The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, April 11, 2019

Warning to Pay Attention
Hebrews 2:1-4

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, April 11, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 31:9-16

9  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
     my eye wastes away from grief,
     my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
     and my years with sighing;
   my strength fails because of my misery,
     and my bones waste away.

11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
     a horror to my neighbors,
   an object of dread to my acquaintances;
     those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
     I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
     terror all around!—
   as they scheme together against me,
     as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
     I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
     deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
     save me in your steadfast love.

Isaiah 53:10-12

53:10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.
   When you make his life an offering for sin,
     he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
   through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
11   Out of his anguish he shall see light;
   he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
     The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
     and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
     and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
   because he poured out himself to death,
     and was numbered with the transgressors;
   yet he bore the sin of many,
     and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hebrews 2:1-9

Warning to Pay Attention
2:1 Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, 4 while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.

Exaltation through Abasement
5 Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. 6 But someone has testified somewhere,

   “What are human beings that you are mindful of them,
     or mortals, that you care for them?
7  You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;
     you have crowned them with glory and honor,
8    subjecting all things under their feet.”

Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, 9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

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
Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, April 11, 2019

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Read all of 1 Peter 2

Listen to 1 Peter 2

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

Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Drifting Away

Drifting Away

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

~ Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

William Edward Parry was a British explorer. In the early 1800s he led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean. They wanted to go farther north to continue their chartings. So they calculated their location by the stars and then started a very difficult and treacherous march north. They walked the whole day. And then totally exhausted, they finally stopped for the night. They took their bearings again from the stars. And they were shocked to discover that they were farther south than when they had started. They then discovered that they had been walking on an ice floe that was moving south faster than they were moving north! They were drifting in the opposite direction.

The same can be true of us spiritually. If we neglect to listen carefully to what Christ said, we will begin to drift away from Him. And our drifting will lead to disobedience. And if we don’t repent, that disobedience will lead to punishment—not loss of eternal life, but loss of the privilege of ruling in Christ’s kingdom. And that would be tragic! Because you were created to rule. God created man to have dominion over His creation. And you’ll get to do that—if you continue to follow Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for drifting away at times and not paying close attention to Your life-giving message of salvation. Give me a hunger and thirst for Your Word that no one and nothing can satisfy. Help me to confidently share the love of Jesus with every person I encounter today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
William Edward Parry was a British explorer. In the early 1800s he led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean.

Un dia a la Vez - Cuida la paz de tu corazón

Cuida la paz de tu corazón

Aleja de tu corazón el enojo, y echa fuera de tu ser la maldad.

~ Eclesiastés 11:10 (NVI)

En realidad, el corazón es un músculo. Está situado en el centro del pecho, un poco hacia la izquierda, y es casi del tamaño de tu puño. Este músculo es especial por lo que hace: El corazón envía sangre a todo el cuerpo.

Sabemos que el día en que el corazón deje de latir, ya no estaremos para hacer el cuento. De ahí que los especialistas hablen de la importancia de hacer ejercicio y alimentarse bien para tener larga vida.

Sin embargo, ¿qué sacamos teniendo una buena salud si nuestro corazón está amargado, está lleno de resentimientos, de ira, de maldad? De esa manera, no podemos sentir paz ni tranquilidad, porque todas esas cosas que acabo de mencionar atormentan nuestra existencia.

Por eso la Biblia dice que el corazón es engañoso… ¿Quién lo conocerá?

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Sabemos que el día en que el corazón deje de latir, ya no estaremos para hacer el cuento.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - TROUBLE CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST

TROUBLE CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble…?

~ Romans 8:35a (NIV)

The question asked is a personal one. Not “what” can separate us but “who”? The inference is our enemy, Satan, who tries every tactic he can garner to make us think we can be separated from Christ’s love. Today we look at his tactic of “trouble.”

Chinese Brother Mak spent years in prison and tells of the trouble he experienced from his captors and what he learned from it:

At first they would punch and kick me. There was a certain guard who slapped my face over a hundred times, until his hand hurt. Then I said to him, “Praise the Lord! I will pray for your hand.”

The most painful experience was when they raised me with my hands turned backwards, and using handcuffs, attached my hands to two bars on an iron gate. Then they moved the iron gate back and forth from left to right, pulling my whole torso. It felt as if my entire body would rip apart. The area where my hands were cuffed especially hurt. The iron from the handcuffs seemed to enter my very joints, preventing the blood in my palms from circulating normally.

During this time, I experienced just how much the Lord loves me. Because He does love me, He calls me to suffer, and to experience more of His love. He also makes me realize how minute and temporal peoples’ suffering is, compared to a future eternity with the Lord. This is God’s teaching. He is teaching me how to walk the way of the cross.

If I don’t suffer, how can I learn to serve? My suffering is for my benefit. Suffering leads me to face death. Only in this way can I die with Christ, and then be buried and resurrected with Him. Living is a struggle. This is the only way to reach heaven and experience victory. Thanks be to God! Jesus Christ has already triumphed over everything.

RESPONSE: I will live this day in the awareness that troubles can never separate me from Christ’s love.

PRAYER: Lord, may all Christian prisoners today gain the insights of Your love like Brother Mak.

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 - Scared to Death

Scared to Death

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1–58; Philippians 1:21–23

Despite all the personal fitness trainers, gastrointestinal bypass surgeries, expensive wrinkle creams and everything else people use to look young and keep fit, the mortality rate still stands at 100 percent! Someone once remarked that our generation will produce the best-looking corpses in history. Of course, Christians aren’t immune from the desire to live longer and look better in the process. And while there’s nothing wrong with caring for our bodies, Paul reminds us that death is nothing to fear.

Paul wants to address the concern of the Thessalonian Christians about loved ones who have died before Christ’s return. Of course, behind this worry for others likely stands a more personal concern: “What will happen to me when I die?”

Paul gets straight to the point with his encouraging answer. Those who die before Jesus returns will on that final day rise from the grave and accompany Christ to meet those still alive. Death doesn’t dash our hope in Christ; indeed, death for Christians marks a transition to an infinitely better life.

While Paul seeks to calm the fears of his readers, he also expresses his concern about the effect these anxieties will have on the other people around them—especially non-Christians. Paul reminds us that we don’t need to grieve the deaths of our loved ones or worry about our own deaths like “the rest of mankind” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Notice that Paul doesn’t say that Christians won’t grieve. Death is horrible, and it separates us from our loved ones. If we tried to pretend that this loss didn’t matter, we wouldn’t be authentic.

Paul, instead, wants us to know that we don’t need to grieve like those without hope. Yes, we mourn our loss, but we also rejoice, knowing that one day we’ll be reunited with loved ones who also knew Christ. More importantly, Christ will unite us with himself for all eternity. This truth allows us to, as Paul invites, “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

To Take Away

• What is your attitude toward death?
• How do you grieve? How does your response to death affect other people around you, especially non-Christians?
• How can you find encouragement and even cause for rejoicing in the midst of your grief?

What will happen to me when I die?

Girlfriends in God - The Scab You Just Won’t Stop Picking

The Scab You Just Won’t Stop Picking

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

~ John 5:5-6 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

Five-year-old Brooke was sitting in the backseat of a minivan while her mom and I ran errands. “Mommy,” she asked, “Is it worse to pick a scab or pick a mosquito bite?”

“You shouldn’t be picking at either one.” her mom replied.

I glanced back at Brooke as she tried to wipe away the bloody evidence that she’d done both.

Little girls aren’t the only ones who pick at scabs. We do it all the time. Maybe we don’t pick at the brown crusty scabs that form over a flesh wound preventing the skin underneath to heal. But many times we pick at the bitter rusty scabs that form over a soul-wound, not allowing the heart to heal.

Barbara (not her real name) was such a woman. Her face bore the lines and creases of a woman dragging around years of bitterness and regret. She didn’t bear beautiful scars that reflected God’s story of redemption; but rather soul seeping wounds she determinedly picked at and decisively refused to let heal.

Barbara was raised in a “religious” home, the youngest of twelve children. He father drank heavily and made sport of belittling his children and his wife. Her insecure mom always seemed to be tiptoeing through life, and did little to protect her kids from her menacing husband. When Barbara’s dad forced his daughters to parade in front of him in their underwear, her mom remained fearfully silent.

Barbara’s dad told his twelve children that the first four were planned, but the rest were accidents. She was an accident.

To save time, many of Barbara’s siblings took baths together. She remembers her older brother molesting her with inappropriate touching in the bathtub. Several years later, she repeated the behavior by touching a younger neighbor in the same way. And for thirty-three years, Barbara picked at the scabs of shame and bitterness and refused God’s invitation to heal them.

I talked with Barbara for a long time as she recounted her story to me. I reassured her of God’s full forgiveness and underserved grace. I pointed out redemptive Bible verses right there in black and white, and some in red. We talked about the necessity of forgiving those who have wronged us, and forgiving ourselves for those we have wronged. We talked about letting go of the past and moving forward in the present. We talked about the truth that when we come to Christ, we become a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come. After about an hour, I realized that we weren’t getting anywhere.

“I hear what you’re saying,” she said, “but I just can’t forgive myself for what I’ve done, and I can’t forgive my dad for making me this way.”

Friend, hear me on this. This is important. It wasn’t that Barbara couldn’t forgive her dad or herself; it was that she wouldn’t forgive her dad or herself. It wasn’t that she couldn’t leave the past behind; it was that she wouldn’t leave the past behind. And as long as she continued rehearsing the misdeeds in the theater of her mind, she would never be free.

As long as she saw herself as the star of the show who was oh so wronged, but oh so right, there would never be final a curtain call for the story to end. Like a child who continues to pick at a scab, Barbara continued to pick at the scabs of her life, never giving them a chance to heal.

And Jesus said to the lame man who had been lying by the pool for 38 years, and to me, and to you: “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6 NIV).

I don’t know about you, but more than anything I want to live free of bitterness, resentment, shame and condemnation. So when God says to me, “Do you want to get well,” my answer is always yes. But that means I have to cooperate by forgiving those who’ve hurt me and forgiving myself…to stop picking at the emotional scab and let it go.

Let’s decide to do that today!

Let’s Pray

God, I’ll admit that I sometime pick at emotional scabs. I replay what was done and how it was done. I don’t want to do that any longer. I want to get up off my emotional mat, get up, and walk in freedom. Today I forgive ________ for _________, and will no longer hold the offense against the offender. I also accept your forgiveness for my sin of __________, and will no longer live in shame and condemnation.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Go back and read John 5:1-14. What changes would the man have to make in his life if he were healed?

Did the man ever say that he wanted to get well?

Why do you think we sometimes would rather stay emotionally unhealthy rather than get well?

What changes would we have to make in our lives if let go of past offenses and past shame?

More from the Girlfriends

It’s time to let go of some things…to get up off of that mat.

In Take Hold of the Faith You Long For: Let God, Move Forward, Live Bold, I reveal the most common reasons we get stuck in our Christian faith. I show you how to break free of all that holds you back, move forward with all that God promises, and live the adventurous faith of bold believing. It’s time to leave behind feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy that hold you hostage and take hold of the mountain-moving faith God intends. Let’s uncover untapped sources of confidence and courage, and see how to move from simply knowing the truth to actually living it out boldly in a life marked by true freedom and expectancy. It’s time to get UNSTUCK! (Includes a Bible Study Guide for group or individual study.)

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

Is it worse to pick a scab or pick a mosquito bite?

LHM Daily Devotions - IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

"IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS"

Apr. 11, 2019

... This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."

~ John 19:24 (ESV)

It's a grim picture—Jesus hanging on the cross, while beneath Him, several Roman soldiers gamble for His clothing. It's tempting to condemn the soldiers for what they were doing. It's offensive. They shouldn't be doing that!

But from their point of view, they were only doing their jobs. They had taken three condemned men to Calvary, offered them a basic painkiller (wine mixed with myrrh), nailed them up, and now there was nothing to do but watch them. The soldiers couldn't leave till the men were dead, and that would take hours, if not days.

So they decided to divvy up Jesus' clothes, which were their traditional right as His executioners. And when one piece was too nice to be divided by tearing, they decided to gamble for it. Hey, there was nothing else to do. Dice or cards have helped pass the time for many soldiers down through history. And there was nothing more interesting going on!

But that's just where they were wrong. The central event of human history was taking place, right over their heads. Jesus Christ was dying for the whole human race. God was being executed—paying the price for all sin and wickedness. If the soldiers had only known!

If we had only known, we might say. Not about Jesus' death—most of us have known that story since childhood. But God continues to do things right in front of our eyes—things in which we ought to be involved. We have neighbors in need—live near children in danger—have family who are hurting or lonely or struggling. If only we had known! we say, when some hidden disaster comes to light, too late for us to help.

But we can know—if we are willing to know. We can lift up our eyes and look around us for the signs of need. We can pray and ask God to direct us to the people He loves who need help. The main thing we need is a willing heart. God will provide the rest. Do you want to know?

THE PRAYER: Dear Father, show me what You want me to know so I can serve the people You love. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• What do you do when you are bored?

• When was there something happening "right under your eyes" that you didn't notice or recognize?

• Tell the story of a time when God opened your eyes to a need, and you were able to help.

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 do you do when you are bored?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 11 de Abril de 2019 - A la sombra de la cruz

ALIMENTO DIARIO

A la sombra de la cruz

11 de Abril de 2019

«Repartieron entre sí mis vestidos, y sobre mi ropa echaron suertes.» Y así lo hicieron los soldados.

~ Juan 19:24b (RVC)

Es una imagen sombría: Jesús colgando en la cruz, mientras debajo de él varios soldados romanos apuestan por su ropa. Es tentador condenar a los soldados por lo que estaban haciendo. ¡No deberían hacerlo!

Pero, para ellos, sólo estaban haciendo su trabajo. Habían llevado a tres hombres condenados al Calvario, les habían ofrecido un analgésico básico (vino mezclado con mirra), los habían clavado y ahora sólo restaba observarlos. No podían irse hasta que estuvieran muertos, y eso llevaría horas, si no días.

Así que decidieron repartirse la ropa de Jesús, que era su derecho tradicional como verdugos. Y cuando una pieza era demasiado bonita para ser dividida por un desgarro, apostaban por ella. ¡No había otra cosa que hacer! ¡No ocurría nada interesante!

Pero estaban equivocados. El acontecimiento central de la historia de la humanidad estaba ocurriendo justo sobre sus cabezas: Jesucristo estaba muriendo por la humanidad. Dios estaba siendo ejecutado, pagando el precio por todo el pecado y la maldad del mundo. ¡Si lo hubieran sabido!

Si nosotros lo hubiéramos sabido. No sobre la muerte de Jesús; la mayoría de nosotros hemos conocido esa historia desde la infancia. Sino que Dios sigue haciendo las cosas delante de nuestros ojos, cosas en las que deberíamos estar involucrados: vecinos necesitados, niños en peligro, familiares que están sufriendo o están solos o luchando. ¡Si lo hubiéramos sabido!, decimos, cuando un desastre oculto sale a la luz, demasiado tarde para que podamos ayudar.

Pero si estamos dispuestos, podemos saber. Podemos levantar los ojos y mirar a nuestro alrededor en busca de signos de necesidad. Podemos pedirle a Dios que nos guíe a las personas que ama y que necesitan ayuda. Lo único que necesitamos es un corazón dispuesto. Dios proveerá el resto. ¿Quieres saber?

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre, muéstrame lo que quieres que sepa, para poder servir a las personas que amas. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:

• ¿Cuándo sucedió algo "justo debajo de tus ojos" que no notaste o reconociste?

• Comparte una circunstancia en que Dios abrió tus ojos a una necesidad y pudiste ayudar.

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cuándo sucedió algo "justo debajo de tus ojos" que no notaste o reconociste?

Хлеб наш насущный - Сердца, наполненные миром

Сердца, наполненные миром

Читать сейчас: Притчи 14:29-35 | Библия за год: 1 Царств 17-18; Луки 11:1-28

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Кроткое сердце – жизнь для тела, а зависть – гниль для костей. — Притчи 14:30

Спустя сорок пять лет после завершения карьеры в профессиональном спорте Джерри Крамер не получил членство в Зале славы английского футбола (высшее признание для футболиста). Он удостоился многих наград, но эта, увы, ускользнула. Он номинировался на нее десять раз, но так и не получил. Несмотря на это Крамер великодушно заявил: «За свою жизнь я получил от Национальной футбольной лиги сотню подарков. Расстраиваться или сердиться из-за того, что я недополучил один, было бы глупо!»

После того как награда столько раз уходила к другим спортсменам, многие могли бы обозлиться, но не Крамер. Его отношение служит иллюстрацией того, как мы должны хранить свое сердце от разъедающего действия зависти, которая в Библии названа «гнилью для костей» (Притч. 14:30). Если мы поглощены мыслями о том, чего не имеем, и забываем о том, что нам дано, Божий мир покидает нас.

После одиннадцатой номинации в феврале 2018 года Джерри Крамер наконец был включен в Зал славы НФЛ. Однако наши земные мечты могут так и не осуществиться. И все же мы можем иметь мир в сердце, если сосредоточим внимание на многочисленных проявлениях Божьей щедрости к нам. Независимо от того что мы хотим и чего не имеем, мы можем иметь живительный Божий мир.

В какой области жизни у вас есть искушение постоянно думать о том, чего вы не имеете? Какие шаги вы можете предпринять на этой неделе, чтобы сосредоточиться на том, что дал вам Бог?

Бог дарит нам Свой мир и много других благословений.

автор: Кирстен Холмберг

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Спустя сорок пять лет после завершения карьеры в профессиональном спорте Джерри Крамер не получил членство в Зале славы английского футбола (высшее признание для футболиста).