The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, May 23, 2019

The Value of Wisdom
Proverbs 2

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, May 23, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 67

The Nations Called to Praise God
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
1  May God be gracious to us and bless us
     and make his face to shine upon us,   Selah
2  that your way may be known upon earth,
     your saving power among all nations.
3  Let the peoples praise you, O God;
     let all the peoples praise you.

4  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
     for you judge the peoples with equity
     and guide the nations upon earth.   Selah
5  Let the peoples praise you, O God;
     let all the peoples praise you.

6  The earth has yielded its increase;
     God, our God, has blessed us.
7  May God continue to bless us;
     let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Proverbs 2:1-5

The Value of Wisdom

2:1 My child, if you accept my words

     and treasure up my commandments within you,

2  making your ear attentive to wisdom

     and inclining your heart to understanding;

3  if you indeed cry out for insight,

     and raise your voice for understanding;

4  if you seek it like silver,

     and search for it as for hidden treasures—

5  then you will understand the fear of the Lord

     and find the knowledge of God.

Acts 15:36-41

Paul and Barnabas Separate
15:36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39 The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

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
My child, if you accept my words ... then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Verse of the Day THURSDAY, May 23, 2019

Romans 15:2 (NIV) Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

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 - Thursday, May 23, 2019

Aprendamos y apliquemos

Porque juicio sin misericordia se hará con aquel que no hiciere misericordia; y la misericordia triunfa sobre el juicio.

~ Santiago 2:13, RV-60

Quise dejar este pasaje tal y como aparece en la Biblia, pues encierra todo lo que venimos aprendiendo en estos dos últimos devocionales y se aplica para cualquier situación.

«El siervo se postró delante de él. “Tenga paciencia conmigo —le rogó—, y se lo pagaré todo.” El señor se compadeció de su siervo, le perdonó la deuda y lo dejó en libertad.

»Al salir, aquel siervo se encontró con uno de sus compañeros que le debía cien monedas de plata. Lo agarró por el cuello y comenzó a estrangularlo. “¡Págame lo que me debes!”, le exigió. Su compañero se postró delante de él. “Ten paciencia conmigo —le rogó—, y te lo pagaré.” Pero él se negó. Más bien fue y lo hizo meter en la cárcel hasta que pagara la deuda. Cuando los demás siervos vieron lo ocurrido, se entristecieron mucho y fueron a contarle a su señor todo lo que había sucedido. Entonces el señor mandó llamar al siervo. “¡Siervo malvado! —le increpó—. Te perdoné toda aquella deuda porque me lo suplicaste. ¿No debías tú también haberte compadecido de tu compañero, así como yo me compadecí de ti?” Y enojado, su señor lo entregó a los carceleros para que lo torturaran hasta que pagara todo lo que debía.

»Así también mi Padre celestial los tratará a ustedes, a menos que cada uno perdone de corazón a su hermano». (Mateo 18:26-35)

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Quise dejar este pasaje tal y como aparece en la Biblia, pues encierra todo lo que venimos aprendiendo en estos dos últimos devocionales y se aplica para cualquier situación.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, May 23, 2019

OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

~ Romans 12:21 (NIV)

Colleague Ron Boyd-MacMillan shares part two of his experience in China:

The Chinese house church pastor put it this way, “Confront the defining evil in your area or your society–that will bring persecution. For us, the evil is obvious; for you, it may be more subtle.” You won’t necessarily be persecuted if you speak out against evil. You won’t necessarily be persecuted if you write an article about the evil. You won’t necessarily be persecuted if you organize a prayer meeting to pray against it. But you will be persecuted if you become a threat to the evil.

One pastor went back to his church in an inner city area of London. He asked the question, what’s the defining evil of this area? He became convicted that the youth gangs were the defining evil in the area, especially as they were going on killing sprees and starting to become drug pushers.

He began prayer meetings, and outreaches to the gangs. He even became a chaplain to a particularly violent gang. After a while, he saw fruit, but he also got a visit from a local gun runner,
“Leave the kids alone, or else” he said, “You’re bad for business.”

One night, six months later, a bullet came through the window as the church baptized five converted gang leaders. The reaction of the pastor could have come from the mouth of the Chinese house church leader. He said, “It was a beautiful bullet…because now we knew we were making a difference.”

That pastor had joined the persecuted church, and led his congregation into a greater awareness of the worldwide persecuted church. They wanted to know about their brothers and sisters in Eritrea, China, North Korea and Iran not just because the Christians there needed their prayers and their money, but because they were one in the same battle. Christians in the West need the insights and prayers of suffering Christians around the world to fight their own battles better.

The other pastor returned to his church in a very upscale, business district. After praying with his elders, they came up with the defining evil or idol of the area, which they called “The Lie—get rich; be free.” This was the besetting idol, they felt, and began to model a downsizing lifestyle in the community that reversed consumerist expectations.

The pastor confesses, “I’m facing almost weekly votes of confidence from my elders because they don’t think I am teaching people enough about how to be successful.” But he also says, “I feel so much better, because I’m not such a hypocrite in the pulpit anymore.”

RESPONSE: Today I will respond to the defining evil around me and overcome it with good.

PRAYER: Lord, I need Your power and strength to effectively overcome the evil I experience. Help me stand strong in my opposition to the evil one.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

Men's Devotional Bible - Thursday, May 23, 2019

Living in the Present

Exodus 16:11–21
Recommended Reading: Deuteronomy 8:16–18; Matthew 6:31–34; John 6:48–51

When you were a kid, did you ever wish you could see into the future? Most kids wonder what will happen to them as the years pass by and they grow older. Where will they go to school? Will they go to college? What about a career? Will they get married and have a family?

This kind of thinking doesn’t end when a person reaches adulthood. Singles wonder whether there’s a spouse for them out there somewhere. Parents dream about what their kids will grow up to be. College freshmen wonder about their eventual career path; older workers prepare for—or worry about—their retirement years.

Human nature compels us to look ahead with wonder. Dreams of the future make the drudgery of work today worthwhile. Anticipation of future events gets us up in the morning and forces us to plan for tomorrow. It’s what separates a man from his best friend, his dog.

The Israelites in today’s story were no different from us today. Faced with an uncertain future and an immediate need for food and water, they started grumbling. While they’d labored hard during their years of slavery, at least in Egypt they’d always had plenty of food and water. Now here they were, out in the desert, and they and their kids were hungry and thirsty. Put yourself in their place, and try to look at the situation from their perspective. Chances are you’d have had a few pointed questions for Moses as well.

God heard them, and responded by promising to provide for them. Those of us who attended Sunday school know the story well—each morning, flakes of bread appeared on the ground; in the evening, quail covered the camp. But they couldn’t hoard what they gathered, and they couldn’t store it. Moses instructed the Israelites to gather only what they needed for the day—no more, no less. Tough to do when you’re thinking about what the kids will eat for breakfast!

Why was limiting what they gathered important to God? Because the Israelites needed to understand what we all need to learn—that we can sustain a relationship with God only in the present.

Our past is nothing more than the story of how we got to where we are, and dwelling on it causes us to become stagnant and unsatisfied. We can’t find God by worrying or dreaming about the future, either, because that just makes us want to control whatever lies ahead.

Yes, we have concerns and hopes and dreams for the future. But this story tells us that we can live out our relationship with God only in the here and now. God longs for us to trust him every hour and every minute of today.

To Take Away

• What worries about the future do you need to place in God’s hands?
• What hinders you from developing your relationship with God today?
• Consider the fact that the present, while fleeting, is the testing ground for your faithfulness to God and his plan for your life. Then pray for the wisdom to make the right decisions and place your plans and concerns for the future in God’s good hands.

When you were a kid, did you ever wish you could see into the future?

Girlfriends in God - Thursday, May 23, 2019

My Favorite Place

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

~ Psalm 84:4 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

The bedrooms of my children house more memories than a library full of books. The doorframes have been gateways to relationship. Access points of intimacy. Invitations to community.

Over the years the space beyond each threshold has fostered fun, friendships, frazzled feelings and family. It’s been a meeting place of life and love. An incubator for growth, depth, conversations and dreams.

The floors have held dance parties, dirty clothes, discipline, and daily drama. The air has held honest whispers and lingering lullabies, screams and songs… prayers, promises and plans.

That space is a place of misunderstanding and tantrums, of teaching and reaching, of decorations and celebrations. A beautiful dwelling place of knowing and being known.

Psalm 84 echoes this type of warmth, joy and depth of connection in the sacred space of our Savior.

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

(Psalm 84:1-2)

Trust is built. Burdens are shared. Barriers crumble. Tears are caught. Blessing and strength abound in God’s presence. Hope, favor and good things are found.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you…

They go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion.

(Psalm 84:4-5a, 7)

The holy dwelling place of God is incomprehensibly eternal, yet simply accessible with just the whisper of His name. Almighty Lord… Gracious Father… Loving King…

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield. He grants favor and honor (CSB) … He gives us grace and glory. (NLT) No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (ESV) … from those who live with integrity (CSB) … from those who do what is right (NLT).” (Psalm 84:11)

By grace you and I are invited to dance at His feet, walk streets of gold, and join in the worship that rises continually before His throne. God desires an intimate, personal relationship. So do I. So do I. So do I. One day in His courts, in the beauty of His presence, is surely better than a thousand elsewhere.

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

(Psalm 84:12)

Let’s Pray

Holy Lord, You are glorious and good. Gracious and kind. Worthy of all praise and honor. Your presence is a treasure of strength, protection and abundance. My deepest joy comes from knowing You and being fully known. Help me to live with integrity and to trust You more each day. Remind me run to You with everything, especially my love.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Psalm 84. Now reflect on the text. What are a few things that stand out to you? What verse resonates most with your heart?

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 cofounderGwen 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 timeframe that fits with your personal schedule. Visit www.GwenSmith.net/BibleStudy to learn more.

PS. Have you listened to the GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith podcast yet? Hang out with Gwen and friends as you commute to work, go on walks, exercise, fold laundry, run errands or travel.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

Over the years the space beyond each threshold has fostered fun, friendships, frazzled feelings and family.

LHM Daily Devotions - Moving In

"Moving In"

May 23, 2019

(Jesus said) "In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My Name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father."

~ John 16:23-28 (ESV)

When I married into the Vietnamese community, I had severe culture shock. For example, when I said to a Vietnamese friend, "Please make yourself at home"—well, they really did! They would show up with bags of groceries, head straight into the kitchen, and begin cooking up a storm. They went through the fridge and the silverware drawer. The meal was delicious. And they washed all my dishes.

But I couldn't get over the boundary crossing. You see, in America, "make yourself at home" is more or less a polite fiction. We don't really expect our guests to take over the kitchen. Our fridges and silverware drawers are sacrosanct. We don't expect people to move in! There is always a boundary—a "no-go" area, that marks the difference between family members and guests.

Most of us think of God's home that way also, I suspect. God may say to us, "You are My children—make yourselves at home," but we still think of ourselves as guests—only one step removed from outsiders—using our best manners and asking permission for everything. We are not "at home." At least, we don't really think so!

To this attitude, Jesus says, "In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you ... In that day you will ask in My Name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God."

Just imagine! Jesus says we can go straight to the Father in His Name. We don't have to do things round-about, asking for what we need through the family member who invited us home, that is, Jesus: "Would You please go ask Your Father if ...?" We are no longer guests, but children, and the Father Himself loves us. Why? Because we love Jesus and trust in Him; we believe in Him.

Now personally, I am happy to ask Jesus things. But I am also deeply grateful that, because of His sacrifice on the cross, I can truly be "at home" with God the Father, no longer a guest but a child—through Jesus our Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, teach me what it means to be God's child. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
When I married into the Vietnamese community, I had severe culture shock. For example, when I said to a Vietnamese friend, "Please make yourself at home"—well, they really did!

Devocional de la CPTLN del 23 de Mayo de 2019 - Mudándose

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Mudándose

23 de Mayo de 2019

En aquel día ya no me preguntarán nada. De cierto, de cierto les digo, que todo lo que pidan al Padre, en mi nombre, él se lo concederá. Hasta ahora nada han pedido en mi nombre; pidan y recibirán, para que su alegría se vea cumplida. Les he hablado de esto en alegorías, pero viene la hora en que ya no les hablaré por alegorías, sino que claramente les anunciaré acerca del Padre. En aquel día ustedes pedirán en mi nombre; y no les digo que yo rogaré al Padre por ustedes, pues el Padre mismo los ama, porque ustedes me han amado y han creído que yo salí de Dios. Salí del Padre, y he venido al mundo; otra vez dejo el mundo, y voy al Padre.

~ Juan 16:23-28 (RVC)

Cuando me casé en la comunidad vietnamita, el choque cultural fue grande. Por ejemplo, cuando le dije a unos amigos vietnamitas: "Por favor, siéntanse como en su casa, ¡realmente lo hicieron! Aparecían con bolsas de comestibles, iban a la cocina y cocinaban, usaban lo que encontraban en la nevera, etc. Claro que la comida era deliciosa y lavaban todo lo que utilizaban.

Pero no pude superar el atropello de límites. En los Estados Unidos el "sentirse como en casa" no es más que una expresión de amabilidad: no esperamos que nuestros huéspedes se hagan cargo de la cocina y nuestros refrigeradores, vajilla y cubiertos son sagrados. Siempre hay un límite, un área de "prohibido pasar", que establece la diferencia entre los miembros de la familia y los invitados.

Se me ocurre que la mayoría de nosotros pensamos de esa manera acerca de la casa de Dios. Por más que Dios nos diga: "Ustedes son mis hijos, esta es su casa", nos consideramos invitados y seguimos usando nuestros mejores modales y pidiendo permiso para todo. No nos "sentimos en casa", porque en verdad ¡no lo creemos!

Ante esto, Jesús dice: "En aquel día ya no me preguntarán nada. De cierto, de cierto les digo, que todo lo que pidan al Padre, en mi nombre, él se lo concederá. ... En aquel día ustedes pedirán en mi nombre; y no les digo que yo rogaré al Padre por ustedes, pues el Padre mismo los ama, porque ustedes me han amado y han creído que yo salí de Dios."

¡Solo imagina! Él dice que podemos ir directamente al Padre en su nombre. No tenemos que hacer las cosas dando rodeos, preguntando por lo que necesitamos a través del miembro de la familia que nos invitó a casa, es decir, Jesús: "¿Podrías preguntarle a tu padre si...?" Ya no somos más invitados, sino hijos del Padre que nos ama. ¿Por qué? Porque amamos a Jesús y creemos en él.

Yo estoy feliz de poder pedirle cosas a Jesús. Pero también estoy profundamente agradecida porque, gracias a su sacrificio en la cruz, podemos verdaderamente "sentirnos en casa" con Dios el Padre, ya no como invitados sino como hijos.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor Jesús, enséñame lo que significa ser hijo de Dios. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Cuando me casé en la comunidad vietnamita, el choque cultural fue grande. Por ejemplo, cuando le dije a unos amigos vietnamitas: "Por favor, siéntanse como en su casa, ¡realmente lo hicieron!

Хлеб наш насущный - Бросать камни

Бросать камни

Читать сейчас: Иоанна 8:1-11 | Библия за год: 1 Паралипоменон 19-21; Иоанна 8:1-27

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«Кто из вас без греха, первый брось в нее камень». — Иоанна 8:7

Лиза не испытывала никакого сочувствия к тем, кто изменяет своим супругам… Пока не пережила сильное разочарование в собственном браке и не начала бороться с греховным влечением. Этот горький опыт помог ей обрести сочувствие к другим и лучше понять слова Христа: «Кто из вас без греха, первый брось в нее камень» (Ин. 8:7).

Иисус учил во дворе храма, когда произнес эти слова. Книжники и фарисеи притащили к Нему женщину, пойманную в прелюбодеянии. «Моисей в законе заповедал нам побивать таких камнями. Ты что скажешь?» – спросили они (ст. 5). Они видели в Иисусе угрозу своей власти, поэтому решили устроить Ему ловушку, «чтобы найти что-нибудь к обвинению Его» (ст. 6).

Но когда Иисус ответил: «Кто из вас без греха…», никто из обвинителей не смог заставить себя взять камень. Один за другим они ушли прочь.

Прежде чем судить поведение других, снисходительно глядя на собственные грехи, вспомним, что все мы «согрешили и лишены славы Божией» (Рим. 3:23). Вместо осуждения Иисус явил этой женщине (а вместе с ней и нам) милость и надежду (Ин. 3:16; 8:10-11). Как мы можем поступать так же с другими?

Как вы можете воплотить урок главы 8 Евангелия от Иоанна в своих отношениях с людьми? Как ваш опыт может помочь тем, кто сталкивается с похожими трудностями?

Дорогой Господь, спасибо, что Ты любишь нас! Помоги нам смотреть на людей с состраданием и быть милосердными во всем, что мы говорим и делаем.

автор: Алисон Киеда

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Лиза не испытывала никакого сочувствия к тем, кто изменяет своим супругам…