The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, March 18, 2019

Abraham Justified by Faith
Romans 4:1-12

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, March 18, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 105:1-15 [16-41] 42

1  Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
     make known among the nations what he has done.
2  Sing to him, sing praise to him;
     tell of all his wonderful acts.
3  Glory in his holy name;
     let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4  Look to the Lord and his strength;
     seek his face always.

5  Remember the wonders he has done,
     his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6  you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
     his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
7  He is the Lord our God;
     his judgments are in all the earth.

8  He remembers his covenant forever,
     the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9  the covenant he made with Abraham,
     the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
     to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
     as the portion you will inherit.”

12 When they were but few in number,
     few indeed, and strangers in it,
13 they wandered from nation to nation,
     from one kingdom to another.
14 He allowed no one to oppress them;
     for their sake he rebuked kings:
15 “Do not touch my anointed ones;
     do my prophets no harm.”

[16 He called down famine on the land
     and destroyed all their supplies of food;
17 and he sent a man before them—
     Joseph, sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with shackles,
     his neck was put in irons,
19 till what he foretold came to pass,
     till the word of the Lord proved him true.
20 The king sent and released him,
     the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household,
     ruler over all he possessed,
22 to instruct his princes as he pleased
     and teach his elders wisdom.

23 Then Israel entered Egypt;
     Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 The Lord made his people very fruitful;
     he made them too numerous for their foes,
25 whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
     to conspire against his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant,
     and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his signs among them,
     his wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness and made the land dark—
     for had they not rebelled against his words?
29 He turned their waters into blood,
     causing their fish to die.
30 Their land teemed with frogs,
     which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
     and gnats throughout their country.
32 He turned their rain into hail,
     with lightning throughout their land;
33 he struck down their vines and fig trees
     and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
     grasshoppers without number;
35 they ate up every green thing in their land,
     ate up the produce of their soil.
36 Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land,
     the firstfruits of all their manhood.
37 He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold,
     and from among their tribes no one faltered.
38 Egypt was glad when they left,
     because dread of Israel had fallen on them.

39 He spread out a cloud as a covering,
     and a fire to give light at night.
40 They asked, and he brought them quail;
     he fed them well with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
     it flowed like a river in the desert.]

42 For he remembered his holy promise
     given to his servant Abraham.

Exodus 33:1-6

33:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

Romans 4:1-12

Abraham Justified by Faith
4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7  “Blessed are those
     whose transgressions are forgiven,
     whose sins are covered.
8  Blessed is the one
     whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

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

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
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, March 18, 2019

Romans 15:13 (NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Read all of Romans 15

Listen to Romans 15

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 - Hay esperanza

Hay esperanza

Y ahora, Señor, ¿qué esperanza me queda? ¡Mi esperanza he puesto en ti!

~ Salmo 39:7 (NVI)

Tal como le sucedió a Fredy, nuestro amigo del devocional de ayer, la vida lo sorprendió. De un día para otro, cambió su vida. Por robarlo recibió ese disparo que le cambió su condición física. Y a lo mejor esto te pasó a ti. Tienes una condición similar y quizá se deba a un accidente, una enfermedad o una incapacidad de nacimiento que cambió tu vida por completo.

¿Estamos preparados para afrontarlo? ¿Cómo sería nuestra reacción emocional? En la mayoría de los casos, estas grandes calamidades nos hacen más sensibles, nos motivan a buscar más de Dios, a pedirle ayuda y, por qué no, un milagro.

Por alguna razón que no tengo respuesta, Dios en algunos casos obra con milagros impresionantes. Sin embargo, en otra gran cantidad de ocasiones no hay sanidad física.

Conozco casos cercanos, incluso en mi familia, donde he podido ver que Dios ha dejado seres muy queridos para mí con sus limitaciones. A pesar de eso, sé también que no es casualidad que esas personitas a quienes quiero tanto Dios las haya levantando en lo espiritual de una manera única y hoy en día son grandes líderes. Su fe y sus testimonios han acercado a más de uno a los pies de Cristo.

A decir verdad, siempre hay esperanza. No sé cuál sea tu limitación, ni cuál fue esa situación que cambió tu vida para siempre, pero recuerda que Dios tiene un propósito con tu vida y serás de apoyo para otros que viven, o vivirán, lo mismo que tú y podrás ayudarles al testificarles del amor de Dios.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Tal como le sucedió a Fredy, nuestro amigo del devocional de ayer, la vida lo sorprendió. De un día para otro, cambió su vida. Por robarlo recibió ese disparo que le cambió su condición física. Y a lo mejor esto te pasó a ti. Tienes una condición similar y quizá se deba a un accidente, una enfermedad o una incapacidad de nacimiento que cambió tu vida por completo.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - GOD KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LOSE A CHILD

GOD KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LOSE A CHILD

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

~ Romans 5:8 (NIV)

Young Nam left his family behind in North Korea to search for money and food in China. Christians there helped him but on the way back he bumped into a North Korean patrol, and he was arrested on the spot. A prison official let Young Nam go after taking away all his money. Young Nam fled again to China, only to be arrested by Chinese policemen. And now he was back in the same prison with the same official who took a bat which was wrapped in newspaper. After Young Nam had taken the beating, the guards dragged him back to an overcrowded cell.

He convinced the prison official that he was not going to betray him and was released a second time. If he wanted to survive, the only option was to go back to China and stay there. He was able to secure a job working in the kitchen of a Beijing restaurant. There he met Eun Kyung who also came to work in the kitchen. Her husband had died in North Korea. Her sweet daughter died in her arms and her son was put in an orphanage. She and a bunch of other women were locked up in a house and sold into marriage to Chinese men.

Eun Kyung protested. “I have just lost my husband. Don’t force me to marry someone!” The human traffickers listened to her and placed her on a Chinese farm, where she had to work for room and board, but the family treated her very well. She ultimately came to Beijing and met Young Nam. There was chemistry between them. They took some secret Bible study classes together and they married, also in secret of course. After a while, the situation in Beijing became too tense for North Korean refugees, and the restaurant boss arranged false passports and put Young Nam and Eun Kyung on a plane to another country.

Now, Young Nam and Eun Kyung live in small apartment far away from their home country. There is little that reminds them of their painful past, unless it’s the eyes of their baby. Inevitably the eyes look similar to the eyes of the child she left behind in that wretched country with its love-wrecking system. Eun Kyung holds her few-months-old son tightly. The child is tense. Eun Kyung doesn’t seem to notice. She will protect this precious child with her life.

After their escape from China, Young Nam and Eun Kyung really got to know God by studying the Bible with a local pastor. They realized it was God who protected them. “God saved us, brought us together and gave us another child. We are very grateful for his love.”

Young Nam and Eun Kyung look to their son. For them, the child is a symbol of God’s hope and love. They know that God will not undo the past. However, God promises us that all tears will be wiped from our faces. That’s possible because the Son of God, out of love, let Himself be crucified. God Himself carried our pain. He knows what it is like to lose a child.

They conclude, “No matter what happened to us, we trust in God. We know that He is love.”

RESPONSE: Today I will forget the past, rejoice in God’s love and be thankful for all His gifts of life.

PRAYER: Thank You God that You can feel the pain of those who have lost a child. May Your love envelop them today and wipe the tears from their faces.

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 - Rahab

Rahab

Her name means: "Storm," "Arrogance," "Broad," or "Spacious"

Her character: Rahab was both clever and wise. She saw judgment coming and was able to devise an escape plan for herself and her family. As soon as she heard what God had done for the Israelites, she cast her lot with his people, risking her life in an act of faith.
Her sorrow: To see her own people destroyed and her city demolished.
Her joy: That God had given her, an idolater and prostitute, the opportunity to know him and belong to his people.
Key Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-21; 6:17-25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25

Her Story

Jericho may be the world's oldest city. Established nearly six thousand years before Miriam and Moses completed their desert wanderings, its ancient ruins can be found just seventeen miles northeast of Jerusalem. Gateway to Canaan, it was also the home of a prostitute named Rahab, whose house nestled snugly into its thick surrounding walls.

As well as entertaining locals, Rahab welcomed guests from various caravans whose routes crisscrossed Jericho. Men from all over the East brought news of a swarm of people encamped east of the Jordan. Rahab heard marvelous stories about the exploits of the God of the Israelites—how he had dried up the Red Sea so they could escape their Egyptian slave masters, and how he had given them victory in battle against Sihon and Og, two kings of the Amorites. For forty years the God of the Israelites had trained and toughened them in the desert. Such rumors spread fear in Jericho.

While men talked, another man planned. Moses was dead, and Joshua, son of Nun, had been appointed leader of the Israelites. Nearly forty years earlier Joshua had spied out the land along with Caleb and a group of others, urging the Israelites to take hold of the land of promise. This time there would be no shrinking back. Once the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and destroyed Jericho, the land would open like a melon with the rind peeled back. He could taste the victory.

Joshua sent two spies to Jericho to probe its secrets. The spies soon made their way to Rahab's house, where she hid them beneath stalks of flax drying on the roof. Later that day, Rahab received a message from the king of Jericho, asking her about the spies who had taken refuge in her house.

"Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from," she lied to the king's messenger. "At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them."

As soon as the king's men left, she hurried to the roof, quickly warning her two guests: "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us…. The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."

To this remarkable statement of faith, the men replied: "Our lives for your lives!" thus sealing the bargain.

Quickly, the two spies handed Rahab a scarlet cord, instructing her to tie it in the window on the side of the house built into the city wall. The invading Israelites would see it and spare everyone inside. Then Rahab instructed the men to hide themselves in the hills for three days until their pursuers abandoned the chase. With that, they slipped out the window and scrambled down the walls of Jericho.

Joshua was smiling long after the spies had left him with their good report. Now was the time to move. He marshaled the people and led them across the Jordan. Though the river was at flood stage, a massive army of Israelites crossed on dry ground. God was with them just as he had been when they left Egypt. Only this time, no one was chasing them—Israel had become the pursuing army, ready for battle!

The news that the waters of the River Jordan had parted for the Israelites terrified the inhabitants of Jericho. Rahab watched anxiously from her window in the wall as the Israelites gathered around the city like a growing storm. Would these fierce warriors with their powerful God remember the scarlet cord? For the thousandth time she reminded her family, especially the little ones, not to take even one step outside the house, lest they perish.

That first day Rahab watched as seven priests carrying an ark led thousands of men around the city. She braced herself, but nothing happened. The next day and the next, for five more days it continued. Then, as the sun was rising on the seventh day, the men of Israel marched again, encircling Jericho seven times. Suddenly, she heard the ram's horn sound and then a thunderous cry, loud enough to split a mountain. The city walls shattered and the Israelites rushed in. Rahab tried to plug her ears to the mayhem outside her home. When the battle of Jericho was over, Rahab and those she loved were spared. Her faith had saved not only herself but her entire household from the terrible judgment decreed for her city.

Jericho's end reminds us of Sodom's. In Sodom, Lot and his daughters were spared; in Jericho, it was Rahab and her family who were spared. But unlike Lot or his wife, Rahab never once hesitated. She is the only woman singled out by name and commended for her faith as part of the great "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in the book of Hebrews. A prostitute living in the midst of an idolatrous people, Rahab was like a brand plucked from the fire. Her own people destroyed, she left everything behind, becoming an ancestor of King David and, therefore, one of Jesus' ancestors as well.

Rahab's story is a dramatic one. It shows us that God's grace accepts no boundaries. The red cord that saved Rahab and her family reminds us of the red blood of Jesus, who still saves us today, and of Isaiah's words, that "though your sins may be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Rahab put her faith in the God of Israel and was not disappointed.

Her Promise

The story of Rahab reveals again God's willingness to use the less than perfect, the outcast, what we might see as the unsuitable to accomplish his holy purposes. Throughout Scripture, with what can almost be seen as divine humor, God chooses a stutterer to speak for him (Moses), an infertile woman to be the mother of a nation (Sarah), a weakling to defend him (Gideon), a forgettable youngest son to be the most unforgettable king of his people (David), an unknown youngster to be the mother of his son (Mary), and a persecutor to take the gospel to the nations (Paul).

God doesn't wait for us to become spotlessly clean or totally mature in our faith in order to use us. Instead, he takes ordinary, willing people and accomplishes the extraordinary, both in their lives and in the lives of those around them. As he did with Rahab, he promises to use us, and through that experience to perfect us.

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.
Rahab was both clever and wise. She saw judgment coming and was able to devise an escape plan for herself and her family.

Girlfriends in God - Stop Looking Around

Stop Looking Around

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Don’t turn to the right or to the left. ( Proverbs 4:27 ,CSB)

Friend to Friend

Knowing her soul was filled with sorrow, I sent my girlfriend a few texts with links to worship songs, hoping they would cushion her grieving heart with comfort. A while later she responded. Listening and worshiping. I have death certificates and head stones here, but we know that he has eternal life and the glory of God all around him. For that, I will ever praise the Lord.

The funeral had passed, but the sting of the death was still fresh and fierce. At the hand of a tragic, senseless accident, her young-adult son was gone in an instant. Shockwaves of horror ripped through the community, leaving thousands with a raw reminder of the frailty of life.

One treasure in the darkness of this horrific loss is this: my friend grieves with hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) She and her family lament knowing full well that the ashes of death for a believer transition to the perfect beauty of God’s presence.

Faith in Jesus breathes hope. Life eternal.

Faith in riches… wealth… things of earth breathes hopelessness and death. And sadly, many among us place earthly treasures above the unsearchable greatness of God. The Word speaks directly to this in Psalm 49.

“For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.” (Psalm 49:10)

It’s said there are two things no one can avoid: death and taxes.

Psalm 49 gets a bit icky by tabling the uncomfortable topic of the unavoidable date we all have with death. The questions that rise in my heart as I read Psalm 49 are ones of trust. Will I trust in my position, my possessions, and myself or will I trust in God? Will I trust that God really is who His Word says He is?

“People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.” (Psalm 49:12-13)
I’m reminded to stop looking around at the blessings or wealth of others.

“Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.” (Proverbs 4:27)

Ain’t no U-haul following a hearse, right?

Worldly prosperity versus godly prosperity?

Trust in yourself or trust in God?

As believers, we can trust that God will redeem every ounce of pain when our last day comes. And when that happens, we won’t care anymore about the trappings of this world. We will finally be at peace.

Those who misplace their trust in wealth do not know this hope.

With this in mind, let’s keep our eyes on what matters and live boldly today to share the wonder of grace with all we meet.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, You are the Author of Life and the giver of each day. Help me to trust You when life hurts. Help me to worship whether I have much or little.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

What are you trusting in?

Where are your eyes fixed?

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

Knowing her soul was filled with sorrow, I sent my girlfriend a few texts with links to worship songs, hoping they would cushion her grieving heart with comfort.

LHM Daily Devotions - WHAT SHE COULD

"WHAT SHE COULD"

Mar. 18, 2019

(Jesus said) "She has done what she could ..."

~ Mark 14:8 (ESV)

Six days before Passover, Mary and Martha gave a dinner party in honor of Jesus at the home of Simon the leper. This wasn't long after Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead, and no doubt their hearts were still full of thankfulness and joy. Mary was so moved that she took the opportunity to pour extremely expensive perfumed ointment over Jesus' head and feet.

This was a customary way of honoring an important guest, but she carried it to an extreme! And several of the guests there criticized her. But Jesus defended her. He said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. ... She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for burial" (Mark 14:6, 8).

That was a strange and jarring thing to say—His burial! I doubt Mary was consciously thinking of Jesus' burial at the moment when she poured the ointment on Him. And yet Jesus took her action that way. He knew, if nobody else did, He knew that within the week He would be dead—and His burial would be a hasty one, with no time for much preparation. "She has done what she could"—and Christians all around the world still honor her for doing what we could not, and showing that love to Jesus.

But it didn't end there. After Mary did what she could, Jesus did what He could—which was to be willingly arrested, suffer, and die, all to save us from everlasting death and damnation. He did what He could for the same reason as Mary—overwhelming love. And what He did was effective! For now that He has risen from the dead, He gives everyone who believes in Him everlasting life and joy. He did what He could—and that is enough for us forever.

THE PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for doing what You alone could do to save us and make us Your own. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• What particular gifts, skills, or advantages do you have that you use to serve the Lord?

• Think of someone you know who did what they could for the love of Jesus. What is that person's story?

• What one small thing will you do today for the love of God?

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).
What particular gifts, skills, or advantages do you have that you use to serve the Lord?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 18 de Marzo de 2019 - Esta mujer ha hecho lo que pudo

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Esta mujer ha hecho lo que pudo

18 de Marzo de 2019

Esta mujer ha hecho lo que pudo. Se ha anticipado a ungir mi cuerpo para la sepultura.

~ Marcos 14:8 (RVC)

Seis días antes de la Pascua, María y Marta dieron una cena en honor a Jesús en la casa de Simón el leproso. Esto fue no mucho después de que Jesús resucitara a su hermano Lázaro de la muerte, por lo que sin duda sus corazones estaban llenos de agradecimiento y alegría. María se conmovió tanto, que vertió sobre la cabeza y los pies de Jesús un ungüento perfumado extremadamente caro.

Eso se acostumbraba a hacer para honrar a un invitado importante, ¡pero ella lo llevó al extremo! Y varios de los invitados la criticaron. Pero Jesús la defendió, diciendo: "Déjenla tranquila. ¿Por qué la molestan? Ella ha efectuado en mí una buena obra... Esta mujer ha hecho lo que pudo. Se ha anticipado a ungir mi cuerpo para la sepultura" (Marcos 14:6, 8).

Dudo que María estuviera pensando en el entierro de Jesús en el momento que le echó el ungüento. Sin embargo, Jesús tomó su acción de esa manera. Él sabía que antes de terminar la semana estaría muerto y que su entierro sería apresurado, sin tiempo para mucho preparativo. "Esta mujer ha hecho lo que pudo ", y los cristianos de todo el mundo todavía la honran por hacer lo que nosotros no pudimos y por mostrarle tanto amor a Jesús.

Pero la historia no termina ahí. Después que María hizo lo que pudo, Jesús hizo lo que él pudo: se dejó arrestar, sufrió y murió voluntariamente para salvarnos de la muerte y la condenación eterna. Hizo lo que pudo por la misma razón que María: un amor abrumador. ¡Y lo que hizo fue efectivo! Porque al resucitarlo de la muerte Dios aceptó su sacrifico, y nos da ahora vida y gozo eternos a todos los que creemos en él. Jesús hizo lo que pudo, y eso es suficiente para nosotros por la eternidad.

ORACIÓN: Gracias, Señor, por hacer lo que sólo tú podías hacer para salvarnos y hacernos tuyos. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:

• ¿Conoces a alguien que hizo todo lo que pudo por amor a Jesús? ¿Cuál es su historia?

• ¿Qué harás hoy por amor a Dios?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Conoces a alguien que hizo todo lo que pudo por amor a Jesús? ¿Cuál es su historia?

Notre Pain Quotidien - La joie malgré tout

La joie malgré tout

Lisez : Habakuk 3.16-19

La Bible en un an : Deutéronome 32 – 34 ; Marc 15.26-47

Toutefois, je veux me réjouir en l’Éternel, je veux me réjouir dans le Dieu de mon salut. V. 18

Chaque fois que je n’arrivais pas à la joindre, je tombais sur sa boîte vocale, dont le message m’invitait à lui laisser un mot et qui se terminait sur une note joyeuse : « Faites d’aujourd’hui une journée formidable ! » En y réfléchissant, je me suis rendu compte que cela ne relevait pas toujours de notre volonté, car il arrive qu’une situation soit dévastatrice. Par contre, un examen plus approfondi de ma journée pourrait me révéler quelque chose de rédempteur et de magnifique, et cela, que les choses aillent bien ou mal.

Le prophète Habakuk a fait face à une situation pénible. Dieu lui avait prédit des jours où aucune récolte ni aucun élevage – dont dépendait le peuple de Dieu – ne porteraient leurs fruits (3.17). Les Israélites allaient devoir faire preuve de plus que d’optimisme pour surmonter la terrible épreuve de cette pauvreté extrême. En recevant cette révélation, il a eu les entrailles émues, les lèvres frémissantes et les genoux chancelants (V. 16).

Malgré tout, Habakuk a reconnu vouloir « [se] réjouir en l’Éternel » (V. 18), qui donne la force de marcher dans des voies difficiles (V. 19). Or, en dépit de tout ce que nous avons perdu ou n’avons jamais reçu selon nos désirs, nous pouvons nous réjouir comme Habakuk de notre relation avec un Dieu bienveillant. Même si nous avons le sentiment de ne rien avoir d’autre, il ne nous délaissera ni ne nous abandonnera jamais (HÉ 13.5), car celui qui accorde ses bienfaits aux affligés est notre raison suprême de nous réjouir (ÉS 61.3).

Peu importe ce que nous traversons, nous pouvons trouver de la joie en Christ.

par Kirsten Holmberg

© 2019 Ministères NPQ
Chaque fois que je n’arrivais pas à la joindre, je tombais sur sa boîte vocale, dont le message m’invitait à lui laisser un mot et qui se terminait sur une note joyeuse : « Faites d’aujourd’hui une journée formidable ! »