The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 142

(The righteous will surround me)

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors
A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.
1  With my voice I cry to the Lord;
     with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.
2  I pour out my complaint before him;
     I tell my trouble before him.
3  When my spirit is faint,
     you know my way.

   In the path where I walk
     they have hidden a trap for me.
4  Look on my right hand and see—
     there is no one who takes notice of me;
   no refuge remains to me;
     no one cares for me.

5  I cry to you, O Lord;
     I say, “You are my refuge,
     my portion in the land of the living.”
6  Give heed to my cry,
     for I am brought very low.

   Save me from my persecutors,
     for they are too strong for me.
7  Bring me out of prison,
     so that I may give thanks to your name.
   The righteous will surround me,
     for you will deal bountifully with me.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

(Trust in the midst of trouble)

Trust and Joy in the Midst of Trouble
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom,
     and no fruit is on the vines;
   though the produce of the olive fails,
     and the fields yield no food;
   though the flock is cut off from the fold,
     and there is no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
     I will exult in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
     he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
     and makes me tread upon the heights.

   To the leader: with stringed instruments.

Luke 19:11-27

(The parable of the pounds)

The Parable of the Ten Pounds
19:11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13 He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’ 20 Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24 He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26 ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”

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 for WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2019
Psalm 142; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Luke 19:11-27

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2019

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2019

Desert mother Amma Theodora said, “There was a monk, who, because of the great number of his temptations, said, ‘I will go away from here.’ As he was putting on his sandals, he saw another man who was also putting on his sandals and this other monk said to him, ‘Is it on my account that you are going away? Because I go before you wherever you are going.’”

Lord, show us when the enemy we fear is to be found within ourselves. Equip us, then, with the sword of your word and the shield of faith that we might stand our ground in this place where you have called us to dwell together in unity. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2019

Ephesians 1:9-10 (NIV)

(God) made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Read all of Ephesians 1

Listen to Ephesians 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 - Miércoles 6 de Noviembre de 2019

El juicio a los demás

¿Por qué te fijas en la astilla que tiene tu hermano en el ojo, y no le das importancia a la viga que está en el tuyo?

—Mateo 7:3 (NVI)

Quizá hoy sea el primer día que tomas este libro devocional en tus manos. Por eso quiero decirte que hace quince días estamos analizando los principios que nuestro Dios dejó para que tengamos una vida feliz. Este es un recorrido de veintiún días en los que estamos considerando todas las esferas que nos pueden afectar por la manera en que vivimos. Así que en oración le pedimos a Dios que nos dé entendimiento y que logremos obedecer su Palabra.

El juicio que hacemos de los demás dice mucho de nuestro carácter. No tenemos derecho a juzgar a nadie. Eso sí que es feo y es más común de lo que pensamos. Los cristianos especialmente somos ligeros para juzgar, pues somos rudos y duros con los demás.

Si alguno cae o falla, somos los primeros en hablar y evaluar.

¿Acaso olvidamos cómo hemos sido? ¿Es que no nos acordamos del fango del que nos sacó o nos rescató el Señor? Pidámosle a Dios que nos dé amor y misericordia por los demás.

Y que podamos tener en cuenta que nos medirán con la misma medida que medimos a otros.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
El juicio que hacemos de los demás dice mucho de nuestro carácter.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, November 6, 2019

NEEDED: PATIENCE AND STRENGTH

“I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

—Acts 26:17-18 (NIV)

These words of Jesus were spoken to Saul of Tarsus en route to Damascus at the time of his conversion. Saul—later Paul—is now sharing them with King Agrippa as a personal testimony. Though God would rescue Paul, he still suffered many things for the sake of the gospel.

One of the biggest challenges to remaining faithful under persecution is the need to stay free from bitterness. Some forms of persecution are particularly hard to forgive.

Elina’s father is a pastor near Dhaka, Bangladesh. Extremists have been trying to drive him and his family away. Elina shares her story:

“One night, I woke up because I had an exam the next morning and I needed to study. When I had to go to the bathroom, there was no one with me. Some boys came and they just moved onto me. They touched me and then they took me away, but I couldn’t scream because they held my mouth.

One of those two boys raped me while the other sat there. Then I tried to run away, but I couldn’t because they caught me again. Then the other boy raped me. The boys said, ‘If you tell somebody about this, we will kill you.’” When she arrived home, Elina shouted for her dad. The two of them brought her case to the police, but they were told she had no proof. Elina and her father believe the boys paid off the police, and they’re still awaiting justice despite a medical report confirming her story.

Elina says, “They did this because we are Christians. They don’t want us here; they want us to be Muslims. They are trying to drive us out. It was difficult for me in those days. I just wanted to fly away or commit suicide, but my dad comforted me. He told me, ‘Pray more and more, so God will give you more patience and strength.’ It really helped me work it out…I have forgiven them; I have nothing against them in my heart.”

Through the prayer and support of her family, Elina is finding God’s strength amidst her pain. As a testimony to her Savior’s redemptive power, Elina has extended His grace to the boys who violated her. Still, her journey to healing is far from over; a poignant reminder of the need to pray and send encouragement to our Christian sisters facing this heinous form of persecution.

In their response to persecution, Bengali Christians like Elina send a message to us in the west: a message of faith, hope and love—even for their oppressors so they might respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ and receive His forgiveness.

RESPONSE: Today I too will pray for patience and strength to be a witness even to my enemies.

PRAYER: Pray for young Christian girls like Elina who face great personal challenges to be a witness.

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 - November 6, 2019 - True Pioneers

"True Pioneers"

Nov. 6, 2019

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

—2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (ESV)

It's easy to forget that there was a time when those who came to faith were among the first to do so. These were the true pioneers of the faith. Moving forward in a world dominated by the vast power of Rome and populated with all sorts of gods and spiritual ritual and beliefs, the early Christians were in a world stacked against them.

There was no selection of organized churches to choose from or popular best-sellers to consult on doctrine or how to live the Christian life. And there certainly wasn't any great incentive to be a Christian—unless, of course, you wanted to be singled out for ridicule—or worse. The bottom line: following Jesus could get you into a lot of trouble.

The apostle Paul knew this all too well, and the believers at Thessalonica were experiencing some of those hassles. Paul was proud of their courage under fire: "Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring" (2 Thessalonians 1:4). And while citing their faith to others, he also kept them close in prayer: "To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

How important, how vitally important, the example and expression of the earliest believers' faith was to be for the budding church—and for you and me today. The Thessalonians' abandonment of a fixed, old world paganism for their allegiance to the Savior was nothing short of radical—just the kind of example we need in a contemporary world bent toward its own dead ends: wealth, power, fame, and self.

Thank God, as Paul wrote, "for His indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Through the faith we share in the Savior's death and resurrection on our behalf, we are free to follow His lead—as we join the march of believers through the ages—to a life that's abundant, blessed, and centered on God's Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us through the Holy Spirit to live lives of faith—lives that resist the world and are examples of Your grace in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Who in your life has impacted your faith in a profound way? Are there books or videos you enjoy that empower your faith consistently?
• What kind of traditions do you think Paul was referring to in the passage above?
• How important are the traditions of the faith and the rituals of the church for your faith life?

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Who in your life has impacted your faith in a profound way?

CPTLN devocional del 06 de Noviembre de 2019 - Verdaderos pioneros

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Verdaderos pioneros

06 de Noviembre de 2019

Pero nosotros siempre debemos dar gracias a Dios por ustedes, hermanos amados por el Señor, de que desde el principio Dios los haya escogido para salvación, mediante la santificación por el Espíritu y la fe en la verdad. A esto los llamó por medio de nuestro evangelio, para que alcanzaran la gloria de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Por lo tanto, hermanos, manténganse firmes y retengan la doctrina que personalmente y por carta les hemos enseñado. Que nuestro Señor Jesucristo mismo, y nuestro Dios y Padre, que nos amó y nos dio consuelo eterno y buena esperanza por gracia, les infunda ánimo en el corazón y los confirme en toda buena palabra y obra.

—2 Tesalonicenses 2:13-17 (RVC)

Es fácil olvidar que los primeros creyentes tuvieron que llegar a Cristo por primera vez en algún momento. Ellos fueron los verdaderos pioneros de la fe. Avanzaban a pesar de estar en un mundo dominado por el vasto poder de Roma y poblado con todo tipo de dioses, rituales y creencias espirituales. Vivían en un mundo que iba totalmente en contra de ellos.

No tenían una selección de iglesias organizadas para escoger, ni una lista de libros más vendidos que pudieran consultar en cuanto a doctrina o a cómo vivir la vida cristiana. Y el único "incentivo" que tenían para ser cristianos era el ser ridiculizados, o algo aún peor. La realidad era que el seguir a Jesús los podía meter en muchos problemas.

Los creyentes en Tesalónica estaban experimentando algunos de esos problemas, y el apóstol Pablo lo sabía muy bien. Pablo estaba orgulloso de su valentía puesta al fuego: "Nosotros mismos nos sentimos muy orgullosos de ustedes en las iglesias de Dios, al ver la paciencia y la fe de ustedes para soportar las persecuciones y sufrimientos" (2 Tesalonicenses 1:4). Él compartía su fe con los demás y también los llevaba en oración: "Por eso siempre oramos por ustedes, para que nuestro Dios los considere dignos de su llamamiento, y cumpla con su poder todo propósito de bondad y toda obra de fe, para que, por la gracia de nuestro Dios y del Señor Jesucristo, el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo sea glorificado en ustedes, y ustedes en él" (2 Tesalonicenses 1:11-12).

Cuán importante, cuán vitalmente importante, debe haber sido el ejemplo y la expresión de fe de los primeros creyentes para la iglesia primitiva, y lo es para nosotros hoy. Los tesalonicenses abandonaron el paganismo arraigado del viejo mundo y fueron leales al Salvador de forma radical. Ese el tipo de ejemplo que necesitamos en nuestro mundo contemporáneo inclinado hacia sus propios callejones sin salida: riqueza, poder, fama y el "yo".

Gracias a Dios, como escribió Pablo, "¡por su don inefable!" (2 Corintios 9:15) porque por medio de la fe que compartimos en la muerte y resurrección del Salvador, ahora somos libres de seguir sus pasos, al unirnos a la marcha de creyentes a través de los siglos que nos lleva a una vida abundante, bendecida y centrada en el Hijo de Dios, nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, ayúdanos a través del Espíritu Santo a llevar vidas de fe, vidas que resistan al mundo y sean ejemplo de tu gracia. En el Nombre de Jesús oramos. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

• ¿De qué manera ha impactado alguien tu fe de una manera profunda?
• ¿Qué haces para fortalecer tu fe?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿De qué manera ha impactado alguien tu fe de una manera profunda?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Nossas orações, o tempo de Deus

Nossas orações, o tempo de Deus


Leia: Lucas 1:5-17
 | A Bíblia em um ano: Jeremias 37–39; Hebreus 3


Ora, àquele que é poderoso para fazer infinitamente mais do que tudo quanto pedimos ou pensamos, conforme o seu poder que opera em nós. Efésios 3:20


Às vezes, Deus tem o Seu tempo para responder as nossas orações, e isso nem sempre é fácil de entender.

Essa era a situação de Zacarias, um sacerdote a quem o anjo Gabriel um dia apareceu perto do altar, no Templo em Jerusalém. Gabriel lhe disse: “…não temas, porque a tua oração foi ouvida; e Isabel, tua mulher, te dará à luz um filho, a quem darás o nome de João” (Lucas 1:13, grifo do autor).

Zacarias provavelmente pedira por um filho a Deus anos antes, e agora lutava com a mensagem do anjo a Isabel, visto que ela estava além da idade prevista para engravidar. Ainda assim, o Senhor respondeu a sua oração.

A memória de Deus é perfeita. Ele é confiável para lembrar-se de nossas orações não só por anos, mas por gerações além da nossa vida. Ele jamais as esquece e pode respondê-las muito tempo depois de lhe pedirmos. Às vezes, a Sua resposta é “não”, outras “espere”. Mas Ele sempre a concede com amor. Os caminhos de Deus estão além dos nossos, mas podemos confiar que são bons.

Zacarias aprendeu exatamente isso. Ele pediu por um filho, e Deus lhe deu ainda mais. Seu filho, João, cresceu e tornou-se o profeta que anunciaria a chegada do Messias.

A experiência de Zacarias demonstra uma verdade fundamental que deve nos encorajar quando oramos: o tempo de Deus raramente é o nosso, mas sempre vale a pena esperar.

Quando não podemos ver a mão de Deus agindo, 
ainda assim podemos confiar em Seu amor.

por James Banks

© 2019 Ministérios Pão Diário
Às vezes, Deus tem o Seu tempo para responder as nossas orações, e isso nem sempre é fácil de entender.