The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, January 28, 2019

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1 Corinthians 14:1-12

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, January 28, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 119:89-96

89 The Lord exists forever;
     your word is firmly fixed in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
     you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand today,
     for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
     I would have perished in my misery.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
     for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
     for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
     but I consider your decrees.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
     but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Jeremiah 36:1-10

The Scroll Read in the Temple
36:1 In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 It may be that when the house of Judah hears of all the disasters that I intend to do to them, all of them may turn from their evil ways, so that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at Jeremiah’s dictation all the words of the Lord that he had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, “I am prevented from entering the house of the Lord; 6 so you go yourself, and on a fast day in the hearing of the people in the Lord’s house you shall read the words of the Lord from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the people of Judah who come up from their towns. 7 It may be that their plea will come before the Lord, and that all of them will turn from their evil ways, for great is the anger and wrath that the Lord has pronounced against this people.” 8 And Baruch son of Neriah did all that the prophet Jeremiah ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house.

9 In the fifth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the towns of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord. 10 Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll, in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house.

1 Corinthians 14:1-12

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
14:1 Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2 For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. 5 Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.

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 those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.

The Morning Prayer for MONDAY, January 28, 2019

Monday morning prayer

Lord,

Sometimes, Monday can be a hard day. Dreaded on Sunday and fled from on a Friday. Yet why Lord as Monday could be the beginning of a work adventure, the new challenge of a week filled with potential? So I pray you would help me to embrace this day.

Let it be a new day and a wonder day. Help me to see not the clouds but the sunrise, not the rain but the ripples of falling drops. Show me the joy of the embrace with loved ones, not the tensions and troubles. Monday need not be the grudge day to be endured but the fun day to be embraced.

Jesus, you are known as both the Lion of Judah and the Sacrificial Lamb. As we follow you, we learn both mighty power and humble submission. Teach us when to imitate you as Lion and when as Lamb. This day, help me to turn my eyes towards your Kingdom, of love, hope and new beginnings.

Amen

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, January 28, 2019

John 4:24 (NIV) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Read all of John 4

Listen to John 4

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 es tu ayudador

Dios es tu ayudador

No tengas miedo ni te desanimes, porque Dios el Señor, mi Dios, estará contigo. No te dejará ni te abandonará.

~ 1 Crónicas 28:20 (NVI)

Dios es el único que nos ayuda en medio del dolor en la pérdida de un ser querido. Es el único que puede comprender ese dolor porque Él también perdió a su Hijo, Jesús.

Dios es nuestro Consolador y nos lo dejó por medio del Espíritu Santo. Por eso, cuando estamos sufriendo, nuestro Padre se interesa por nuestro dolor.

Y nos envía consuelo, paz y alivio.

¿Por qué Dios permite el dolor? Nunca entenderemos el porqué Dios lo permite. Entonces, ¿cómo consuelas a una madre que por años disfrutó de su hijo y ahora no lo ve más? ¿Cómo llenas una habitación que ha quedado repleta de recuerdos como fotos, ropa, juguetes y cosas que te recuerdan ese hijo amado? Solo Dios puede ser nuestra ayuda en medio de la pérdida. Él es el único que nos puede llenar de la paz que sobrepasa todo entendimiento.

Si estás atravesando por esta situación y has perdido un ser querido, recuerda que Dios es tu ayudador. Él te ama y te consuela en medio del dolor…

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Dios es el único que nos ayuda en medio del dolor en la pérdida de un ser querido. Es el único que puede comprender ese dolor porque Él también perdió a su Hijo, Jesús.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - SATAN’S CHANGING TACTICS

SATAN’S CHANGING TACTICS

…We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

~ 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NIV)

Today’s devotional comes from our founder and friend, Brother Andrew:

Have you ever noticed the strategy Satan used throughout Old Testament history? His attacks were aimed at preventing the birth of the Messiah at Bethlehem, but, once Jesus was born, Satan’s tactics changed somewhat. In some instances, he tried to kill Jesus before the Lord could reach the cross. At other times, Satan engineered numerous attempts to discredit Him—to cause Him to stumble or to sin.

But Satan met defeat at the cross. He failed to understand God’s strategy, and his final blunder actually forced events so that Jesus, though innocent, was condemned to die. The Apostle Paul noted that Satan did not understand this in 1 Corinthians 2:8. Since that time, Satan’s tactics have changed. He’s still concerned about preventing the Word—the Word that was with God and is God (John 1:1)—from reaching people who are under Satan’s dominion. His attack is now two-pronged.

First Satan concentrates on the life and name of Jesus which each and every believer bears as the Lord’s representative. I believe it is important for Christians undergoing persecution to realize the attack they are under is actually directed not at them, but at the life of Jesus in them, a life which they have power to transmit to others.

Satan will make every effort to discredit you, to frighten you and to silence your witness in order that the new life in you stops with you. Sometimes Satan overreaches himself, just as he did at the cross, and sends a believer to a martyr’s grave but that life lives on in other believers who continue to bear witness more gloriously and triumphantly than ever.

That the church not only survives, but grows under such persecution has been demonstrated beautifully by the church in China. After missionaries were forced to leave in 1950, and all ties were cut with the body of Christ, believers were put through the horrible experience of Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Christians were killed or imprisoned, Bibles burned, and the remaining believers scattered all over China. The attack was clearly on the life and name of Jesus as manifested in believer’s lives.

As these sufferers scattered, they took the life of Jesus with them, and just as was the case with the early believers in Jerusalem, “Those who were scattered went about preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4). Now we see the harvest in China as millions of Christians are identified, meeting together for fellowship and worship in remote provinces…

I want others to have the one who makes me happy—Jesus.

RESPONSE: Today I will be aware of Satan’s attempts to silence my witness for Jesus and resist him!

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the way You bring good from the evil tactics of the enemy of our soul. Help me stand strong against his attack on the life and name of Jesus in me.

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

Women of the Bible - Rebekah

Rebekah

Her name means: "Loop" or "Tie"

Her character: Hardworking and generous, her faith was so great that she left her home forever to marry a man she had never seen or met. Yet she played favorites with her sons and failed to trust God fully for the promise he had made.

Her sorrow: That she was barren for the first twenty years of her married life, and that she never again set eyes on her favorite son, Jacob, after he fled from his brother Esau.

Her joy: That God had gone to extraordinary lengths to pursue her, to invite her to become part of his people and his promises.

Key Scriptures: Genesis 24; 25:19-34; 26:1-28:9

Her Story

The sun was dipping beyond the western rim of the sky as the young woman approached the well outside the town of Nahor, five hundred miles northeast of Canaan. It was women's work to fetch fresh water each evening, and Rebekah hoisted the brimming jug to her shoulder, welcoming its cooling touch against her skin.

As she turned to go, a stranger greeted her, asking for a drink. Obligingly, she offered to draw water for his camels as well. Rebekah noticed the look of surprised pleasure that flashed across his face. Ten camels could put away a lot of water, she knew. But had she overheard his whispered prayer just moments earlier, her astonishment would have exceeded his: "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac."

A simple gesture. A generous response. A young woman's future altered in a moment's time. The man Rebekah encountered at the well, Abraham's servant, had embarked on a sacred mission—to find Isaac a wife from among Abraham's own people rather than from among the surrounding Canaanites. Like her great-aunt Sarah before her, Rebekah would make the journey south to embrace a future she could hardly glimpse. Betrothed to a man twice her age, whose name meant "Laughter," she felt a sudden giddiness rise inside her. The God of Abraham and Sarah was wooing her, calling her name and no other, offering a share in the promise. God was forging a new nation to be his own people.

Isaac was forty when he first set eyes on Rebekah. Perhaps his heart echoed the joy of that first man, "Here at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh!" So Isaac and Rebekah entered the tent of his mother Sarah and made love. And the Bible says that Rebekah comforted Isaac after the death of his mother.

Rebekah was beautiful and strong like Sarah, yet she bore no children for the first twenty years of her life with Isaac. Would she suffer as Sarah did the curse of barrenness? Isaac prayed and God heard, giving her not one, but two sons, who wrestled inside her womb. And God told her: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

During the delivery, Jacob grasped the heel of his brother Esau, as though striving for first position. Though second by birth, he was first in his mother's affections. But his father loved Esau best.

Years later, when Isaac was old and nearly blind, he summoned his firstborn, Esau. "Take your quiver and bow and hunt some wild game for me. Prepare the kind of meal I like, and I will give you my blessing before I die."

But the clever Rebekah overheard and called quickly to Jacob, suggesting a scheme to trick the blessing from Isaac. Disguised as Esau, Jacob presented himself to his father for the much-coveted blessing.

Isaac then blessed Jacob, thinking he was blessing Esau: "May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed."

Isaac had stretched out his hand and passed the choicest blessing to his younger son, thus recalling the words spoken about the two children jostling for position in Rebekah's womb. The benediction thus given could not be withdrawn, despite the deceit, despite Esau's tears, and despite his vow to kill Jacob. Afraid lest Esau take revenge, Rebekah persuaded Isaac to send Jacob north to find a wife from among her brother Laban's daughters.

As the years passed, Rebekah must have longed to embrace her younger son, hoping for the privilege of enfolding his children in her embrace. But more than twenty years would pass before Jacob returned. And though Isaac would live to welcome his son, Rebekah would not.

When Rebekah was a young girl, God had invited her to play a vital role in the story of his people. He had gone to great lengths to pursue her. Like Sarah, she would become a matriarch of God's people, and like Sarah, her heart would divide itself between faith and doubt, believing that God's promise required her intervention. Finding it difficult to rest in the promise God had made, she resorted to trickery to achieve it.

The results, mirroring her own heart, were mixed. Though Jacob indeed became heir to the promise, he was driven from his home and the mother who loved him too well. In addition, he and his descendants would forever be at odds with Esau and his people, the Edomites. Two thousand years later, Herod the Great, who hailed from Idumea (the Greek and Roman name for Edom) would slaughter many innocent children in his attempt to destroy the infant Jesus.

Yet God was still at work, graciously using a woman whose response to him was far less than perfect, in order to accomplish his purposes.

Her Promise

Rebekah heard Abraham's servant describe how he had prayed and how he was sure she was the woman God intended for Isaac. God himself had divinely orchestrated the events. Rebekah seemed to have known that and, when asked, answered simply, "I will go."

Did Rebekah fully realize God's plan for her? Was she open to following that plan? Or was she simply entranced with the romantic notions of a young girl looking for her knight in shining armor? Whatever her motivation, the events were planned by God, and he was able and willing to faithfully continue to fulfill his promises through her.

God's faithfulness, despite our waywardness and contrariness, is evident both throughout Scripture and throughout our lives. He will be faithful; he promises.

This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Used with permission.
The sun was dipping beyond the western rim of the sky as the young woman approached the well outside the town of Nahor, five hundred miles northeast of Canaan. It was women's work to fetch fresh water each evening, and Rebekah hoisted the brimming jug to her shoulder, welcoming its cooling touch against her skin.

Girlfriends in God - Demolition Debbie

Demolition Debbie

Lisa Morrone

Today’s Truth

A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

~ Proverbs 14:1 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

In the past, whenever I’ve read the above verse, I’ve always thought of it in the context of the maternal head of a family, or of a wife. But truly, this “Demolition Debbie” role could belong to a big-mouthed teenaged girl, a disagreeable girlfriend, a disrespectful coworker, or even a dismissive adult sister. Scripture takes care not to label this woman beyond “wise” or “foolish,” giving each of us the opportunity to slip ourselves into this descriptive warning.

How, exactly, does this foolish woman tear her house down? Well, knowing (and being) a woman, I have a strong hunch: Her tongue, Ladies. Most of us have been said to possess the ‘gift of gab.’ And a few of us, myself included, have even been accused at one time or another of having “verbal diarrhea!”

All that tongue wagging can get us in deep trouble. Especially when our speech is sarcastic, full of condescending tone, or littered with insults or complaints. Growing up in a home where sharp tongues reigned and verbal arguments filled the air, I was well-trained to use my tongue as weapon.

Whenever I was frustrated, my tongue would come out in full force. This was an area where the Lord had to deal most pointedly with me, as I was accustomed to tearing down the people in the home of my upbringing. My husband—then fiancé—helped me to see how insulting my words could be one day after receiving a verbal outburst from me. He calmly interrupted me and said, “Hey, I don’t deserve to be spoken to that way.” And he was right, he didn’t.

Over the past three decades, I have made great strides in this area, although I do still, from time to time “have a tone” as my husband would say. The way Jesus began to work on this for me was to show me that out of my heart, my mouth speaks. My heart needed to get right for my speech to reflect the Lord’s grace. Second, I had to realize I was not the Holy Spirit to others, meaning, it wasn’t the job of my comments to reform the behavior of those in my life—it was the job of my prayers and of my God.

Once I filed down my sharp tongue I was able to speak to my children, not scream at them, overlook the insult of a friend, and rather than sharply rebut something my mother, husband, or brother said to me, I could simply chose be quiet. I’ve come to adopt this new slogan: A wise woman once said - nothing!

Friends, I have watched more than a few of my friends and acquaintances tear up their marriages, their relationships with their children, their parents, their siblings, all because of the wild fire that burned within their mouths—their tongue.

A thought occurred to me as I was reading the Book of Job this past summer and thinking about this truth: Maybe the reason Satan didn’t wipe out Job’s wife along with his children was that keeping her and her biting tongue alive was another facet of his torture.

Girl, let’s NEVER allow ourselves to be used by Satan as his weapon in another’s life!

Let’s Pray

Lord Jesus, the last thing I want to be remembered for is that I was great at demolishing my home and the relationships around me. Please, reform my heart and help me to keep a tight rein on my tongue as I seek to be honorable in all I say and do.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Paul tells us, in his letter to Timothy, “all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” Spend a quiet moment reflecting on each of these verses and allow the Holy Spirit to have his way with you.

James 3:6
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Proverbs 12:18
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 17:19a
Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin…

Proverbs 18:21a
The tongue has the power of life and death…

Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 27:15-16
A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

More from the Girlfriends

Diabetes: Are You at Risk? (Harvest House Publishers) is one of Lisa’s six books in her Restoring Your Temple® health resource collection. Her books are available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com,or wherever books are sold.

Lisa Morrone, PT is a physical therapist, professor, author of six books, radio guest and event speaker who encourages people to “Get Healthy for Heaven’s Sake.” Visit Lisa’s website for more information and to sign up to receive her informative “Monday Morning Health Tips”!

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Girlfriends in God

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In the past, whenever I’ve read this verse, I’ve always thought of it in the context of the maternal head of a family, or of a wife. But truly, this “Demolition Debbie” role could belong to a big-mouthed teenaged girl, a disagreeable girlfriend, a disrespectful coworker, or even a dismissive adult sister.

LHM Daily Devotions - What Will Be Your Legacy?

"What Will Be Your Legacy?"

Jan. 28, 2019

You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Do not forsake me in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.

~ Psalm 71:5, 9 (ESV)

Grandma use to say with a German accent, "Wie get too soon oldt und too late schmart!" When we are in are 20s and 30s, we are invincible. If there is any potential need for a mid-course correction, there is plenty of time left. No problem. Then 50 rolls around, and the roller coaster of life accelerates. We fly around the curve and dip into the tunnel, exploding on the other side with squealing brakes haltingly sliding into our 60s. The golden age of retirement yawns wide before us. It can't be. I'm not ready for retirement, much less the grave! But when death seizes our parents along with our older brothers, uncles, aunts, and cousins, we realize that in the pecking order of life, our number can't be very far away. Now we begin to reflect in earnest about our legacy, all our relationships with family, work and society. We cogitate, we ruminate on all the good we think we've done, all the good we dreamed of doing, and all the good that never got done. We wonder how we'll be remembered in obituary prose.

The psalmist looks at life from another angle. He praises the Lord for His constant salvation: "My rock and my fortress! Do not forsake me!" He hopes with certainty that even through great and severe troubles, God shall revive him once again. From his mother's womb the Lord drew him into the light of day. From his youth up, the Lord has been his trust. Now in his old age, he has one last request: "O Lord, when old age saps my strength, forsake me not!" Here is the making of the greatest legacy a Christian can leave on earth: to be known by others as one who continually trusted in the Lord in good days and bad, in sunshine and storm, in the beginning and end of life. "This is the work of God," Jesus said, "Believe on Him whom God has sent" (John 6:29b). Christ is the main work. From Him flows our legacy, our works, our career, our life measured out in days of pain and sorrow, joy and hope, strength and weakness.

Old age has one main characteristic: weakness. The knees get weak, the back gets weak, the stomach gets weak, joints ache, and muscles atrophy. Old age can be a time of never-ending grumbling and complaining against our Creator. That's exactly where many Christians end up. Or—old age can be the dawn of a glorious new attitude toward life. All our life we have trusted in ourselves to get the work done. Though we gave credit to God for our success, our heart reserved a major portion for ourselves. Now in old age, with strength slowly ebbing from our earthly body, we have only one plea left: "Dear Lord, forsake me not in my old age! Let my legacy be that I trusted You until my very last breath."

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let me learn today before gray hairs adorn my head that trusting in You for all things is the greatest legacy I can leave to my family, my spouse, and my children. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Mark Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Grandma use to say with a German accent, "Wie get too soon oldt und too late schmart!"

Devocional del CPTLN de 28 de Enero de 2019 - ¿Cuál va ha ser tu legado?

ALIMENTO DIARIO

¿Cuál va ha ser tu legado?

28 de Enero de 2019

Tú, Señor mi Dios, eres mi esperanza; tú me has dado seguridad desde mi juventud... No me deseches cuando llegue a la vejez; no me desampares cuando mis fuerzas se acaben.

~ Salmo 71:5, 9 (RVC)

La abuela solía decir con un acento alemán: "¡Nos volvemos viejos demasiado pronto e inteligentes demasiado tarde!" Entre los 20 y 40 años somos invencibles. Si tenemos que hacer alguna corrección en nuestra vida, aún nos queda mucho tiempo; no hay problema. Luego llegan los 50 y la montaña rusa de la vida se acelera. Volamos por las curvas y nos sumergimos en el túnel, saliendo por el otro lado con frenos estridentes que nos deslizan hasta los 60 años. La edad de oro de la jubilación se abre ante nosotros. No puede ser. ¡No estoy listo para la jubilación, mucho menos la tumba! Pero cuando la muerte se apodera de nuestros padres junto con los hermanos mayores, los tíos, las tías y los primos, nos damos cuenta que, en el orden de la vida, no podemos estar muy lejos. Entonces comenzamos a reflexionar seriamente sobre nuestro legado, nuestras relaciones con la familia, el trabajo y la sociedad. Pensamos en el bien que creemos haber hecho, en el bien que soñamos con hacer y en el que nunca hicimos. Nos preguntamos cómo seremos recordados.

El salmista mira la vida desde otro ángulo: alaba al Señor por su constante salvación "¡Mi roca y mi fortaleza! ¡No me abandones!". Espera con certeza que, incluso a través de grandes y graves problemas, Dios lo revivirá una vez más. Desde el vientre de su madre, el Señor lo llevó a la luz del día. Desde su juventud, el Señor ha sido su confianza. Ahora en su vejez, tiene una última petición. "¡Oh Señor, cuando la vejez destruya mis fuerzas, no me desampares!" Aquí está el legado más grande que un cristiano puede dejar en la tierra: ser conocido por otros como alguien que confiaba en el Señor tanto en los días buenos como en los malos, en el sol y en la tormenta, al principio y al final de la vida. "Esta es la obra de Dios", dijo Jesús, "que crean en aquel que él ha enviado" (Juan 6: 29b). Cristo es la obra principal. De él fluyen nuestro legado, nuestras obras, nuestra profesión, nuestra vida medida en días de dolor y tristeza, alegría y esperanza, fortaleza y debilidad.

La vejez tiene una característica principal: la debilidad. Las rodillas se debilitan, la espalda se debilita, el estómago se debilita, las articulaciones duelen y los músculos se atrofian. La vejez puede ser una época de interminables quejas y protestas contra nuestro Creador. Eso es exactamente lo que hacen muchos cristianos. O bien, la vejez puede ser el amanecer de una nueva actitud gloriosa hacia la vida. Toda nuestra vida hemos confiado en nosotros mismos para hacer el trabajo. Si bien le dimos a Dios el crédito por nuestro éxito, nuestro corazón reservó una gran parte para nosotros. Ahora, en la vejez, cuando nuestra fuerza va disminuyendo lentamente, solo nos queda una súplica: "¡Querido Señor, no me desampares en mi vejez! Deja que mi legado sea que confié en ti hasta mi último aliento".

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, enséñame hoy, antes de que los cabellos grises adornen mi cabeza, que el mayor legado que puedo dejar a mi familia es confiar en Ti para todas las cosas. Amén.

Dr. Mark 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 abuela solía decir con un acento alemán: "¡Nos volvemos viejos demasiado pronto e inteligentes demasiado tarde!"

Notre Pain Quotidien - Le correcteur d’humeur

Le correcteur d’humeur

Lisez : Psaume 94.2,16-23

La Bible en un an : Exode 19 – 20 ; Matthieu 18.21-35

Quand les pensées s’agitent en foule au-dedans de moi, tes consolations réjouissent mon âme. V. 19

En attendant mon train hebdomadaire à la gare, des pensées négatives m’ont assailli l’esprit, un peu comme les voyageurs ont envahi le quai – le stress de l’endettement, des remarques désobligeantes dont j’avais été la cible, le désarroi devant une récente injustice commise contre un proche. À l’arrivée du train, j’étais d’humeur massacrante.

Dans le train, une autre pensée m’est venue à l’esprit : écrire un mot à Dieu pour lui exprimer mes griefs. Peu après avoir couché mes plaintes par écrit dans mon journal intime, j’ai sorti mon téléphone et me suis mise à écouter des louanges. Avant même de m’en rendre compte, j’avais retrouvé ma bonne humeur.

Je ne me doutais toutefois pas que je suivais ainsi un schéma que l’auteur du Psaume 94 avait établi. Celui-ci s’est d’abord livré à Dieu : « Lève-toi, juge de la terre ! Rends aux orgueilleux selon leurs œuvres ! […] Qui se lèvera pour moi contre les méchants ? Qui me soutiendra contre ceux qui font le mal ? » (PS 94.2,16.) Il est allé au bout de sa pensée au sujet de l’injustice faite aux veuves et aux orphelins. Après s’être ainsi plaint à Dieu, le psalmiste s’est mis à le louer : « Mais l’Éternel est ma retraite, mon Dieu est le rocher de mon refuge » (V. 22).

Dieu nous invite à lui soumettre nos griefs. Il est capable de changer nos peurs, notre tristesse et notre impuissance en louanges.

La louange a le pouvoir d’alléger le plus lourd de nos fardeaux.

par Linda Washington

© 2019 Ministères NPQ
En attendant mon train hebdomadaire à la gare, des pensées négatives m’ont assailli l’esprit, un peu comme les voyageurs ont envahi le quai – le stress de l’endettement, des remarques désobligeantes dont j’avais été la cible, le désarroi devant une récente injustice commise contre un proche. À l’arrivée du train, j’étais d’humeur massacrante.