The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, July 12, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, July 12, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 82

A Plea for Justice
A Psalm of Asaph.
1  God has taken his place in the divine council;
     in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2  “How long will you judge unjustly
     and show partiality to the wicked?   Selah
3  Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
     maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
4  Rescue the weak and the needy;
     deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5  They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
     they walk around in darkness;
     all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6  I say, “You are gods,
     children of the Most High, all of you;
7  nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
     and fall like any prince.”

8  Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
     for all the nations belong to you!

Amos 2:4-11

Judgment on Judah
2:4 Thus says the Lord:
   For three transgressions of Judah,
     and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;
   because they have rejected the law of the Lord,
     and have not kept his statutes,
   but they have been led astray by the same lies
     after which their ancestors walked.
5  So I will send a fire on Judah,
     and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.

Judgment on Israel
6  Thus says the Lord:
   For three transgressions of Israel,
     and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;
   because they sell the righteous for silver,
     and the needy for a pair of sandals—
7  they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth,
     and push the afflicted out of the way;
   father and son go in to the same girl,
     so that my holy name is profaned;
8  they lay themselves down beside every altar
     on garments taken in pledge;
   and in the house of their God they drink
     wine bought with fines they imposed.

9  Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them,
     whose height was like the height of cedars,
     and who was as strong as oaks;
   I destroyed his fruit above,
     and his roots beneath.
10 Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt,
     and led you forty years in the wilderness,
     to possess the land of the Amorite.
11 And I raised up some of your children to be prophets
     and some of your youths to be nazirites.
     Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?
   says the Lord.

Acts 7:9-16

7:9 “The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. 13 On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all; 15 so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors, 16 and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

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 
The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, July 12, 2019

The Morning Prayer for FRIDAY, July 12, 2019

Friday morning prayer

Lord on this day I am aware of the troubles and darkness in our world. Please come and lead me in prayers for my community, my nation and the world. You are the light that shines in the bleakest times, let your Kingdom be built on earth. May those who suffer be comforted, may those who are at war search for peace, and may those who are in pain find healing. Amen.

May Friday be a thoughtful day

When Your Spirit leads my prayer.

I trust each trouble small and wide,

With faith into Your care.

Let Friday always prompt my heart

To stand upon the truth.

Darkness has been overcome

The Earth belongs to You.

Verse of the Day FRIDAY, July 12, 2019

Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Read all of Matthew 4

Listen to Matthew 4

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 - Friday, July 12, 2019

Semana de pacto con Dios: Las manos

Te bendeciré mientras viva, y alzando mis manos te invocaré.

~ Salmo 63:4 (NVI)

Sin duda, Dios creó las manos a la perfección. Sus funciones son específicas como tomar y sostener objetos. Junto con los dedos, son utensilios para comer. Con las manos también se expresan saludos, aunque no todos los hacemos como es debido. A veces hacemos señales que no son las más decentes. ¡Huy! Ja, ja, ja.

Para las personas que no pueden hablar, las manos son un tremendo instrumento para hablar con señales. Sirve como instrumento de medida y herramienta de trabajo. Piensa por un momento todo lo que hacemos con nuestras manos para trabajar, jugar y hacer deportes. En fin, podríamos seguir trayendo a nuestra mente infinidad de cosas.

Sin embargo, las manos mal usadas entristecen a Dios. Con ellas muchas personas roban y toman un arma para herir a otros o matar.

Con las manos se maltratan miles y miles de niños, de hombres y mujeres.

Sé que muchas personas que hoy leen este libro tienen sus manitos enfermas o les falta partes de las manos por accidentes o por nacimiento. Aun así, no se quejan y hacen lo que pueden para salir adelante.

Señor, hoy me comprometo a guardar mis manos y honrarte a ti.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Sin duda, Dios creó las manos a la perfección.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Friday, July 12, 2019

THE BEATITUDES

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

~ Matthew 5:1-2 (NIV)

For the next nine days we’ll look at Jesus’ greatest training program—the Beatitudes. It is important to remember that each of the eight Beatitudes has a two-fold nature: a “knowing” and a “doing” response. We must not only know them, we must also respond to what we learn from them.

Eight times in the Beatitudes it says, “Blessed are….” To understand the Beatitudes, we need to know the meaning of those words. Blessed are refers to Jesus’ evaluation of the kind of person He names in each Beatitude. Jesus was referring to His esteem for that kind of person. His meaning is, “I esteem highly any person who….” He was urging us to have that kind of attitude. His deeper meaning is, “All you who hear Me, choose to become like these kinds of people.”

One noted author calls the Beatitudes, “God’s radical reconstruction of the heart!” We must never consider that Jesus was promising happy conditions, as though He meant, “The one who is poor in spirit will feel good and always be joyful.”

The first four Beatitudes focus internally—that is, they speak to the heart of the one who wants to obey God. They can be viewed as four stepping stones to becoming an obedient servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are: humility, mourning, meekness and hunger for righteousness.

The second four Beatitudes focus on the external behavior of the servant who follows Jesus. They are: mercy, purity, peacemaking and persecution.

This teaching has particular relevance for Christians who live under Islam. Restricted, deprived, regarded as second class citizens, laughed at, despised, often living in fear, many times persecuted, the words of encouragement are precious and give fresh hope of another place and time when things will be put right.

While in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, there are greater freedoms and life is not so difficult, there are restrictions nonetheless. In others like Pakistan, Christians have suffered unjustly and are denied many basic rights. In Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria and Morocco, the story is similar though the extent of suffering may vary. To all, Jesus gives this important message. We will look at each of the eight Beatitudes individually.

RESPONSE: I will study Jesus’ Beatitudes so that I live the way Jesus lived.

PRAYER: Pray for Christians in Islamic countries that they will receive great encouragement as they seek to know and live the Beatitudes in their regions of restriction.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
For the next nine days we’ll look at Jesus’ greatest training program—the Beatitudes.

Men of the Bible - Friday, July 12, 2019

Josiah

His name means: "Yahweh Supports Him"

His work: Josiah was the last good king of Judah, reigning from about 640-609 BC. Like his great-grandfather Hezekiah, he instituted sweeping religious reforms in Judah. Because of his faithfulness, the prophetess Huldah assured him he would not see the destruction that would one day overtake Jerusalem and Judah.
His character: Though Josiah became king when he was only a boy, he became one of Judah's strongest spiritual leaders, a man whose devotion, obedience, humility, and repentance on behalf of the people helped for a time to restore Judah's fractured relationship with the Lord.
His sorrow: That his reforms, which were not supported by those who succeeded him, occurred too late to avert judgment on Judah.
His triumph: So strong was Josiah's influence that it extended beyond Judah to embrace the northern tribes as well.
Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 12:25-33; 13:2-3; 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35

A Look at the Man

Josiah was one of twenty kings who ruled Judah during the period of the divided kingdom. Many of the kings who preceded him had little regard for preserving the spiritual vitality of Judah, absorbed as they were in the struggle to secure their own power. And even though his reign was one of the best and brightest, Josiah was incapable of reversing Judah's steady slide toward paganism. Sadly, his reforms perished with him, and a few years later Judah suffered the punishment long prophesied.

Like few leaders in the history of the world, Josiah knew the outcome of his story in advance. God had told him, through the prophetess Huldah, that Judah would eventually suffer disaster because of its sins. Such knowledge could have prompted him to give up, to conclude that he was wasting precious time and energy on a lost cause. But instead of abandoning his reforms, Josiah stepped up his efforts. Refusing to be deflected from his life's purpose, he continued clearing away the detritus of paganism in hopes of bringing Judah back to God.

The young king must have understood a principle we often lose sight of, namely, that faithfulness is more important than success. That doing what's right, regardless of the odds, is crucial. Josiah must have known that spiritual greatness is measured not by victory but by our determination to use the power God gives us, however great or small, to further his purposes. Because of his faithfulness, the Lord spared him the pain and grief of witnessing the disaster that eventually overtook the land he loved.

Like Josiah, we sometimes face situations that seem impossible: a difficult marriage, a challenging job, a divided church, or life in a world that sometimes despises the things we cherish most. We wonder how anything good can result from the current course of affairs. Unlike Josiah, we don't know the outcome in advance. None of us can preclude the possibility that our circumstances will radically change for the better. But like him, we can remember that God never requires us to be successful, only faithful.

Reflect On: 2 Kings 22:3–20
Praise God: For hearing the prayers of the humble.
Offer Thanks: For the freedom we have to worship him.
Confess: Any self-righteousness that keeps you from identifying with the sins and failures of God’s people.
Ask God: To renew the church, so that all of his people may worship him in spirit and truth.

Today's reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book's title must be included when sharing the above content on social media.
Josiah was the last good king of Judah, reigning from about 640-609 BC.

LHM Daily Devotions - At the End of the Day

"At the End of the Day"

Jul. 12, 2019

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

~ Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

"A doctor who diagnoses himself has a fool for a patient," so goes the old saying. For many, part of the American dream involves "calling our own shots," being our own boss. Splendid as this sounds, it can be fraught with hardships, as we are not always skilled at managing ourselves. In fact, the person who strives toward being her own boss might find she has a fool for an employee.

Work is one of those universal puzzles which we must put together well if we want a chance at a happy life. Upon being introduced to someone, we usually ask something like, "What do you do for a living?" I've never heard anyone reply, "Oh, I do crossword puzzles," or "I play croquet." We may indeed play croquet, but that's not what the questioner meant.

God created humans as whole beings. One aspect of that wholeness is our need and ability to work. God put Adam on the job before the Fall. Work appears to be one of the pleasures built into paradise. Our Father wanted us to be useful and productive for our own happiness and personal satisfaction, as well as for His glory.

In Eden, Adam working for God seemed like a good arrangement. But Adam decided to be his own boss. And ever since, sin has stained the pleasure of work, along with the other glories of paradise.

As you probably know from experience, we sometimes must invent ways of coping with boredom and frustration in our work. We may suffer from job burnout. It's a hazard with occupations. An electrical engineering friend of mine theorizes that people should change jobs once every five years or so. He's done just that in his career. Another friend left teaching to become a nurse.

Changes like these can be right or wrong, successful or disastrous, and sometimes it takes a radical shift in our lives to get to where we need to be. Whether were building bridges or selling sandwiches or teaching trigonometry, the issue at the end of the day is perhaps less "Who's boss?" but "Who's really in charge?

If you're struggling with your job for whatever reason, you might try an experiment like this. Before your workday begins, pray through it. Ask for the Spirit's presence in your day. Ask God's blessings upon your coworkers and managers. Pray for your customers, your clients, and all the people with whom you have appointments and meetings. Pray for your work to be a blessing to others. Give your day to Christ.

Then go to work, trusting in God, remembering the words of another who gave his work over to his Lord and Savior. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You know our hearts and the anxieties we have. Calm us by Your Spirit to see the work we do and the people we serve as blessed opportunities to glorify You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you like to work by yourself, or are you more of a collaborative person?
• Do you sense a different kind of energy when you are doing something that is God- or faith-related?
• Have you had to make any radical employment decisions regarding your career?

From The Lutheran Layman, June 1979 issue, "Suffering from Burnout," by Jane Fryar. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you like to work by yourself, or are you more of a collaborative person?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 12 de Julio de 2019 - Lo que realmente cuenta

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Lo que realmente cuenta

12 de Julio de 2019

Y todo lo que hagan, háganlo de corazón, como para el Señor y no como para la gente, porque ya saben que el Señor les dará la herencia como recompensa, pues ustedes sirven a Cristo el Señor.

~ Colosenses 3:23-24 (RVC)

"Un médico que se diagnostica a sí mismo tiene un tonto como paciente", dice el dicho. Para muchos, parte del sueño americano involucra ser dueños de nuestro destino. Por más espléndido que esto parezca, puede estar lleno de dificultades, ya que no siempre sabemos cómo manejarnos. De hecho, quien se esfuerza en ser su propio jefe puede descubrir que tiene un empleado tonto.

Si queremos llevar una vida feliz, el trabajo es uno de esos rompecabezas que debemos armar bien. Cuando nos presentan a alguien, generalmente le preguntamos a qué se dedica. Nunca he escuchado a nadie responder: "Hago crucigramas", o "Juego al billar". Quizás juegue al billar, pero esa no es la intención de la pregunta.

Dios nos creó como seres completos. Un aspecto de esa integridad es nuestra necesidad y capacidad de trabajar. Dios puso a Adán a trabajar antes de la caída. El trabajo parece ser uno de los placeres construidos en el paraíso. Nuestro Padre quería que fuéramos útiles y productivos para nuestra propia felicidad y satisfacción personal, así como también para Su gloria. Cuando Adán trabajaba para Dios en el Edén, parecía ser un buen arreglo. Pero Adán decidió ser su propio jefe y, desde entonces, el pecado ha manchado el placer de trabajar junto con las otras glorias del paraíso.

Como quizás sepas por experiencia, a veces debemos inventar formas de evitar el aburrimiento, el agotamiento y la frustración en el trabajo. Un amigo ingeniero teoriza que deberíamos cambiar de trabajo cada cinco años, más o menos. Él así lo ha hecho. Una amiga dejó la enseñanza para convertirse en enfermera.

Estos cambios pueden ser correctos o incorrectos, exitosos o desastrosos. Pero algunas veces necesitamos un cambio radical para llegar a donde debemos estar. Ya sea construyendo puentes o vendiendo sándwiches o enseñando trigonometría, el problema al final del día es quizás menos "¿Quién es el jefe?", y más "¿Quién está realmente a cargo?".

Si estás luchando con tu trabajo por cualquier razón, puedes intentar un experimento como este. Antes de que comience tu jornada laboral, ora. Pide la presencia del Espíritu en tu día. Pida la bendición de Dios sobre tus compañeros de trabajo y jefes. Ora por tus clientes y por todas las personas con las que tienes citas y reuniones. Ora para que tu trabajo sea una bendición para los demás. Entrega tu día a Cristo. Luego, ve a trabajar confiando en Dios y recordando las palabras de otro que también entregó su trabajo a su Señor y Salvador: "No se preocupen por nada. Que sus peticiones sean conocidas delante de Dios en toda oración y ruego, con acción de gracias. Y que la paz de Dios, que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guarde sus corazones y sus pensamientos en Cristo Jesús" (Filipenses 4: 6-7).

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, tú conoces nuestros corazones y las ansiedades que tenemos. Tranquilízanos por tu Espíritu para ver el trabajo que hacemos y las personas a las que servimos como oportunidades bendecidas para glorificarte. En el nombre de Jesus. Amén.

The Lutheran Layman, June 1979. Jane Fryar

Para reflexionar:
Sea que estés satisfecho o no con tu condición laboral, ¿qué puedes hacer para mejorarla?
¿Qué puedes hacer para recordar que todo lo que haces es para el Señor y que él te dará tu recompensa?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Sea que estés satisfecho o no con tu condición laboral, ¿qué puedes hacer para mejorarla?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Hoa Hướng Dương

Hoa Hướng Dương

Đọc: Lu-ca 8:11–15 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Thi thiên 4–6; Công vụ 17:16–34

Download MP3

Nhưng các hạt rơi trên đất tốt là những người nghe và giữ đạo với lòng chân thành và thiện ý, nhờ sự nhẫn nhục mà được kết quả. Lu-ca 8:15

Cây hoa hướng dương mọc ở khắp nơi trên thế giới mà không cần phải chăm sóc. Được ong thụ phấn, hoa mọc ở hai bên đường, trên cánh đồng, đồng cỏ. Tuy nhiên, để thu hoạch hoa hướng dương thì cần trồng hoa ở đất tốt. Theo cuốn niên giám Farmer’s Almanac, đất trồng phải thoát nước tốt, có tính a-xít nhẹ, giàu dinh dưỡng “với chất hữu cơ hoặc phân bón”, kết quả sẽ cho ra những hạt hướng dương ngon với dầu nguyên chất, và cũng là sinh kế cho những người trồng hoa hướng dương.

Chúng ta cũng cần “đất tốt” để tăng trưởng tâm linh (Lu. 8:15). Như Chúa Jêsus dạy trong ẩn dụ về người nông dân gieo giống, Lời Chúa có thể nảy mầm ngay cả trong đất đá hoặc bụi gai (c.6–7). Tuy nhiên, lời Ngài chỉ phát triển mạnh mẽ trong đất tốt “là những người nghe và giữ đạo với lòng chân thành và thiện ý, nhờ sự nhẫn nhục mà được kết quả” (c.15).

Cây hướng dương non cũng kiên nhẫn trong giai đoạn phát triển của chúng. Chuyển động theo mặt trời suốt cả ngày, chúng luôn hướng về phía mặt trời theo một quá trình gọi là tính hướng dương. Cây hướng dương trưởng thành cũng chậm rãi. Chúng luôn quay về hướng đông, làm cho bề mặt của hoa ấm lên và thu hút nhiều ong đến thụ phấn, tạo nên một vụ mùa bội thu.

Cũng như người chăm sóc hoa hướng dương, chúng ta hãy tạo ra môi trường thuận lợi để Lời Chúa phát triển bằng cách giữ lấy Lời Ngài và noi theo Con Ngài – nuôi dưỡng sự chân thành và tấm lòng tốt để trưởng thành trong Lời Chúa.

Mảnh đất thuộc linh của bạn ở trong tình trạng nào? Đất đá, bụi gai, hay giàu “chất dinh dưỡng”? Tại sao? Khi bạn bước theo Chúa Jêsus mỗi ngày, bài học này tác động đến sự chân thật và tấm lòng của bạn như thế nào?

Lạy Chúa, xin soi sáng con mỗi ngày để Lời Ngài kết quả trong con.

bởi Patricia Raybo

© 2019 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Cây hoa hướng dương mọc ở khắp nơi trên thế giới mà không cần phải chăm sóc.