The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, August 13, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, August 13, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 11

Song of Trust in God
To the leader. Of David.
1  In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
     “Flee like a bird to the mountains;
2  for look, the wicked bend the bow,
     they have fitted their arrow to the string,
     to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
3  If the foundations are destroyed,
     what can the righteous do?”

4  The Lord is in his holy temple;
     the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
     His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.
5  The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
     and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6  On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur;
     a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7  For the Lord is righteous;
   he loves righteous deeds;
     the upright shall behold his face.

Isaiah 24:1-13

Impending Judgment on the Earth
24:1 Now the Lord is about to lay waste the earth and
     make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and
     scatter its inhabitants.
2  And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest;
     as with the slave, so with his master;
     as with the maid, so with her mistress;
   as with the buyer, so with the seller;
     as with the lender, so with the borrower;
     as with the creditor, so with the debtor.
3  The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly
    despoiled; for the Lord has spoken this word.

4  The earth dries up and withers,
     the world languishes and withers;
     the heavens languish together with the earth.
5  The earth lies polluted
     under its inhabitants;
   for they have transgressed laws,
     violated the statutes,
     broken the everlasting covenant.
6  Therefore a curse devours the earth,
     and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
   therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled,
     and few people are left.
7  The wine dries up,
     the vine languishes,
     all the merry-hearted sigh.
8  The mirth of the timbrels is stilled,
     the noise of the jubilant has ceased,
     the mirth of the lyre is stilled.
9  No longer do they drink wine with singing;
     strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10 The city of chaos is broken down,
     every house is shut up so that no one can enter.
11 There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine;
     all joy has reached its eventide;
     the gladness of the earth is banished.
12 Desolation is left in the city,
     the gates are battered into ruins.
13 For thus it shall be on the earth
     and among the nations,
   as when an olive tree is beaten,
     as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is ended.

Hebrews 11:17-28

11:17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 19 He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.” 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.

The Faith of Moses
23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

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 faith of Moses and his parents displays the willingness to stand and suffer for their faith.

The Morning Prayer for TUESDAY, August 13, 2019

Tuesday Morning Prayer

Lord, on this day I chose to put You first. Thank You that when You are at the center of our family, our lives are rich with love and goodness. Lord, be the running stream, springing up at the very heart of our household. Might we drink daily from the water of life, that our days would be filled with kindness, forgiveness, trust and love. Amen.

May this day be a gentle time

Of love and kindness shown,

To all my friends and family

A love that helps us grow.

Let Tuesday always prompt my heart

To place my life in You.

To see Your holy will be done

I give my life anew.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, August 13, 2019

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Read all of Ephesians 2

Listen to Ephesians 2

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 - Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Recojamos los estragos (primera parte)

Alaba, alma mía, al Señor, y no olvides ninguno de sus beneficios. Él perdona todos tus pecados y sana todas tus dolencias.

~ Salmo 103:2-3, NVI

Al igual que los fuertes vientos derriban árboles, rompen techos y desordenan el lugar por donde pasan, lo mismo sucede con nosotros. A veces permitimos que lleguen a nuestra vida los vientos representados por malos hábitos, amistades que no nos aportan nada positivo y decisiones que destruyen lo que nos ha dado Dios y lo que Él construyó con tanto amor. Además, puede ser que en muchos casos veamos y experimentemos los vientos de poca intensidad y que creamos que no corremos peligro, pero esos también hacen daño y dejan consecuencias.

Recuerda que nosotros no tenemos el control de nuestra vida. Somos seres humanos que nos dejamos llevar por las circunstancias. Así que cuando queremos apartarnos del problema, estamos en pleno torbellino.

Incluso, hay vientos que nos golpean tan fuerte que no nos dan la oportunidad de refugiarnos, ya que hemos permitido que impacte nuestra vida de frente. Entonces, cuando pasa esa tempestad de pruebas y desolación, nos damos cuenta de lo que hicimos y solo vemos los estragos y la destrucción. Esto nos duele en el alma, pues no evitamos lo que estamos viviendo. Ante eso nos preguntamos: «¿Quién podrá ayudarnos? ¿Acaso será Dios?».

Sin duda, hay esperanza aun en medio de las pruebas y nos podremos levantar con la ayuda y la dirección del Señor.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Al igual que los fuertes vientos derriban árboles, rompen techos y desordenan el lugar por donde pasan, lo mismo sucede con nosotros.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, August 13, 2019

THE STRENGTH OF PERSECUTION

Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

~ 2 Corinthians 1:9-11 (NIV)

The conclusion of the message on the book of Esther from a house church pastor in China:

I wish the book of Esther ended before chapter nine, but it does not. The book ends with the Jews taking revenge on all their enemies everywhere. They arranged a kind of amnesty for terrorism. For a day, they were allowed to kill anyone who had oppressed them and not be prosecuted for it. Thousands probably died. It was a kind of rough justice, but what does rough justice solve? It just makes the relatives of those slain burn with hatred, and they train their children to seek more revenge, and the weary cycle of bloodletting is accelerated.

I would apply this to the suffering church this way. Surviving a persecution situation involves desperation, but that desperation can turn into harshness and heresy if one is not careful. The terrible superstitions that came into the church in venerating the bones of martyrs were a response to persecution. Persecution brings martyrs. To revere martyrs is one thing. But to worship their relics as if they are a special lever to move the hand of God with—that is terrible.

Why is the book of Esther in the Bible? Because it tells us that God helps His people. If this decree had gone through, then a holocaust would have taken place and the will of God for the world would have been lost. We would have had no Bible otherwise. God was not going to let that happen, and He stretched forth His mighty arm to prevent it. The good news of His gospel must be spread. So reading about how God intervened must have given great increase to a Jew’s faith, as it increases ours too. God intervenes to save and get His will done. And His will is that all come to know Him and love Him.

So persecution can strengthen our faith, as we see God delivering His people powerfully and getting His will done.

I stand before you now, a living witness to the strength of suffering. We come out stronger, not because of our faith, but because we see God deliver us in mighty ways. We have to; otherwise we would be dead and gone. Praise God for persecution, for building His church no matter what the opposition.

Let us have the courage of Esther, and say, “If I perish, I perish.” But let us remember that our courage is decisive only because God is mighty, and stretches out His arm to deliver us when we cry.

RESPONSE: Today I will focus on God’s deliverance and stand strong trusting Him for the future.

PRAYER: Pray today for the persecuted church. Pray they will find their strength only in the Lord.

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

LHM Daily Devotions - August 13, 2019 - Truth and Lies

"Truth and Lies"

Aug. 13, 2019

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, 'It shall be well with you'; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, 'No disaster shall come upon you.'" ... "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My council, then they would have proclaimed My words to My people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds.

~ Jeremiah 23:16-17, 21-22 (ESV)

Through Jeremiah, God describes a bad situation: there are so-called "prophets" in Israel who are claiming to speak the Word of God, but in reality they are making things up. They are saying what the people want to hear, and those who listen are swallowing every word. If a man is wicked, they flatter him; and if a woman is following her own evil desires, they tell her everything will turn out all right for her. They might as well try to put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it!

"So what?" you may be thinking. "That was long ago. We don't have false prophets today, not like that." Don't we? When was the last time you listened to someone on TV or on the internet who was making excuses for doing evil—for harming the poor or ignoring justice or treating the powerless any way we want to—simply because we can?

Or closer to home, what about friends and family who see us doing wrong but refuse to say anything about it—who allow us to go our own way, and even egg us on? Gossip; badmouthing someone who isn't even present; breaking rules because "everybody's doing it," or taunting you, "You're not a prude, are you?" Disrespect for those in authority; a tendency to demonize people who disagree with us; over-indulgence because "I deserve it"; holding grudges and refusing to forgive—we know these things are wrong, and yet we do them—rarely rebuked by the ones who know us best.

But do we do any better? When's the last time we spoke up to prevent someone else falling into sin?It's a mess. We need help. We need someone who can change our stubborn, self-serving hearts into hearts that desire to live by the truth. Who can help us?

Jesus is our help. In a world filled with lies, Jesus is the fresh air of truth. He tells us: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). He urges us, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me," and He promises, "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (Matthew 11:29a, John 8:31-32). This is the reason Jesus came: He says, "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice" (John 18:37b).

We know Jesus is trustworthy, because He has laid down His own life for us, to save us. He will never lie to us. He will never flatter us or encourage us to keep going when we are on a dangerous road. Let us put our trust in Him and listen eagerly to His word—the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (see James 1:21).

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to trust in Jesus who always speaks the truth in love. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What's your typical reaction in a group setting when something gets said about someone else that sounds unfair or hurtful?
• Apparently, there were fast talkers even way back when. How do you spot them today?
• Do you have any safeguards in place to combat the urge to "do your own thing" when someone makes that suggestion?

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).
What's your typical reaction in a group setting when something gets said about someone else that sounds unfair or hurtful?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 13 de Agosto de 2019 - Verdad y mentiras

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Verdad y mentiras

13 de Agosto de 2019

Así ha dicho el Señor de los ejércitos: "No hagan caso de las palabras que los profetas les anuncian. Sólo alimentan en ustedes vanas esperanzas. Sus visiones nacen de su propio corazón, y no de mis labios. Se atreven a decir a los que me desprecian que yo he dicho que tendrán paz; y a todos los que siguen a su obstinado corazón les dicen que no les sobrevendrá ningún mal... Yo no envié a esos profetas, y sin embargo ellos se dieron prisa; yo jamás les hablé, pero ellos profetizaron. Si ellos realmente se hubieran reunido conmigo, habrían hecho que mi pueblo atendiera mis palabras y se apartara de su mal camino y de sus malas obras".

~ Jeremías 23:16-17, 21-22 (RVC)

A través de Jeremías, Dios describe una mala situación: los llamados profetas en Israel dicen hablar la palabra de Dios, pero en realidad están inventando cosas. Están diciendo lo que la gente quiere escuchar, y los que escuchan creen cada palabra. Si un hombre es malo, le adulan; y si una mujer sigue sus propios deseos malvados, le dicen que todo va a estar bien. ¡Es como si quisieran apagar un incendio con gasolina!

Quizás estés pensando: "¿Y qué? Eso fue hace mucho tiempo. Hoy las cosas son distintas; ya no tenemos profetas". ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que escuchaste en la televisión o leíste en Internet que alguien inventaba excusas para hacer el mal, dañar al pobre, ignorar una injusticia o tratar al débil a su antojo, simplemente porque se puede?

O, ¿qué pasa con los seres queridos que nos ven hacer algo malo pero se niegan a decir algo al respecto? Por ejemplo: hablar mal de alguien que no está presente; romper las reglas porque "todo el mundo lo hace"; faltarle el respeto a la autoridad; burlarse de las personas que no están de acuerdo con nosotros; exigir y esperar todo de la vida simplemente porque "lo merezco"; guardar rencores y negarse a perdonar.

Sabemos que todas estas cosas están mal y, sin embargo, las hacemos, rara vez reprendidos por quienes mejor nos conocen. Indudablemente, necesitamos ayuda. Necesitamos a alguien que pueda cambiar nuestro corazón obstinado y egoísta en un corazón que desee vivir por la verdad.

Para eso vino Jesús. En un mundo lleno de mentiras, Jesús es el aire fresco de la verdad que nos dice: "Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí" (Juan 14:6), que nos exhorta: "Lleven mi yugo sobre ustedes, y aprendan de mí" (Mateo 11:29a), y que nos promete: "Si ustedes permanecen en mi palabra, serán verdaderamente mis discípulos; y conocerán la verdad, y la verdad los hará libres" (Juan 8:31-32).

Sabemos que Jesús es digno de confianza porque dio su propia vida para salvarnos. Él nunca nos va a mentir. Pongamos nuestra confianza en él y escuchemos con entusiasmo su palabra, la palabra sembrada que puede salvar almas.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, enséñanos por tu Espíritu Santo a confiar en Jesús. En su Nombre. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Qué actitudes, costumbres o acciones necesitas cambiar sometiéndolas a la Palabra de Dios?
• ¿Cómo evitas ceder ante la presión de hacer algo que va en contra de la Palabra de Dios?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué actitudes, costumbres o acciones necesitas cambiar sometiéndolas a la Palabra de Dios?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Jesús disfrazado

Jesús disfrazado

Leer: Mateo 25:31-40 | La Biblia en un año: Salmos 87–88 Romanos 13

Descargar MP3

Al Señor presta el que da al pobre, y el bien que ha hecho, se lo volverá a pagar (Proverbios 19:17).

Hace poco, mi hijo participó en un «simulacro de personas sin hogar»: pasó tres días y dos noches viviendo en las calles y durmiendo al aire libre en un clima helado. Sin comida, dinero ni refugio, dependía de la bondad de extraños para suplir sus necesidades básicas. Un día, lo único que comió fue un sándwich que le compró un hombre cuando lo oyó pedir pan en un restaurante.

Al tiempo, mi hijo me dijo que esa fue una de las cosas más difíciles que hizo, pero que impactó profundamente su visión de los demás. El día posterior al «simulacro» lo pasó buscando a aquellos que no tenían casa y que lo habían ayudado en la calle, para hacer todo lo posible por ellos. Todos quedaron sorprendidos al descubrir que él sí tenía una casa, y agradecieron que se interesara lo suficiente para ver la vida como ellos.

La experiencia de mi hijo me trae a la mente las palabras de Jesús: «estuve desnudo, y me cubristeis; enfermo, y me visitasteis; en la cárcel, y vinisteis a mí. […] en cuanto lo hicisteis a uno de estos mis hermanos más pequeños, a mí lo hicisteis» (Mateo 25:36, 40). Ya sea que demos una palabra de aliento o una bolsa con comida, Dios nos llama a ocuparnos con amor de las necesidades de los demás. Nuestra bondad a otros es bondad hacia Él.

Señor, ayúdame a ver las necesidades de los demás y a suplirlas.

¿Cómo puedes beneficiar a otra persona? ¿Cuándo fuiste receptor de la bondad de alguien?

Por James Banks

© 2019 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Ya sea que demos una palabra de aliento o una bolsa con comida, Dios nos llama a ocuparnos con amor de las necesidades de los demás.