The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, October 8, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, October 8, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 137

Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem
1  By the rivers of Babylon—
     there we sat down and there we wept
     when we remembered Zion.
2  On the willows there
     we hung up our harps.
3  For there our captors
     asked us for songs,
   and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
     “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4  How could we sing the Lord’s song
     in a foreign land?
5  If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
     let my right hand wither!
6  Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
     if I do not remember you,
   if I do not set Jerusalem
     above my highest joy.

7  Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites
     the day of Jerusalem’s fall,
   how they said, “Tear it down! Tear it down!
     Down to its foundations!”
8  O daughter Babylon, you devastator!
     Happy shall they be who pay you back
     what you have done to us!
9  Happy shall they be who take your little ones
     and dash them against the rock!

Lamentations 2:13-22

13 What can I say for you, to what compare you,
     O daughter Jerusalem?
   To what can I liken you, that I may comfort you,
     O virgin daughter Zion?
   For vast as the sea is your ruin;
     who can heal you?

14 Your prophets have seen for you
     false and deceptive visions;
   they have not exposed your iniquity
     to restore your fortunes,
   but have seen oracles for you
     that are false and misleading.

15 All who pass along the way
     clap their hands at you;
   they hiss and wag their heads
     at daughter Jerusalem;
   “Is this the city that was called
     the perfection of beauty,
     the joy of all the earth?”

16 All your enemies
     open their mouths against you;
   they hiss, they gnash their teeth,
     they cry: “We have devoured her!
   Ah, this is the day we longed for;
     at last we have seen it!”

17 The Lord has done what he purposed,
     he has carried out his threat;
   as he ordained long ago,
     he has demolished without pity;
   he has made the enemy rejoice over you,
     and exalted the might of your foes.

18 Cry aloud to the Lord!
     O wall of daughter Zion!
   Let tears stream down like a torrent
     day and night!
   Give yourself no rest,
     your eyes no respite!

19 Arise, cry out in the night,
     at the beginning of the watches!
   Pour out your heart like water
     before the presence of the Lord!
   Lift your hands to him
     for the lives of your children,
   who faint for hunger
     at the head of every street.

20 Look, O Lord, and consider!
     To whom have you done this?
   Should women eat their offspring,
     the children they have borne?
   Should priest and prophet be killed
     in the sanctuary of the Lord?

21 The young and the old are lying
     on the ground in the streets;
   my young women and my young men
     have fallen by the sword;
   in the day of your anger you have killed them,
     slaughtering without mercy.

22 You invited my enemies from all around
     as if for a day of festival;
   and on the day of the anger of the Lord
     no one escaped or survived;
   those whom I bore and reared
     my enemy has destroyed.

1 John 5:1-5, 13-21

Faith Conquers the World
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Epilogue
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

14 And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. 16 If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one—to those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal.

18 We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them. 19 We know that we are God’s children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

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
Psalm 137; Lamentations 2:13-22; 1 John 5:1-5, 13-21

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, October 8, 2019

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, October 8, 2019

Andy Raine of the Northumbria Community has written, “Do not hurry as you walk with grief; it does not help the journey. Walk slowly, pausing often: do not hurry as you walk with grief. Be not disturbed by memories that come unbidden. Swiftly forgive; and let Christ speak for you unspoken words. Unfinished conversation will be resolved in him. Be not disturbed. Be gentle with the one who walks with grief. If it is you, be gentle with yourself. Swiftly forgive; walk slowly, pausing often. Take time, be gentle as you walk with grief.”

Lord, as the seasons turn, creation teaches us of grief, patience, and renewal. Make us good students of these rhythms that we might not hurry the work of grief but receive the gift of your presence in our time of need. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, October 8, 2019

Isaiah 43:11-12 (NIV) “I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.”

Read all of Isaiah 43

Listen to Isaiah 43

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 - Martes 08 Octubre 2019

Oración por perdón

Ten compasión de mí, oh Dios, conforme a tu gran amor [...] Lávame de toda mi maldad y límpiame de mi pecado.

— Salmo 51:1-2 (NVI)

Padre, gracias por tu presencia en mi vida. Vengo ante ti porque quiero reconocer que he sido una persona negativa y me he dejado llevar por esa manera dañina de ser. No solo les he hecho daño a los demás, sino a mí mismo. He afligido a los seres más queridos con palabras que han salido de mi boca, con las que he maldecido sus vidas, los he humillado y, sobre todo, te he faltado a ti.

Señor, te pido me ayudes y me des la fuerza para pedirle perdón a cada uno de los que les he faltado el debido respeto y les he atado con mis palabras.

Dios mío, permite que puedan perdonarme y tú cancela con tu poder cualquier maldición o atadura declarada sobre sus vidas.

Gracias por abrir mi entendimiento y mostrarme mis errores.

Me comprometo, Jesús, a cuidar mis palabras y a callar aun cuando no me guste algo.

Bendice mi vida, bendice a mi familia, a mis hijos y a mi cónyuge. Dame el favor y la gracia para restaurar las relaciones con mis seres queridos.

Te lo pido con todo mi corazón, amén y amén.

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

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, October 8, 2019

CHOOSING NOT TO HATE

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

— Romans 5:5 (NIV)

Rami Ayyad was assassinated a few years ago on October 7th for his work as the head of the Bible Society in the Gaza Strip. His murder left his wife, Pauline, burdened with three young children and a heart full of hatred for his killers.

While Rami was locking up the bookstore owned by the Palestinian Bible Society in Gaza, a vehicle pulled alongside him, and several men forced him in the back seat. Rami, remaining calm and trusting in the Lord, was allowed to call his wife. “I’m going with some young men somewhere, but I’ll be home soon,” he tried to reassure her. That was the last time Pauline would hear her husband’s voice.

Hours later, his body was found. He had been brutally tortured and shot twice, a bullet in the chest, and one in the head. A spokesman for the Palestinian Bible Society said, “He’s a martyr for Christ.” Pauline recalls, “I was so broken after the death of my husband, and I hated the people who did it.”

There has been no progress in the hunt for Rami’s killers. A local Christian commented, “Many of the Muslims believe that Rami was evangelizing people so it was OK to kill him.”

In such an environment of hatred, Pauline’s resentment festered. However, the Holy Spirit in His gentle but insistent way kept whispering to her until she could carry the hatred no further. “It was then,” she recalls, “that the Lord poured over me forgiveness for those who killed Rami and those who I used to blame.” Her heart was set free and she heard the Lord say, “It’s not everybody who gets to be called a martyr’s wife.” Deep in thought, she reflected, “That’s a great honor.”

Brother King from International Christian Concern (ICC) writes, “Pauline’s experience reflects that of the persecuted church in general. Abused, spat upon, beaten, tortured, raped, and killed, these believers suffer as Jesus did. Sometimes they respond in very human ways, but when they listen to and follow the Holy Spirit, a great power comes into them and they possess what they could not have imagined previously – peace, love for their enemies, and forgiveness for those who delivered only pure evil to their lives…This is the gift of the persecuted church. In the furnace of affliction, the Spirit of God is set ablaze in their hearts. In turn, their hearts become a beacon to all they come in contact with.”

RESPONSE: Today I will thank God for the gift of His Holy Spirit. I will listen to Him and follow Him.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the example of Pauline. Strengthen her as she raises her children.

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 - October 8, 2019 - A Tiny Disaster

"A Tiny Disaster"

Oct. 8, 2019

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. ... But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab ... But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. ..." But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem.

— Ruth 1:1-19 (ESV - excerpts)

The story of Naomi and Ruth is not that unusual. It begins with a farm family from Bethlehem who has come on hard times during a famine and decide to emigrate in the hopes of making a better life. There is nothing unusual in this; it happens every day, even now.

Unfortunately, in their new country they find more suffering. First, the father dies. The two sons marry local girls, only to die in their turn, leaving no children. What a disaster! Poor Naomi is the only survivor. Grieving and hopeless, she decides to go back home. She has nothing left—except one small note of grace, a daughter-in-law who loves her enough to go with her to a strange country where they will live as widows together.

It's a tiny tragedy—a story of poor people, common people, most of them women. Why would such a story wind up in the Bible? Such tales are a dime a dozen. We can hear them at the border, at sea among desperate refugees, in displaced persons camps, or in gang-ridden neighborhoods where death is an all-too-familiar visitor. Usually, we turn away. There are too many people like this. The pain is too uncomfortable to watch, and too overwhelming. Let it pass by.

But God did not let this tiny disaster pass by. Though nobody could have foretold it, God used this tragedy to plant the seeds of His own Son Jesus' family tree. This burned-over little family came back to life, with an unexpected marriage and a new baby for Naomi to fuss over. And the foreigner Ruth? Well, she ended up as an ancestor of Jesus our Savior.

No doubt you know tiny disasters of this sort—people who have had too much bad luck in their lives for one person. Perhaps this describes you. If so, take comfort in knowing that God has not forgotten you. Your grief and suffering is the very soil from which Jesus' family tree springs to life. He came into this world for you—and for all who suffer under the power of evil. He came to carry our griefs and sorrows all the way to the cross, and to break the power of darkness and death through His own death and resurrection. He calls you to be part of His own family—healed, comforted, and given everlasting life.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, reach into our darkness and bring us Your light. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• How do you react to news stories or commercials about suffering?
• What do you do when you discover someone you know in real life is suffering in a terrible way?
• How do you rely on God when you go through suffering of your own?

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).
How do you react to news stories or commercials about suffering?

CPTLN devocional del 08 de Octubre de 2019 - Un pequeño desastre

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Un pequeño desastre

08 de Octubre de 2019

En el tiempo en que los caudillos gobernaban el país, hubo allí una época de hambre. Entonces un hombre de Belén de Judá emigró a la tierra de Moab, junto con su esposa y sus dos hijos. El hombre se llamaba Elimélec, su esposa se llamaba Noemí y sus dos hijos, Majlón y Quilión, todos ellos efrateos, de Belén de Judá. Cuando llegaron a la tierra de Moab, se quedaron a vivir allí. Pero murió Elimélec, esposo de Noemí, y ella se quedó sola con sus dos hijos. Estos se casaron con mujeres moabitas, la una llamada Orfa y la otra Rut. Después de haber vivido allí unos diez años, murieron también Majlón y Quilión, y Noemí se quedó viuda y sin hijos. Noemí decidió regresar de la tierra de Moab con sus dos nueras, porque allí se enteró de que el Señor había acudido en ayuda de su pueblo al proveerle de alimento. Salió, pues, con sus dos nueras del lugar donde había vivido, y juntas emprendieron el camino que las llevaría hasta la tierra de Judá. Entonces Noemí les dijo a sus dos nueras: ¡Miren, vuelva cada una a la casa de su madre! Pero Rut respondió: ¡No insistas en que te abandone o en que me separe de ti! Porque iré adonde tú vayas, y viviré donde tú vivas. Tu pueblo será mi pueblo, y tu Dios será mi Dios. Moriré donde tú mueras, y allí seré sepultada." Entonces los dos continuaron hasta que llegaron a Belén.

— Rut 1:1-19 (RVC)

La historia de Noemí y Rut no es inusual. Comienza con una familia de agricultores de Belén que pasan por tiempos de escasez y deciden emigrar con la esperanza de tener una vida mejor. No hay nada de raro en esto, sucede todos los días; hasta puede estar sucediendo en este momento.

Desafortunadamente, en su nuevo país encuentran aún más sufrimiento. Primero muere el padre. Luego los dos hijos se casan con chicas de Moab y también mueren, sin tener hijos. ¡Qué desastre! La pobre Noemí era la única sobreviviente. Afligida y desesperada, decide volver a su casa. No le queda nada, excepto la muestra de agradecimiento de su nuera quién la ama lo suficiente como para irse con ella a un país extranjero donde vivirían las dos como viudas.

Es una pequeña tragedia, la historia de la gente pobre, gente común y corriente. ¿Por qué terminaría así una historia de la Biblia? Esos cuentos son el pan de cada día. Se escuchan en la frontera, en el mar de refugiados desesperados, en campamentos o en vecindarios, donde abundan las muertes. Y nosotros nos alejamos. Hay muchas personas pasando una situación como esta. Pero nos resulta demasiado incómodo y abrumador ver su dolor, así que lo ignoramos.

Pero Dios no ignoró este pequeño desastre. Aunque te sorprenda, Dios usó esa tragedia para plantar una semilla en el árbol genealógico de su propio Hijo. Esa pequeña familia, que parecía acabada, volvió a tener vida con un matrimonio inesperado y un bebé para alegrar la vida de Noemí. ¿Y Ruth la extranjera? Bueno, ella terminó siendo una antepasada de Jesús, nuestro querido Salvador.

La mayoría de nosotros conocemos pequeñas tragedias de este tipo: personas que han tenido demasiada mala suerte en sus vidas. Quizás esto te describa a ti. Si es así, puedes recibir consuelo sabiendo que Dios no se ha olvidado de ti. Tu dolor y sufrimiento es la misma tierra de donde brota el árbol genealógico de Jesús. Él vino al mundo por ti y por todos los que sufrimos bajo el poder del mal. Él vino para llevar nuestras penas a la cruz y para romper el poder de la oscuridad y la muerte a través de Su propia muerte y resurrección. Él te llama a ser parte de su familia sanada, consolada y con vida eterna.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, ven a nuestra oscuridad y tráenos tu luz. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Qué haces cuando alguien que conoces está sufriendo de gran manera?
• ¿De qué manera confías en Dios cuando sufres?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué haces cuando alguien que conoces está sufriendo de gran manera?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Refugio de la tormenta

Refugio de la tormenta

Leer: Éxodo 33:12-23 | La Biblia en un año: Isaías 30–31 Filipenses 4

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Cuando pase mi gloria, yo te pondré en una hendidura de la peña, y te cubriré con mi mano… (v. 22).

Cuenta la historia que, en 1763, un joven pastor que viajaba por un camino junto a un despeñadero en Somerset, Inglaterra, se metió en una cueva para refugiarse de los relámpagos y la lluvia torrencial. Al mirar hacia fuera, reflexionó en el regalo de hallar refugio y paz en Dios, y mientras esperaba, empezó a escribir un himno: «Roca de la eternidad», con sus memorables primeras líneas: «Roca de la eternidad, fuiste abierta para mí / Sé mi escondedero fiel, solo encuentro paz en ti».

No sabemos si Augusto Toplady, mientras escribía este himno, pensó en la experiencia de Moisés en la hendidura de una peña (Éxodo 33:22). El relato de Éxodo revela que Moisés buscaba la presencia y el apoyo de Dios. Cuando le pidió que le mostrara su gloria, Dios le respondió bondadosamente: «no me verá hombre, y vivirá» (v. 20). Entonces, mantuvo a Moisés dentro de la roca cuando Él pasó, y Moisés solo pudo ver sus espaldas. De este modo, supo que estaba con él.

Podemos confiar en que tal como Dios le dijo a Moisés: «Mi presencia irá contigo» (v. 14), nosotros también podemos hallar refugio en Él. Tal vez experimentemos muchas tormentas en nuestra vida —como Moisés y el ministro inglés de la historia—, pero cuando clamamos al Señor, Él nos dará la paz de su presencia.

Padre, ayúdame a confiar en que estás conmigo.

¿Cómo has visto la presencia amorosa de Dios durante alguna tormenta en tu vida?

Por Amy Boucher Pye

© 2019 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Cuenta la historia que, en 1763, un joven pastor que viajaba por un camino junto a un despeñadero en Somerset, Inglaterra, se metió en una cueva para refugiarse de los relámpagos y la lluvia torrencial.