The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, February 21, 2019

Life in the Spirit
Romans 8:1-11

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, February 21, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40

Exhortation to Patience and Trust
Of David.
1  Do not fret because of the wicked;
     do not be envious of wrongdoers,
2  for they will soon fade like the grass,
     and wither like the green herb.

3  Trust in the Lord, and do good;
     so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
4  Take delight in the Lord,
     and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5  Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him, and he will act.
6  He will make your vindication shine like the light,
     and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

7  Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
     do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
     over those who carry out evil devices.

8  Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
     Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9  For the wicked shall be cut off,
     but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
     though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land,
     and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
     he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
     he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them,
     because they take refuge in him.

Genesis 43:16-34

43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, replaced in our sacks the first time, that we have been brought in, so that he may have an opportunity to fall upon us, to make slaves of us and take our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the entrance to the house. 20 They said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food; 21 and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each one’s money in the top of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it back with us. 22 Moreover we have brought down with us additional money to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 When the steward had brought the men into Joseph’s house, and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they had heard that they would dine there.

26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the present that they had carried into the house, and bowed to the ground before him. 27 He inquired about their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and did obeisance. 29 Then he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 With that, Joseph hurried out, because he was overcome with affection for his brother, and he was about to weep. So he went into a private room and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, “Serve the meal.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 When they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

Romans 8:1-11

Life in the Spirit
8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

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
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, February 21, 2019

Romans 13:9-10 (NIV) The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Read all of Romans 13

Listen to Romans 13

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 - Vístete siempre de amor

Vístete siempre de amor

Cuando estéis orando, perdonad, si tenéis algo contra alguno, para que también vuestro Padre que está en los cielos os perdone a vosotros vuestras ofensas.

~ Marcos 11:25-26, RV-60

¿Amar a nuestros enemigos? ¿Orar por ellos? ¿Tener pensa-mientos de bienestar para el que te ha hecho mal? Parece muy raro, ¿verdad? No obstante, las Escrituras nos enseñan todo lo contrario. Mira lo diferente que piensa Dios:

Ora por tus enemigos. Si alguien te da una bofetada, pon la otra mejilla. Si te piden algo, sírvele y bendice su vida. Si pecan contra ti, perdona hasta setenta veces siete. Quizá me digas: «¡Increíble, Claudia! ¿Cómo voy a hacer todo esto con el que me maltrató, me robó, me mintió, me engañó, me explotó y me maldijo? ¡Imposible!».

Hoy quiero que puedas, con la ayuda siempre de Dios, cambiar esa manera de pensar y ser obediente a lo que Él espera de nosotros.

La Biblia dice que debemos arreglar las cuentas con los que estamos mal. La Palabra también nos advierte que si no perdonamos, Dios no nos podrá perdonar, y nos hace ver en varias oportunidades que el mejor ejemplo de humildad, de misericordia y de perdón nos lo da Dios al perdonar nuestros pecados, nuestras faltas.

¿Te imaginas que Dios nos dijera: «De ninguna manera, como hiciste esto, no te puedo perdonar, así que te condeno»? ¡Qué triste sería!

En mi caso, he experimentado la libertad que se siente cuando perdonamos. Es una sensación de independencia cuando liberas a esa persona que has tenido atada con tu rencor y con tu odio. Entonces, de inmediato, te liberas tú también.

Vistámonos siempre de amor y, recuerda, Dios no se desilusionó de nadie porque nunca se ilusionó con nadie.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Amar a nuestros enemigos? ¿Orar por ellos? ¿Tener pensa-mientos de bienestar para el que te ha hecho mal? Parece muy raro, ¿verdad?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - FEAR OF DEATH

FEAR OF DEATH

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

~ 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

Satan uses and plays on one of the basic elements and instincts of our nature—fear. It is natural for finite man to fear—especially the fear of the unknown, the fear of being hurt and the fear of death. There is nothing more Satan would like than to see us paralyzed with fear just like King Saul when facing the Philistines and Goliath.

Why do we allow fear to be so controlling? On the one hand, we have past experiences that we don’t want to relive and on the other hand, we are very hesitant about what might lay ahead. But often the events and situations creating most fear in people have no basis in reality.

All fear is based on perception. Thus fear has been described in the English language as an acronym for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” If we could consciously remember this, it would help us to allay many fears. But that false evidence sometimes is so convincing! However, we must always realize that dread and fear—like other tactics of the enemy—are based on a lie. This is why throughout the scriptures we are repeatedly commanded—366 times—to “fear not.” It is intensely liberating for our witness when we personally overcome the fear of death. This allows us to focus on Christ and His kingdom.

Living as a Christian under Romania’s dictatorship posed extreme difficulties and dangers. Even though Rev. Joseph Tson had counted the cost and served the Lord and His flock faithfully, he feared the day that he would be called in by security. He knew the possibility of facing death was inevitable.

The day that Joseph feared arrived. Security officers arrived at his home one day and took him to their headquarters. He was instructed to sit on a chair and a gun was put to his head. “The choice is easy,” came the commander’s voice. “Deny Jesus or we pull the trigger.”

This was indeed the moment that Joseph feared all through his ministry. But suddenly the Spirit of the Lord filled his whole being. “If you kill me today you will do me a great favor. All my sermons that were recorded will be in great demand because I will be a martyr for Christ. You will help me greatly to share my messages. You will also help me to go to my Lord quickly!” Joseph fearlessly replied.

The officer dropped the gun. “You Christians are crazy,” he shouted and then commanded the officers to take Joseph back home.

Joseph’s life was spared but in a sense he lost it that day. “Never again did I fear what man can do to me. Never again did I fear to lose my life,” Joseph concluded.

RESPONSE: Today I will not allow Satan’s favorite tactic of fear and intimidation to conquer me in any way.

PRAYER: Lord, enable me to overcome the fear of physical death as I realize that I am already dead to myself in You. May this be true today too for believers in conflict zones of our world.

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 - Zacchaeus: The Rich, Short Ruler

Zacchaeus: The Rich, Short Ruler

Luke 19:1–10

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.

~ Luke 19:3 (NIV)

Everyone in town knew him, but nobody liked him. He threw the worst parties and was always the first one drunk on his horribly cheap wine. It’s not as though he couldn’t afford anything better. Zacchaeus sat atop the whole dirty, tax-collecting heap, and from their years of overpaying collectors, the savvy residents of Jericho knew their money could buy better wine.

So when rumor started that a well-known teacher from the backwater of Galilee who had a penchant for waxing eloquent about money matters was making his way to Jericho, you can bet the person everyone least expected to see in the welcoming party was Zacchaeus. To everyone’s surprise the little man, dressed to the nines, showed up anyway. This teacher was, after all, growing extremely popular, and maybe it would do the collection agency’s reputation some good to see its chief officer rubbing shoulders with a hero of the working class. But when the day arrived, if Zacchaeus had come to be seen, the irony was only too apparent when it was he who had trouble seeing.

The crowds had started at the city gate where Jericho’s main drag began its meandering path through the city. Despite his compromised stature, Zacchaeus had always loved a crowd—crowds meant influence and power, not to mention a concentration of taxable pocketbooks. This small-town teacher’s people skills and crowd-gathering ability could come in handy for an unpopular political figure. If only Zacchaeus could see how this teacher did it.

Zacchaeus knew the parade route well, as he’d been a key figure in many of Jericho’s past spectacles. Picking up the fine linen hem of his garment, the short-legged tax collector hightailed it to a certain bend where the road took a dogleg left to get around a large sycamore tree near the center of town. He hadn’t climbed a tree since all his friends were still his height, and if all of Jericho hadn’t been down the road heralding the teacher, the crowd would have relished watching Zacchaeus fumble his way up the branches.

The only thing sillier than watching Zacchaeus climb up the tree was to see him come barreling out of it when the teacher called him by name: “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5). The crowd must have groaned, knowing the dismal reputation of the tax collector’s social insensitivity. However, over the huffs, Zacchaeus’s voice rose up, “Here and now I’m a different person.” Whether or not he realized at that moment that the crowd was standing there has been a topic of conjecture ever since.

Back to the Future

• Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted so badly to see Jesus?
• What measures are you willing to take to gain a clearer “sight” of Jesus?
• Jesus invites himself into your heart: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20). What can you do to show Jesus that you want him to “come in and eat with you”?

The Story Continues …
Get the whole story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1–10.

Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted so badly to see Jesus?

Girlfriends in God - Reigniting Passion in Your Marriage

Reigniting Passion in Your Marriage

Sharon Jaynes

Note from Sharon: I know that devotions on marriage are difficult for many who are not married and perhaps would like to be. That’s why we usually keep the marriage devotions that minister to thousands of women in the month of February. Whether you are married or single, please join us at GiG in praying for marriages all around the world.

Today’s Truth

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

~ Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

What do you do when you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’ in your marriage? Maybe you truly adored your husband in the beginning, but now you can’t remember why. Maybe you honestly admired his finer qualities, but now you can’t remember what they were. Maybe you appreciated his wonderful attributes, but now you take them for granted.

Between taking out the garbage, paying the bills, running the car pool, mowing the lawn, disciplining the kids, and folding the laundry, sometimes the passion of marriage gets lost. It happens to all of us at one time or another. We can get so busy taking care of life that we forget to take care of love.

None of us got married so we could have a long list of chores. If you’re like me, most likely you got married because you were madly in-love and couldn’t imagine life without your man! You got married because you your heart skipped a beat every time you laid eyes on him. You couldn’t wait to tie the knot and build a life with this incredible person God had miraculously brought into your life. Maybe you still feel that way. But maybe you could use a little reminder—a re-stoking of the romance.

In the book of Revelation in the Bible, God had this to say to the church at Ephesus: “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4). Ephesus was one of the most loving churches in the New Testament, and yet somewhere along the way they lost that initial thrill of knowing Christ. Their love for each other and for God had grown cold.

So how do you get that lovin’ feelin’ back? God gave the church two simple steps, and I believe we can apply them to our marriages as well. “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5, emphasis added).

Remember how it was in the beginning.

Return and do the things you did at first.

For most of us, life is just daily. However, the accumulation of small struggles can nibble like termites to undermine the foundation of what appears to be a healthy structure as surely as the unexpected, earth-shaking rumble of sudden disaster. And routine, even good routine, can rob us of the joy and passion of marriage…if we let it.

One day I took John’s words in Revelation to heart, and decided to remember and return by romancing my husband for fourteen days straight. Everyday wasn’t earth-shaking romance, even though there was some of that. One day I simply put a sticky note on his bathroom mirror that said, “I love you.” Another day I placed a box of Red Hot candy on his car seat with a note that said, “You’re a hottie.” One morning I warmed up his towel in the dryer and had it ready when he got out of the shower.

And you know what happened? At the end of the fourteen days, Steve had a skip in his step and smile on his face like a Cheshire cat. And what happened in me? I can hardly describe the love that welled up in me, as I loved my man well. Hear this…I changed.

I don’t have a big, bad personal story of how God took a terrible, tumultuous marriage and miraculously transformed it into a storybook romance filled with white-knight rescues, relentless romance, and rides into the sunset leaving all danger and darkness behind. Although our marriage has been all that at one time or another, it’s no fairy tale.

Our marriage is a daily journal, one page after another, one day after another. I’m guessing just like yours. Some entries are smudged with tears; others are dog-eared as favorites. Some days are marred by unsuccessful erasures that couldn’t quite rub away hurtful the words said; others are finger-worn by the reading of precious events time and time again.

But on those days when I see my marriage slipping back into the mundane cadence of passionless routine, I pull out my list of ideas, and put a smile on Steve’s face.

And that’s my challenge to you and to me today. When we see the fire needs stoking, remember and return.

Let’s Pray

Lord, I’ll admit that sometimes I put my marriage on the back burner. Help me to remember and return. To remember the passion and love I had for my husband in the early years. Help me to show him just how much I love him today and everyday…even on the days I don’t really feel like it.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Consider this verse: 1 Corinthians 7:5 (NIV) “Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

How does a wife help protect her husband from the devil’s attack by keeping passion a priority in the marriage.

More From the Girlfriends

Does your marriage need a little help in the romance department? Has it grown ho-hum in the daily routine? If so, Sharon’s book, A 14-Day Romance Challenge is just the book to help. With over 250 ways to romance your husband, you’ll be able to wow your guy with simple acts of affection he’ll treasure for a lifetime. (It’s a great wedding shower gift!) Also, check our her phone App—Praying Wives—for both Apple and Android devices.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

What do you do when you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’ in your marriage? Maybe you truly adored your husband in the beginning, but now you can’t remember why.

LHM Daily Devotions - Your Father's Eyes

"Your Father's Eyes"

Feb. 21, 2019

(Jesus said) "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

~ Luke 6:35-36 (ESV)

"He has his father's eyes." That's what everybody said when our baby was born and the relatives gathered to play "Who does he look like most?" The ears were a total mystery, but the eyes—ah, those were clearly Dad's. The resemblance was obvious.

Jesus is talking about a family resemblance when He says, "and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

What does it mean, to look like God? It means to be kind and merciful, even to those who are ungrateful, even to the wicked. It means, for example, to pray for that driver who cut you off in traffic this morning; it means to lend your neighbor that snowblower, even though you know for a fact he has been badmouthing you around the neighborhood; it means to babysit your in-laws' children while one of them is in the hospital, although they have treated you with nothing but disdain.

Does this mean we should be a doormat? No. Nor does it mean pretending the other person has done no evil. Instead, it means looking at the situation with clear eyes, fully acknowledging the trouble in the relationship, and being completely aware that whatever you do, things will probably not get better—and deciding to act like Jesus anyway. Why? Because that's what Jesus' family members do. That is our family resemblance to God.

To be sure, we need to show some intelligence when we deal with people who are evil. There is no sense behaving in a way that is likely to tempt them to do more evil—for instance, by placing yourself back in the reach of an abuser. Don't do that! It's no kindness to you or to the abuser. As Jesus said, "be wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (see Matthew 10:16). And clearly, we must not place other people at risk—for instance, by bringing a known abuser to live with us and our children.

But if the risk we are running is simple ingratitude? Go for it. If we might look like fools in the eyes of the neighborhood for showing mercy? Go ahead. God Himself has been mocked and blamed by people for showing too much mercy to "the wrong people." We are in good company if people say the same about us. For it is Jesus Himself who promised paradise to a thief in full view of the mockers who watched Him dying on the cross. It is Jesus who has risen from the dead and promised to share His everlasting life with us, even though we are not worthy and are often ungrateful and sinful. What an honor to resemble Jesus and give evidence that He has made us children of the Most High!

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, live in me and through me, so that I do the things that You Yourself would do. 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).
"He has his father's eyes." That's what everybody said when our baby was born and the relatives gathered to play "Who does he look like most?"

Devocional de la CPTLN del 21 de Febrero de 2019 - Los ojos de tu padre

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Los ojos de tu padre

21 de Febrero de 2019

[Jesús dijo] "Ustedes deben amar a sus enemigos, hacer el bien y dar prestado, sin esperar nada a cambio. Grande será entonces el galardón que recibirán, y serán hijos del Altísimo. Porque él es benigno con los ingratos y con los malvados. Por lo tanto, sean compasivos, como también su Padre es compasivo."

~ Lucas 6:35-36 (RVC)

"Tiene los ojos de su padre." Eso es lo que todos decían cuando nació nuestro bebé y los parientes se reunieron para jugar "¿a quién se parece más?" Las orejas eran un misterio total, pero los ojos eran los de papá. El parecido era obvio.

Jesús habla de un parecido familiar cuando dice: "... serán hijos del Altísimo. Porque él es benigno con los ingratos y con los malvados. Por lo tanto, sean compasivos, como también su Padre es compasivo".

¿Qué significa parecerse a Dios? Significa ser amable y misericordioso, incluso con aquellos que son ingratos, incluso con los malvados. Significa, por ejemplo, orar por el conductor que se te atravesó en el tráfico esta mañana; prestarle a tu vecino el soplador de nieve, aunque sabes que ha estado hablando mal de ti por todo el vecindario; cuidar a los niños de tu cuñada que está en el hospital, aunque te haya tratado con desdén. ¿Significa esto que deberíamos ser un felpudo? No. Tampoco significa fingir que la otra persona no ha hecho nada malo. En vez de eso, significa mirar la situación con ojos claros, reconocer el problema en la relación, estar consciente de que hagas lo que hagas las cosas probablemente no mejorarán y aun así decidir obrar como Jesús. ¿Por qué? Porque eso es lo que hacen los miembros de la familia de Jesús. Esa es nuestra semejanza con Dios.

Para estar seguros, necesitamos mostrar algo de inteligencia cuando tratamos con personas malvadas. No tiene sentido comportarnos de una manera que pueda tentarlos a hacer más maldad, por ejemplo, volver a ponerse al alcance de un abusador. ¡No hagas eso! No es bueno para ti ni para el abusador. Jesús dijo: "Sean prudentes como serpientes y sencillos como palomas" (ver Mateo 10:16). Y claramente no podemos poner en riesgo a otras personas, por ejemplo, al traer a un conocido abusador para que viva con nosotros y nuestros hijos.

¿Pero si el riesgo que corremos es simple ingratitud? Hazlo. ¿Y si parecemos tontos a los ojos de los vecinos por mostrar misericordia? Hazlo. Dios mismo fue burlado y culpado por mostrar demasiada misericordia a "las personas equivocadas". Si los demás dicen lo mismo de nosotros, estamos en buena compañía. Porque es el mismo Jesús quien prometió el paraíso a un ladrón delante de quienes se burlaban de él mientras moría en la cruz. Es Jesús quien se ha levantado de entre los muertos y nos ha prometido compartir su vida eterna, aunque no somos dignos y, a menudo, somos ingratos y pecadores. ¡Qué honor parecerse a Jesús y dar testimonio de que él nos ha hecho hijos del Altísimo!

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, vive en mí y por mí, para que pueda hacer las cosas que tú mismo harías. 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.
"Tiene los ojos de su padre." Eso es lo que todos decían cuando nació nuestro bebé y los parientes se reunieron para jugar "¿a quién se parece más?"

Хлеб наш насущный - Живая жертва

Живая жертва

Читать сейчас: Римлянам 12:1-8 | Библия за год: Числа 1-3; Марка 3

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Умоляю вас, братья, милосердием Божиим: представьте тела ваши в жертву живую. — Римлянам 12:1

У моей двоюродной тети была прекрасная работа в рекламном бизнесе. Она часто ездила в Чикаго и Нью-Йорк. Но однажды она отказалась от карьеры в этой сфере из-за любви к родителям. Они жили в Миннесоте и нуждались в уходе. Оба ее брата трагически погибли. Она осталась единственным ребенком в семье. Служение родителям стало для нее выражением веры.

Послание Павла церкви в Риме побуждает христиан предоставить самих себя «в жертву живую, святую, благоугодную Богу» (Рим. 12:1). Апостол надеялся, что верующие будут проявлять друг к другу жертвенную любовь Христа. Еще он просил их не думать о себе больше, чем следует (ст. 3). В случае разногласий им следовало отказаться от амбиций, потому что «мы, многие, составляем одно тело во Христе» (ст. 5). В основании христианского поведения должна быть жертвенная любовь.

Каждый день у нас появляются возможности послужить людям. Например, уступить кому-то место в очереди или позаботиться о больных. Или поделиться собственным опытом, чтобы помочь в принятии решения. Когда мы становимся живой жертвой, то тем самым прославляем Бога.

Господь Иисус Христос, Ты смирил Себя и отдал Свою жизнь, чтобы я мог жить. Не дай мне забыть этот удивительный дар любви и благодати.

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Посмотрите видео «Вместе – лучше».

Когда мы служим людям во имя Христа, это угодно Богу.

автор: Эми Бушер Пай

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
У моей двоюродной тети была прекрасная работа в рекламном бизнесе. Она часто ездила в Чикаго и Нью-Йорк. Но однажды она отказалась от карьеры в этой сфере из-за любви к родителям. Они жили в Миннесоте и нуждались в уходе. Оба ее брата трагически погибли. Она осталась единственным ребенком в семье. Служение родителям стало для нее выражением веры.