The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, September 27, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, September 27, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16

Assurance of God’s Protection
1  You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
     who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2  will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
     my God, in whom I trust.”
3  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
     and from the deadly pestilence;
4  he will cover you with his pinions,
     and under his wings you will find refuge;
     his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5  You will not fear the terror of the night,
     or the arrow that flies by day,
6  or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
     or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

14 Those who love me, I will deliver;
     I will protect those who know my name.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them;
     I will be with them in trouble,
     I will rescue them and honor them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them,
     and show them my salvation.

Jeremiah 23:23-32

23:23 Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? 24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed!” 26 How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? 27 They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. 29 Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? 30 See, therefore, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal my words from one another. 31 See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their own tongues and say, “Says the Lord.” 32 See, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the Lord, and who tell them, and who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or appoint them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the Lord.

Ephesians 2:1-10

From Death to Life
2:1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

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
By grace Christ has changed us from sons of disobedience to children of God.

The Daily Prayer for FRIDAY, September 27, 2019

The Daily Prayer

for FRIDAY, September 27, 2019

Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

The son of French peasants, Vincent de Paul studied for the priesthood and was ordained in 1600. While serving the church, he was kidnapped by Turkish pirates and sold into slavery. After converting his master, Vincent escaped and returned to France, where he ministered to the poor and imprisoned, and invited others to join him, founding the Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity with Louise de Marillac. He prayed, “May the poor forgive me the bread that I give them.”

Vincent de Paul said, “We must love God, but let it be in the work of our bodies, in the sweat of our brows. For very often many acts of love for God, of kindness, of good will, and other similar inclinations and interior practices of a tender heart, although good and very desirable, are yet very suspect when they do not lead to the practice of effective love.”

Lord, you have shown us what love looks like. Help us through acts of forgiveness and reconciliation to so love one another that our neighbors know we are your disciples and know that to be good news. Amen.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, September 27, 2019

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Read all of Matthew 6

Listen to Matthew 6

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 - Viernes 27 de Septiembre de 2019

Oración por afirmación

Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece.

~ Filipenses 4:13 (NVI)

Señor Jesús, te doy gracias por este nuevo día. Quiero agradecerte también que he podido comprender que tienes tu mirada puesta en mí y que me ves como un ser de bendición.

Gracias por perdonar mis pecados y por olvidar mis faltas.

Ayúdame, oh Dios, a estar firme en ti y a ver las cosas de otra manera.

Necesito que me ayudes a restablecer mi autoestima y verme como me ves tú.

No permitas que nada ni nadie me robe la tranquilidad, la paz y el gozo.

Afirma mi vida, Jesús, en ti. Quiero agradarte y ser canal de bendición para otros.

Señor, fortalece mi vida, mi corazón, mi alma y todo mi ser.

En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por afirmación

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Friday, September 27, 2019

DEREGISTERING IN CENTRAL ASIA

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

~ Colossians 1:18 (NIV)

“Our church is considering whether to relinquish our government registration,” said Pastor Sergei to our SSTS seminar group in a restricted Central Asia country. No one knew how to respond. The seminar was being conducted in this pastor’s church because it was the only one the region registered with the central government!

“Why?” someone asked.

“Here is our reasoning,” Pastor Sergei graciously replied. “We have a ‘grandfather clause’ that permits us to be registered even though we do not meet the current requirements to be registered. But I have to file a report with the government each month outlining the number of meetings, who attended and how much money we received from these meetings and people. I find it very difficult to give an accurate report, thereby possibly jeopardizing some individuals who attend our meetings, or to falsify the reports and thereby violate my conscience.

Pastor Sergei added, “I feel like I am working every day for the NSS (National Security System—former KGB). As a denomination, we are unprepared for persecution. I feel my people would be better prepared for persecution if we met in smaller cell groups and were not registered.”

To register a church in this country, three conditions must be met: a list of at least one hundred members whose last names are Russian or Koreans but no one from one of the traditional Muslim tribal groups; a vote of 100% among the church neighbors favoring a meeting in their area; and a building, but few want to rent or sell a building to a Christian group—even if the neighbors approve!

“This is why we are thinking of deregistering with the government and going underground as smaller cell churches,” concludes Pastor Sergei. Then he looks straight into your eyes and asks, “Do you agree?”

RESPONSE: Today I reaffirm that Christ is the head of His church, not temporal authorities.

PRAYER: Lord, give wisdom today to church leaders in countries where registration is so difficult and fraught with so many complexities.

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

Men of the Bible - Friday, September 27, 2019

Jesus

His name means: "Yahweh Is Salvation"

His work: Although a member of the Holy Trinity who participated in the creation of the universe, his assignment was to come humbly to earth as a man to serve as Redeemer and Lord.
His character: Fully God, fully man; sinless perfection.
His sorrow: Taking upon himself the sins of every human being to satisfy the wrath of a holy God—the sins of those who lived before his birth, those who lived during his lifetime, and those who were to follow.
His triumph: The completion of his mission as the Savior of the world.
Key Scriptures: The Gospel of John

A Look at the Man

The first day of school, the first day on a new job—these are landmark moments, times to celebrate, to give your best, to set a pattern for the days to follow.

Jesus could have begun his public ministry with a healing service or a deliverance session. He could have gathered twice as many people as John the Baptist had and begun by excoriating the religious leaders for their sins. Instead, he performed a miracle, turning water into wine so that a bride and groom could avoid embarrassment, so that a party could continue.

Didn't Jesus have more important things to attend to? What was he thinking? What about all the hungry people who needed feeding, the blind who needed to see? What about restoring worship in the temple, freeing the demon-possessed, silencing gale-force winds, and walking on water?

Jesus knew the time would come for him to confront the ugliness in people's hearts. He knew about the suffering that lay ahead and the resistance he would face. But right now it was time for a party. True, the bridegroom hadn't been quite ready for the wedding, running out of wine before the celebration was half finished. Jesus wasn't quite ready either.

But three years later, as he hung on a Roman cross dying for our sins, it was a completely different story, because now the Bridegroom was ready. That day Jesus declared his work "finished," for the purpose of his life and ministry was to prepare his people to become his spotless bride.

At Cana he had changed water to expensive wine. On the night before he died, he lifted a cup of wine, saying to his friends: "This is my blood, shed for you." On the cross he turned the costly wine into his own precious blood.

After Jesus' resurrection, the Spirit of God moved on the disciples so powerfully that three thousand people became believers in one day. Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in his followers, was drawing people to himself, changing the course of history, giving us the best news we could ever hear, throwing the greatest party anyone had ever attended.

Reflect On: Matthew 26:36–46
Praise God: For his love.
Offer Thanks: For his Son—the child born of a virgin, the boy who grew in character, the one who lived a sinless life and died to redeem us—the groom who not only loved his bride but gave his life for her.
Confess: The temptation to forget who Jesus really is and to treat his life as only an example of right living rather than to fully embrace his purpose for coming to earth.
Ask God: To fill you with his Spirit, to live as a person who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, to teach you to pray and to celebrate

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.
His name means: "Yahweh Is Salvation"

LHM Daily Devotions - September 27, 2019 - Riches Beyond Compare

"Riches Beyond Compare"

Sep. 27, 2019

So that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

~ Ephesians 2:7 (ESV)

One day there was a young woman who was interviewing potential suitors. Her only prerequisite in a mate was his having loads of greenbacks.

One gentleman commented quietly that his wealth consisted of 40 acres of land. The young lady scoffed, "That's not much of a ranch. Where is your 'spread' located?"

To which the tycoon replied in a drawl, "Downtown Dallas."

When we see the rich and powerful of the world amassing for themselves the treasures of earth, we may be drawn into the trap of believing that we've been cheated. After all, we work hard too, yet we have little or nothing to show for it. Our neighbor down the street never gets his hands dirty. His only work seems to be a trip to the bank each Wednesday.

"Life isn't fair," we mutter, forgetting that as Christians we have wealth that can't be deposited in a bank. Our inheritance as Christians won't appear on the official listing of our assets when our wills are read. Does that disappoint us? We may say not, but sometimes even Christians allow themselves to envy the wealth of the world just a bit. And there are not a few books by religious publishers that promise readers that God wants all His people to be financially prosperous here on earth.

The apostle Paul protested against this kind of thinking: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).

As with the Texas rancher, the location makes all the difference. We are heirs with Christ; the Scriptures promise this. Think of what that means. All that belongs to Christ, belongs to us. All that the Father has given Christ is ours! It's ours right now, being held in trust until we arrive, and it will be ours forever. Location? Downtown in the New Jerusalem.

How do we know? The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit in our hearts is our guarantee that we will receive all that God has promised. Again, the apostle Paul: "In Him you also, when you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Cheated? Not on your life. Our inheritance will never be a thing to be grasped by this world. If God's riches toward man were something that could be comprehended, Jesus wouldn't have gone to the cross. One more time, the apostle Paul speaks: "None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'" (1 Corinthians 2:8-9).

It can be easy to get caught up in the way the world sees things, but we take the long view as Christians. And we will not be disappointed.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the riches we possess now by faith are a shadow of what is to come. Strengthen our trust in You to the end of our lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Does the disparity between those who have and those who don't in the world bother you?
• Can you name three things you think will be part of the "immeasurable riches" of God's grace toward believers in the coming ages?
• How do you respond to questions about wealth and prosperity when sharing your faith with others?

From The Lutheran Layman, October 1980 issue, "I've Got a Mansion," by Jane Fryar. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Does the disparity between those who have and those who don't in the world bother you?

Devocional del CPTLN del 27 de Septiembre de 2019 - Riquezas incomparables

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Riquezas incomparables

27 de Septiembre de 2019

... para mostrar en los tiempos venideros las abundantes riquezas de su gracia y su bondad para con nosotros en Cristo Jesús.

~ Efesios 2:7 (RVC)

Había una mujer joven que estaba entrevistando a posibles pretendientes. Al no haber leído esta columna regularmente, su único requisito previo en una pareja era que tuviera mucho dinero.

Un caballero comentó que su riqueza consistía en 40 acres de tierra. La joven se burló, "Eso no es ni un rancho. ¿Dónde está "ubicado"?

A lo que el magnate respondió con acento: "En el centro de la ciudad de Dallas".

Cuando vemos a los ricos y poderosos del mundo llenarse con los tesoros de la tierra, podemos caer en la trampa de creer que hemos sido engañados. Después de todo, nosotros también trabajamos duro y tenemos poco o nada de qué alardear. Nuestro vecino nunca se ensucia las manos. Su único trabajo parece ser ir al banco todos los miércoles.

"La vida no es justa", refunfuñamos, olvidando que como cristianos tenemos una riqueza que no se puede depositar en un banco. Nuestra herencia como cristianos no aparecerá en la lista oficial de nuestros activos cuando se lea nuestro testamento. ¿Eso nos decepciona? Podemos decir que no, pero a veces incluso los cristianos envidiamos un poco la riqueza de los demás. Y no son pocos los libros de editoriales religiosas que prometan a los lectores que Dios quiere que su pueblo sea económicamente próspero aquí en la tierra.

El apóstol Pablo protestó contra este tipo de pensamiento: "Pero nuestra ciudadanía está en los cielos, de donde también esperamos al Salvador, al Señor Jesucristo" (Filipenses 3:20).

Al igual que con el ranchero de Texas, la ubicación hace toda la diferencia. Somos herederos de Cristo, nos dicen las Escrituras. Piensa en lo que eso significa. Todo lo que le pertenece a Cristo, nos pertenece a nosotros. ¡Todo lo que el Padre le ha dado a Cristo es nuestro! Es nuestro en este momento. Se mantiene en fideicomiso hasta que lleguemos al cielo y será nuestro para siempre. ¿Su ubicación? El centro de la ciudad en la nueva Jerusalén.

¿Cómo lo sabemos? La Biblia nos dice que el Espíritu Santo, quién está en nuestros corazones, es nuestra garantía de que recibiremos todo lo que Dios ha prometido. El apóstol Pablo dice nuevamente: "También ustedes, luego de haber oído la palabra de verdad, que es el evangelio que los lleva a la salvación, y luego de haber creído en él, fueron sellados con el Espíritu Santo de la promesa, que es la garantía de nuestra herencia hasta la redención de la posesión adquirida, para alabanza de su gloria." (Efesios 1:13-14).

¿Engañado? No en cuanto a tu vida eterna. Nuestra herencia nunca será algo comprendido por este mundo. Si las riquezas de Dios para el hombre fueran algo que pudiera comprenderse, Jesús no habría ido a la cruz. Una vez más, el apóstol Pablo nos dice: "Sabiduría que ninguno de los gobernantes de este mundo conoció, porque si la hubieran conocido, nunca habrían crucificado al Señor de la gloria. Como está escrito: «Las cosas que ningún ojo vio, ni ningún oído escuchó, ni han penetrado en el corazón del hombre, son las que Dios ha preparado para los que lo aman.» (1 Corintios 2:8-9)

Puede ser fácil quedar atrapados en la forma en que el mundo ve las cosas, pero los cristianos vemos a largo plazo. Y no seremos decepcionados.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, las riquezas que poseemos ahora por fe son una sombra de lo que está por venir. Fortalece nuestra confianza en ti hasta el final de nuestra vida. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

The Lutheran Layman, octubre de 1980, Jane L. Fryar

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Puedes mencionar tres cosas que crees que serán parte de las "riquezas incomparables" de la gracia de Dios hacia los creyentes en la vida eterna?
• ¿Cómo respondes a las preguntas sobre riqueza y prosperidad cuando compartes tu fe con otros?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Puedes mencionar tres cosas que crees que serán parte de las "riquezas incomparables" de la gracia de Dios hacia los creyentes en la vida eterna?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Sẵn Sàng Cho Ngày Chúa Đến

Sẵn Sàng Cho Ngày Chúa Đến

Đọc: Ma-thi-ơ 25:1–13 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Ê-sai 3–4; Ê-phê-sô 6

Download MP3

Vậy, hãy tỉnh thức, vì các con không biết ngày, cũng không biết giờ. Ma-thi-ơ 25:13

Tôi rất ấn tượng bài hát “Sống Như Thể Bạn Sắp Chết” của ca sĩ nhạc đồng quê Tim McGraw. Trong đó, ông mô tả vài việc thú vị mà một người đã làm sau khi nhận được tin xấu về sức khỏe của mình. Người đó cũng thấy dễ yêu thương và tha thứ cho mọi người hơn, nói với họ nhẹ nhàng hơn. Bài hát khuyên chúng ta nên sống tốt, như thể biết rằng cuộc sống của mình sẽ sớm kết thúc.

Bài hát này nhắc nhở rằng thời gian của chúng ta có hạn. Điều quan trọng là đừng trì hoãn những việc chúng ta có thể làm hôm nay bởi vì một ngày nào đó, chúng ta sẽ không còn ngày mai nữa. Điều này đặc biệt cấp bách đối với Cơ Đốc nhân là những người tin rằng Chúa Jêsus có thể trở lại bất cứ lúc nào (có thể trong giây phút bạn đang đọc câu này). Chúa Jêsus khuyên giục chúng ta sẵn sàng, đừng sống như năm trinh nữ “dại”, đã không sẵn sàng khi chàng rể quay lại (Mat. 25:6-10).

Nhưng bài hát của McGraw không nói được hết toàn bộ câu chuyện. Với chúng ta là những người yêu mến Chúa Jêsus thì sẽ không bao giờ hết ngày mai. Chúa Jêsus nói: “Ta là sự sống lại và sự sống. Người nào tin Ta thì sẽ sống, mặc dù đã chết rồi. Còn ai sống mà tin Ta thì sẽ không bao giờ chết” (Gi. 11:25, 26). Cuộc sống của chúng ta trong Ngài không bao giờ kết thúc.

Vì vậy, đừng sống như thể bạn sắp phải chết, bởi vì bạn sẽ không chết. Thay vào đó, hãy sống như thể Chúa Jêsus đang đến, bởi vì Ngài sắp đến!

Hôm nay bạn sẽ sống thế nào trong tinh thần sẵn sàng đón Chúa Jêsus trở lại? Việc biết rằng Ngài sẽ trở lại bất cứ lúc nào ảnh hưởng đến những chọn lựa của bạn ra sao?

Lạy Chúa Jêsus, con trông đợi ngày Chúa sẽ trở lại. Nguyện con dùng thời gian con có để hết lòng tôn vinh Ngài và phục vụ người khác.

bởi Mike Wittmer

© 2019 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Tôi rất ấn tượng bài hát “Sống Như Thể Bạn Sắp Chết” của ca sĩ nhạc đồng quê Tim McGraw. Trong đó, ông mô tả vài việc thú vị mà một người đã làm sau khi nhận được tin xấu về sức khỏe của mình.