se les perdonará.

~ Lucas 6:37 (NVI)

¿Has escuchado ese refrán que dice que «con la medida que midan a otros, se les medirá a ustedes»? Pues no es un dicho, sino una recomendación que encontramos en la Biblia (véase Mateo 7:1).

Si eres de los que te la pasas criticando a tu compañero de trabajo, juzgas todo lo que hace tu pareja, vives lleno de rencor y lo que menos piensas es en perdonar a los que te han ofendido, así sea a tus padres o a tus hijos, déjame decirte que estás muy lejos de agradar y tener complacido a Dios.

En su Palabra, Dios nos enseña exactamente lo contrario. Nos orienta que no debemos juzgar para que nadie nos juzgue a nosotros. Nos instruye que debemos perdonar hasta setenta veces siete… ¿Te imaginas?

¿Por qué no hacemos hoy este ejercicio? Hagamos una pequeña evaluación de cómo está nuestra vida en estas dos esferas: la crítica y la falta de perdón. Aunque no parecen muy importantes en el diario vivir, sí tienen un gran efecto en el ámbito espiritual.

Piensa en que si no cambias esa actitud, todo el mundo juzgará tus acciones. Serás el centro permanente de burla y de chimes. Te expondrás en todo lo que haces. Por otro lado, si no le pides a Dios que te ayude a tomar la decisión de perdonar, el día que falles, el día que te equivoques, no te van a perdonar. Recuerda que todo lo que sembramos eso mismo cosechamos. Si Dios que es Dios no nos critica y nos perdona sin merecerlo, ¿por qué no hacemos hoy ese pacto de cambiar?

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Has escuchado ese refrán que dice que «con la medida que midan a otros, se les medirá a ustedes»?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - NEVER FAILS TO BEAR FRUIT

NEVER FAILS TO BEAR FRUIT 

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream…and never fails to bear fruit.”

~ Jeremiah 17:7-8d (NIV)

Trees were not plentiful in Israel and most grew by sources of water like an oasis or a stream. Jeremiah’s simile indicates a person with confidence in the Lord is like a deep-rooted tree by the stream that bears fruit faithfully year after year in all kinds of weather.

The most remarkable report I’ve heard from China is about a Christian lady in prison during the “anti-spiritual pollution campaign” in the mid-eighties. She spent her time in prison hand carving scripture verses in miniature lettering with a sharpened end of a toothbrush on the walls and even on the frame of the cot in her cell. Years later she actually met another person who subsequently spent time in the same cell and came to Christ through reading those verses over and over.

One year when visiting Christians in the north of China, I asked the whereabouts of Aunty Mei Bo. This short octogenarian medical doctor, I was told, was away on a missions outreach in spiritually needy Tibet. The next summer she was home and very anxious to hear of our group experience in Tibet—the rooftop of the world—since she was planning another mission trip there soon. She concluded, “Jesus is saying, ‘Hurry up and get the job done so I can come back again!’”

Aunty Mei Bo often stored Bibles from foreign couriers in her home where she lived alone. One day the Public Security Police raided her home and confiscated all the Christian materials they found. Later in the day she found a JESUS video they had missed. So off to the police station she headed with the video.

The young lady at the desk looked askance in her direction. “I want to talk to the Chief of Police!” Mei Bo demanded firmly. “Today his men were at my house and they did not see this,” she said waving the video tape in the air. The receptionist ushered Mei Bo into the police chief’s office. He acted oblivious to her arrival yet grunted a question of intent.

“Sir,” Mei Bo began slowly. “Earlier today your men raided my house and took all the Bibles I had stored there. I understand that they were just doing their job. But after they left, I noticed that they missed this video tape. I need to know from you if this is acceptable material or not. Would you and your staff check it for me?”

“Very well, come back in two weeks,” he muttered dismissing her with a wave of the hand. Mei Bo almost skipped out the door with overflowing joy as she headed toward home. “Thank you Lord! How else could I get the Beijing chief of police with his staff to watch the JESUS video?”

Aunty Mei Bo led many to the Lord all through her long life and spent her time in discipling them. She never failed to bear fruit.

RESPONSE: I want to be a tree that bears fruit without fail, regardless of age and weather conditions.

PRAYER: Lord, may my deep rootedness in You cause me to never fail to produce lasting fruit.

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 - When Doors Don’t Open

When Doors Don’t Open

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5, NIV)

Friend to Friend

The morning had been hectic and they were running late because the baby needed a last minute diaper change. Tara needed to get all three kiddos loaded up and to the car pool location quickly, but for some strange reason the back doors of her van would not open. She tried her clicker. She tried the key. She tried jiggling the lock.

Anxiousness started to well up in her heart.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” She grumbled loudly while trying to open the back doors of her minivan. “This is NOT what I need right now!”

The kids began to sense the tension and take on the stress for their own.

“What’s wrong, mommy?”

“The back doors aren’t opening and we’re gonna be late! That’s what’s wrong!”

Pressed for time and strongly annoyed, Tara told the kids to get in through the front door and had them crawl back to settle into their car seats. As she started the car she was aware of her agitation and didn’t like it.

Taking a deep breath, Tara began to recognize the stress for what it was. She remembered the Bible verse that is written on the chalkboard in their kitchen. Spoken from the lips of Jesus Himself, the words flooded her heart… 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Yes. They were having trouble getting a few doors open, but it was nothing that Jesus couldn’t help her handle. Calmed and cooled by the red-lettered love, Tara made an empowered decision … and a very cool minivan ministry moment followed that went something like this:

“Okay, guys! Here we go!” Tara began. “That was a bit stressful and I’m sorry for raising my voice. I’m not sure why the doors didn’t open, but we aren’t going to let it mess up our day. We can choose to let this situation get the best of us, or we can get the best of the situation by asking God to bring peace to our anxiousness. Remember the verse on the kitchen chalkboard? Jesus said that in this world we’re going to have trouble. Sometimes doors don’t open, but He’ll help us! Jesus told us to “take heart” because He has overcome the world.”

Then, from the back of the van her eight-year-old theologian son piped up and joined the sacred conversation.

“Yeah! And Jesus said that He'll never leave us or forsake us. God is always with us, mom!”

From. The. Lips. Of. A. Child.

God is always with us.

What’d begun as a chaotic and stressful drive to school became a celebration of the presence of God. It was a devotion-on-wheels that began with a door that wouldn't open. A beautiful memory that started with stress, but was changed by the grace of Jesus, our Overcomer.

Sometimes doors don't open for us.

We don’t always get the position we want, the response we want, the admiration we want, or the health we want. But with every closed door comes an opportunity of response. When Tara invited God into her frustration and opened her heart to His presence the tension transitioned to peace.

The same is true for you and me when we invite Him into our frustrations. God’s presence releases pressure and brings peace.

A few minutes after the “stuck door debacle” they arrived at the carpool line to pick up the other children. Tara figured she’d try again. She pressed the button to unlock the back doors, and this time they opened with no resistance.

A smile spread across her face as this thought danced in Tara’s mind. If the back doors had opened a few moments earlier, we would've lost the opportunity to celebrate God’s peace and our time of sacred conversation would never have happened. 

With that in mind she thanked God for the doors that didn’t open as she drove the kids to school.

I don’t always respond perfectly in stressful situations. And Tara readily admits that she doesn't either. But when we choose to turn our frustrations and disappointments over to God He gives us the grace we need to experience His peace in the midst of pressure.

Let’s Pray

Lord, Thank You for reminding me that You are dependable, available, and willing to help at all times. Please guide me toward Your grace when I grumble. Teach me to turn to You when I’m stressed so that others would see Your joy and peace in me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Psalm 37. What verses in the chapter resonate with your heart today? What doors are not opening in your life that have you frustrated? Grab your journal and a pen and write a prayer of response. Not a journal girl? No worries. Swing over to my blog or hit me with a direct message on Instagram and tell me about it!

More from the Girlfriends

Have you listened to the GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith podcast yet? Season 2 is now underway and it is a party you don’t want to miss! Hang out with Gwen and friends when you go on walks, exercise, run errands or travel. Podcasts are also perfect to listen to as you do household chores! (Laundry anyone?) Each GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith podcast episode is filled with fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations that will help you know and trust God more.

These discussions are going to encourage you in meaningful ways to live out and lean on the GRACE of Jesus in the midst of cluttered, messy days. CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes, or visit GwenSmith.net/Graceologie for more information.

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 morning had been hectic and they were running late because the baby needed a last minute diaper change. Tara needed to get all three kiddos loaded up and to the car pool location quickly, but for some strange reason the back doors of her van would not open.

LHM Daily Devotions - At War with the World

"At War with the World"

Jan. 16, 2019

You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.

~ 1 Corinthians 12:2 (ESV)

"Pagan" is an interesting word. It conjures up all sorts of things like five-pointed stars and religious ecstasy, hedonism and idolatry. One might think of a black-robed coven of witches practicing some secretive ritual deep in the woods. Perhaps Wicca, animism, or even Satanism come to mind.

In the apostle Paul's day, a pagan was a Gentile who was neither Christian nor Jew, and who followed one of the polytheistic or mystery religions in vogue during the first century, whether it was in Greece or Palestine. Greek pagan cults were well known for their prodigious idols and the magnificent temples that housed their gods. For sure, Paul had his work cut out for him in the wealthy and cosmopolitan metropolis of Corinth where paganism was in full swing.

Though paganism of the ancient Greek magnitude isn't the norm in North America, I wonder what the apostle would have to say about our current state of affairs. With all our high-tech sophistication, gadgetry, and amusements, we, like those who lived in a world of 10,000 gods, are tantalized on all sides -- often numbed to the things of the true God, saturated with the world and the self it so ably reinforces.

Paul himself was similarly preoccupied with worldly things at one time. He writes in Philippians 3:5-6 -- "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as, to zeal, persecutor of the church; as, to righteousness under the Law, blameless" These are some exceptional credentials. Life is good, he must've thought. All my ducks are in a row, he mused, secretly adoring self and the "righteous" career path he was on.

Thanks be to God, those soul-deceiving burdens were stripped off his back, cast to the dung heap like so many idols.

He continues in Philippians 3:7-11. "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith -- that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

Lord, preserve us from the things that divert our attention from You -- in whatever form they may come.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, without the light of Your Son we are destined to follow one "idol" after another. Draw us to You by the power of the Holy Spirit and secure our hearts for Jesus. In His Name we pray. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"Pagan" is an interesting word. It conjures up all sorts of things like five-pointed stars and religious ecstasy, hedonism and idolatry. One might think of a black-robed coven of witches practicing some secretive ritual deep in the woods. Perhaps Wicca, animism, or even Satanism come to mind.

Devocional del CPTLN de 16 de Enero de 2019 - En guerra con el mundo

ALIMENTO DIARIO

En guerra con el mundo

16 de Enero de 2019

Ustedes saben que, cuando no eran creyentes, eran arrastrados hacia los ídolos mudos.

~ 1 Corintios 12:2 (RVC)

La palabra que Pablo usa en el original para "no creyentes" es "paganos", un término muy interesante que evoca todo tipo de cosas, como estrellas de cinco puntas y éxtasis religioso, hedonismo e idolatría. Uno podría pensar en un grupo de brujas con túnicas negras que practican algún ritual secreto en lo profundo del bosque. Las prácticas de animismo o incluso satanismo vienen a la mente.

En los días del apóstol Pablo, un pagano era un gentil que no era ni cristiano ni judío, y que seguía una de las religiones politeístas o misteriosas en boga en el primer siglo, ya fuera en Grecia o Palestina. Los cultos paganos griegos eran bien conocidos por sus prodigiosos ídolos y los magníficos templos que albergaban a sus dioses. Sin duda, Pablo tenía una gran tarea por delante en la rica y cosmopolita metrópolis de Corinto, donde el paganismo estaba en pleno apogeo.

Aunque la magnitud del paganismo griego antiguo no es la norma en los Estados Unidos, me pregunto qué tendría que decir el apóstol sobre el estado actual de nuestras cosas. Con toda nuestra sofisticación de alta tecnología, artilugios y diversiones, nosotros, como aquellos que vivieron en un mundo de 10.000 dioses, estamos siendo tentados por todos lados, a menudo insensibles a las cosas de Dios, saturados con el mundo y la egolatría que tan hábilmente destaca y reafirma.

De manera similar, en un momento el mismo Pablo estuvo preocupado con las cosas mundanas: "fui circuncidado al octavo día, y soy del linaje de Israel, de la tribu de Benjamín; soy hebreo de hebreos y, en cuanto a la ley, fariseo; en cuanto a celo, perseguidor de la iglesia; en cuanto a la justicia que se basa en la ley, irreprensible" (Filipenses 3:5-6). Estas son credenciales excepcionales. La vida es Buena, debe haber pensado. Tengo todo en orden, debe haber reflexionado secretamente, adorándose a sí mismo y a la profesión "justa" a la que se dedicaba.

Pero gracias a Dios, esas cargas que engañan al alma fueron quitadas de su espalda y arrojadas al basurero como tantos otros ídolos.

"Pero todo lo que para mí era ganancia, lo he estimado como pérdida, por amor de Cristo. Y a decir verdad, incluso estimo todo como pérdida por la excelencia del conocimiento de Cristo Jesús, mi Señor. Por su amor lo he perdido todo, y lo veo como basura, para ganar a Cristo y ser hallado en él, no por tener mi propia justicia, que viene por la ley, sino por tener la justicia que es de Dios y que viene por la fe, la fe en Cristo; a fin de conocer a Cristo y el poder de su resurrección, y de participar de sus padecimientos, para llegar a ser semejante a él en su muerte, si es que de alguna manera llego a la resurrección de entre los muertos" (Filipenses 3:7-11).

Señor, presérvanos de las cosas que desvían nuestra atención de ti, en cualquier forma que se nos presenten.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, sin la luz de tu Hijo estamos destinados a seguir a un "ídolo" tras otro. Acércanos a ti por el poder del Espíritu Santo y afirma nuestros corazones en Jesús. En su nombre oramos. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
La palabra que Pablo usa en el original para "no creyentes" es "paganos", un término muy interesante que evoca todo tipo de cosas, como estrellas de cinco puntas y éxtasis religioso, hedonismo e idolatría.

Ministérios Pão Diário - O vale da bênção

O vale da bênção

Leia: 2 Crônicas 20:1,13-22
 | A Bíblia em um ano: Gênesis 39–40; Mateus 11

Baixe a versão MP3

Se algum mal nos sobrevier, […] clamaremos a ti na nossa angústia, e tu nos ouvirás… v.9


O artista francês Henri Matisse sentiu que o trabalho de seus últimos anos de vida o representava melhor. Naquele tempo, ele experimentou um novo estilo, criando imagens coloridas e grandes, com papel em vez de tinta. Ele decorou as paredes de seu quarto com essas imagens brilhantes. Para ele, isso foi importante, pois fora diagnosticado com câncer e, frequentemente, estava confinado à sua cama.

Adoecer, perder o emprego ou sofrer desgosto são exemplos do que alguns chamam “estar no vale”, onde o temor ofusca todo o restante. O povo de Judá vivenciou isso ao saber que um exército invasor se aproximava (2 Crônicas 20:2-3.). Seu rei orou: “Se algum mal nos sobrevier, […] clamaremos a ti na nossa angústia, e tu nos ouvirás…” (v.9). Deus respondeu: “…amanhã, saí-lhes ao encontro, porque o Senhor é convosco” (v.17).

Quando o exército de Judá chegou ao campo de batalha, seus inimigos já haviam destruído um ao outro. O povo de Deus passou três dias recolhendo os equipamentos, roupas e objetos de valor abandonados. Antes de saírem, eles se reuniram para louvar a Deus e chamaram ao lugar “vale de Beraca”, que significa “bênção”.

Deus caminha ao nosso lado quando atravessamos os vales mais profundos de nossa vida. E Ele pode nos fazer descobrir bênçãos nesses vales.

Deus é mestre em transformar 
fardos em bênçãos.

por Jennifer Benson Schuldt

© 2019 Ministérios Pão Diário
O artista francês Henri Matisse sentiu que o trabalho de seus últimos anos de vida o representava melhor. Naquele tempo, ele experimentou um novo estilo, criando imagens coloridas e grandes, com papel em vez de tinta.