The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, October 16, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, October 16, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 102:1-17

(Like a lonely bird on a housetop)

Prayer to the Eternal King for Help
A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the Lord.
1  Hear my prayer, O Lord;
     let my cry come to you.
2  Do not hide your face from me
     in the day of my distress.
   Incline your ear to me;
     answer me speedily in the day when I call.

3  For my days pass away like smoke,
     and my bones burn like a furnace.
4  My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
     I am too wasted to eat my bread.
5  Because of my loud groaning
     my bones cling to my skin.
6  I am like an owl of the wilderness,
     like a little owl of the waste places.
7  I lie awake;
     I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.
8  All day long my enemies taunt me;
     those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9  For I eat ashes like bread,
     and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;
     for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like an evening shadow;
     I wither away like grass.

12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
     your name endures to all generations.
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
     for it is time to favor it;
     the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold its stones dear,
     and have pity on its dust.
15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
     and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For the Lord will build up Zion;
     he will appear in his glory.
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
     and will not despise their prayer.

Jeremiah 25:15-32

(The cup of God’s wrath)

The Cup of God’s Wrath
25:15 For thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 They shall drink and stagger and go out of their minds because of the sword that I am sending among them.

17 So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand, and made all the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink it: 18 Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a desolation and a waste, an object of hissing and of cursing, as they are today; 19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his officials, and all his people; 20 all the mixed people; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the land of the Philistines—Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod; 21 Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites; 22 all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastland across the sea; 23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have shaven temples; 24 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed peoples that live in the desert; 25 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media; 26 all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another, and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the face of the earth. And after them the king of Sheshach shall drink.

27 Then you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink, get drunk and vomit, fall and rise no more, because of the sword that I am sending among you.

28 And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord of hosts: You must drink! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and how can you possibly avoid punishment? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord of hosts.

30 You, therefore, shall prophesy against them all these words, and say to them:

   The Lord will roar from on high,
     and from his holy habitation utter his voice;
   he will roar mightily against his fold,
     and shout, like those who tread grapes,
     against all the inhabitants of the earth.
31 The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth,
     for the Lord has an indictment against the nations;
   he is entering into judgment with all flesh,
     and the guilty he will put to the sword,
        says the Lord.

32 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
   See, disaster is spreading
     from nation to nation,
   and a great tempest is stirring
     from the farthest parts of the earth!

Matthew 10:5-15

(Cure without payment)

The Mission of the Twelve
10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

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 102:1-17; Jeremiah 25:15-32; Matthew 10:5-15

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, October 16, 2019

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, October 16, 2019

The Soviet Union and Cuba made an agreement in 1962 to allow the storage of nuclear missiles on the island of Cuba. Once the United States discovered the plan, the US Navy surrounded the island on October 16. Tensions were high as the Cold War enemies faced off ninety miles from US soil. The Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles if the US removed its own missiles from southern Italy and Turkey and did not attack Cuba.

Catholic peace activist Jim Douglass has written, “The Cold War has been followed by its twin, the War on Terror. We are engaged in another apocalyptic struggle against an enemy seen as absolute evil. Terrorism has replaced Communism as the enemy. We are told we can be safe only through the threat of escalating violence. Yet the redemptive means John Kennedy turned to, in a similar struggle, was dialogue with the enemy. When the enemy is seen as human, everything changes.”

Lord, you have brought us in safety to this new day. Preserve us now by your mighty power that we might not fall into sin nor be overcome by adversity, and in all that we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, October 16, 2019

Psalm 19:14 (NIV) May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Read all of Psalm 19

Listen to Psalm 19

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 - Miércoles 16 de Octubre de 2019

Acércate a Él

Acérquense a Dios, y él se acercará a ustedes. ¡Pecadores, límpiense las manos! ¡Ustedes los inconstantes, purifiquen su corazón!

— Santiago 4:8 (NVI)

Cada día recibo correos electrónicos donde los oyentes me expresan que quieren un cambio en sus vidas y desean buscar a Dios para encontrar respuesta a sus necesidades. Yo le agradezco a Dios por ese privilegio de servirles de inspiración a fin de que pueda hablarles de lo que me cambió la vida.

Mi vida es Jesús y tal vez parezca que soy religiosa o fanática, pero nada de eso es verdad. He vivido la vida con Cristo y sin Él. Así que con toda certeza puedo dar testimonio de cómo Dios me alcanzó, me rescató y me perdonó.

Al cambiar mi vida, también les pude dar un mejor ejemplo a mis princesas, que son mi vida.

Te lo digo con todo mi corazón: ¡Vale la pena acercarse a Él! Cuando lo hacemos, le permitimos que obre en nuestra vida, que haga suyos nuestros problemas y que nos dé una salida para cada uno de ellos.

Dios te ama y te dice: «Ven, no te resistas. No sigas tratando de vivir la vida a tu manera. Ven, porque deseo bendecir tu vida, cambiarla y darte lo que tengo preparado para ti».

Acercarte al Padre es como volver a tu origen. Es volver a su manto, a su protección, donde estarás seguro, tranquilo y en paz. Deja el orgullo y búscale con un corazón arrepentido y dispuesto a dejarte llevar al taller del Maestro. En ese taller, Él pulirá tu vida, limará tus partes ásperas y te colocará a altas temperaturas. Entonces, después de salir de allí, saldrás nuevo y hermoso.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Cada día recibo correos electrónicos donde los oyentes me expresan que quieren un cambio en sus vidas y desean buscar a Dios para encontrar respuesta a sus necesidades.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, October 16, 2019

REJOICE IN PERSECUTION

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…

— John 1:10-12 (NIV)

The most recent edition of the famous prayer manual, Operation World, was published in November 2010 and was quick to highlight as a global trend, “...The rise in levels of persecution – especially for Christians.” The editors of the Operation World explained why:

“The end of the European colonial era, the end of Christianity’s status as state religion in most of the West and the resurgence of religious sentiments globally, especially fundamentalism, all mean that Christians generally no longer operate from a position of power or privilege. Christians are subject to persecution in much of the world. Evangelicals are subject to even more due to their proselytism and commitment to the uniqueness of Christ. The presence of persecution and hardship in the life of the Church appears to be normative in Scripture; contexts where persecution does not exist at all should be as much a cause for concern as places where it is intense.”

Open Doors’ Dr. Ron Boyd-MacMillan concludes:

In the end, the rise of persecution is paradoxically for Christians something to protest and to celebrate, for as a Beijing house church pastor says, “The church is always persecuted when it does something right...it shows Christ to a world that rejects him.” Persecution is the continual replaying of John chapter one verses ten and eleven: “[Jesus] came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, but even they rejected him.” And so in the challenging words of a Palestinian pastor, “Every Christian must rejoice to be persecuted, and fight for Christ to be recognized in the midst of suffering, for suffering is the gift by which we see our need of Him who came for us and loves us.”

RESPONSE: As Christians, persecution is not something to avoid but to celebrate.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to rejoice when persecution comes my way – whether mild, medium or hot! And help me to fight for Christ to be recognized in the midst of the suffering.

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 16, 2019 - Cherishing the Bible

"Cherishing the Bible"

Oct. 16, 2019

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

— 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV)

I have a childhood Bible, a copy of The Living Bible paraphrase, which my parents gave me for Christmas when I was about seven or eight. It is falling apart, and for good reason; this is the book where I first learned clearly about Jesus. And it happened night after night when I was supposed to be sleeping, day after day when I was supposed to be doing homework (sorry, Mom!)—because I was a complete bookworm, and I just could not resist a nice, thick, long book.

I didn't know what I was doing, of course. I started at Genesis because, well, you should start a book at the beginning, right? With the result that I nearly died going through all the genealogical bits and the picky laws about sacrifice, and it took me a year to get through Psalms, because like most children, I had no appreciation for poetry. It was three years before I finished the whole thing.

But somewhere along the line I became a believer. I know it happened before I was out of the Old Testament; and when I got to the Gospels, well, I was well prepared to welcome Jesus! The prophets had told me all about Him already. A couple years later I was baptized.

I've told this story to a few people who flat out don't believe it. "A book could never do all that," they say, scoffing. "You're making it up." Well, no. The Word of God is just that powerful. It is alive, God-breathed, even contagious, if you want to use that language. Spend much time in contact with it, and you won't come back unchanged. Go to the Bible with an open, questioning heart, and see what happens. (Though I'd recommend starting with one of the Gospels; you might not make it through Leviticus!)

This is not to say that the Bible is an easy book. It is actually a collection of books—a small library, if you want to call it that. It has all sorts of genres: history, biography, romance, suspense, poetry, advice, letters, and so forth. It even has something similar to science fiction (but real). You can dip into it anywhere you like, and if something confuses you, you can either find someone to explain it (ask at church, maybe) or you can skip that bit and just try a different book. It doesn't take long for things to start coming together. And the Holy Spirit will definitely help you. Ask Him!

In John 14:23, Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." The word for "keep" is perhaps better translated as "cherish, treasure, hold close to your heart." God gave us His Word so that we could know Him and so that the Holy Spirit could use it to draw us close to Jesus our Savior. Let's always cherish the Bible and use it as often as we can, because it is the Word of the God we love.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for speaking to us through Your Word and bringing us to know You who love us. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you know anyone who keeps old love letters? Why do they keep them?
• What letters, poetry, songs, or books do you cherish, and why?
• How has God used the Bible to help you know Him better?

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 know anyone who keeps old love letters?

CPTLN devocional del 16 de Octubre de 2019 - Atesorando la Biblia

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Atesorando la Biblia

16 de Octubre de 2019

Tú, por tu parte, persiste en lo que has aprendido y en lo que te persuadiste, pues sabes de quién has aprendido; tú desde la niñez has conocido las Sagradas Escrituras, las cuales te pueden hacer sabio para la salvación por la fe que es en Cristo Jesús. Toda la Escritura es inspirada por Dios, y útil para enseñar, para redargüir, para corregir, para instruir en justicia, a fin de que el hombre de Dios sea perfecto, enteramente preparado para toda buena obra.

— 2 Timoteo 3:14-17 (RVC)

Todavía tengo una Biblia que mis padres me regalaron para Navidad cuando tenía unos siete u ocho años. Es una copia de la versión de la Biblia Viviente. En ella conocí a Jesús con claridad. Con razón se está desmoronando. La leía noche tras noche cuando se suponía que debía estar durmiendo y día tras día cuando se suponía que debía estar haciendo la tarea (¡lo siento, mamá!). Me encantaba leer y no podía resistirme a este libro lindo y largo.

No tenía idea de cómo hacerlo, por supuesto. Empecé en Génesis, porque siempre se empieza un libro por el principio, ¿verdad? Pero casi me muero con todos los fragmentos genealógicos y las leyes exigentes en cuanto a los sacrificios (¡ay!). Y me tomó un año terminar los Salmos porque, como a la mayoría de los niños, no me gustaba la poesía. Me tomó tres años leerla toda.

Pero en algún momento, mientras leía la Biblia entera, me convertí en creyente. Sé que sucedió antes de que terminara el Antiguo Testamento; y cuando llegué a los Evangelios estaba bien preparada para recibir a Jesús: los profetas ya me habían contado todo acerca de él. Un par de años después me bauticé.

Les he contado esta historia a algunas personas y no me creen. Se burlan y me dicen: "Un libro no puede hacer todo eso", o "lo estás inventando". Pues, no. La Palabra de Dios es así de poderosa. Está viva, es inspirada por Dios, es incluso contagiosa, por así decirlo. Si pasas mucho tiempo en ella, no vuelves a ser el mismo. Te recomiendo que leas la Biblia con un corazón abierto e inquisitivo y verás lo que sucederá. (Aunque te aconsejo comenzar con uno de los Evangelios, ¡no vaya a ser que te quedes atascado en Levítico!)

Esto no quiere decir que la Biblia sea un libro fácil. En realidad es una colección de libros, una pequeña biblioteca, por así decirlo. Tiene todo tipo de géneros: historia, biografía, romance, suspenso, poesía, consejos, cartas, etc. Incluso tiene algo de similitud con la ciencia ficción (pero real). Sumérgete en la Biblia en cualquier sección que desees y, si algo te confunde, busca a alguien que te lo explique (puedes preguntar en la iglesia, tal vez) o puedes omitir esa parte y simplemente pasar al siguiente libro. No toma mucho tiempo para que las cosas comiencen a tener sentido. Y el Espíritu Santo definitivamente te ayudará. ¡Pídeselo!

Juan 14:23 dice: "Jesús le respondió: «El que me ama, obedecerá mi palabra; y mi Padre lo amará, y vendremos a él, y con él nos quedaremos a vivir". La palabra "obedecer" se traduce como "atesorar, valorar, mantener cerca del corazón". Dios nos dio su Palabra para que podamos conocerlo y para que el Espíritu Santo la use para acercarnos a Jesús, nuestro Salvador. Debemos siempre valorar la Biblia y usarla tan a menudo como podamos, porque es la Palabra del Dios a quien amamos.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, gracias por hablarnos a través de tu Palabra y por ayudarnos a conocerte a ti quien nos amas. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Conoces a alguien que tenga viejas cartas de amor? ¿Por qué crees que las guarda?
• ¿Cómo ha usado Dios la Biblia para ayudarte a conocerlo mejor?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Conoces a alguien que tenga viejas cartas de amor?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Quarto 5020

Quarto 5020


Leia: Gênesis 50:15-20
 | A Bíblia em um ano: Isaías 47–49; 1 Tessalonicenses 4


Baixe a versão MP3

Vós, na verdade, intentastes o mal contra mim; porém Deus o tornou em bem, para fazer, como vedes agora… v.20


Jay Bufton transformou seu quarto de hospital num farol. O esposo, pai, professor de Ensino Médio e treinador estava morrendo de câncer aos 52 anos. O seu quarto, 5020, tornou-se um farol de esperança para os amigos, familiares e funcionários. Por sua atitude alegre e fé consistente, os enfermeiros queriam ser selecionados para ajudá-lo e o visitavam nas horas de folga.

Mesmo quando seu corpo, uma vez atlético, estava se deteriorando, cumprimentava sempre com um sorriso e encorajamento. Certo amigo disse: “Sempre que o visitava, ele era otimista, positivo e cheio de esperança. Mesmo enfrentando o câncer e a morte, vivia a sua fé.”

No funeral dele, o orador destacou com um significado especial o número do quarto dele. Leu o versículo em Gênesis 50:20, no qual José diz que, embora seus irmãos o tivessem vendido como escravo, Deus virou a mesa e “ o tornou em bem, para fazer […] que se conserve muita gente em vida”. O câncer invadiu a vida de Bufton, mas por reconhecer que isto vinha da mão de Deus, ele podia dizer que “todas as coisas cooperam para o bem” (Romanos 8:28). Por esse motivo, Bufton podia usar esta experiência como uma porta aberta para falar aos outros sobre Jesus.

Que legado de confiança inabalável em nosso Salvador, mesmo quando a morte lhe batia à porta! Que testemunho de confiança em nosso confiável e bom Deus!

Pela graça de Deus, podemos ter 
o nosso melhor testemunho nos piores momentos.

por David H. Roper

© 2019 Ministérios Pão Diário
Por sua atitude alegre e fé consistente, os enfermeiros queriam ser selecionados para ajudá-lo e o visitavam nas horas de folga.