The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, December 24, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, December 24, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Luke 1:46b-55

(My soul gives glory to God)

Mary’s Song of Praise
46 “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
         servant.
     Surely, from now on all generations will call me
         blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
     and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
     from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
     he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their
         hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
     and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
     and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
     in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
     to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Isaiah 60:1-6

(Arise shine!)

The Ingathering of the Dispersed
1  Arise, shine; for your light has come,
     and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2  For darkness shall cover the earth,
     and thick darkness the peoples;
   but the Lord will arise upon you,
     and his glory will appear over you.
3  Nations shall come to your light,
     and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4  Lift up your eyes and look around;
     they all gather together, they come to you;
   your sons shall come from far away,
     and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’
         arms.
5  Then you shall see and be radiant;
     your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
   because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
     the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6  A multitude of camels shall cover you,
     the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
     all those from Sheba shall come.
   They shall bring gold and frankincense,
     and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Luke 1:67-80

(The song of Zechariah)

Zechariah’s Prophecy
1:67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
     for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed
         them.
69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us
     in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from
         of old,
71   that we would be saved from our enemies and from the
         hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
     and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
     to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of
         our enemies,
   might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and
         righteousness
     before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most
         High;
     for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
     by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God,
     the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
         shadow of death,
     to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

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 A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. 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 TUESDAY, December 24, 2019
Luke 1:46b-55; Isaiah 60:1-6; Luke 1:67-80

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, December 24, 2019

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, December 24, 2019

Early church father Epiphanius wrote, “The righteous person will shine a hundred times more brightly than the sun, and once saved, even the smallest among you will shine a hundred times more brightly than the moon.”

We await your coming, Lord, with eagerness and thanksgiving and a fair amount of fear. Shine your true light in the corners of our hearts and in the vast wastelands of our society that we might see more clearly the glory of the creation you have come to redeem. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, December 24, 2019

Luke 2:16-20

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Read all of Luke 2

Listen to Luke 2

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 24 de Diciembre de 2019

Nochebuena

Jesús les habló, diciendo: Yo soy la luz del mundo; el que me sigue, no andará en tinieblas, sino que tendrá la luz de la vida.

—Juan 8:12 (RVR1960)

Para muchos, hoy estamos de fiesta, ya que se prepara la celebración de la llegada del Salvador a la tierra.

El nacimiento del niño Jesús es el cumplimiento de la Palabra de Dios. Por décadas, esta verdadera celebración se ha tratado de opacar con el comercio, las fiestas y muchas otras cosas. Y esto no cambiará.

Yo celebro también la Navidad con mis princesas, mi esposo y mi familia, pero hay un tiempo que es precioso. Siempre tenemos un momento especial de oración donde ponemos nuestra vida en las manos de Dios. Además, cada uno le damos gracias por las cosas que Él ha hecho y por ese regalo hermoso que podemos compartir con otros, al revelarles esta verdad que les traerá salvación y vida eterna.

Si Jesús vino para cambiar el mundo, aprovechemos esta ocasión para también nosotros nacer de nuevo. Hablo desde el punto de vista espiritual. Así que, no luches más y entrégale tu vida a Dios para que Él pueda cumplir su propósito en ti. De esa manera, logrará ser una mejor persona.

Recuerda, la Navidad no es solo fiestas y regalos. Por eso el mejor regalo que le puedes dar a tu familia es tu cambio. Sin duda, esto producirá un deseo en ellos por conocer lo que te hizo cambiar y la gloria será para Dios.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Para muchos, hoy estamos de fiesta, ya que se prepara la celebración de la llegada del Salvador a la tierra.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, December 24, 2019

CHRISTMAS DEPORTATION MIRACLE

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know…”

—Acts 2:22 (NIV)

In late 1992, “Wally” Magdangal, a Filipino Christian who for years had pastored a clandestine house church in Saudi Arabia, was arrested. His secret house church was unexpectedly penetrated by the “mutawwa”, the Saudi Arabian religious police.

Wally remembers reading in an Open Doors magazine about a small group in China that gathered weekly in the back room of a small store to worship together. It was the era of the infamous Cultural Revolution. Since the believers could easily be overheard by anyone entering the store, they “sang” hymns together without words or music. Someone whispered the name of the song and they would silently move their lips and simply think of the words and music.

He said, “We are an underground Church like the believers behind the Bamboo Curtain, but the difference is that we can praise in full voice because our facilities are sound-proofed. Not even our closest neighbor can hear us.” But they were betrayed and now Wally was en route to prison.

For three-and-a-half hours he was physically and mentally tortured. They slapped, boxed and kicked him on the face. Then using a long stick, they lashed his back and the palms of his hands. Then the soles of his feet. He could not stand without wincing and he describes his bruised body as looking like an eggplant.

Upon returning to his cell, Wally prayed for five hours thanking God for allowing him to participate in the sufferings of Jesus. Here are his own words; “Suddenly there was light. The cell was filled with the Lord’s Shekinah glory. His presence was there. He knelt and started to touch my face. He told me, ‘My son, I have seen all of it. That’s why I’m here. I am assuring you that I will never leave you or forsake you.’”

Wally woke up two hours later feeling like a new man. He was amazed when he saw his body had been restored to perfect wholeness. No bruises, no cuts, no bleeding or blood stains. He adds, “God had completely restored me.” This was a significant source of strength as he later repeatedly witnessed to his interrogators who were dumbfounded by his healing. Once after sharing his faith, Wally noticed the guard’s countenance change. He was smiling. Wally said, “I could feel the Holy Spirit working already.”

Wally (and his fellow-pastor) was spared scheduled execution on Christmas Day. Miraculously, at the last moment, they were released and deported home to the Philippines. Today he shares God’s goodness and blessing around the world never forgetting that Christmas miracle.

RESPONSE: Today I will thank the Lord that He still works miracles today, here and around the world.

PRAYER: Pray for persecuted Christians who may be in prison today awaiting their miraculous release. Pray they will also be encouraged by the intimate presence of Jesus, Himself.

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 - December 24, 2019 - GOD WITH US

"GOD WITH US"

Dec. 24, 2019

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with Child.

—Luke 2:4-5 (ESV)

It could not have been an easy trip. Joseph needed to get to Bethlehem for legal reasons, and he brought Mary with him on the verge of delivery. In spite of the Christmas cards, there's a good chance they both walked. The Bible says nothing about a donkey. And the trip was at least 70 miles.

Why not leave Mary home? After all, surely she would be more comfortable with her female relatives to care for her, and a proper midwife on call. We don't know. Perhaps they remembered the prophecy that Bethlehem would be Jesus' birthplace. Perhaps Joseph just didn't want to leave his wife alone in the hands of gossips.

And then the birth itself—not in an inn, as there was no room for them there. Labor and delivery for a first-time mother—could Joseph find anyone to help? Who knows? An adorable baby, at long last. A manger, to keep Him off the floor so no one could step on Him and the rats wouldn't bite Him. The birth of the Son of God.

This wasn't what Mary and Joseph wanted. It wasn't what they planned. But it was what God chose.

This is how much God loves us, that He sent His only Son into the world under such circumstances. This is how much Jesus our Savior loves us. Our troubles, our suffering, our poverty, our griefs—He shared them all from the beginning, every day of His life. He came on purpose to be the "Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" that the prophet foretold (Isaiah 53:3). He took them to the cross.

And then He rose from the dead, triumphant over all of this—over evil, over sin, over death, over the power of the devil. He did it for you and for me, because He loves us. As He shared our suffering, so now we share in His joy and everlasting life. Jesus came to be Immanuel, God-with-us forever.

THE PRAYER: Lord, thank You for loving us so much. Draw me closer to You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What was your own birth like, if you know?
• How can you tell when someone really loves you?
• What does it mean to you, to be close to Jesus?

Advent Devotions were 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).
What was your own birth like, if you know?

CPTLN devocional del 24 de Diciembre de 2019 - Dios está con nosotros

ADVIENTO—NAVIDAD 2019

Dios está con nosotros

Diciembre 24

Como José era descendiente de David y vivía en Nazaret, que era una ciudad de Galilea, tuvo que ir a Belén, la ciudad de David, que estaba en Judea, para inscribirse junto con María, que estaba desposada con él y se hallaba encinta.

—Lucas 2:4-5 (RVC)

No pudo haber sido un viaje fácil. José necesitaba llegar a Belén por razones legales, y llevó a María con él casi al tiempo del parto. Hay una buena posibilidad de que ambos hayan hecho el viaje de al menos 110 kilómetros a pie. La Biblia no dice nada acerca de un burro.

¿Por qué no dejar a María en casa? Allí estaría más cómoda y tendría una partera de guardia. No lo sabemos. Quizás recordaron la profecía de que Belén sería el lugar del nacimiento de Jesús. Quizás José simplemente no quería dejar a su esposa expuesta a los chismes.

Y luego el trabajo de parto y el nacimiento. Por fin, un bebé adorable y un pesebre rústico para mantenerlo lejos del piso. No era como María y José hubieran querido. Pero era lo que Dios había escogido.

Así es de inmenso el amor de Dios, que envió a su único Hijo al mundo en tales circunstancias. Así es cómo Jesús nuestro Salvador nos ama. Nuestros problemas, sufrimiento, pobreza, penas, él los compartió desde el principio, todos los días de su vida. Él vino para ser lo que el profeta predijo: el "hombre más sufrido, el más experimentado en el sufrimiento" (Isaías 53:3). Jesús llevó el sufrimiento a la cruz.

Y luego resucitó de los muertos, triunfante sobre el mal, el pecado, la muerte, el poder del diablo. Lo hizo por ti y por mí, porque nos ama. Así como él compartió nuestro sufrimiento, así también ahora compartimos su alegría y la vida eterna. Jesús vino a ser Emanuel, Dios con nosotros para siempre.

ORACIÓN: Señor, gracias por amarnos tanto. Acércame más a ti. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Cómo puedes saber cuando alguien realmente te ama?
• ¿Qué significa para ti estar cerca de Jesús?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.
¿Cómo puedes saber cuando alguien realmente te ama?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Visita de Navidad

Visita de Navidad

La escritura de hoy: Lucas 2:25-33

La Biblia en un año: Habacuc 1–3; Apocalipsis 15

Ahora, Señor, despides a tu siervo en paz… —Lucas 2:29

En Noche Buena de 1994, un hombre conocido como «el viejo Brinker» yacía moribundo en el hospital de la cárcel Muntok, en Sumatra, esperando que comenzara la reunión de Navidad. «¿Cuándo empieza la música?», preguntó, a lo que su compañero de prisión, William McDougall, respondió: «Pronto». «Bien —contestó—; así podré compararla con la de los ángeles».

Aunque décadas atrás Brinker se había alejado de su fe en Dios, en sus últimos días, confesó sus pecados y halló paz en Él. En lugar de saludar a los demás con amargura, sonreía, lo cual, según McDougal, «era una transformación notable».

Brinker murió en paz aquella noche, mientras un coro de once prisioneros demacrados entonaba Noche de Paz. McDougal, sabiendo que Brinker había vuelto a seguir a Jesús y que estaba con Él en el cielo, señaló: «Quizá la muerte haya sido una visita de Navidad bienvenida para el viejo Brinker».

Su historia me recuerda a Simeón, un santo hombre a quien el Espíritu Santo le había revelado que «no vería la muerte antes que viese al Ungido del Señor» (Lucas 2:26). Cuando vio a Jesús en el templo, exclamó: «Ahora, Señor, despides a tu siervo en paz […]; porque han visto mis ojos tu salvación» (vv. 29-30).

El mejor regalo de Navidad que podemos recibir o dar es la fe salvadora en Jesús.

De:  Amy Boucher Pye

Reflexiona y ora

Señor, gracias por la paz de la salvación.

¿Piensas que la muerte puede ser una visita bienvenida? ¿Cómo Cristo te produce gozo y te transforma?

© 2019 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
En Noche Buena de 1994, un hombre conocido como «el viejo Brinker» yacía moribundo en el hospital de la cárcel Muntok, en Sumatr.