The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, October 3, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, October 3, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Lamentations 3:19-26

19 The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
     is wormwood and gall!
20 My soul continually thinks of it
     and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
     and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
     his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
     great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
     “therefore I will hope in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
     to the soul that seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
     for the salvation of the Lord.

Jeremiah 52:1-11

The Destruction of Jerusalem Reviewed
52:1 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 3 Indeed, Jerusalem and Judah so angered the Lord that he expelled them from his presence.

Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and they laid siege to it; they built siegeworks against it all around. 5 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 6 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine became so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 7 Then a breach was made in the city wall; and all the soldiers fled and went out from the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. They went in the direction of the Arabah. 8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered, deserting him. 9 Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him. 10 The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also killed all the officers of Judah at Riblah. 11 He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison until the day of his death.

Revelation 2:8-11

The Message to Smyrna
2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:

9 “I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.

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
Lamentations 3:19-26; Jeremiah 52:1-11; Revelation 2:8-11

The Daily Prayer for THURSDAY, October 3, 2019

The Daily Prayer

for THURSDAY, October 3, 2019

Church father Augustine of Hippo wrote, “‘The times are bad! The times are troublesome!’ This is what humans say. But we are our times. Let us live well and our times will be good. Such as we are, such are our times.”

Lord, grant that our actions hold a mirror to our prayers. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, October 3, 2019

1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Read all of 1 Peter 1

Listen to 1 Peter 1

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 - Jueves 3 de Octubre de 2019

Oración por dominio propio

Dios [...] nos enseña a rechazar la impiedad y las pasiones mundanas. Así podremos vivir en este mundo con justicia, piedad y dominio propio.

~ Tito 2:11-12 (NVI)

Padre de la gloria, me presento delante de ti para darte gracias por un nuevo día. Para reconocerte como el Dios de mi vida.

¡Oh, Señor, cuánto te necesita mi alma!

Hoy, mi Dios, necesito tu intervención milagrosa, ya que mi carácter es débil y me resulta difícil tener dominio propio.

Muchas veces me he prometido cambiar y dejar malos hábitos, pero vuelvo a recaer o incluso a fallar.

Por eso, mi Señor, en este día vengo ante ti para hacer un pacto contigo, pues sé que solo con tu ayuda saldré adelante.

Dios mío, hoy te entrego este hábito (decir el tuyo) y te prometo que me esforzaré al máximo para no fallarte.

Gracias, mi Dios, porque sé que cuento contigo. Tú me darás la fuerza que necesito y podré dar testimonio de tu poder.

En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

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

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, October 3, 2019

CHRISTIAN PRISONER ENCOURAGEMENT

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

~ Philemon 1:7 (NIV)

Twenty-nine-year-old Maryam Rostampour and thirty-two-year old Marzieh Amirizadeh spent 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison in 2009 in Iran. They had to overcome the fear of life imprisonment and the possibility of execution because they loved and followed Jesus Christ. They had to remain strong through weeks in solitary confinement, and endless hours of interrogation by Iranian officials and religious leaders. They had to endure months of harsh living conditions and debilitating sickness. In their first interview (with Sam Yeghnazar of Elam Ministries), they shared what life was like in prison and how they survived.

Marzieh said, “I would like to thank them [prayer partners] for their prayers and support, and the letters they sent us. During this time it wasn’t just Maryam and Marzieh who were imprisoned, but all these prayer warriors. This was a great encouragement for us. We felt their presence alongside us. So please keep praying for those who are in prison for their faith, believers in Afghanistan and Pakistan…Don’t think that your prayers are unimportant.”

She added, “We heard that people sent us letters in prison, but we didn’t get any of them. Just hearing that people sent us letters, was a great encouragement to us. And what’s interesting is that the guards who opened our letters, read the Bible verses and the prayers, and were impacted. We know this because they told us and mentioned some of the verses from the gospel. I can’t thank them [those who sent letters] with all that is in my heart; I can say ‘thank you,’ but this is not enough.”

Maryam concluded, “I thank them. It’s true we didn’t see the letters they sent, but we knew there was a large group supporting us. This was a huge encouragement to us and helped us to stand firm. We heard from our guards that forty to fifty letters were coming every day. They saw how Christians stood together to support their own. This was something that gave us hope.”

Check our website for names and addresses of Christians in prison for their faith whom you can write to and pray for.

RESPONSE: Today I will pray for and send letters to Christians in prison for their faith to encourage them in their persecution.

PRAYER: Pray for hope and encouragement for Christian prisoners—especially those in solitary confinement—in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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

Men's Devotional Bible - Thursday, October 3, 2019

Fear Not

Nehemiah 6:1–19
Recommended Reading: Joshua 1:1–9; Psalm 59:1–17; Philippians 4:4–13

Has someone deliberately tried to discredit you? Gone out of his way to tear you down? Persuaded others to believe something untrue about you?

Then you can relate to Nehemiah. He must have scratched his head when his enemies tried five times to lure him outside the city, where certain death awaited. They tried rumors, coercion and bald-faced threats, but Nehemiah wasn’t fooled. He trusted God and knew that Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem’s claims weren’t true. These enemies were spreading rumors, trying to frighten Nehemiah and his men into stopping their work on Jerusalem’s walls. Instinctively, Nehemiah turned to prayer and asked God to provide strength for finishing the task.

Next, Nehemiah had to be wary when his enemies sent a wolf in sheep’s clothing, inviting him to hide out in the temple for his own safety—an act that would have gone against God’s laws. Yet even when threatened with death, Nehemiah didn’t allow himself to fall into that trap. He had insight into the situation that reinforced his trust in God, rather than believing the bad reports of other men.

Thankfully, you’ll probably never experience an assassination attempt. But you might face an enemy who wants to assassinate your character. Like Nehemiah’s enemies, people who are bent on opposing you can be very resourceful, even downright nefarious, in getting their way. Should you fight back? Or run away and hide?

Remember that, like Nehemiah, you have a heavenly Father to whom you can always turn. As hard as Nehemiah’s enemies tried to attack him, through prayer he found the power to continue his work without fear. You can too. When you trust God for protection, he will fill you with strength to complete the unique tasks he gives you and the courage you need to withstand character assassination attempts.

To Take Away

• Think about a really tough task, project or relationship that God has given you to deal with. How does Nehemiah’s example encourage you?
• Is there someone in your circle of friends who brings you down or makes you feel afraid? How can you respond to him in a way that honors God?
• In what areas do you need to trust God to protect and strengthen you?

Has someone deliberately tried to discredit you? Gone out of his way to tear you down? Persuaded others to believe something untrue about you?

LHM Daily Devotions - October 3, 2019 - Unworthy Servants, Joyful Children

"Unworthy Servants, Joyful Children"

Oct. 3, 2019

(Jesus said) "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

— Luke 17:7-10 (ESV)

Sometimes I daydream in church. Usually this happens when the pastor leading the prayers sounds like he's completely forgotten who he is talking to. Instead, he starts talking to the congregation, and the prayer turns into a sermon or (God forbid!) a political aside. At moments like these, I imagine God's voice booming out: "Yes, and you were saying ...?" I suspect the pastor would have a heart attack.

But it isn't just pastors who make the mistake of forgetting their place before God. How often do I catch myself thinking something not fit to be said in prayer? For example, suppose I've just done a good deed—I've helped at the food pantry, tutored a child, or given money to a charity. Right away a tiny voice comes up in my mind, saying, "Wow! What a great person I am. God must be really pleased with me." I know better than that, of course, so immediately I squash the thought—and another one pops up. "Wow! What a spiritual person I am, to be so humble." On a bad day, this can just keep going until I give it up and laugh at myself.

Jesus speaks to that silly sense of superiority we have. He says, "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'?" Of course not. A servant is supposed to serve. It is not the master's job to wait on the servant at dinner time. Even if the servant has already had a full day's work, and done it well—that's what he's supposed to do. He doesn't expect his master to suddenly switch roles with him!

Jesus recommends us to remember—to remember who we are, and what we are. And what is that? In the words of the liturgy, we are "poor miserable sinners." (Imagine the shock if God's voice suddenly said, "That's right!" just at that point in the service.) We are creatures. We are people, much loved by God—but we are not God.

Jesus is right. "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty." And often we have done much, much less than was our duty. We have reason to be humble.

But we also have reason to be joyful—because we have a Master who is not like other masters. We have a Master who came to be a Servant, who came to serve His servants, rescuing us from the power of evil through His own life, death, and resurrection. We have a Master who has adopted us—who has made us to become children of God.

This is not our due. This is not what we deserve. But it is what we have, because "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

So now we have a dual role. Because we love Jesus, we are His willing servants. Because He loves us, we are children of God, adopted forever. Thank You, Lord!

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for serving us, Your servants. Please continue to serve others through us. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you imagine God being pleased with some of the more honorable things you do? What does that picture look like in your head?
• Being satisfied with ourselves over a job well done is a good thing, but even in something good pride can creep in. How do you combat pride in your life?
• How does Jesus' example of being the Master who serves inspire you when you think you're not being appreciated enough?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you imagine God being pleased with some of the more honorable things you do?

CPTLN devocional del 03 de Octubre de 2019 - Sirvientes indignos, hijos felices

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Sirvientes indignos, hijos felices

03 de Octubre de 2019

»Si alguno de ustedes tiene un siervo que ara o apacienta el ganado, ¿acaso cuando él vuelve del campo le dice: "Pasa y siéntate a la mesa"? ¡No! Más bien, le dice: "Prepárame la cena, y arréglate la ropa para servirme mientras yo como y bebo. Después podrás comer y beber tú." ¿Y acaso se le agradece al siervo el hacer lo que se le ordena? Así también ustedes, cuando hayan hecho todo lo que se les ha ordenado, digan: "Somos siervos inútiles, no hemos hecho más que cumplir con nuestro deber."»

— Lucas 17:7-10 (RVC)

A veces, en la iglesia sueño despierto. Por lo general, esto sucede cuando el pastor que dirige las oraciones suena como si hubiera olvidado por completo con quién está hablando. Comienza a hablar con la congregación y la oración se convierte en un sermón o (¡Dios no lo quiera!) en un debate político. En momentos como estos, imagino la voz de Dios protestando: "¿Qué me estabas diciendo ...?"

Pero no son solo los pastores los que cometen el error de olvidar su lugar ante Dios. Con mucha frecuencia me encuentro pensando algo que creo que no puedo decir en mi oración. Por ejemplo, supongamos que acabo de hacer algo bueno: he ayudado en el banco de alimentos, dado clases a un niño o donado dinero a una organización de beneficencia. De inmediato aparece una pequeña voz en mi mente, diciendo: "¡Guau! ¡Qué gran persona soy! ¡Dios debe estar realmente complacido conmigo! Como sé que no está bien, inmediatamente borro ese pensamiento, pero aparece otro. "¡Guau! ¡Qué persona espiritual y humilde que soy!". En un mal día, esto puede continuar hasta que me rinda y me ría de mí mismo.

Jesús nos habla acerca de esa tonta sensación de superioridad que tenemos, diciendo: »Si alguno de ustedes tiene un siervo que ara o apacienta el ganado, ¿acaso cuando él vuelve del campo le dice: "Pasa y siéntate a la mesa"? ¡No! Se supone que un sirviente debe servir. No es el trabajo del amo esperar al sirviente a la hora de la cena. Incluso si el criado ya tuvo un día completo de trabajo y lo hizo bien, eso es lo que se supone que debe hacer. ¡No espera que su maestro cambie repentinamente de roles con él!

Jesús nos recomienda recordar quiénes y qué somos. ¿Y qué somos? En palabras religiosas, somos "pobres pecadores miserables". (Imagina la conmoción si la voz de Dios de repente dice: "¡Así es!" justo en ese punto del servicio de adoración). Somos criaturas. Somos personas, muy amadas por Dios, pero no somos Dios.

Jesús tiene razón: "Somos siervos inútiles, no hemos hecho más que cumplir con nuestro deber". Y a menudo hemos hecho mucho, mucho menos de lo que debíamos. Tenemos razones para ser humildes.

Pero también tenemos motivos para alegrarnos, porque tenemos un Maestro que no es como otros maestros. Tenemos un Maestro que llegó a ser un Siervo, que vino a servir a Sus siervos, rescatándonos del poder del mal a través de Su propia vida, muerte y resurrección. Tenemos un Maestro que nos adoptó, que nos convirtió en hijos de Dios.

Esto no lo logramos nosotros. Esto no es lo que merecemos. Pero es lo que tenemos, porque "el Hijo del Hombre no vino para ser servido, sino para servir, y para dar su vida en rescate por muchos" (Marcos 10:45).

Entonces ahora tenemos una tarea doble. Como amamos a Jesús, somos sus siervos dispuestos. Como Jesús nos ama, somos hijos de Dios adoptados para siempre. ¡Gracias, Señor!

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, gracias por servirnos, a quienes somos tus siervos. Te rogamos que continúes sirviendo a otros a través de nosotros. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Cómo te imaginas que reacciona Dios cuando se complace con las cosas que haces?
• ¿En qué manera te inspira el ejemplo de Jesús como Maestro que sirve, cuando sientes que no eres apreciado?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cómo te imaginas que reacciona Dios cuando se complace con las cosas que haces?

Хлеб наш насущный - Пределы любви

Пределы любви

Читать сейчас: Псалом 138:1-10 | Библия за год: Исаии 17-19; 2 Коринфянам 5

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О, бездна богатства: и премудрости, и ведения Божьего! — Римлянам 11:33

Мэри Ли – пятиметровая белая акула весом 1,5 т, помеченная океанографами у восточного побережья США в 2012 году. Передатчик, прикрепленный к ее спинному плавнику, отслеживался спутником, когда акула подплывала к поверхности. Следующие пять лет за передвижениями Мэри Ли следило в интернете большое количество людей, от исследователей до серферов, по всему побережью. Акула проплыла почти 65 000 км, пока однажды сигнал не прервался. Видимо, закончился заряд батареи передатчика.

Познание и технологии человечества имеют свои пределы. Те, кто следил за Мэри Ли, потеряли ее след. Но мы с вами ни на мгновение в течение всей своей жизни не выйдем за пределы Божьего внимания. Давид молился: «Куда пойду от Духа Твоего и от лица Твоего куда убегу? Взойду ли на небо – Ты там, сойду ли в преисподнюю – и там Ты» (Пс. 138:7-8). «Дивно для меня ведение Твое», – восклицает он с благодарностью (ст. 6).

Богу известно о нас все, потому что Он любит нас и заботится о нас. Он не только наблюдает за нашей жизнью, но и приходит в нее, чтобы обновить. Он приблизился к нам через жизнь, смерть и воскресение Иисуса Христа, чтобы и мы могли познать Его и любить Его вечно. Мы никогда не сможем выйти за пределы Божьей любви.

Как вас ободряет мысль, что Бог совершенно знает и любит нас? Как вы сегодня можете достичь других Его любовью?

Спасибо, что Ты всегда видишь меня, Небесный Отец! Помоги мне все больше осознавать Твое присутствие и совершенную любовь.

автор: Джеймс Бэнкс

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Мэри Ли – пятиметровая белая акула весом 1,5 т, помеченная океанографами у восточного побережья США в 2012 году.