The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019

Luke 2:25-38

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 93

The Majesty of God’s Rule
1  The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
     the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
   He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
2    your throne is established from of old;
     you are from everlasting.

3  The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
     the floods have lifted up their voice;
     the floods lift up their roaring.
4  More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
     more majestic than the waves of the sea,
     majestic on high is the Lord!

5 Your decrees are very sure;
    holiness befits your house,
    O Lord, forevermore.

2 Chronicles 34:20-33

34:20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the secretary Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah: 21 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found; for the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us is great, because our ancestors did not keep the word of the Lord, to act in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

The Prophet Huldah Consulted
22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent went to the prophet Huldah, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (who lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect. 23 She declared to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 Thus says the Lord: I will indeed bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the works of their hands, my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. 26 But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 27 because your heart was penitent and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. 28 I will gather you to your ancestors and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.” They took the message back to the king.

The Covenant Renewed
29 Then the king sent word and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small; he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 31 The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin pledge themselves to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel, and made all who were in Israel worship the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord the God of their ancestors.

Luke 2:25-38

2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
     according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31   which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
     and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

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
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Verse of the Day WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2019

Psalm 103:17-18 (NIV) But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Read all of Psalm 103

Listen to Psalm 103

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 29, 2019

Semana de celebración: El amor

Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.

~ Juan 3:16, RV-60

La muestra más hermosa y grande del amor de Dios la hizo hace más de dos mil años cuando Dios entregó a su único Hijo, Jesucristo, para que viniera a este mundo hecho hombre y muriera por el perdón de nuestros pecados.

En realidad, no fue una muerte sencilla, Todo lo contrario, fue la peor manera en que podía morir un ser humano. Fue una muerte de cruz. ¿Sabías que la muerte de cruz era la más humillante en esa época? Así morían los ladrones y los repudiados. Además, era una muerte cruel y lenta.

Recuerda hoy ese sacrificio que Dios hizo por amor a nosotros para darnos una vida eterna.

Cuando tenemos este episodio claro en nuestra mente, podemos comprender que la salvación es un regalo de Dios y que desde ese capítulo de la historia, Dios nunca ha dejado de amarnos. Así nos lo demuestra día a día con la vida, las bendiciones, la naturaleza hermosa que disfrutamos y con la esperanza que cuando nos toque partir de este mundo, estaremos en su presencia por toda una eternidad.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
La muestra más hermosa y grande del amor de Dios la hizo hace más de dos mil años cuando Dios entregó a su único Hijo, Jesucristo, para que viniera a este mundo hecho hombre y muriera por el perdón de nuestros pecados.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, May 29, 2019

STRATEGIC LEVEL SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Then he [angel] continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

~ Daniel 10:12-13 (NIV)

There is considerable interest and teaching today about “territorial spirits,” that is, spiritual warfare waged against high-ranking principalities and powers assigned to a locale. The Scripture passage here indicates that a particular evil spirit was assigned to Daniel’s human government or territory. But what we lack biblically is any example of or injunction to engage these spirits directly or by name. Daniel only prayed to his God who sovereignly directs angels to war against the territorial rulers. The Apostle Paul taught that demonic emissaries who attack the church and hinder its mission can be overcome only through reliance on the power of God.

That same power of God is much needed in the world today. For example, witchcraft is being used as a strategic weapon by traditional Indian authorities in western Colombia in an attempt to weaken and even stamp out the faith of indigenous Christians. Sorcerers or witchdoctors, called te walas by the indigenous peoples, have started sending messengers to sit in the back during church services, rather than going directly themselves. When the pastors invite listeners to receive Christ, these messengers say, “No, we have just come to listen.” But while Christians are praying, the te walas sprinkle the cursed waters around the church.

If their incantations bring no results, the te walas themselves come to the church, surrounding it with occult rites to cause the believers to lose their desire to pray and read the Bible. In some recent night-time visits by these traditional “healers,” the witchdoctors made pacts with animal blood as well as sprinkled their cursed waters on the church.

A seventeen-year-old girl in one church was induced to participate in these practices, despite having Christian parents. She actually made a pact of witchcraft, her pastor said, to give over one of her relatives to Satan. Discouraged, her parents cannot understand how this could happen in their home, where she learned to know and love God. Church leaders and the pastor have united with this family to intercede for urgently for this young girl’s deliverance. The pastor admitted that he feared that more such cases are happening that have yet to be discovered. They need our prayers.

RESPONSE: Today I’ll not underestimate the power of God to defeat all that Satan throws against me.

PRAYER: Lord, may Your mighty power overcome the evil united against Your church in Colombia.

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

Girlfriends in God - Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Are You Lying to Yourself about Yourself?

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you,

~ Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

Every weekday morning my husband’s alarm clock goes off at 5:30 a.m. He gets up, showers, shaves, brushes his teeth, gets dressed, and places his jingling keys in his pocket. He clears his throat, blows his nose, and, well, does other noisy things. When he opens and closes the door leading to the garage, the alarm in the bedroom beeps three times…loudly. This happens every day, and I don’t hear a thing. I sleep right through it. My body has grown so accustomed to his routine that I don’t even hear the noise. I don’t hear anything until my alarm goes off an hour or so later. And yes, we’re in the same bed.

Just like we can get so accustomed to the noises around us, so much so that we don’t even notice them, we can grow accustomed to the lies we tell ourselves about ourselves, others, and our circumstances.

The alarm may beep, but we ignore the alarm. Our senses grow dim.

“I’m not good enough.” Lie alarm!

“I’m worthless!” Lie alarm!

 “I can’t do anything right.” Lie alarm!

David talked to himself regularly. In one psalm he wrote, “Awake, my soul!” (Psalm 57:8). The Hebrew word translated “awake” could be translated, “Pay attention! Open your eyes!”

We can get used to the lies and not even realize they are there. So now it’s time to wake up. Pay attention! Be on the alert! Watch out!

Don’t be lulled into the hum of Satan’s lies about who you are, what you have, and where you are.
Paul gave us an effective lie detector to filter our thoughts through in Philippians 4:8-9.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Now that is a lot to think about, but if we just did the first one in the list we’d be ahead of the game. “Whatever is true...think about such things.”

Paul doesn’t just leave us with the qualifying list; he gives us the means by which to implement it. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.”

It takes practice. Practice, practice, practice to detect the lies we believe and replace them with truth.
And look at the result: “And the God of peace will be with you.” That’s so worth it!

Pay attention to what you are thinking about.

Practice thinking on the truth.

And the peace of God will be with you.

Let’s Pray

Father, so much of what I think about is useless gibberish. I tell myself things about myself that don’t line up with who You say that I am. I’m sorry. Please forgive me for talking so poorly about your creation...me. And not only that. I worry about the future and carry around regrets about the past. What a waste. I’m giving both to you right now. I choose to think only on what is true.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Let me take this one step further. If any thought begins with “what if,” it is not truth. It is worrying about something that has not happened. It is not reality.

If any thought begins with “if only,” it is not truth. It is regret about something that has already happened which you can do nothing about.

Today, pay attention to your thoughts and words. Sift them through the filter of the truth. That includes your regrets and worries. Let’s memorize this together. Come on...it’s easy.

Whatever is true...think on these things. Philippians 4:8-9.

If you’ll join me, click over to my Facebook page and say, “I’m thinking on what is true.”

More from the Girlfriends

You’ve heard the lies before. Maybe even whispered one or two to yourself from time to time. Maybe repeated them so often you’ve started to believe them. “Nobody loves me. I’m worthless. I would be happier married to someone else. I’m just not good enough.” The list goes on. It’s time to recognize the enemy’s lies and to replace those lies with the Bible’s liberating truth. It’s time to renew your mind and think God’s thought rather than be held in bondage by the enemy’s deceptions. It’s time to be set free to see yourself as God sees you: His holy, chosen, cleansed, forgiven and dearly loved child. Now that’s a truth worth repeating. To learn more, check out my book, Enough: Silencing the Lies that Steal Your Confidence. It’s a game changer!

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

My body has grown so accustomed to his routine that I don’t even hear the noise.

LHM Daily Devotions - Rivers and Trees

"Rivers and Trees"

May 29, 2019

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship Him.

~ Revelation 22:1-3 (ESV)

Do you know what ran straight from the temple in ancient Jerusalem all the way to the Pool of Siloam? A great big sewer. A drainage ditch, roofed over, with the main street of Jerusalem just above it. Anything that went into it—rainwater, sewage, trash—got pushed through the channel until it reached the Kidron and eventually ended up in the Dead Sea. This was a fairly typical setup for ancient cities, although in some places, the sewer was left unroofed—with the predictable smelly consequences!

What about trees? Was Jerusalem a leafy paradise? Very unlikely, at least within the city walls. Cities tended to use up the closest wood for building or for fuel. There might be a few fruit trees here and there but, since Jerusalem was in a climate where water was scarce much of the year, chances are you wouldn't see many trees growing among the houses. You'd have to leave the city to find them.

But this is not the way God describes the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation, the capital city of God's new heavens and new earth. There, we are told, John saw "the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Think of the difference! A river of pure life-giving water, instead of a sewer; trees with life-giving fruit and healing leaves, instead of barren streets. God's kingdom will be marked by life and health, not by stink and death.

This is the kind of change we long for in our own lives, isn't it? When our lives are dry, we thirst for that water of life Jesus promises; when our worlds seem barren and empty, we long for the beautiful tree of life which both feeds and heals us. And we can have these things—or rather, what they represent—even now, in this life. Jesus says: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37b-38). John tells us, "Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive" (John 7:39).

And how do we receive that gift? It comes as a result of Jesus' cross, where He destroyed the power of death and brought life and immortality to life. We look at His cross and suffering and see only a tree of death. By His resurrection God made it a tree of life for us, for everyone who trusts in Jesus to save us. Now He promises to share the fruit of His cross—everlasting life—with all of us, His people.

THE PRAYER: Dear Father, bring us into Your Son's kingdom to share in the water of life and the tree of life which You have given to be a blessing to us. 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).
Do you know what ran straight from the temple in ancient Jerusalem all the way to the Pool of Siloam?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 29 de Mayo de 2019 - R­íos y árboles

ALIMENTO DIARIO

R­íos y árboles

29 de Mayo de 2019

"Después me mostró un río límpido, de agua de vida. Era resplandeciente como el cristal, y salía del trono de Dios y del Cordero. En medio de la calle de la ciudad, y a cada lado del río, estaba el árbol de la vida, el cual produce doce frutos y da su fruto cada mes; las hojas del árbol eran para la sanidad de las naciones. Allí no habrá maldición. El trono de Dios y del Cordero estará en medio de ella, y sus siervos lo adorarán."

~ Apocalipsis 22:1-3 (RVC)

¿Sabes lo que iba directamente desde el templo en la antigua Jerusalén hasta el estanque de Siloé? Una gran alcantarilla. Una zanja de drenaje techada, con la calle principal de Jerusalén justo encima. Todo lo que se introducía en ella (agua de lluvia, aguas residuales, basura) era empujado hasta que llegaba al arroyo de Cedrón y finalmente terminaba en el Mar Muerto. Esta era una configuración bastante típica para las ciudades antiguas, aunque en algunos lugares la alcantarilla no tenía cobertura, ¡con las previsibles y malolientes consecuencias!

¿Y qué de los árboles? ¿Era Jerusalén un paraíso frondoso? Muy poco probable, al menos dentro de las murallas de la ciudad. Las ciudades solían usar la madera más cercana para la construcción o para combustible. Puede que hubiera algunos árboles frutales, pero dado que Jerusalén tenía un clima en el cual el agua escaseaba gran parte del año, es probable que no se vieran muchos árboles creciendo entre las casas. Se tendría que salir de la ciudad para encontrarlos.

Pero esa no es la forma en que Dios describe la Nueva Jerusalén en el libro de Apocalipsis, la ciudad capital de los nuevos cielos y la nueva tierra de Dios. Allí, se nos dice, Juan vio "un río límpido, de agua de vida. Era resplandeciente como el cristal, y salía del trono de Dios y del Cordero. En medio de la calle de la ciudad, y a cada lado del río, estaba el árbol de la vida, el cual produce doce frutos y da su fruto cada mes; las hojas del árbol eran para la sanidad de las naciones".

¡Piensa en la diferencia! Un río de agua pura que da vida, en lugar de una alcantarilla; árboles con frutos que dan vida y hojas curativas, en lugar de calles estériles. El reino de Dios estará marcado por la vida y la salud, no por el hedor y la muerte.

Este es el tipo de cambio que anhelamos en nuestras propias vidas, ¿no es así? Cuando nuestra vida está seca, tenemos sed de esa agua de vida que Jesús promete; cuando nuestros mundos parecen estériles y vacíos, anhelamos el hermoso árbol de la vida que nos alimenta y nos sana. Y podemos tener estas cosas, o más bien, lo que representan, incluso ahora, en esta vida. Jesús dice: "Si alguno tiene sed, venga a mí y beba. Del interior del que cree en mí, correrán ríos de agua viva, como dice la Escritura" (Juan 7: 37b-38). Juan nos dice: "Jesús se refería al Espíritu que recibirían los que creyeran en él. El Espíritu aún no había venido, porque Jesús aún no había sido glorificado" (Juan 7:39).

¿Y cómo recibimos ese regalo? Viene como resultado de la cruz de Jesús, donde destruyó el poder de la muerte y trajo vida eterna. A través de su sufrimiento, muerte y resurrección, Jesús tomó lo que solía ser un árbol de la muerte y lo convirtió en un árbol de vida para nosotros, para que todos los que confían en Jesús sean salvados. Ahora él promete compartir el fruto de su cruz, la vida eterna, con todos nosotros, su pueblo.

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre, tráenos al reino de tu Hijo para compartir el agua y el árbol de la vida que nos has dado como una bendición para nosotros. 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.
¿Sabes lo que iba directamente desde el templo en la antigua Jerusalén hasta el estanque de Siloé?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Que haja honra

Que haja honra


Leia: Mateus 6:1-6
 | A Bíblia em um ano: 2 Crônicas 7–9; João 11:1-29

Guardai-vos de exercer a vossa justiça diante dos homens, com o fim de serdes vistos por eles… v.1


Sempre fiquei impressionado com a solene e magnífica simplicidade da mudança da guarda no Túmulo dos Desconhecidos no Cemitério Nacional de Arlington, EUA. O evento cuidadosamente coreografado é um tributo em honra aos soldados cujos nomes e sacrifícios são “conhecidos, apenas por Deus”. Igualmente emocionantes são os passos de ritmo constante quando as multidões se vão: de um lado a outro, hora após hora, dia a dia, mesmo no pior dos climas.

Em setembro de 2003, o furacão Isabel estava chegando em Washington, DC, e os guardas foram informados de que poderiam procurar abrigo durante o pior momento da tempestade. Surpreendentemente os guardas se recusaram! Eles desinteressadamente resistiram em seu posto para honrar a memória dos soldados abatidos, mesmo diante de um furacão.

Creio que nos ensinamentos de Jesus, em Mateus 6:1-6, está o desejo dele de que vivamos com devoção implacável e altruísta para com Ele. A Bíblia nos ensina a praticar boas obras e a viver em santidade, mas estes são atos de adoração e obediência (vv.4-6), não atitudes para nos gloriarmos (v.2). O apóstolo Paulo endossa esta fidelidade por toda a vida quando nos pede que façamos de nossos corpos “um sacrifício vivo” (Romanos 12:1).

Senhor, que os nossos momentos particulares e públicos falem de nossa devoção e compromisso contigo.

Quanto mais servimos a Cristo, 
menos serviremos a nós mesmos.

por Randy Kilgore

© 2019 Ministérios Pão Diário
Sempre fiquei impressionado com a solene e magnífica simplicidade da mudança da guarda no Túmulo dos Desconhecidos no Cemitério Nacional de Arlington, EUA.