The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2019

Luke 10:27

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 133

The Blessedness of Unity
A Song of Ascents.
1  How very good and pleasant it is
     when kindred live together in unity!
2  It is like the precious oil on the head,
     running down upon the beard,
   on the beard of Aaron,
     running down over the collar of his robes.
3  It is like the dew of Hermon,
     which falls on the mountains of Zion.
   For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
     life forevermore.

Leviticus 19:9-18

19:9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.

11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord.

13 You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. 14 You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Luke 10:25-28

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
10:25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

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
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Verse of the Day WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2019

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Read all of Galatians 5

Listen to Galatians 5

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 - Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Oportunidad contra beneficios

Sean bondadosos y compasivos unos con otros, y perdónense mutuamente, así como Dios los perdonó a ustedes en Cristo.

~ Efesios 4:32 (NVI)

Cuando perdonas de corazón, vives un principio muy grande para tu vida. Sin duda, leíste bien el versículo de ayer. Por eso te invito a que pasemos la hoja y lo leamos juntos con detenimiento. Ese pasaje nos dice que si tenemos algo contra alguien lo perdonemos, para que Dios nos perdone también. O sea, para ponerlo bien claro: Si no perdonamos a los que nos ofenden, Dios tampoco nos perdonará nuestras ofensas.

Es muy fácil de comprender cuando lo leemos, pero muy duro muchas veces llevarlo a la práctica. En realidad, eso es vivir la Palabra de Dios. No se trata solo de leerla y comentar: «Ah, está bien», sino de aceptarla y decir: «Lo entiendo y lo voy a hacer».

La oportunidad tiene muchos beneficios. Entre otros, nos hace humildes. Es posible que estés pensando: «¡Se ve bien que no sabes lo que me hizo! ¿Cómo le voy a dar otro chance?». Pues ahí es justamente donde está la diferencia. Debes ser humilde, dejar el rencor y olvidar, pero de corazón, no de dientes para fuera de modo que cada vez que tengas otra situación vuelvas a traer a colación lo que pasó. ¡Y ojo, eso es muy dado en nosotras las mujeres!

Por lo tanto, siempre que intentas perdonar recibes bendición, pues al ser humilde y perdonar como Dios te perdona, das frutos de madurez y siembras en tu vida para bien. Entonces, cuando el día de mañana falles, seguro que te gustaría que te dieran otra oportunidad.

Recuerda: Todos los días cometemos errores, pero no todos los errores significan que no tienen remedio. Además, ten presente todo el tiempo que Dios es un Dios de oportunidades.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
La oportunidad tiene muchos beneficios. Entre otros, nos hace humildes.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, May 22, 2019

PERSECUTION CAN HAPPEN HERE!

I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

~ 1 John 2:14b (NIV)

Colleague Ron Boyd-MacMillan recounts an interesting experience in China:

There’s a house church in Beijing I like to take my friends to visit. The members are all young professionals, about twenty of them, and they meet in a huge, darkened, open-plan office at midnight once a week. It’s totally illegal. Some of them are quite high ranking members of the communist party. If their faith is discovered, it would end their careers…or worse.

At the beginning of each meeting, the leader goes round and asks each member this question – the most challenging question I’ve ever heard in church: What are your wounds for Christ this week?

On one occasion I had brought two pastor friends, and the same question—through translation—was put to each of them. They replied, “Oh, we are not wounded or persecuted, you see, we live in Britain, where we have religious freedom, and we are so grateful for that!”

This reply was greeted with uncomprehending silence by the Chinese house church. Then a young woman spoke up, and without a trace of irony asked, “You mean they don’t let the devil into Britain?”

The house church leader patiently explained to the visitors the biblical understanding of persecution. “In the Bible, to be persecuted means to be pursued by the enemies of Christ. When we become a Christian, his enemies become our enemies, and we are pitched into a battle with the world and the devil, and this fight will draw wounds. So it doesn’t matter whether you are in Beijing or Birmingham, the fight is the same, only the degree and type of suffering may differ. You’re going to get pursued…that’s persecution.”

“But we thought persecution was legal discrimination, or being put into jail for one’s faith” replied the pastors. The house church leader answered, “That’s the extreme tip of it. Look, we may not sit on the same thorn, but we all sit on the same branch.”

Still the pastors did not look convinced. Another Chinese member said, “If you don’t have wounds for Christ, how do you know you are alive in Christ? Wounds bring joy, because then you know you are making a difference.”

This struck a chord with the visitors. As preachers, they knew that nothing communicates like joy. That’s why persecuted churches are growing churches—they are alive in Christ, and they know it because they have wounds! So find the source of resistance to the gospel in your local area, and when you apply the gospel, watch the fight begin.

RESPONSE: Today I will accept negative reactions as a sign that I am making a difference in my community.

PRAYER: Lord, may I also experience the joy resulting from doing right and opposing evil in my sphere of influence.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
What are your wounds for Christ this week?

Girlfriends in God - Wednesday, May 22, 2019

When a Dream Dies

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

I’m ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune: “Wake up, soul! Wake up, harp! Wake up, lute! Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

~ Psalm 57:7-8 (MSG)

Friend to Friend

I sat on my porch with my Bible in my lap and a hot mug of steamy coffee in my hand. Early morning is my favorite time of day. Just me, Jesus, and a smattering of birds.

I closed my Bible and looked out across the backyard. My eyes landed on a rounded mound of fur nestled in the grass under the willow tree.

I got up and moved in for a closer look. My heart sank as I discovered what appeared to be a curled-up baby fawn lying lifeless in the grass. Probably the same fawn my neighbor had seen nursing from its mom the day before. My heart broke. I understand the circle of life, but still. A baby fawn lay dead in my yard. Most likely the target of the coyote I’d seen the day before.

I couldn’t get close enough to see the wound. Sometimes that is the way of things.

I did get close enough to see the sunlight passing through the velum-like ears, the intricate spots on its back, and the Bambi-like eyelashes resting on a perfectly shaped snout. I would have to wait until Steve got home to take care of the situation. I just couldn’t.

All morning long my mind returned to the lifeless form lying in the sun. Hours passed. At noon I looked out of the window and the still fawn remained unmoved. Untouched. Undisturbed. I couldn’t stand it. I had to know the cause of death. So I mustered up my courage and made my way to the fawn. Three feet away. Stop. No signs of an attack. I inched closer.

Finally, I knelt down by the beautifully crafted creature, admiring God’s handiwork. But I couldn’t see what had killed it.

“What happened to you, little deer?” I whispered.

Suddenly, the fawn’s head popped up! Startled eyes stared at me…wide-eyed. Me like a deer caught in the headlights. The fawn simply caught. I fell back on my haunches! And time stood still for a moment as we stared at each other in disbelief! Just a hand’s-breadth away.

Finally, the fawn sprang to its feet, wobbled a bit, and scampered off like a drunken sailor. I sat in the grass and laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

So the fawn wasn’t dead after all. It had simply found a bit of grass and fallen asleep…until almost noon. And where is your mother? I wondered.

After my heart stopped pounding in my chest, God whispered, Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up.

I pondered those words for the rest of the day. I called a friend who is struggling in her marriage—in a very bad way. The sort of way that leaves you wondering if it will survive. I told her the story. I told her God’s message.

Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up.

Sometimes a marriage is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.

Sometimes a friendship is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.

Sometimes a dream is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.

I think we are much too quick to write the death certificate for our hopes and dreams. So here’s my word for you and for me today.

For my friend struggling in her marriage…

For my friend who cries for her adult son who walked away from God…

For my friend who has received ten rejection letters from publishers...

For my friend who longs to cuddle up with a good husband rather than a good book...

Don’t assume the dream is dead. Sometimes it just needs to be woken up.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Wake me up! Stir my heart. It’s not over till You say it’s over. I commit to continue to pray for what others deem as a lost cause, for I know that there is never a lost cause when it comes to Your power to save, to deliver, to redeem, to rebuild.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Were you surprised when you read in the story that the fawn was simply asleep? I think that is the same surprise God would like to give you today.

Read Matthew 9:18-26

What did Jesus tell the crowd about the little girl?

What did they do when Jesus said that?

What was the outcome?

People may laugh at you for continuing to pray, for continuing to believe. But don’t let that stop you. Turn them out!

More from the Girlfriends

Are you ready to dream again? God’s ready when you are! It’s time to let go of everything that holds you back, move forward with the promises of God, and live bold in the adventure of faith! It’s time to wake up those dreams and live again! Take Hold of the Faith You Long For takes you through the steps and will show you how! Also, check out my new collection of bangle bracelets from Fashion & Compassion!

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

Early morning is my favorite time of day. Just me, Jesus, and a smattering of birds.

LHM Daily Devotions - A Place for God's Own People

"A Place for God's Own People"

May 22, 2019

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed—on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

~ Revelation 21:9-14 (ESV)

What an image from the book of Revelation!

Fascinating how the description of this new Jerusalem, with all its glittering beauty and radiance, coming down from heaven and having the glory of God, has 12 gates with angels in attendance at each one. On the gates the names of the "tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed." It's as if to say, this city is the city of God's people—those chosen children of the patriarch Jacob through whom came priests and prophets, warriors and kings, servants, scribes and, in "the fullness of time," a Savior (see Galatians 4:4-7).

And through which son, which tribe, was it that the honor would be given to name the Messiah among its descendants? That distinction fell to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob (later named Israel) and his wife Leah.

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me, One who is to be Ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days" (Micah 5:2).

With the blueprint of God's future city in place since time began, and with the great Architect Himself having made His appearance among us (see Hebrews 2:14), the enclosing wall's foundations could be laid. And as the men and women of old had served their God and Father faithfully, so too would Jesus' disciples serve Him with distinction, their names forever emblazoned on 12 foundations of the New Jerusalem.

Beyond any scene conceived in print in some bestseller or on screen in some Hollywood blockbuster, God's holy city, "coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God," will most certainly be well beyond our feeble imagination. Paul knew this already when he referenced Isaiah as to what God has in store for His faithful: "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

The new Jerusalem: a city for God's own people—one day to be our city, in a life without end where God is worshiped and adored— "enthroned on the praises of Israel" (Psalm 22:3b).

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, to be Yours in Your city, living for You in thanksgiving and joy, that is where we want to be. Lead us ever onward in the Name of Your Son. In His Name we pray. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What an image from the book of Revelation!

Devocional de la CPTLN del 22 de Mayo de 2019 - Un lugar para el pueblo de Dios

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Un lugar para el pueblo de Dios

22 de Mayo de 2019

Entonces se me acercó uno de los siete ángeles que tenían las siete copas llenas de las siete plagas finales, y me dijo: «Ven acá, voy a mostrarte a la novia, la esposa del Cordero.» Y en el Espíritu me llevó a un monte de gran altura, y me mostró la gran ciudad santa de Jerusalén, la cual descendía del cielo, de Dios. Tenía la gloria de Dios y brillaba como una piedra preciosa, semejante a una piedra de jaspe, transparente como el cristal. Tenía una muralla grande y elevada, y doce puertas; en cada puerta había un ángel, e inscripciones que correspondían a los nombres de las doce tribus de Israel. Tres puertas daban al oriente, tres puertas al norte, tres puertas al sur, y tres puertas al occidente. La muralla de la ciudad tenía doce cimientos, y en ellos estaban los nombres de los doce apóstoles del Cordero.

~ Apocalipsis 21:9-14 (RVC)

¡Qué imagen del libro de Apocalipsis! Esta descripción de la nueva Jerusalén, con su brillante belleza y resplandor descendiendo del cielo con la gloria de Dios y sus 12 puertas atendidas por ángeles, es fascinante. En las puertas están inscriptas los nombres de las "doce tribus de Israel". Es como decir que esta ciudad es la ciudad del pueblo de Dios, de aquellos hijos elegidos del patriarca Jacob a través de los cuales vinieron sacerdotes y profetas, guerreros y reyes, siervos, escribas y, en "el tiempo señalado", un Salvador (véase Gálatas 4:4-7).

¿Y a través de qué hijo, a qué tribu se le daría el honor de nombrar al Mesías entre sus descendientes? Esa distinción recayó en Judá, el cuarto hijo de Jacob (más tarde Israel) y su esposa Lea. "Tú, Belén Efrata, eres pequeña para estar entre las familias de Judá; pero de ti me saldrá el que será Señor en Israel. Sus orígenes se remontan al principio mismo, a los días de la eternidad." (Miqueas 5:2)

Con los planos de la futura ciudad de Dios ya establecidos desde los comienzos del tiempo y con el gran Arquitecto que hizo su aparición entre nosotros (ver Hebreos 2:14), se pudieron sentar los cimientos del muro que la rodea. Y así como las personas de antaño habían servido fielmente a su Dios y al Padre, también lo harían los discípulos de Jesús con excelencia, sus nombres estampados para siempre en los 12 cimientos de la Nueva Jerusalén.

Más allá de cualquier escena concebida en un famoso libro o una película de Hollywood, "la gran ciudad santa de Jerusalén, la cual descendía del cielo, de Dios. Tenía la gloria de Dios", seguramente estará mucho más allá de nuestra débil imaginación. Pablo ya sabía esto cuando se refirió a Isaías acerca de lo que Dios tiene reservado para sus fieles: "Como está escrito: 'Las cosas que ningún ojo vio, ni ningún oído escuchó, ni han penetrado en el corazón del hombre, son las que Dios ha preparado para los que lo aman'"(1 Corintios 2:9).

La nueva Jerusalén: una ciudad para el propio pueblo de Dios: un día será nuestra ciudad, en una vida sin fin donde se alaba y adora a Dios: "Tú eres santo, tú eres rey; tú eres alabado por Israel" (Salmo 22:3).

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, guíanos siempre hacia adelante en el nombre de tu Hijo, para que vivamos para ti en agradecimiento y alegría hasta que lleguemos a tu ciudad santa. En Jesús. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¡Qué imagen del libro de Apocalipsis!

Ministérios Pão Diário - Ao piscar, pense em Deus

Ao piscar, pense em Deus


Leia: Dt 32:1-12
 | A Bíblia em um ano: 1 Crônicas 16-18; João 7:28-53


…cuidou dele, guardou-o como a menina dos olhos. v.10


“Deus é como uma pálpebra”, minha amiga Rosane disse, e eu pisquei de surpresa. O que ela queria dizer com isso?

“Diga-me mais”, respondi. Juntas, estudávamos as imagens surpreendentes de Deus na Bíblia, coisas como Deus representado numa mulher em dores do parto (Isaías 42:14) ou como um apicultor (7:18), mas esta era nova para mim. Rosane me mostrou em Deuteronômio 32, a passagem em que Moisés louva a maneira como Deus cuida do Seu povo. O versículo 10 diz que Deus cuida e protege o Seu povo, guardando-os “como a menina dos olhos”.

Mas a palavra que traduzimos como menina, Rosane me disse, literalmente significa pupila. E o que envolve e guarda a pupila? A pálpebra, é claro! Deus é como a pálpebra, que protege instintivamente o olho sensível. A pálpebra protege o olho do perigo, e o ato de piscar ajuda a remover a sujeira ou poeira, e mantém o suor fora do olho. Lubrifica o globo ocular, mantendo-o saudável. Fecha-se, permitindo o descanso.

Ao considerar a imagem de Deus como uma pálpebra, não pude deixar de agradecer a Deus pelas muitas metáforas que Ele nos deu para nos ajudar a entender o Seu amor por nós. Quando fechamos os olhos à noite e os abrimos de manhã, podemos pensar em Deus e louvá-lo por Sua terna proteção e cuidado por nós.

Quando você piscar, lembre-se 
de agradecer a Deus por Sua proteção.

por Amy Peterson

© 2019 Ministérios Pão Diário
Deus é como a pálpebra, que protege instintivamente o olho sensível.