The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, July 1, 2019

A New Commandment
1 John 2:7-11

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, July 1, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 75

Thanksgiving for God’s Wondrous Deeds
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1  We give thanks to you, O God;
     we give thanks; your name is near.
   People tell of your wondrous deeds.

2  At the set time that I appoint
     I will judge with equity.
3  When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants,
     it is I who keep its pillars steady.   Selah
4  I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,”
     and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn;
5  do not lift up your horn on high,
     or speak with insolent neck.”

6  For not from the east or from the west
     and not from the wilderness comes lifting up;
7  but it is God who executes judgment,
     putting down one and lifting up another.
8  For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup
     with foaming wine, well mixed;
   he will pour a draught from it,
     and all the wicked of the earth
     shall drain it down to the dregs.
9  But I will rejoice forever;
     I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
     but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

2 Kings 2:15-22

2:15 When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 They said to him, “See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the Lord has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley.” He responded, “No, do not send them.” 17 But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him. 18 When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho), he said to them, “Did I not say to you, Do not go?”

Elisha Performs Miracles
19 Now the people of the city said to Elisha, “The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.

1 John 2:7-11

A New Commandment
2:7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

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
Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.

The Morning Prayer for MONDAY, July 1, 2019

Monday morning prayer

Lord,

Sometimes, Monday can be a hard day. Dreaded on Sunday and fled from on a Friday. Yet why Lord as Monday could be the beginning of a work adventure, the new challenge of a week filled with potential? So I pray you would help me to embrace this day.

Let it be a new day and a wonder day. Help me to see not the clouds but the sunrise, not the rain but the ripples of falling drops. Show me the joy of the embrace with loved ones, not the tensions and troubles. Monday need not be the grudge day to be endured but the fun day to be embraced.

This day, help me to turn my eyes towards your Kingdom, of love, hope and new beginnings. Amen.

Verse of the Day MONDAY, July 1, 2019

Romans 12:3 (NIV) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Read all of Romans 12

Listen to Romans 12

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 - Monday, July 1, 2019

Seamos instrumentos

Todo lo que te viniere a la mano para hacer, hazlo según tus fuerzas.

~ Eclesiastés 9:10, RV-60

Me tomé la tarea de investigar lo que es un instrumento musical y llegué a esta conclusión: Un instrumento musical es un conjunto de piezas que se disponen en un todo de manera que un intérprete logre producir sonidos musicales. Si lo analizamos, es posible que de cualquier objeto se pueda obtener sonidos. Sin embargo, para que sea musical, el sonido que produce debe combinar la melodía, el ritmo y la armonía.

Dejando este análisis a un lado, quiero hacer un paralelo a lo que nosotros podemos ser en las manos de Dios. La Palabra nos enseña que a todos se nos han dado dones y talentos. Muchas veces ni sabemos que los tenemos. Así que un día alguien nos los descubre o nosotros mismos nos damos cuenta que ciertas cosas que hacemos nos salen bien y le gustan a la gente.

Si un instrumento musical es un conjunto de piezas que se combinan para producir sonidos melódicos, rítmicos y armónicos, tú y yo tenemos esa combinación perfecta para poner en acción el don que puso Dios en nosotros.

Además, si a diferencia de que en principio cualquier cosa que produzca sonido puede ser un instrumento, te recuerdo que tú no eres cualquier cosa, sino que eres un hijo de Dios creado a su imagen y semejanza.

Valórate y pídele al Señor que te revele cuál es ese talento y empieza a desarrollarlo ya.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Me tomé la tarea de investigar lo que es un instrumento musical y llegué a esta conclusión ...

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, July 1, 2019

MYSTERY

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ…

~ Ephesians 1:9 (NIV)

Human beings always want to know “why?” and “why not now?” But it’s precisely because we are human we cannot know. That’s why mystery is so important to understand. The entire book of Job is all about the “why” of suffering and in the end God invites Job to see a bigger picture than even his suffering.

Creation is a mistake if all you see is your suffering. But if you lift your eyes wider and let your gaze roam over the whole universe with God, you can also see that creation has even more beauty and grace.

So we are to value mystery because it enables us to feel God’s love…love that was fully revealed in Christ.

Sometimes we get to see “why?” and “why not now?” (one of the good aspects of growing older). Often we don’t because we are the players of life in the universe, not the playwright.

Christine Mallouhi in her excellent book, Waging Peace on Islam, makes this significant conclusion:

The victorious and triumphant Christian life does not conjure up pictures of suffering and death and feelings of abandonment. But this was all part of God's victory in Christ. If this was the path the Master trod why should it be any different for the servants? Jesus cried out "why?" and "where are you?" to God when circumstances were crushing him. God is always greater than our understanding of him and there will always be mystery about him that causes us to fall down in awe and worship. This mystery, which we want to tidily categories, keeps causing struggles in our life. Every time we get God tidied up like a ball of rubber bands, another end bursts out and the struggle begins over again, until we learn to live in faith with untidy ends. If everything is clear then faith is irrelevant. We are not called to solve the mystery, but enter it.[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will value mystery because it enables me to feel God’s love.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that though the world around us if full of suffering, it is more full of beauty and grace. Help me to trust You and value mystery.

1. Christine Mallouhi, Waging Peace on Islam (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2000), p.52.

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

Women of the Bible - Monday, July 1, 2019

Jezebel

Her name means: "Where Is the Prince?"

Her character: A religious woman, she spread idolatry throughout Israel. Powerful, cunning, and arrogant, she actively opposed God, even in the face of indisputable proofs of his sovereignty.
Her triumph: To have enhanced her own power at the expense of others.
Her tragedy: Her arrogance led to a shameless death.
Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 16:29-33; 18:1-19:2; 21:1-25; 2 Kings 9

Her Story

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess, daughter of the priest-king of Sidon. Married to King Ahab, she reigned as queen in northern Israel one hundred years after David's death and sixty years after Israel split into northern and southern kingdoms just after Solomon's death.

A woman of great conviction and unwavering devotion, Jezebel's ardent worship was directed not to the God of Israel but to the pagan fertility god Baal, thought to control the rain and hence the harvest. So determined was she to convert Israel to her own religion that she hunted down and killed all the prophets she could lay hands on, replacing them with 850 of her own.

Despite Jezebel's efforts, one prophet had escaped her, and he was the most annoying of all. His name was Elijah, which meant "My God Is Yahweh." By contrast, Jezebel meant "Where Is the Prince (Baal)?" or "The Prince (Baal) Exists." Inevitably, the two squared off.

By pushing Baal worship, Jezebel was spreading idolatry across Israel, but her brand of worship wasn't producing the desired results for the fields remained barren. The fertility gods, it seemed, had gone AWOL or else they were impotent.

Elijah, meanwhile, warned King Ahab: "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

After three-and-a-half years of drought and famine, Elijah challenged the king to assemble the prophets of Baal and Asherah to compete in a lopsided contest—850 to 1. Two bulls were prepared for sacrifice, but the fire for sacrifice was not lit. Instead, the true God would prove himself by sending fire from heaven.

From morning until noon Baal's prophets danced and shouted, "O Baal, answer us!" But the god of the storm was silent.

Relishing the spectacle, Elijah couldn't resist a few well-aimed taunts: "Shout louder! Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." Elijah's sarcasm spurred the prophets of Baal to more frenzied efforts, but that day Baal, the god of fire, couldn't even light a match.

Then Elijah's turn came. To dramatize the difficulty of his task, he drenched the sacrifice with water not once but three times, praying: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command."

Immediately, fire burned up the sacrifice. Rallying the people, Elijah then slaughtered Jezebel's 850 prophets.

Enraged at the news, the queen sent a messenger to Elijah, vowing to kill him. But he fled south, beyond her grasp.

Still, Jezebel kept busy, managing to find other targets for her schemes. One day she discovered her husband, Ahab, in a childish rage. Pouting, Ahab confided his troubles to her. Naboth, his near neighbor, had a lovely vineyard that the king desired. It would make such a nice vegetable garden. Yet his stingy subject refused to sell it.

"Is this how you act as king over Israel?" Jezebel challenged. "Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard."

Jezebel wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sent it to the elders of the town instructing them to produce witnesses to testify falsely that Naboth had cursed both God and the king, offenses punishable by death.

Ahab felt better when he heard the news that Naboth had been stoned to death as a traitor. Now his table would be laden with delicious vegetables straight from the garden. But then who should show up but Elijah, interrupting the king's leisurely stroll through his new garden.

"So you have found me, my enemy," the king greeted him.

"I have found you," Elijah replied, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. And also, concerning Jezebel, the Lord says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' "

Elijah's words came true. Ahab eventually died in battle, the dogs licking the blood from his chariot. Jezebel, however, survived him by at least ten years. Then one day, a man called Jehu came riding into Jezreel to carry out the last half of Elijah's prophecy.

Tough as nails, Jezebel stood proudly at the window of her palace. Never one to back away from a challenge, Jezebel seized the initiative, shouting at Jehu: "Have you come in peace, Zimri (the name of a traitor), you murderer of your master?"

But Jehu simply ignored her, challenging those who stood near her. "Who is on my side? Throw her down!" Quickly, Jezebel's servants shoved her through the window. The palace walls were splattered a bloody red as horses trampled her body and the palace dogs finished the job. A powerful figure while she lived, hardly anything of her remained just shortly after her death.

Paired with Israel's worst king, Jezebel was the nation's worst queen and one of the Bible's most infamous women. How different her story would have been had she harnessed her power, her drive, and her devotion. A strong character, Jezebel could have been a female apostle Paul, whose misguided zeal was redirected toward the kingdom of God. Instead, unlike many biblical figures who are depicted with a mixture of good and bad traits, she stands out as someone purely evil, whose moral character is one-dimensional. Totally devoted to her gods, she reflected their image completely. Despite obvious miracles and repeated warnings, she was a woman who chose to harden her heart and suffer the consequences.

Her Promise

Jezebel's end (2 Kings 9:33-37) is exactly what Elijah had earlier prophesied for her (1 Kings 21:23). No doubt judgment for her wicked life was swift and sure. It's hard to reconcile this aspect of our God with our image of him as loving and compassionate, yet he is a God who hates evil and will surely punish it. If, however, we come to him for forgiveness and reconciliation, he is also a God who loves to show mercy.

This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Used with permission.
A woman of great conviction and unwavering devotion, Jezebel's ardent worship was directed not to the God of Israel but to the pagan fertility god Baal.

Girlfriends in God - Monday, July 1, 2019

God’s Perfect Provision Part 1

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

~ Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

My requirements for a car are simple and few. It has to run. And it has to have both air and heat. I don’t like car payments. I am not about cars. They are not my “thing.” Consequently, we have bought many used cars and have even been given a few cars over the years. We drive them until they die. And then God provides another car.

A year ago, the car I was driving died. Since it was the beginning of summer and Dan was scheduled to have a month-long sabbatical in addition to his month of study and vacation time, we decided to wait on making a car decision. We could make it a few months with one car … or in our case, one truck.

I had one last speaking engagement to do for a friend, but since the event was within driving distance, we decided to combine it with a trip to Texas to visit family. It was one of those events the Lord told me to do for free. The church was small, and the friend was starting a women’s ministry in a small Kansas town that had literally been blown away by tornadoes several years earlier. I really wanted to help and encourage her in any way that I could.

The plan was simple. Dan and I would drive his truck to Wichita, Kansas and fly to Texas to visit family for several days. We would then fly back to Wichita and drive to Greensburg for my event and then drive home. Simple – right? Not so much.

When we got to the Dallas airport, we discovered that our flight to Wichita was booked for 10:00 pm instead of 10:00 am. You need to know that my husband has booked hundreds of flights over the years and never made that mistake. Since I had to be in Greensburg that night, we rented a car and drove to Wichita where we turned in the rental car and climbed in Dan’s truck.

About an hour down the road, the air in Dan’s truck went out. It was a hot summer’s day. The temperature in Dan’s truck began to climb. When it reached 92 degrees, I began to boil.

I am already calculating how much this “free” event is costing. Yes, I am very human. I have severe back problems. We had already stopped twice between Dallas and Wichita to buy giant bags of frozen peas. They really do work well as ice packs. So my back is killing me, I am sweating like crazy, and well … let’s just say that I am not a happy camper at this point of our “free” event trip.

We found an auto parts store in a small town and decided to see if they could help us. It is 4:50 pm on Friday afternoon. Maybe all the truck needs is Freon! The storeowner comes out, raises the truck hood, shakes his head and says, “Freon is not gonna fix that!” Evidently some belt had shredded which meant some rocker arm had frozen. As I said, cars are not my “thing.”

With a smile, he said, “Pull her around back, and we will see what we can do.” I am thinking he can’t do much. The store is about the size of my kitchen and sits in a town in the middle of nowhere. I am such a giant of faith!

But I did manage to eek out a prayer, “Lord, please send angels with the parts we need!”

Only a few minutes had passed before the storeowner came walking toward us with a grin on his face. As he blew the dust off of two boxes, he said, “Well, what do you know? I do have those parts.”

God came through!

And then the whispers of the enemy also came through. I could only imagine how much the parts and labor would cost. The expenses for this “free” event continued to add up. A rental car … two giant bags of peas … and the now repaired air conditioner on Dan’s truck.

When the parts were installed and we were ready to leave, the storeowner handed Dan the bill. A look of surprise … or maybe shock … covered Dan’s face. I couldn’t bear to ask until we got in the truck and drove away.

“How much was it, honey?” I asked. Dan smiled and said, “About a fourth of what I expected it to cost.”

We drove in silence for a few minutes … basking in the perfect provision of God for every need of our lives … even when our faith is pitifully small. You just can’t out-give God.

Don’t miss the rest of the story in my next devotion. As my Mama used to say, it is a “humdinger!”

Let’s Pray

Father, forgive me for doubting You. I am so human and so weak. Help me grow in my faith and my ability to trust You. Today, I choose faith over fear, trust over worry, and victory over failure!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Think back to a time in your life when God came through … even when you doubted Him. Thank Him for the way He meets every need in your life. Trust Him to meet that need you are facing right now. Read and memorize Proverbs 3:5-6.

More from the Girlfriends

Do you want to grow in your ability to trust God? Get Mary’s E-Book, 10-Day Trust Adventure. Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God
www.girlfriendsingod.com

Think back to a time in your life when God came through … even when you doubted Him.

LHM Daily Devotions - On Dry Ground

"On Dry Ground"

Jul. 1, 2019

Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in Him, who rules by His might forever.

~ Psalm 66:5-7 (ESV)

This psalm issues a command and offers an invitation. We are commanded to shout for joy to God and to give Him "glorious praise" (Psalm 66:2b). We are to give to the Creator of heaven and earth the honor due His Name. Even His enemies are summoned to acknowledge His power, although they "come cringing" before the Lord of glory (Psalm 66:3b).

In case anyone does not know the reason for the mandated praise, an invitation is extended to us all, faithful and foe alike: "Come and see what God has done" (Psalm 66:5a). We can clearly see what God has done; we have front row seats to His awesome deeds as recorded in the pages of Scripture. When God set His people free from slavery in Egypt, He did so "with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm" (Deuteronomy 5:15b). In their exodus to freedom, when Israel became trapped between the waters of the Red Sea and pharaoh's deadly chariots, God "turned the sea into dry land." Israel crossed over to safety on dry ground and the returning waters drowned the pursuing soldiers. Finally, when Israel was about to cross into the land God had promised to them, another barrier of water—this time the Jordan River—stopped them. Once again God held back the waters and Israel "passed through the river on foot," on dry ground.

We do not merely sit back and hear or read about God's awesome deeds; we live them because He carries out His mighty works in our lives as well. God's great power was hidden and, at the same time revealed, at the cross. There we see His most awesome deeds. He sent His own Son to be born among us and to take onto Himself the penalty of death we deserved because of our sin. Then, demonstrating His glorious power, God raised Jesus from the dead. Now, called by the Holy Spirit and marked with the sign of the cross, we have passed through the waters of Baptism. Buried with Christ Jesus in Baptism, we were raised to walk with Him in newness of life. And one day, according to God's perfect timing, we will walk safely with Jesus through the raging and deadly flood waters of death ... on dry ground.

THE PRAYER: Almighty God, in Your Holy Word we have seen what You have done for us. We will praise You for Your awesome deeds, now and for all eternity. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What do you think is the earth's most remarkable physical feature?
• Water features prominently in God's miracles in the Scriptures: Red Sea, Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, the Mediterranean. Why do you think this is so?
• Have you ever seen God at work in your life in a huge way? How so?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What do you think is the earth's most remarkable physical feature?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 01 de Julio de 2019 - En terreno seco

ALIMENTO DIARIO

En terreno seco

01 de Julio de 2019

Vengan a ver las obras de Dios, sus hechos sorprendentes en favor de los hombres. Convirtió el mar en terreno seco, y ellos cruzaron el río por su propio pie. ¡Alegrémonos por lo que hizo allí! Por su poder, él nos gobierna para siempre.

~ Salmo 66:5-7a (RVC)

Este salmo da un mandamiento y ofrece una invitación. Se nos manda a cantar de alegría a Dios y a darle "gloriosas alabanzas" (Salmo 66:2b). Dar honor al nombre del Creador del cielo y de la tierra. Incluso sus enemigos son convocados a reconocer su poder, aunque "son sometidos" ante el Señor de la gloria (Salmo 66:3b).

En caso de que alguien no sepa el motivo de la alabanza obligatoria, se nos extiende una invitación a todos, fieles y enemigos por igual: "Vengan a ver las obras de Dios" (Salmo 66:5a). Podemos ver claramente lo que Dios ha hecho; somos testigos de primera mano de Sus obras asombrosas registradas en las páginas de las Escrituras. Cuando Dios liberó a su pueblo de la esclavitud en Egipto, lo hizo "con mano fuerte y brazo extendido" (Deuteronomio 5:15b). En su éxodo a la libertad, cuando Israel quedó atrapado entre las aguas del Mar Rojo y los carros mortales del Faraón, Dios "convirtió el mar en terreno seco". Israel cruzó a un lugar seguro en tierra seca y las aguas que regresaban ahogaron a los soldados que los perseguían. Finalmente, cuando Israel estaba a punto de cruzar a la tierra que Dios les había prometido, encontraron otra barrera de agua: esta vez, el río Jordán. Una vez más, Dios contuvo las aguas e Israel cruzó el río "con su propio pie", sobre terreno seco.

No nos limitamos a sentarnos y escuchar o leer acerca de los hechos asombrosos de Dios: los vivimos porque Él realiza sus obras poderosas también en nuestras vidas. El gran poder de Dios estaba oculto y, al mismo tiempo, revelado en la cruz. Allí vemos sus obras más impresionantes. Dios envió a su propio Hijo para nacer entre nosotros y asumir la pena de muerte que merecíamos por nuestro pecado. Luego, demostrando su poder glorioso, Dios lo resucitó de entre los muertos. Ahora, llamados por el Espíritu Santo y marcados con el signo de la cruz, hemos pasado por las aguas del Bautismo. Enterrados con Cristo Jesús en el bautismo, fuimos levantados para caminar con Él en una vida nueva. Y un día, de acuerdo con el tiempo perfecto de Dios, caminaremos seguros con Jesús a través de las furiosas y mortales aguas de la muerte, como si estuviéramos en terreno seco.

ORACIÓN: Dios Todopoderoso, en tu santa Palabra hemos visto lo que has hecho por nosotros. Te alabamos por tus asombrosas acciones ahora y por toda la eternidad. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

• El agua ocupa un lugar destacado en los milagros de Dios en las Escrituras: el Mar Rojo, el Río Jordán, el Mar de Galilea, el Mediterráneo. ¿Por qué crees que sea así?
• ¿Alguna vez ha obrado Dios en tu vida de una manera notable? ¿Cómo?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Alguna vez ha obrado Dios en tu vida de una manera notable?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Avez-vous faim maintenant ?

Avez-vous faim maintenant ?

Lisez : James 2.14-1

La Bible en un an : Job 20 – 21 ; Actes 10.24-48

Mes frères, que sert-il à quelqu’un de dire qu’il a la foi, s’il n’a pas les œuvres ? V. 14

Né dans une famille pauvre de l’Inde et adopté par des Américains, Thomas a constaté en retournant dans son village natal combien les enfants y étaient démunis. Convaincu de devoir leur venir en aide, il s’est mis à envisager de rentrer aux États-Unis pour y finir ses études supérieures et y économiser beaucoup d’argent en vue de retourner éventuellement en Inde.

Puis, après avoir lu : « [Que] sert-il à quelqu’un de dire qu’il a la foi, s’il n’a pas les œuvres ? » (JA 2.14-18), Thomas a entendu une fillette indienne supplier sa mère ainsi : « Mais maman, c’est maintenant que j’ai faim ! » Il s’est alors rappelé avoir eu faim dans son enfance au point de fouiller les poubelles afin d’y trouver à manger. Sachant ne pas avoir le luxe d’attendre des années pour leur venir en aide, Thomas s’est résolu : Je vais m’y mettre dès maintenant !


Aujourd’hui, l’orphelinat qu’il a fondé héberge cinquante enfants bien nourris et entourés qui découvrent Jésus et reçoivent une éducation ; tout cela parce qu’un homme n’a pas reporté à plus tard ce qu’il savait que Dieu lui demandait de faire.

Or, le message de Jacques s’applique aussi à nous. Notre foi en Jésus-Christ nous procure de grands avantages : une relation avec lui, la vie abondante et un avenir à espérer. Reste que, si nous ne leur venons pas en aide, quels bienfaits les gens démunis en retireront-ils ? Les entendez-vous supplier : « C’est maintenant que j’ai faim ! » ?

Répondons aux besoins d’autrui.

par Dave Branon

© 2019 Ministères NPQ
Il s’est alors rappelé avoir eu faim dans son enfance au point de fouiller les poubelles afin d’y trouver à manger.