The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, January 17, 2019

Simon the sorcerer
Acts 8:18-24

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, January 17, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 36:5-10

5  Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
     your faithfulness to the clouds.
6  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
     your judgments are like the great deep;
     you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

7  How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
     All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8  They feast on the abundance of your house,
     and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9  For with you is the fountain of life;
     in your light we see light.

10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
     and your salvation to the upright of heart!

Jeremiah 3:1-5

Unfaithful Israel
1  If a man divorces his wife
     and she goes from him
   and becomes another man’s wife,
     will he return to her?
   Would not such a land be greatly polluted?
   You have played the whore with many lovers;
     and would you return to me?
   says the Lord.
2  Look up to the bare heights, and see!
     Where have you not been lain with?
   By the waysides you have sat waiting for lovers,
     like a nomad in the wilderness.
   You have polluted the land
     with your whoring and wickedness.
3  Therefore the showers have been withheld,
     and the spring rain has not come;
   yet you have the forehead of a whore,
     you refuse to be ashamed.
4  Have you not just now called to me,
     “My Father, you are the friend of my youth—
5  will he be angry forever,
     will he be indignant to the end?”
   This is how you have spoken,
     but you have done all the evil that you could.

Acts 8:18-24

8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” 24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”

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
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

The Morning Prayer for THURSDAY, January 17, 2019

Thursday Morning Prayer

Anthony was born in Egypt in the middle of the third century and lost his parents at a young age, inheriting a fair amount of land and wealth. Soon after, when he heard a gospel reading in church prompting him to “go sell what you possess and give to the poor,” he did just that, vowing to dedicate his life thereafter to God. Anthony lived for a time in his native home, pursuing prayerful asceticism. After fifteen years, at the age of thirty-five, he withdrew to the solitude of the desert and began his monastic life of prayer, study, and work. After many years of living in the desert, Anthony remained whole and healthy, and he radiated compassion and joy. He lived to the age of 105 and is remembered as the father of the church’s first monastic movement. 

Lord, we know that to live by the flesh is death, but to live by the Spirit is life. Still, you have redeemed the flesh of the world through your incarnation. Teach us how to be in the world but not of it.

Lord on this day I remember that You go before me, so I pause to meditate on Your promises. Thank You Lord that You go with me, You lay a pathway, You watch over me like a shepherd. So I give You my fears, worries and anxieties. I lay all tension and stress at the foot of the cross. Thank You that You arose from the death, and that You bring life, freedom, hope and the promise of Heaven! Praise You that I am safe in Your presence.

May Thursday be a hope filled day, that floods my fears with light, a day that quiets all anxious thoughts as I encounter Christ. Let Thursday always prompt my heart to stop and find Your peace, and live upon the truth You give my eyes to You I lift.

Amen

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, January 17, 2019

Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV) Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Read all of Philippians 2

Listen to Philippians 2

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 - Lo dulce para el alma

Lo dulce para el alma

El fruto del Espíritu es amor, alegría, paz, paciencia, amabilidad, bondad, fidelidad, humildad y dominio propio.

~ Gálatas 5:22-23 (NVI)

¿Cómo te sientes cuando estás rodeado de personas negativas? ¿Donde el amor brilla pero por su ausencia? Es feo verdad. Uno de mis propósitos cada nuevo día es no unirme a personas negativas. El de luchar y hacer hasta lo imposible para no dejar contaminar mi corazón ni mi mente de las palabras y actitudes que tienen ciertas personas que nos rodean en nuestro trabajo, en la calle y aun en la iglesia. Que desean robarte tu paz y felicidad.

Si decimos tener una relación con Dios, ¿por qué dejamos que de nuestra boca solo salgan palabras negativas? ¿Por qué nuestra capacidad de comprensión a los demás es cada vez menor y por qué dejamos que el «orgullo» sea la imagen de nuestra vida?

Cuando recibimos a Jesús como nuestro único y verdadero Salvador, Dios espera que nosotros a través de conocerle, leer su Palabra y congregarnos en una iglesia, empecemos a dar los frutos de su Espíritu. Así que mira lo alejados que podemos estar de esto con nuestra manera de ser. A veces, con la forma en que nos proyectamos a los demás, somos nosotros mismos los que alejamos a nuestros amigos y familiares de Dios, pues lo que hablamos no coincide con lo que somos.

Pidámosle a Dios que podamos ser buenos representantes suyos en la tierra.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Cómo te sientes cuando estás rodeado de personas negativas? ¿Donde el amor brilla pero por su ausencia?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH

THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH

“See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.

~ Deuteronomy 32:39 (NIV)

January 17 will remain a vivid memory in the mind of forty-six-year-old Ali Moses for a very long time. The almost fatal attack on Ali’s life in central Nigeria turned out to be a powerful testimony destined to touch many more lives.

On the afternoon of that day, Ali was heading home to his family after a long day’s work. He got paid that day and like many previous pay-days had something special planned for the family.

On his way home Ali heard gunshots. Panic made him turn around with an urgency to get back to his working place as quickly as possible. But before Ali could make it back there, he ran into a group of irate jihadists. The incited protesters were proclaiming the name of Allah in Arabic, shouting profane slogans, insulting the Christian governor of Jos and called on the killing of Christians as infidels.

Within seconds Ali found himself surrounded by the violent mob. Brutal blows were raining down on him. More than eighteen hours later, Ali woke up in the hospital. His swollen body was throbbing and covered with bruises. Open Doors representative, Isaac, went to visit Ali in the hospital shortly after the incident to bring encouragement and assistance and learned about his near death encounter with the Muslim radicals. Considering the course of events, it appears the assailants buried Ali alive while in a state of unconsciousness.

Ali refers to the person who came to his aid as the “Samaritan.”

On the morning following the incident, Ado was passing by what looked like a new grave. He noticed movement in the pile of sand and went closer to inspect. To his astonishment, he could tell from the motion that it was in fact a person. The man immediately called for help.

Military police dug Ali from the shallow grave and rushed him to the hospital. At first, the medical staff found it very hard to believe that he could still be alive after his eighteen-hour ordeal. But hearing Ali’s testimony gave skeptics food for thought. After spending some time in hospital he made a complete recovery.

“I am grateful to God Almighty for saving my life from the hole, it is a miracle. God rescued me in a special way…Now I believe that the power of life and death lies in no-one’s hand but the Lord’s. All thanks belong to Him,” shared Ali from his hospital bed.

RESPONSE: Today I will live victoriously in the realization that my life and my death are in the hands of my loving Lord.

PRAYER: Pray for many Christians in hot spots of the world—like central Nigeria—who face death and death threats on a regular basis. Pray they will have the same assurance as Ali about God’s power and protection.

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 - Life’s “Do-Overs”

Life’s “Do-Overs”

Joel 2:12–27
Recommended Reading: Psalm 32:1–11; Ezekiel 33:10–16; Acts 2:37–39

To kids on a playground, the concept of a “do-over” is well known. When they’re playing kickball and the ball gets stuck in a tree, or when they’re playing basketball and the ball sticks between the backboard and the rim, a chorus of “do over” spontaneously erupts. It’s an unspoken rule that every kid knows.

Sometimes as adults we wish we could resurrect the rule in our own lives. When we miss a bill payment, we long to be able to appeal to the utility company for a “do-over.” When we speak a thoughtless word that hurts another person, we wish for the same.

Through the prophet Joel God tells the Israelites they can have a “do-over.” If they’ll repent God will return what he has taken away in punishment. Apparently a plague of locusts has destroyed the nation’s crops, and God promises to give the people abundant harvests once again.

So how can we make the reality of the “do-over” active in our life once again? Truth be told, this concept usually doesn’t work in our adult lives and relationships without a good deal of work and humility on our part. We bear the consequences of our mistakes until regret grows and we ask for forgiveness. That’s when grace can intervene, and the person we’ve harmed can forgive. The same is true in our relationship with God. If we understand that sin has kept us from realizing our potential, we need to do the same as the Israelites: repent. In this case, we don’t really achieve the “do-over” ourselves; instead, we receive it from God. We simply turn to God with our confession.

Many men find confession especially difficult because it cuts at our dignity and self-worth. When we confess we admit our mistakes and failures. We assume that these admissions don’t make us look very good. However, God loves to see us confess and repent of our sin, because in doing so we show that we desire to turn to him. When we’re “man enough” to confess our wrongs, God can choose to pour out his blessings for the next phase of our lives.

To Take Away

• What areas of your life feel so damaged by sin that they require a fresh start?
• What do you hope your life will amount to? How does that mesh with God’s plan for your life?
• Do you trust God enough to confess your mistakes and failures to him? Why or why not? How can you gain this kind of trust in God?

To kids on a playground, the concept of a “do-over” is well known. When they’re playing kickball and the ball gets stuck in a tree, or when they’re playing basketball and the ball sticks between the backboard and the rim, a chorus of “do over” spontaneously erupts. It’s an unspoken rule that every kid knows.

Girlfriends in God - Use What Your Daddy Gave You

Use What Your Daddy Gave You

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

~ 2 Peter 3:14 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

Did you know that you’ve got what it takes to do all that God has prepared for you to do? The Bible says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3, emphasis added).

But that doesn’t mean we get to sit back on our haunches and do nothing. Peter wrote: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness . . .” (2 Pet. 1:5).

 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (2 Pet. 1:10).

“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (2 Peter 3:14)

Theologian Mark Buchanan said it well: “Those who do not make every effort are like the blind man whose sight is restored, but who never adjusts to that. He remains in his old ways, tapping his cane on the sidewalk, rattling his cup at the curb, reading by Braille, groping and shuffling, turning light into darkness, day into night.”

You have everything you need. You’ve got what it takes to do all that God has called you to do and to be. So now, make every effort to do so—to take advantage of who you are, what you have, and where you are in Christ.

Don’t waste time comparing yourself to anyone else. Sharpen your skills. Practice your trade. Exercise your gifts. Grab hold of the truth and be on your way.

God had given Moses everything he needed for the task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

• He orchestrated the Pharaoh’s daughter to walk by the Nile at the precise moment baby Moses cried out from the floating basket.
• He choreographed Miriam to witness the love-struck princess’ rescue.
• He made sure that Moses was raised in the Pharaoh’s household, learned the Egyptian culture, and mastered the Egyptian language.

This was the Holy Ghost prep school, and Moses was pre-enrolled before he was even born. But when he failed and bailed in Egypt, Moses left bits and pieces of his confidence strewn along the path as he fled into the desert. By the time he reached Midian, it was all gone. And he gave up.

Oh, friend, the devil would like nothing more than to steal your confidence so that you won’t make every effort. Jesus reminds us, “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10). There is no more perfect time for him to make his move than in a season of failure.

So remember, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3, emphasis added).  So now, it’s up to you to make every effort to use what your Daddy gave you!

Let’s Pray

Father, thank You for giving me everything I need to do what You’ve called me to do. Help me to use what You’ve given me for such a time as this. Keep me from complacency and prod me to action.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Matthew 25:14-18.

What did the master give to each servant?

What did each servant do with what the master gave him?

What did God say to the servant who hid is gold rather than invest it?

Which servant would you rather be?

How is God calling you to use the gifts He has given you?

More from the Girlfriends

Today’s devotion came from my latest, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For: Let Go, Move Forward, Live Bold. Let’s take hold of all that Jesus has already taken hold of for us and placed in us! Check it out at www.takeholdthebook.com where you can download a free chapter and watch a video book trailer. The book also comes with a Bible study guide. Make sure and check out the beautiful Lambano necklace (Take Hold in Greek) to wear as a reminder to take hold of all that Jesus has already taken hold of for you and placed in you!

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

Did you know that you’ve got what it takes to do all that God has prepared for you to do?

LHM Daily Devotions - Fixing Problems

"Fixing Problems"

Jan. 17, 2019

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with His disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."

~ John 2:1-5 (ESV)

I love the story of Jesus at the wedding in Cana. Mary mentions the wine problem to Jesus—why, exactly? Up to this point He has done no miracles (see John 2:11), so she's probably not expecting one. Did Jesus have a reputation for fixing difficult problems? She clearly has a lot of faith in Him.

Jesus reacts to His mother's hint with bemusement: "What does this have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."

That last sentence is a little cryptic, but it certainly carries a sense of "No." I'm sure Mary heard it, too. Nevertheless, she knows her Son well. So instead of arguing or instead of giving up, she merely turns to the servants and says, "Do whatever He tells you." And off she goes, leaving the problem in Jesus' hands.

That was a wise choice! Because just as Mary foresaw, Jesus gets to work on the problem—if not exactly the way that she imagined it. He does His first miracle. And He doesn't do it on His own, for example, by causing the wineskins to magically refill themselves. No, Jesus has a better idea.

He makes the servants a part of His miracle. "Fill the jars with water," He says, and they do so, up to the brim. They don't know why, of course. He said to do it, and that's good enough for them. Then He tells them to dip some out and take it to the master of the feast to drink. Now that must have been a bit scarier. What is the emcee going to do when he's faced with a wineglass full of washing water?

But they do it, and everything turns out fine, in fact, better than fine. The water was the best wine. The servants breathe a sigh of relief, Mary no doubt smiled, and the wedding feast was saved.

It's a pretty good paradigm for what we ought to do when we run into problems in our own lives, isn't it? Like Mary, we take our needs to Jesus—even the odd ones, even the ones that don't appear to have any spiritual dimension to them at all. We may have no idea how to fix the problem; we don't even know what to pray for. It doesn't matter. We can leave it in Jesus' hands, knowing that He will do whatever is best. He always has before!

But there's more: because very often Jesus involves us in the solution to those messes, just as He involved the servants at Cana. "Do such-and-such," He says to us, and we go off to do it—whether that means lending someone money, making phone calls on their behalf, listening for hours to a troubled person, or any other loving action. We obey Him. We trust Him to work things out. After all, the One who died and rose again to save us will certainly care about the smaller problems in our lives!

THE PRAYER: Lord, when there is trouble in my life, please help me. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
I love the story of Jesus at the wedding in Cana. Mary mentions the wine problem to Jesus—why, exactly?

Devocional del CPTLN de 17 de Enero de 2019 - Solucionando problemas

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Solucionando problemas

17 de Enero de 2019

Al tercer día se celebraron unas bodas en Caná de Galilea; y allí estaba la madre de Jesús. También Jesús y sus discípulos fueron invitados a la boda. Cuando se terminó el vino, la madre de Jesús le dijo: "Ya no tienen vino." Jesús le dijo: "¿Qué tienes conmigo, mujer? Mi hora aún no ha llegado." Su madre dijo a los que servían: "Hagan todo lo que él les diga."

~ Juan 2:1-5 (RVC)

Me encanta la historia de Jesús en la boda en Caná, cuando María menciona el problema del vino a Jesús: ¿por qué, exactamente? Hasta este punto él no ha hecho milagros (ver Juan 2:11), por lo que ella probablemente no espera uno. ¿Tenía la reputación de arreglar problemas difíciles? Es evidente que ella tiene mucha fe en él.

Jesús reacciona a la insinuación de su madre con desconcierto: "¿Qué tienes conmigo, mujer? Mi hora aún no ha llegado."

La última oración es un poco enigmática, pero ciertamente quiere decir "No". Estoy segura de que María también la escuchó. Sin embargo, ella conoce bien a su Hijo. Entonces, en lugar de discutir o rendirse, simplemente se dirige a los sirvientes: "Hagan todo lo que él les diga." Y se va, dejando el problema en las manos de Jesús.

¡Qué elección sabia! Y, así como lo previó María, Jesús se pone a trabajar en el problema... aunque quizás no exactamente en la forma en que ella esperaba. Jesús obra su primer milagro. Pero no lo hace por su cuenta, haciendo que los odres se llenen mágicamente de agua o vino. No, Jesús tiene una idea mejor. Él involucra a los sirvientes para que ellos sean parte del milagro. "Llenen de agua estas tinajas", les dice, y ellos lo hacen, hasta el borde, aunque no saben por qué, por supuesto. Jesús les pidió que lo hicieran, y eso fue suficiente. Luego, Jesús les dice que saquen un poco y se lo lleven al encargado de la fiesta para que lo beba. Esto debe haber sido un poco más aterrador. ¿Qué hará el encargado cuando se encuentre con una copa llena de agua para lavarse las manos?

Pero lo hacen y todo sale bien; de hecho, más que bien. ¡El agua era el mejor vino! Los sirvientes dejan escapar un suspiro de alivio, María sin duda sonrió y el banquete de bodas siguió con toda normalidad.

Este es un buen ejemplo a seguir cuando nos encontramos con problemas en nuestra propia vida, ¿no es cierto? Como María, podemos llevar nuestras necesidades a Jesús, incluso las cosas extrañas o las que parecen no tener ninguna dimensión espiritual. Es posible que no tengamos idea de cómo solucionar el problema, o que no sepamos qué orar. No importa. Podemos dejarlo en manos de Jesús, sabiendo que él hará lo que sea mejor. ¡Siempre lo ha hecho antes!

Pero hay más. Porque muy a menudo Jesús nos incluye en la solución de esos problemas, tal como involucró a los sirvientes en Caná. "Hagan esto y aquello", nos dice, y nos vamos a hacerlo, ya sea que le prestemos dinero a alguien, que hagamos llamadas telefónicas en su nombre, que escuchemos durante horas a una persona con problemas o cualquier otra acción amorosa. Le obedecemos y confiamos en que él resolverá las cosas. Después de todo, ¡aquel que murió y resucitó para salvarnos para siempre, sin duda se preocupará por los problemas más pequeños en nuestras vidas!

ORACIÓN: Señor, cuando haya problemas en mi vida, por favor ayúdame. Amén.

Dr. Kari Vo

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Me encanta la historia de Jesús en la boda en Caná, cuando María menciona el problema del vino a Jesús: ¿por qué, exactamente?

Хлеб наш насущный - От чего вы не можете отказаться?

От чего вы не можете отказаться?

Читать сейчас: Осии 11:8-11 | Библия за год: Бытие 41-42; Матфея 12:1-23

Скачать MP3

Ни высота, ни глубина, ни другое какое творение не может отлучить нас от любви Божией. — Римлянам 8:39

«От чего вы не можете отказаться?» – задал вопрос радиоведущий. Слушатели стали звонить и отвечать. Многие упомянули семьи. Среди таких был вдовец, который не мог забыть свою умершую супругу. Другие сказали, что не могут расстаться с мечтами, такими как зарабатывать на жизнь музыкой или стать матерью. У всех нас есть что-то дорогое: человек, увлечение, предмет, – без чего мы не представляем жизни.

В Книге пророка Осии Бог говорит, что не может отказаться от Своего избранного народа Израиля, Его драгоценного владения. Как любящий муж, Бог обеспечил Израиль всем необходимым: землей, едой, одеждой и защитой. Но, подобно неверной супруге, Израиль ушел от Бога и стал искать счастья в других местах. Чем больше Господь стремился вернуть израильтян к Себе, тем упорнее они сопротивлялись (Ос. 11:2). Тем не менее, несмотря на глубокое оскорбление, Бог не отказался от Израиля (ст. 8). Он воспитывал и наказывал Свой народ, чтобы восстановить отношения с ним.

Сегодня все Божьи дети могут быть уверены: Его любовь к нам никогда не прекратится (Рим. 8:37-39). Если мы уйдем от Него, Он будет искать нас. Если Господь станет нас наказывать, то и это послужит утешением. Значит, Он хочет нас вернуть, а не отвергнуть. Мы – Его достояние. Он никогда от нас не откажется.

Небесный Отец, благодарю Тебя за любовь, которая никогда не отвергнет меня. Помоги и мне любить Тебя всем сердцем.

Бог всегда рад принять Своих детей.

автор: По Фанг Чиа

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
«От чего вы не можете отказаться?» – задал вопрос радиоведущий. Слушатели стали звонить и отвечать. Многие упомянули семьи. Среди таких был вдовец, который не мог забыть свою умершую супругу. Другие сказали, что не могут расстаться с мечтами, такими как зарабатывать на жизнь музыкой или стать матерью. У всех нас есть что-то дорогое: человек, увлечение, предмет, – без чего мы не представляем жизни.