The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, November 18, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, November 18, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 76

(God breaks the weapons of war)

Israel’s God—Judge of All the Earth
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1  In Judah God is known,
     his name is great in Israel.
2  His abode has been established in Salem,
     his dwelling place in Zion.
3  There he broke the flashing arrows,
     the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war.   Selah

4  Glorious are you, more majestic
     than the everlasting mountains.
5  The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
     they sank into sleep;
   none of the troops
     was able to lift a hand.
6  At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
     both rider and horse lay stunned.

7  But you indeed are awesome!
     Who can stand before you
     when once your anger is roused?
8  From the heavens you uttered judgment;
     the earth feared and was still
9  when God rose up to establish judgment,
     to save all the oppressed of the earth.   Selah

10 Human wrath serves only to praise you,
     when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them;
     let all who are around him bring gifts
     to the one who is awesome,
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes,
     who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.

Isaiah 60:17-22

(Walls of salvation)

17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
     instead of iron I will bring silver;
   instead of wood, bronze,
     instead of stones, iron.
   I will appoint Peace as your overseer
     and Righteousness as your taskmaster.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
     devastation or destruction within your borders;
   you shall call your walls Salvation,
     and your gates Praise.

God the Glory of Zion
19 The sun shall no longer be
     your light by day,
   nor for brightness shall the moon
     give light to you by night;
   but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
     and your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun shall no more go down,
     or your moon withdraw itself;
   for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
     and your days of mourning shall be ended.
21 Your people shall all be righteous;
     they shall possess the land forever.
   They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands,
     so that I might be glorified.
22 The least of them shall become a clan,
     and the smallest one a mighty nation;
   I am the Lord;
     in its time I will accomplish it quickly.

Ephesians 4:25—5:2

(Be imitators of God)

Rules for the New Life
4:25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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 MONDAY, November 18, 2019
Psalm 76; Isaiah 60:17-22; Ephesians 4:25—5:2

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, November 18, 2019

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, November 18, 2019

Pope Clement said in the first century, “If we review the various ages of history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to him. When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to him were saved. Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be destroyed, but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s forgiveness for their sins, and they were saved, even though they were not of God’s people. We should be suppliant before him and turn to his compassion, rejecting empty works and quarreling and jealousy, which only lead to death.”

Lord, you always provide a way for us to turn back to you. Remind us that there is always hope for the weary, the wounded, the lost, and the contrite of heart. Help us receive this good news and share it with others. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, November 18, 2019

John 17:17 (NIV)

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Read all of John 17

Listen to John 17

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 - Lunes 18 de Noviembre de 2019

Oración por cambios en la vida

Me has dado a conocer la senda de la vida; me llenarás de alegría en tu presencia, y de dicha eterna a tu derecha.

—Salmo 16:11 (NVI)

Padre santo, queremos agradecerte este nuevo día y decirte que eres lo más importante para nosotros. Cada día que pasa vemos tu amor incondicional y disfrutamos de tus bendiciones.

Dios mío, gracias porque permites cambios en mi vida y conoces mi necesidad. A veces, tomo decisiones equivocadas, pero tú me guías a toda verdad.

Aunque no entendamos todo lo que nos pasa, sabemos que con tu amor nos cuidarás y nos darás nuevas oportunidades.

Ayúdame a aprender de mis errores y dame la fortaleza para superar las cosas que debo dejar y cambiar.

Entrego el resto de este día en tus manos y descanso en tu Palabra.

En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Dios mío, gracias porque permites cambios en mi vida y conoces mi necesidad.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, November 18, 2019

RELEASE FROM CHAINS

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

—Acts 16:26 (NIV)

African Muslim, El Gasim, saw the sign of the cross one day while praying the usual five times a day in the prison where he was incarcerated. He changed positions but the cross wouldn’t go away. This went on for seven days. He had no explanation for it, except that Christ was calling him to give his life to Him. A Christian pastor, also in prison explained that living for Christ would not be without suffering. They prayed together.

Other Muslim inmates saw El Gasim praying one day with another Christian prisoner and reported them to the authorities. When summoned to the superintendent’s office, they openly declared their faith in Christ and received twenty-five lashes each, administered by a Christian warder. The other prisoner denied his new faith but El Gasim confessed Christ and said he would face the consequence, no matter what. This enraged the authorities. He was beaten, shackled in chains weighing over fifty pounds and put on death row to be hanged.

The imprisoned pastor had great compassion for El Gasim, knowing that if God did not intervene, he was surely staring death in the eye. He told him Paul and Silas’ story, reminding him that he wasn’t the first to be beaten and chained for the sake of Christ. The important thing to remember was that Paul and Silas prayed and praised God, when their chains fell off and the prison doors opened. The pastor confirmed that it could still happen today, because the power that worked then, was still at work today. They prayed together, earnestly seeking God’s will.

The pastor retired to his room and continued praying. In the meantime, El Gasim, who then felt encouraged by the sharing, took the first step and to his surprise, the unexpected happened—the chain broke loose and fell from one of his legs. Bystanders, whose attention were drawn by the sound of the falling chain, watched in amazement as he took the second step—the same thing happened. A miracle had happened right before him and his other inmates. El Gasim went to the warder and told him, “Your chains are in the chapel, go and collect them.”

Trembling and confused the warder informed his superiors of this strange occurrence. An emergency meeting was convened. The incident could not be ignored or laughed off as nonsense. There were too many witnesses. They decided that it would be best to let El Gasim go free, because if he stayed he would certainly convert others to Christianity. Sending him to another prison wouldn’t help either, because even there they couldn’t stop Christ from doing miracles.

RESPONSE: Today I affirm my faith in a miracle working God who can release me from my chains.

PRAYER: Pray for persecuted Christian prisoners who need to be released from chains today.

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

Women of the Bible - Monday, November 18, 2019

Salome, Mother of the Zebedees

Her name means: "Peace"

Her character: A devoted follower of Jesus, whose husband ran a fishing business, she shared the common misconception that the Messiah would drive out the Romans and establish a literal kingdom in Palestine. Her name was probably Salome.
Her sorrow: To have stood with other women at the cross, witnessing the death of Jesus of Nazareth.
Her joy: To have seen an angel at Christ's tomb, who proclaimed the resurrection.
Key Scriptures: Matthew 20:20-24; 27:56; Mark 15:40-41; 16:1-2

Her Story

Salome loved Jesus nearly as much as she loved her own two sons, James and John. She would never forget the day they left their father and their fishing nets to follow him. Lately, she, too. had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah of God.

She had smiled when she heard Jesus had nicknamed her boys "the Sons of Thunder." Surely he had recognized the seeds of greatness in the two feisty brothers from Capernaum. Why else would he have invited them into his inner circle, along with Simon Peter? She had heard how Jesus had led the three up a high mountain. When they came down, her garrulous sons could hardly speak. But then the story came out.

"Jesus' face was blindingly bright like the sun….

"Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with him….

"Suddenly a cloud surrounded us and a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!'"

Salome had listened. She had seen the glory and the power that radiated from the man. Though she had heard ominous rumors that Jerusalem's men of power hated Jesus, she also knew that the great King David had faced his own share of enemies before establishing his kingdom. And hadn't Jesus promised his disciples that they would sit on twelve thrones in his kingdom? "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake," he had said, "will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." How could she doubt him? Even with faith as small as a mustard seed, mountains could be moved.

Salome had left behind her comfortable home on the northwest shore of Galilee to join her sons. Now, as they journeyed up to Jerusalem, she remembered other words Jesus had spoken: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." She would no longer deny herself the one favor her heart desired. Prostrating herself before him, she begged, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

But instead of replying to her, Jesus turned to James and John and said, "You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"

"We can," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

Jesus, who knew Zebedee's sons better than anyone, realized that Salome was only voicing their rising ambitions. Like any loving mother, she had simply asked for what she thought would make her children happy. But as Jesus' reply and subsequent events proved, this mother didn't begin to comprehend what she was asking. Soon, the man she had approached as a king would himself die on a cross, and she would be one of the women witnessing his death.

After it was over, Salome may have remembered the anguished faces of the men who had been crucified with Jesus, one on his right hand and the other on his left—an ironic reminder of her request on the way up to Jerusalem. Such a memory would only have increased her terror for what might now happen to her sons.

Along with other faithful women at the cross, Salome was present on the morning of Jesus' resurrection. Surely the angel's words—"He has risen! He is not here!"—would have comforted her later in life when her son James became the first martyred apostle, dying at the hands of Herod Agrippa.

Instead of asking Jesus what he wanted for her sons, Salome acted as though she knew exactly what he needed to do on their behalf. She must have forgotten that Jesus had exhorted his followers to leave behind not only houses, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers for his sake, but also children. In Salome's case, it didn't mean turning her back on her children but surrendering them to God. It meant putting Jesus above everything and everyone, loving him better than her own sons. Only then would she understand the meaning of what they would suffer as followers of Christ. Only then would she really know how to pray.

Her Promise

Though the typical woman in biblical times was in a subservient role, her position as a mother is exalted by Scripture. God the Father recognized from the very beginning the important role a mother would play in her children's lives, and he promised to bless her. Those same promises apply to you today.

This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Used with permission.
Salome loved Jesus nearly as much as she loved her own two sons, James and John. She would never forget the day they left their father and their fishing nets to follow him. Lately, she, too. had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah of God.

LHM Daily Devotions November 18, 2019 - From Every Nation

"From Every Nation"

Nov. 18, 2019

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.        Selah

—Psalm 46:6-7 (ESV)

"The nations rage." An earlier psalm asks, "Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?" (Psalm 2:1). In this fallen world, the nations have always raged, within themselves, against one another, and against God, who "made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth" (Acts 17:26a).

God set the people of Israel free from the enslaving grip of one nation, Egypt, and drove out other nations to settle His people in the Promised Land. When Israel fell into idolatry, God summoned enemy nations to rise up against His chosen people, to subdue and oppress them and bring them to repentance. God sheltered and preserved His people through the centuries, and from among them came the offspring of Abraham, the promised Messiah, a blessing for all nations.

Yet still the nations rage, and when the promised Messiah came, the nations rose up against Him. In a prayer for courage in witness, the apostles said that "Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel," joined forces against Jesus, to do what God's plan "had predestined to take place" (Acts 4:27b, 28b). It was God's plan that Jesus would die for the sins of the world and be raised up from death. According to the command of the risen Lord, repentance and forgiveness are to be proclaimed in His Name to all nations.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the nations still rage against the Messiah and against His body, the church. Jesus told His followers that they would be hated and persecuted, imprisoned, and brought before kings and governors for the sake of His Name. The message of Christ crucified is considered foolish by the world, and we who follow the Savior may well be mocked and ridiculed or dismissed as ignorant and judgmental. Yet we proclaim the good news of forgiveness and life in Jesus Christ, the One in whom all nations are blessed. And while the nations still rage, they rage in vain, because "the LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

The LORD of hosts, the Lord of heaven's angelic armies, goes before us. The Word of the Gospel accomplishes its purpose, and the day is coming when people called by the Holy Spirit out of every nation will cease their raging and shout their praises before the throne of Him who redeemed them: "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10)

THE PRAYER: Lord of hosts, strengthen and encourage all those who suffer persecution for the sake of Jesus' Name. Shield us, too, with your mighty power and make us bold witnesses, as we carry the good news of salvation to all nations. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Do relations among nations seem to be getting any better as time goes by? Why do think that is?
• How does God show Himself as your fortress in times of anguish and trouble?
• How do you respond when you're dismissed or ridiculed (even mildly) for your Christian faith?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do relations among nations seem to be getting any better as time goes by? Why do think that is?

CPTLN devocional del 18 de Noviembre de 2019 - De cada nación

ALIMENTO DIARIO

De cada nación

18 de Noviembre de 2019

Braman las naciones, se tambalean los reinos, pero Dios habla y la tierra se derrite. ¡Con nosotros está el Señor de los ejércitos! ¡Nuestro refugio es el Dios de Jacob!

—Salmo 46:6-7 (RVC)

"Braman las naciones". El salmista anteriormente se pregunta: "¿Por qué se rebelan los pueblos? ¿Por qué conspiran las naciones?" Salmo 2:1. En este mundo caído, las naciones siempre han peleado: contra ellos mismos, en contra de otros y en contra de Dios, quien "De un solo hombre hizo a todo el género humano, para que habiten sobre la faz de la tierra". (Hechos 17: 26a)

Dios liberó al pueblo de Israel de la esclavitud de Egipto y echó fuera a otras naciones para que su pueblo se estableciera en la tierra prometida. Pero cuando Israel cayó en la idolatría, Dios convocó a naciones enemigas para que se levantaran en contra de su pueblo escogido, para confrontarlos y oprimirlos y así llevarlos al arrepentimiento. Sin embargo, Dios guardó y preservó a su pueblo durante siglos, y de entre ellos vino la descendencia de Abraham, el Mesías prometido y bendición para todas las naciones.

Pero aun así, las naciones continuaban bramando y, cuando llegó el Mesías, se levantaron en contra de él. Orando con valentía para ser testigos de Cristo, los apóstoles dijeron "Herodes y Poncio Pilato, junto con los no judíos y el pueblo de Israel, se reunieron en esta ciudad en contra de tu santo Hijo y ungido, Jesús, para hacer todo lo que, por tu poder y voluntad, ya habías determinado que sucediera" (Hechos 4:27b-28b). Era el plan de Dios que Jesús muriera por el pecado del mundo y resucitara de la muerte. Por eso, conforme al mandato del Dios viviente, en su Nombre hoy se proclaman el arrepentimiento y el perdón a todas las naciones.

Tristemente, aunque no nos sorprende, las naciones aún braman en contra del Mesías y en contra de su cuerpo, la iglesia. Jesús les dijo a sus discípulos que serían odiados, perseguidos, encarcelados y llevados a comparecer ante los reyes y gobernantes por amor a su nombre. El mensaje del Cristo crucificado es considerado una burla para el mundo y, quienes seguimos al Salvador, bien podríamos ser burlados y ridiculizados o tildados de ignorantes y de tener la mente cerrada. Aun así proclamaremos las buenas nuevas de perdón y vida en Cristo Jesús, en quien todas las naciones son bendecidas. Y aunque las naciones aún braman, su ira es en vano, porque "¡Con nosotros está el Señor de los ejércitos! ¡Nuestro refugio es el Dios de Jacob!" (Salmo 46:7)

El Dios de los ejércitos, el Dios de las fuerzas celestiales, va delante de nosotros. Las palabras del Evangelio cumplen su propósito y el día está cerca, en el que personas de todas las naciones, llamadas por el Espíritu Santo, abandonarán su ira y alabarán Su nombre ante el trono de quien las redime: "Después de esto vi aparecer una gran multitud compuesta de todas las naciones, tribus, pueblos y lenguas. Era imposible saber su número. Estaban de pie ante el trono, en presencia del Cordero, y vestían ropas blancas; en sus manos llevaban ramas de palma, y a grandes voces gritaban: «La salvación proviene de nuestro Dios, que está sentado en el trono, y del Cordero.»" (Apocalipsis 7:9-10)

ORACIÓN: Dios de los ejércitos, dale fuerza y valentía a los que sufren persecución por amor al Nombre de Jesús. Cúbrenos, también, con tu inmenso poder y haz de nosotros testigos audaces, mientras llevamos las nuevas buenas de salvación a todas las naciones. Amén

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Crees que las relaciones entre las naciones han ido mejorando con el correr del tiempo? ¿Cuál crees que sea la razón?
• ¿Cómo responderías si eres burlado o ridiculizado ( aunque sea levemente) por causa de tu fe cristiana?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Crees que las relaciones entre las naciones han ido mejorando con el correr del tiempo? ¿Cuál crees que sea la razón?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Aimer les étrangers

Aimer les étrangers

Lisez : Exode 23.1-9

La Bible en un an : Ézéchiel 8 – 10 ; Hébreux 13

Tu ne maltraiteras point l’étranger, et tu ne l’opprimeras point ; car vous avez été étrangers dans le pays d’Égypte. Exode 22.21

Après qu’une de mes proches s’est convertie à une autre religion, des amis chrétiens m’ont exhortée à la « convaincre » de revenir à Jésus. J’ai d’abord cherché à l’aimer comme Christ l’aurait fait, y compris dans les lieux publics, où certaines personnes fronçaient les sourcils à la vue de ses vêtements « étrangers ». D’autres ont même passé des remarques désobligeantes. « Retourne dans ton pays ! » lui a crié un homme depuis son camion, sans savoir ni sembler le vouloir qu’elle s’y trouvait déjà.

Moïse a enseigné une façon beaucoup plus gentille d’interagir avec les gens dont le code vestimentaire ou les croyances nous semblent différents. En enseignant des lois relatives à la justice et à la miséricorde, Moïse a donné l’instruction suivante aux enfants d’Israël : « Tu n’opprimeras point l’étranger ; vous savez ce qu’éprouve l’étranger, car vous avez été étrangers dans le pays d’Égypte » (EX 23.9). Cette directive, qui exprime l’intérêt que Dieu porte à tous les étrangers – ces gens étant la cible d’idées préconçues et de sévices –, se répète dans Exode 22.21 et Lévitique 19.33.

Quand je passe du temps avec ce membre de ma famille – au restaurant, dans un parc, en promenade ou assise sous mon porche –, je cherche d’abord à lui témoigner la bonté et le respect auxquels j’aimerais moi-même avoir droit. L’un des meilleurs moyens de lui rappeler le doux amour de Jésus consiste à l’aimer comme il l’aime – avec une grâce infinie –, plutôt que de la culpabiliser pour l’avoir rejeté.

Jésus aime tout le monde en usant d’une grâce extraordinaire.

par Patricia Raybon

© 2019 Ministères NPQ

Après qu’une de mes proches s’est convertie à une autre religion, des amis chrétiens m’ont exhortée à la « convaincre » de revenir à Jésus.