The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, March 14, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, March 14, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 27

Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
     whom shall I fear?
   The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
     of whom shall I be afraid?

2  When evildoers assail me
     to devour my flesh—
   my adversaries and foes—
     they shall stumble and fall.

3  Though an army encamp against me,
     my heart shall not fear;
   though war rise up against me,
     yet I will be confident.

4  One thing I asked of the Lord,
     that will I seek after:
   to live in the house of the Lord
     all the days of my life,
   to behold the beauty of the Lord,
     and to inquire in his temple.

5  For he will hide me in his shelter
     in the day of trouble;
   he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
     he will set me high on a rock.

6  Now my head is lifted up
     above my enemies all around me,
   and I will offer in his tent
     sacrifices with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7  Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
     be gracious to me and answer me!
8  “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
     Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9    Do not hide your face from me.

   Do not turn your servant away in anger,
     you who have been my help.
   Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
     O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
     the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
     and lead me on a level path
     because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
     for false witnesses have risen against me,
     and they are breathing out violence.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
     in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
     be strong, and let your heart take courage;
     wait for the Lord!

Genesis 13:1-7, 14-18

Abram and Lot Separate
13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 He journeyed on by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together, 7 and there was strife between the herders of Abram’s livestock and the herders of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land.

14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the Lord.

Philippians 3:2-12

3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh— 4 even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh.

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

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
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, March 14, 2019

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read all of 2 Peter 1

Listen to 2 Peter 1

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

Un dia a la Vez - Deja que Dios sea tu todo

Deja que Dios sea tu todo

Ciertamente les aseguro que si el grano de trigo no cae en tierra y muere, se queda solo. Pero si muere, produce mucho fruto.

~ Juan 12:24 (NVI)

Cuando le das la oportunidad a Dios de ser tu «TODO», créeme que puedes vivir más confiado y más tranquilo. Nosotros estamos viviendo tiempos muy complicados. La misma Biblia lo dice y no miente. Si la lees con detenimiento, verás que todo se ha ido cumpliendo. Estamos viviendo los tiempos finales y lo que debemos tener presente es que no se van a mejorar. Cada vez va a haber más guerras, terremotos, desastres, hambrunas, plagas y las personas tendrán mucha necesidad de conocer de Jesús.

Estamos en tiempos donde a lo malo llaman bueno, donde se levantan falsos profetas que vienen solo a confundir y donde persiguen a muchos por proclamar la Palabra de Dios.

¡Vaya, qué difícil es imaginarse esto! Aun así, hay que pensarlo. Por eso es que hoy te digo que es un riesgo vivir sin Dios en nuestro corazón. No podemos vivir como llaneros solitarios pensando que somos tan autosuficientes que controlamos el mundo.

No podemos seguir con esos aires de que nosotros controlamos la vida, cuando en realidad no controlamos nada. Con mucho esfuerzo algunos tienen domino propio y disciplina como para creerse la última Coca-Cola del desierto.

¿Cómo le rindes tu vida a Dios? Reconociéndolo en todos los caminos y dejando que Él sea el conductor de tu vida. Muere al «YO» y darás fruto.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Nosotros estamos viviendo tiempos muy complicados.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - WORTH FOLLOWING

WORTH FOLLOWING

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

~ Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

The first thing most Christians think of when they hear or read the word, “persecution” is torture. And indeed torture is what many persecuted believers experience. Helen Berhane was kept in shipping container prisons for almost three years because she would not deny her faith. She was beaten so severely she could not even walk. Other times Helen was chained for hours outside in the severe heat of the sunshine.

One tine after a full day of being chained outside, she was handcuffed and thrown into an old rusty shipping container full of holes. She lay on the icy floor in her thin dress. With no blanket, she soon began shivering. Her whole body ached from the cold and the beating she had received. She feared she might die from the freezing cold so she composed this song and sang it repeatedly throughout the chilly night:

I love you, that’s why I draw myself closer to you.

I know that it’s worth following you.

I am not only ready for prison, but I trust you until death.

Even in a closed space or in a pit I will not surrender to evil spirits,

Not even if I am bound or I am chained and I am suffering from cold,

I will sing and I am not going to tire of singing, nor give up.

My heart is burning with your love,

And my heart declares I will never stop respecting you or lifting you up.

I will sing again and again,

I will sing a melody for you,

My soul is pleased to sing for you.[1]

RESPONSE: I will praise the Lord today and every day—regardless of my circumstances.

PRAYER: Pray for all Christians who today are persecuted by being tortured. Pray they will respond as Helen did.

1. Helen Berhane, Song of the Nightingale (Colorado Springs: Authentic Media, 2009), p. 52.

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 - Finish Lines

Finish Lines

John 19:28–37
Recommended Reading: 2 Samuel 22:32—23:5; Colossians 2:6–15; 2 Timothy 4:1–8; Hebrews 12:1–2

Climb inside the mind of a marathon runner. Listen to his thoughts.

You’ve run this race countless times in your mind and hundreds of times in practice. But none of those resemble the real thing. The course takes you cross-country, and the running surface changes constantly. You could stumble at any step. Every change in terrain brings new challenges. Each race offers a different combination of obstacles and difficulties. And even though there are people at the roadside water stations to refresh your body, and crowds of individuals standing by to revive your spirit with their encouragement, it’s still just you out there—you, your two legs and your two feet. No matter which race you’re running, all of them have at least two things in common: the pain and the finish line.

Ah, the finish line! It makes all the pain bearable. Sometimes you forget the idea of winning the race in your all-consuming effort just to reach the finish line. You face the challenge and embrace the pain of running for over 26 miles, and a surge of joy fills your heart as you see the tape stretched across the journey’s end. Every last ounce of strength drives you across the finish line.

Jesus understood that intense drive to finish. With one of his last breaths, he cried out, “It is finished!” In the language of the New Testament, that’s a one-word exclamation: “Done!”

Jesus had joined the human race for a very special and specific reason—to finish God’s plan to provide forgiveness, salvation and eternal life for a fallen humanity. When Jesus shouted “Finished!” he was declaring that he had endured the judgment of sin on behalf of all humankind. He’d crossed the finish line for each of us. And in order to finish, he had to seal the arrangement with his life.

The cross represented the last hours in a long race marked out for Jesus. Even though he knew exactly how the race would end—with his sacrificial death—he still ran. Even though he had his disciples around him to provide companionship and support, not one of them knew exactly what he was going through in his final hours. Jesus knew that he’d experience excruciating pain. He knew that many would never accept his sacrifice, but he also knew that many would, and for us he ran. And finished. For this we’ll spend eternity in grateful appreciation.

To Take Away

• Do you see your life as a race? Why? How would you describe your progress so far?
• When you think of Jesus dying on your behalf on the cross, how does it make you feel? What effect does this reality have on your daily life?
• How can Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross motivate you to run the race God sets out before you?

Do you see your life as a race? Why?

Girlfriends in God - Permission to Speak Freely

Permission to Speak Freely

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

~ Psalm 55:22 (CSB)

Friend to Friend

I like to filter things. Get the junk out. Keep it pure. I have a filter for water on my counter and on my refrigerator. I replace them regularly. It makes me feel safe.

My fondness for filtering often flows over into the prayers I pray. I search for cleaned up words when I talk to God. Unconsciously believing He’ll like me better if my thoughts, emotions and desires run through a “good-Christian-girl” screen. It makes me feel safe.

Then I see David all up in the mess with God in Psalm 54 and I’m challenged again.

David prays unfiltered. He’s brutally honest with God. In a way I admire but hesitate to emulate. He doesn’t clean up his God-talk. He spills it. Sediment and all. I see this in the Word and my heart breathes.

We can speak freely even when our hearts grind with grit because Jesus is our freedom. We can enter into the dirt of others because He has entered into ours.

It’s good for me to drink filtered water and to filter the words that leave my mouth in conversation, but the words I speak to my Lord don’t need filtering. God can handle my honesty: good, bad and ugly. He needs me to relinquish the ugly in order to transform my heart. There are lessons to be learned in the filtering and un-filtering. In the freedom and in the restraint.

David wrote Psalm 55 in another time of distress.

God, listen to my prayer

and do not hide from my plea for help.

2 Pay attention to me and answer me.

I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,

3 because of the enemy’s words,

because of the pressure of the wicked.

For they bring down disaster on me

and harass me in anger. 

(Psalm 55:1-3, CSB)

He prays that God would show him mercy, talks of his sorrows and fears. He asks God to take action, assuring himself that God would, in due time, take care of business. 

But I call to God,

and the Lord will save me.

17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,

and he hears my voice.

18 Though many are against me,

he will redeem me from my battle unharmed. 

(Psalm 55:16-18, CSB)

He comforts himself with the hopes of divine rescue, and then points others to trust the Rescuer. His heart burns with the ache of things not being as they should... laments the reality of broken life.

Finally, David assures himself that God will make all wrong right in the end. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psalm 55:22, CSB)

God lovingly sustains each weary heart that calls to Him, and picks up the heavy end of our burdens to lighten the load.

And He holds tight to His own so they won’t shake.

What a powerful, beautiful, strong picture of His love.

In the shelter of His everlasting arms, we can pray unfiltered, ask hard questions and seek comfort from a God who understands pain, knows all and loves perfectly. We can trust Him.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Even as grace purifies my heart, remind me to come to You as I sift through the things that discourage and diminish my hope. Though this world is broken, I’m grateful that You welcome me to call to You for healing, help and comfort, knowing that you became broken that these miracles of goodness could be made possible.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

On a scale of 1-10, how filtered are your prayers?

What burden do you have that you need help bearing?

In light of this message and questions, grab your journal and spend a few moments in responsive prayer. Not a journal girl? No worries. Write your prayer of response on the wall of my blog or as a comment on my Instagram.

More from the Girlfriends

If you want to read and study the Bible, but don’t know where to start, this is for you! Girlfriends in God co-founder Gwen Smith has several online Bible Study options that will guide you on a personal journey with the Lord as you read, record, reflect on and respond to His Word. These studies will help you know what God says about tender topics like forgiveness, healing, fear, depression, relationships and hope. Each study can be done in the comfort of your home and in a time frame that fits with your personal schedule. Visit www.gwensmith.net/biblestudy to learn more.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

I like to filter things. Get the junk out. Keep it pure.

LHM Daily Devotions - BETTER THAN WE DARE TO HOPE

"BETTER THAN WE DARE TO HOPE"

Mar. 14, 2019

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

I love the conversation between Martha and Jesus that's recorded in John 11—on the day He comes to her home late after her brother has already died. It starts with what sounds like blame—"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Yet Martha can't resist adding a hint for a favor so outrageous she won't ask it directly: "Even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You."

Jesus is no fool. He knows what she's asking, and He responds directly: "Your brother will rise again." Careful, cautious Martha isn't sure what she's hearing: "I know that He will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Is that what You mean, Jesus? Are You just offering me a religious platitude about hope in the distant future, far, far away? Or are You offering me something real and firm, right now?

Martha is afraid to hope—and yet she does. She is afraid to ask for what she wants—and yet she asks, though indirectly. Martha is just like us, isn't she? We have our hopes and worries. We have our fears and doubts. And we approach God, hoping, praying—nervous, perhaps, about asking at all.

Jesus settles Martha's concern directly. It doesn't matter whether the resurrection is today or in the far distant future; Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). The resurrection from the dead is a person, who is right here walking and talking to you. It is not a distant hope. It is as close as Jesus Himself.

Those who have died in the Lord are with Christ, right now (see Philippians 1:23). They are not lost or far away. They are living even now in the care of the one who rose from the dead Himself (see Luke 20:38). Our Shepherd Jesus knows the way through death. None of His people will be left behind in death. He has promised to share His victory and life with us all.

THE PRAYER: Lord, help us to hope in You when we face death. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• When have you asked God for a favor?

• What important thing are you praying and hoping for right now?

• How does it help you to know that Jesus himself is our resurrection, and will shepherd us through death?

Lenten Devotions were 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).
When have you asked God for a favor?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 14 de Marzo de 2019 - Mejor de lo que nos atrevemos a esperar

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Mejor de lo que nos atrevemos a esperar

14 de Marzo de 2019

Por lo cual estoy seguro de que ni la muerte, ni la vida, ni los ángeles, ni los principados, ni las potestades, ni lo presente, ni lo por venir, ni lo alto, ni lo profundo, ni ninguna otra cosa creada nos podrá separar del amor que Dios nos ha mostrado en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor.

~ Romanos 8:38-39 (RVC)

Marta espera a Jesús con un reproche: "Señor, si hubieras estado aquí, mi hermano no habría muerto". Sin embargo, no puede resistirse a agregar un pedido sutil: "Pero también sé ahora que todo lo que le pidas a Dios, Dios te lo concederá" (Juan 11:21-22, énfasis agregado).

Jesús no es tonto. Sabe lo que le está preguntando y le responde: "Tu hermano resucitará". Marta no está segura de lo que está escuchando: "Yo sé que resucitará en la resurrección, en el día final" (Juan 11:23, 24 énfasis agregado). ¿A eso te refieres, Jesús, a la esperanza de un futuro muy lejano? ¿O me estás ofreciendo algo ahora mismo?

Marta tiene miedo de tener esperanza, pero la tiene. Tiene miedo de pedir lo que quiere, pero aunque de manera indirecta, lo pide. Nosotros somos iguales. Tenemos esperanzas y preocupaciones, miedos y dudas. Y nos acercamos a Dios esperando y orando, nerviosos porque pedimos.

No importa si la resurrección es hoy o en el futuro lejano. Jesús resuelve la preocupación de Marta, diciéndole: "Yo soy la resurrección y la vida; el que cree en mí, aunque esté muerto, vivirá. Y todo aquel que vive y cree en mí, no morirá eternamente" (Juan 11: 25-26).

Los que han muerto en el Señor ya están con Cristo (Filipenses 1:23). No están perdidos ni lejos. Nuestro pastor Jesús conoce el camino a través de la muerte. Ninguna de sus ovejas se quedará atrás. Él ha prometido compartir su victoria y su vida con todos nosotros.

ORACIÓN: Señor, ayúdanos a esperar en ti cuando enfrentemos la muerte. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:

• ¿Qué cosas le estás pidiendo a Dios en estos momentos?

• ¿De qué manera te afecta saber que Jesús te guiará a través de la muerte hacia la vida eterna?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué cosas le estás pidiendo a Dios en estos momentos?

Хлеб наш насущный - Жизнь вне сравнений

Жизнь вне сравнений

Читать сейчас: Бытие 29:31-35 | Библия за год: Второзаконие 23-25; Марка 14:1-26

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И еще зачала, и родила сына, и сказала: «Теперь-то я восхвалю Господа». — Бытие 29:35

В телепрограмме молодые люди вели себя как старшеклассники, чтобы лучше понять их жизнь. Они обнаружили, что социальные сети играют основную роль в формировании самооценки подростков. Один из участников сказал: «[Старшеклассники] оценивают себя на основании того, сколько «лайков» они получают под своими фотографиями». Эта нужда в принятии другими иногда побуждает молодых людей к экстремальному поведению в интернете.

Стремление к принятию существовало всегда. В книге Бытие рассказывается, как Лия хотела добиться любви своего мужа Иакова. Это выразилось в именах ее первых трех сыновей. Они отражают ее одиночество (Быт. 29:31-34). К сожалению, мы не находим упоминаний о том, что Иаков стал любить ее больше, чем прежде.

После рождения четвертого сына Лия обратилась уже не к мужу, а к Богу. Она назвала ребенка Иуда, что значит «хвала» (ст. 35). Похоже, Лия наконец решила найти свою значимость в Боге. Она вошла в историю Божьего спасения: Иуда стал предком царя Давида, а впоследствии – Иисуса Христа.

Мы можем искать свою значимость в разных областях. Но только во Христе мы становимся Божьими детьми, сонаследниками Христа и теми, кто будет вечно пребывать с Небесным Отцом. Как писал Павел, ничто не сравнится с превосходством познания Христа (Флп. 3:8).

В чем или в ком вы пытались найти свою значимость и принятие? Как вера в Иисуса Христа определяет вашу настоящую ценность?

Небесный Отец, помоги мне найти свою ценность в Тебе, а не в других. Только в Тебе я нахожу настоящего себя и жизнь, не сравнимую ни с чем!

автор: Питер Чин

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
В телепрограмме молодые люди вели себя как старшеклассники, чтобы лучше понять их жизнь.