The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020

Psalm 119:161-168; Jeremiah 18:1-11; Matthew 11:20-24

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 119:161-168

Loving God’s law

161 Rulers persecute me without cause,
       but my heart trembles at your word.
162 I rejoice in your promise
       like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and detest falsehood
       but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
       for your righteous laws.
165 Great peace have those who love your law,
       and nothing can make them stumble.
166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,
       and I follow your commands.
167 I obey your statutes,
       for I love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,
       for all my ways are known to you.

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Jeremiah at the potter’s wheel

18:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

11 “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’

Matthew 11:20-24

Testing the spirits

11:20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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 what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020
Psalm 119:161-168; Jeremiah 18:1-11; Matthew 11:20-24

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020

Irish missionary Columbanus wrote, “Seek then the highest wisdom, not by arguments in words but by the perfection of your life; not by speech but by the faith that comes from simplicity of heart.”

Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and forgiveness. Help us to hear your word and to follow you today. Numb our ears to the persistent call of idols like vanity, consumerism, power, and pride. Enable us to lead lives tempered by the awareness of others’ needs and propelled by your love. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Read all of Romans 12

Listen to Romans 12

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 01 de julio de 2020

Seamos instrumentos

Todo lo que te viniere a la mano para hacer, hazlo según tus fuerzas.

— Eclesiastés 9:10

Me tomé la tarea de investigar lo que es un instrumento musical y llegué a esta conclusión: Un instrumento musical es un conjunto de piezas que se disponen en un todo de manera que un intérprete logre producir sonidos musicales. Si lo analizamos, es posible que de cualquier objeto se pueda obtener sonidos. Sin embargo, para que sea musical, el sonido que produce debe combinar la melodía, el ritmo y la armonía.

Dejando este análisis a un lado, quiero hacer un paralelo a lo que nosotros podemos ser en las manos de Dios. La Palabra nos enseña que a todos se nos han dado dones y talentos. Muchas veces ni sabemos que los tenemos. Así que un día alguien nos los descubre o nosotros mismos nos damos cuenta que ciertas cosas que hacemos nos salen bien y le gustan a la gente.

Si un instrumento musical es un conjunto de piezas que se combinan para producir sonidos melódicos, rítmicos y armónicos, tú y yo tenemos esa combinación perfecta para poner en acción el don que puso Dios en nosotros.

Además, si a diferencia de que en principio cualquier cosa que produzca sonido puede ser un instrumento, te recuerdo que tú no eres cualquier cosa, sino que eres un hijo de Dios creado a su imagen y semejanza.

Valórate y pídele al Señor que te revele cuál es ese talento y empieza a desarrollarlo ya.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Si lo analizamos, es posible que de cualquier objeto se pueda obtener sonidos.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, July 1, 2020

OUR SACRIFICES, NOT OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

…now God is building you, as living stones into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.

— 1 Peter 2:5

Our Open Doors colleague, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, shares the following insight from his teaching, “Why I Need to Encounter the Persecuted Church.”

When I lived in Los Angeles, I was always stressed about one key question—am I fulfilling my potential? Everywhere I drove, I was surrounded by advertisements telling me that I was not earning enough, that I needed to have an “attitude transplant.” I worried about whether I should take more courses in the elusive search for more success. My friends were actors and actresses desperate to attract the attention of some film producer, and working a couple of part-time jobs in the vain hope that someday, they will be discovered. I too always felt unfulfilled.

But is the purpose of my life really to maximize my potential? A visit to the persecuted soon cured me of that idea. This fact becomes clear—fulfilling one’s potential cannot possibly be the purpose to life because so few actually get the opportunity to do so!

Look at the millions of Christians in China’s house churches. All of them live lives in which—for want of a better term—they are trapped. They do not have choices. Because of their Christianity, many are denied access to education, or are barred from developing promising careers. I sat in a house church of seventy peasant Christians, and wondered, how many great scientists, violin players, or philosophers could be in here, but they and the world will never know, because they never had the chance to study, learn algebra, or hold a musical instrument.

Would God really make a world where only a tiny minority could fulfill their life’s purpose, and doom the rest of us to a lifetime of frustration?

We were studying 1st Peter one night, and suddenly I had an insight while reading chapter 2 verse 5. It struck me: God makes each life that is yielded to him a living stone in building his temple. That’s why we are alive. That’s the purpose of it all. We are all made to become a stone in his spiritual temple, his eternal kingdom. And everybody gets the opportunity to become a “living stone” just by virtue of giving our lives to him. We are priests because we offer a sacrifice. That sacrifice is the only one we can make—that of our lives. And so we find the purpose for which God made the world—to build a kingdom of worshippers for Himself. That old man in the house church whose back is bent double from a life in the rice paddies is a living stone. That woman whose baby was taken away during the Cultural Revolution because she was a Christian is also a living stone. No one wastes their life who gives it to Jesus. They are placed into an eternal structure—the kingdom of God, and will rejoice forever in that status.

No one goes unfulfilled because God builds his kingdom on our sacrifices, not on our achievements.

RESPONSE: Today I will be fulfilled as a “living stone” for God and offer Him the sacrifice of my life.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that I don’t need to spend my life seeking fulfillment other than in You!

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 - July 1, 2020 - "Frustration"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Frustration"

July 1, 2020

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the Law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a Law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the Law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the Law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

— Romans 7:14-25

Paul talks about a situation that we are all very familiar with—a life where we try to do the good things that God wants us to do, but we keep falling into evil. For example, we start the day trying to show love and patience as we take care of our families, but then we find ourselves right back in the familiar cycle of complaining and arguing and yelling. We try to do our best at work, but some disaster ruins our good plans and we do the bare minimum just to get to the end of the day. No matter what we do, we find that sin is right there with us. There is a fight going on inside us, between the power of sin and the good, new nature God has planted in us.

This is normal for Christians! Paul was an apostle, and even he had this problem. Look at the verbs; Paul is writing in the present tense. So if you recognize this fight in yourself, you are in good company.

This drives Paul crazy, and he says, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" He knows that he cannot get free by his own power or strength. If you have tried to free yourself, you know that also. Nothing is going to end this fight except for the power of God.

That is why Paul says, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul knows that even though there is still fighting inside, Jesus won the war at the cross. There He defeated sin, death, and the devil through His own suffering and death. When He rose from the dead, He made all of us who trust in Him alive again as well—alive with a new kind of life, the life of the children of God. Now the Holy Spirit is living in us, and He is remaking us in the image of Jesus.

Meanwhile, we are still frustrated. But we live in hope because we know that when Jesus takes us to be with Him forever, there will be no more fighting. His victory will be complete—and we will see it and rejoice.

THE PRAYER: Lord, help me with this frustrating fight. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you do when you're frustrated?

2. Is there one area of your Christian life that is really bugging you right now?

3. How do you find hope and strength in Jesus?

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).
What do you do when you're frustrated?

Devocional CPTLN del 01 de julio de 2020 - Frustración

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Frustración

01 de Julio de 2020

Sabemos que la ley es espiritual. Pero yo soy un simple ser carnal, que ha sido vendido como esclavo al pecado. No entiendo qué me pasa, pues no hago lo que quiero, sino lo que aborrezco. Y si hago lo que no quiero hacer, compruebo entonces que la ley es buena. De modo que no soy yo quien hace aquello, sino el pecado que habita en mí. Yo sé que en mí, esto es, en mi naturaleza humana, no habita el bien; porque el desear el bien está en mí, pero no el hacerlo. Porque no hago el bien que quiero, sino el mal que no quiero. Y si hago lo que no quiero, ya no soy yo quien lo hace, sino el pecado que habita en mí. Entonces, aunque quiero hacer el bien, descubro esta ley: que el mal está en mí. Porque, según el hombre interior, me deleito en la ley de Dios; pero encuentro que hay otra ley en mis miembros, la cual se rebela contra la ley de mi mente y me tiene cautivo a la ley del pecado que está en mis miembros. ¡Miserable de mí! ¿Quién me librará de este cuerpo de muerte? Doy gracias a Dios, por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Así que yo mismo, con la mente, sirvo a la ley de Dios, pero con la naturaleza humana sirvo a la ley del pecado.

— Romanos 7:14-25

Pablo habla de una situación con la que todos estamos muy familiarizados: tratamos de hacer las cosas buenas que Dios quiere que hagamos, pero seguimos cayendo en el mal. Por ejemplo, comenzamos el día tratando de mostrar amor y paciencia a nuestras familias, pero luego pronto caemos en el conocido ciclo de la queja, la discusión y los gritos. Tratamos de dar lo mejor en el trabajo, pero algún contratiempo arruina nuestros planes y terminamos haciendo lo mínimo para llegar al final del día.

Por más que nos esforcemos, el pecado está siempre con nosotros. Constantemente luchamos con el poder del pecado y la nueva naturaleza que Dios ha plantado en nosotros. ¡Esto es normal! Pablo era un apóstol, e incluso él tuvo ese problema. Si reconoces esta pelea en ti mismo, estás en buena compañía.

Esto lo vuelve loco a Pablo, por lo que dice: "¡Miserable de mí! ¿Quién me librará de este cuerpo de muerte?" Él sabe que no puede liberarse por su propio poder o fuerza. Nada puede terminar esta pelea excepto el poder de Dios. Es por eso que sigue diciendo: "Doy gracias a Dios, por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo". Pablo sabe que, aunque todavía tiene luchas internas, Jesús ganó la guerra en la cruz. Allí derrotó al pecado, a la muerte y al diablo a través de su propio sufrimiento y muerte. Cuando resucitó de entre los muertos, hizo que todos los que confiamos en él recibamos una nueva vida, la vida de los hijos de Dios. Ahora el Espíritu Santo está viviendo en nosotros y nos está rehaciendo a la imagen de Jesús.

Si bien todavía nos sentimos frustrados, ahora vivimos con esperanza porque sabemos que cuando Jesús nos lleve a estar con él para siempre, no habrá más peleas. Su victoria será completa, y en ella nos alegraremos.

ORACIÓN: Señor, ayúdame con esta lucha frustrante. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Hay un área de tu vida que te moleste?

* ¿Cómo encuentras esperanza y fortaleza en Jesús?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Hay un área de tu vida que te moleste?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Como Deus é?

Como Deus é?

Escritura de hoje: Hebreus 1:1-10
Bíblia em um ano: Jó 20–21; Atos 10:24-48

O Filho irradia a glória de Deus, expressa de forma exata o que Deus é…

— Hebreus 1:3

Para comemorar uma ocasião especial, meu marido me levou a uma galeria de arte para escolher uma pintura como presente. Escolhi um pequeno quadro de um riacho fluindo por entre uma floresta. O riacho tomava boa parte da tela e a maior parte do céu não aparecia. Entretanto, o reflexo na água revelava o Sol, as copas das árvores e a atmosfera nebulosa. A única forma de “ver” o céu era olhando a superfície da água.

No sentido espiritual, Jesus é como o riacho. Quando queremos ver a Deus, olhamos para Jesus. O escritor de Hebreus disse que Jesus “…expressa de forma exata o que Deus é…” (v.3). Embora possamos conhecer fatos sobre Deus através de declarações diretas já expressas na Bíblia, como “Deus é amor”, podemos aprofundar o nosso entendimento vendo como Deus agiria se enfrentasse os mesmos problemas que temos na Terra. Sendo Deus em forma humana, foi isso o que Jesus nos mostrou.

Na tentação, Ele revelou a santidade de Deus. Confrontando a obscuridade espiritual, demonstrou a autoridade divina. Lidando com os problemas das pessoas, mostrou-nos a sabedoria de Deus. Em Sua morte, Ele ilustrou o amor de Deus.

Embora não possamos compreender tudo sobre Deus — Ele é ilimitado e nosso pensamento é limitado — ao olharmos para Cristo não duvidamos do Seu caráter.

Por:  rebekawerner

Refletir & Orar

Querido Deus, obrigado por criares um jeito de te conhecermos. Ajuda-nos a nos aproximarmos de ti, olhando para Jesus.

Quando Deus fala as coisas acontecem. Tenha fé!

© 2020 Ministérios Pão Diário
Para comemorar uma ocasião especial, meu marido me levou a uma galeria de arte para escolher uma pintura como presente.

The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

Psalm 119:161-168; 1 Kings 21:17-29; 1 John 4:1-6

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 119:161-168

Loving God’s law

161 Rulers persecute me without cause,
       but my heart trembles at your word.
162 I rejoice in your promise
       like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and detest falsehood
       but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
       for your righteous laws.
165 Great peace have those who love your law,
       and nothing can make them stumble.
166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,
       and I follow your commands.
167 I obey your statutes,
       for I love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,
       for all my ways are known to you.

1 Kings 21:17-29

Elijah confronts Ahab

21:17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”

“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’

23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’

24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”

25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

1 John 4:1-6

Testing the spirits

4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

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 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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 what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, June 30, 2020
Psalm 119:161-168; 1 Kings 21:17-29; 1 John 4:1-6

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

Jeanne Jugan has written, “Go and find Jesus when your patience and strength give out and you feel alone and helpless. He is waiting for you. Say to him, ‘Jesus, you know exactly what is going on. You are all I have, and you know all. Come to my help.’ And then go and don’t worry about how you are going to manage. That you have told God about it is enough. He has a good memory.”

Thank you, Lord, that you remember the lilies when we cannot remember our own best interests. Open our eyes to wonder in awe at your greatness, that we might learn to see how all things are possible with you, Maker of heaven and earth. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

Zechariah 14:9

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

Read all of Zechariah 14

Listen to Zechariah 14

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 30 de junio de 2020

Secretos para triunfar

Gracias a Dios que en Cristo siempre nos lleva triunfantes y, por medio de nosotros, esparce por todas partes la fragancia de su conocimiento.

— 2 Corintios 2:14 (NVI)

Creo que este es un pensamiento que alguna vez todos hemos tenido: ser alguien, triunfar y que nos vaya bien. Y eso es lo que quiere Dios. Es más, Él quiere que prosperemos.

Sin embargo, ¿cuáles serían algunos secretos para triunfar? Quizá lo que te diga hoy sea lo que hay en mi corazón también. Sin embargo, en ocasiones y por diferentes razones, no lo ponemos en práctica. Quizá se deba a que no creemos en nosotros mismos o que les damos prioridad a otras cosas o personas. En mi caso, a veces pienso más en el beneficio de los demás que en hacer cosas para mis hijas, dejando mis sueños para el final.

Por ejemplo, yo quería hacer este libro, pero a la verdad no sabía por dónde empezar. Incluso, a menudo pensaba que no iba a ser capaz de escribir un libro. ¿A qué hora podría hacerlo? Aunque ya varias personas me habían sugerido que lo hiciera, siempre lo postergaba. Lo lindo de todo esto es que Dios ya tiene determinado lo que seremos y haremos, y nos da la pauta para seguirla. Así que seamos obedientes y emprendamos las cosas que Dios ponga en nuestros corazones de modo que logremos el verdadero triunfo.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Creo que este es un pensamiento que alguna vez todos hemos tenido: ser alguien, triunfar y que nos vaya bien.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, June 30, 2020

MYSTERY

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ…

— Ephesians 1:9 (NIV)

Human beings always want to know “why?” and “why not now?” But it’s precisely because we are human we cannot know. That’s why mystery is so important to understand. The entire book of Job is all about the “why” of suffering and in the end God invites Job to see a bigger picture than even his suffering.

Creation is a mistake if all you see is your suffering. But if you lift your eyes wider and let your gaze roam over the whole universe with God, you can also see that creation has even more beauty and grace.

So we are to value mystery because it enables us to feel God’s love…love that was fully revealed in Christ.

Sometimes we get to see “why?” and “why not now?” (one of the good aspects of growing older). Often we don’t because we are the players of life in the universe, not the playwright.

Christine Mallouhi in her excellent book, Waging Peace on Islam, makes this significant conclusion:

The victorious and triumphant Christian life does not conjure up pictures of suffering and death and feelings of abandonment. But this was all part of God's victory in Christ. If this was the path the Master trod why should it be any different for the servants? Jesus cried out "why?" and "where are you?" to God when circumstances were crushing him. God is always greater than our understanding of him and there will always be mystery about him that causes us to fall down in awe and worship. This mystery, which we want to tidily categorise, keeps causing struggles in our life. Every time we get God tidied up like a ball of rubber bands, another end bursts out and the struggle begins over again, until we learn to live in faith with untidy ends. If everything is clear then faith is irrelevant. We are not called to solve the mystery, but enter it.[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will value mystery because it enables me to feel God’s love.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that though the world around us if full of suffering, it is more full of beauty and grace. Help me to trust You and value mystery.

1. Christine Mallouhi, Waging Peace on Islam (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2000), p.52.

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 June 30, 2020 - "Not What You'd Expect"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Not What You'd Expect"

June 30, 2020

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and He shall speak peace to the nations; His rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

— Zechariah 9:9-12

Zechariah is one of those Old Testament books that packs a big message. Most likely written during the time of Israel's deportation to Babylon in the sixth century B.C., Zechariah's words gave the Jewish exiles a message of hope and encouragement. Though times were tough for them, there were brighter days ahead. Their king was coming. Sometime distant, Israel would experience the reign of a king greater than David and Solomon.

And how would Israel know this?

Because He will come to them "mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." How else does a King arrive who will "speak peace to the nations," whose reign will extend from "sea to sea"?

You could almost excuse Israel for not knowing, except for the fact that they had been told of this King's arrival—more than 400 years earlier! Fortunately, this detail wasn't lost on Gospel writers Luke (Luke 19:28-40) or Matthew: "This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 'Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden'" (Matthew 21:4-5).

How it must have been for those faithful Jews who went to the temple, earnestly tuned in for clues from God concerning the coming Messiah. Surely, there were those who witnessed Jesus' Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem who knew what was going on, who knew God had come to visit His people. They were saying among themselves, "There He is! There's the One we've been waiting for—God's Anointed Ruler, our promised Messiah!"

Finally, the Hope of Israel had arrived—forecasted by Zechariah centuries before. His entry into Jerusalem was marked—not by the pomp and circumstance of a Roman chariot—but by the slow gait of a donkey. And on it was a Man marked for death, headed in a few short hours to a rough wooden cross.

God surely works in mysterious ways, doesn't He? The Lord and Ruler of the Universe coming to us on "a colt, the foal of a donkey." Quite the irony.

Quite the Savior.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Your plan of redemption is a marvel to behold. Give us faith to trust in You all the days ahead. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. How are your powers of observation? Are you intuitive to people and circumstances?

2. Why do you think God waits so long sometimes between promise and fulfillment?

3. The Lord of the universe rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Are there life lessons to take from that simple fact?

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).
How are your powers of observation? Are you intuitive to people and circumstances?

Devocional CPTLN del 30 de junio de 2020 - No era lo que esperaban

ALIMENTO DIARIO

No era lo que esperaban

30 de Junio de 2020

«¡Llénate de alegría, hija de Sión! ¡Da voces de júbilo, hija de Jerusalén! Mira que tu rey viene a ti, justo, y salvador y humilde, y montado sobre un asno, sobre un pollino, hijo de asna. Yo destruiré los carros de guerra de Efraín y los briosos caballos de Jerusalén, y los arcos de guerra serán hechos pedazos. Tu rey anunciará la paz a las naciones, y su señorío se extenderá de mar a mar, y del río Éufrates a los límites de la tierra. »También tú serás salvada por la sangre de tu pacto, y yo sacaré a tus presos de esa cisterna sin agua. ¡Vuelvan, pues, a la fortaleza, prisioneros de esperanza! En este preciso día yo les hago saber que les devolveré el doble de lo que perdieron.

— Zacarías 9:9-12

El libro de Zacarías contiene un gran mensaje. Probablemente escrito durante el tiempo de la deportación de Israel a Babilonia en el siglo VI a. C., las palabras de Zacarías dieron a los exiliados judíos un mensaje de esperanza y aliento: aunque los tiempos eran difíciles, les esperaban días más brillantes; su rey estaba cerca. Israel iba a experimentar el reinado de un rey mayor que David y Salomón.

Pero, ¿cómo sabría esto Israel? Porque ese rey llegaría a ellos "montado sobre un asno, sobre un pollino, hijo de asna". ¿De qué otra forma llega un rey que "anunciará paz a las naciones" y cuyo reinado se extenderá de "mar a mar"?

Casi podríamos disculpar a Israel por no saberlo, excepto que ya les habían informado de la llegada de ese rey, ¡más de 400 años antes! Afortunadamente, este detalle no se perdió en los escritores de los evangelios de Lucas (Lucas 19:28-40) y Mateo: "Esto sucedió para que se cumpliera lo dicho por el profeta: 5 «Digan a la hija de Sión: Tu Rey viene a ti, manso y sentado sobre una burra, sobre un burrito, hijo de animal de carga» (Mateo 21:4-5).

Cómo habrá sido para aquellos judíos fieles que fueron al templo, atentos a las pistas de Dios sobre el Mesías venidero. Seguramente, algunos de los que presenciaron el viaje de Jesús a Jerusalén el Domingo de Ramos sabían lo que estaba sucediendo; sabían que Dios había llegado a estar con su pueblo. Por eso es que decían entre ellos: "¡Ahí está! ¡Ahí está el que hemos estado esperando: el Ungido de Dios, nuestro Mesías prometido!"

Finalmente había llegado la esperanza de Israel profetizada por Zacarías siglos antes. Su entrada en Jerusalén estuvo marcada no por la pompa de un carro romano, sino por la lenta marcha de un burro. Y en él había un Hombre a quien en pocos días le espera una áspera cruz de madera.

Dios trabaja de maneras misteriosas, ¿no es cierto? El Señor del Universo vino a nosotros " montado sobre un asno, sobre un pollino, hijo de asna". ¡Qué ironía!

¡Qué Salvador!

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, tu plan de redención es una maravilla incomprensible. Danos fe para confiar en ti todos los días de nuestra vida. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Por qué crees que a veces Dios espera tanto tiempo en cumplir una promesa?

* El Señor del universo entró en Jerusalén montado en un burro. ¿Qué lección de vida puedes sacar de este simple hecho?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Por qué crees que a veces Dios espera tanto tiempo en cumplir una promesa?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Navegar los rápidos de la vida

Navegar los rápidos de la vida

La escritura de hoy: Salmo 32:5-11
La Biblia en un año: Job 17–19; Hechos 10:1-23

Te haré entender, y te enseñaré el camino en que debes andar; sobre ti fijaré mis ojos.

 — Salmo 32:8

«¡Todos los de la derecha, remen tres veces con fuerza hacia adelante!», gritó nuestro guía en los rápidos. Los de la izquierda mantuvieron hundidos los remos, alejando así el bote de un gran remolino. Durante horas, habíamos aprendido sobre la importancia de escuchar las instrucciones de nuestro guía. Su voz firme permitió que seis personas con poca experiencia en rafting trabajaran juntas para seguir el curso más seguro río abajo.

La vida también tiene sus rápidos, ¿no? En un momento, la navegación es tranquila; y luego, de repente, estamos remando como locos para evitar los inesperados remolinos. Esos momentos de tensión nos hacen tomar conciencia de que necesitamos un guía experimentado; una voz confiable que nos ayude a navegar en tiempos turbulentos.

En el Salmo 32, Dios promete ser esa voz: «Te haré entender, y te enseñaré el camino en que debes andar» (v. 8). Un poco antes, vemos que confesar nuestros pecados (v. 5) y buscar al Señor en oración (v. 6) también son parte de escucharlo. Me consuela la promesa del Señor: «Sobre ti fijaré mis ojos» (v. 8); una guía que fluye de su amor. Al final, el salmista concluye: «al que espera en el Señor, le rodea la misericordia» (v. 10). Confiemos en su promesa de guiarnos en los pasajes rocosos de la vida.

De:  Adam R. Holz

Reflexiona y ora

Padre, que pueda escucharte mientras me guías.

¿Qué circunstancias de tu vida sientes como aguas rápidas? ¿De qué manera puedes buscar la guía de Dios para saber cómo reaccionar

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
«¡Todos los de la derecha, remen tres veces con fuerza hacia adelante!», gritó nuestro guía en los rápidos.

The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, June 29, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, June 29, 2020

Psalm 119:161-168; 1 Kings 21:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 119:161-168

Loving God’s law

161 Rulers persecute me without cause,
       but my heart trembles at your word.
162 I rejoice in your promise
       like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and detest falsehood
       but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
       for your righteous laws.
165 Great peace have those who love your law,
       and nothing can make them stumble.
166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,
       and I follow your commands.
167 I obey your statutes,
       for I love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,
       for all my ways are known to you.

1 Kings 21:1-16

Ahab and Jezebel rob Naboth

21:1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”

3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”

4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”

6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”

7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

How to love one another

4:9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

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 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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 what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, June 29, 2020
Psalm 119:161-168; 1 Kings 21:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, June 29, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, June 29, 2020

Peter and Paul

One of the ways we see the wisdom of the early church is in their placing Peter and Paul’s saint days together so that they have a shared celebration, thereby making sure that there was no room for divisions over their leadership, even with their disagreements. (It may be that the church forgot this wisdom in the Reformation, with Rome claiming Peter’s authority and Paul becoming the hero of Protestants.) The early church was quite clear that the first pastor and the first theologian of the faith had to be held in equal respect and in equal balance of authority. One without the other leaves us incomplete and unbalanced.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a leader in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, wrote, “The first law of our being is that we are set in a delicate network of interdependence with our fellow human beings and with the rest of God’s creation.”

Lord, you promise never to leave us or forsake us. Since we are always in your presence, help us always to keep our eyes fixed upon you that we might follow your lead in the never-ending dance of your life as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, June 29, 2020

Psalm 138:8

The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.

Read all of Psalm 138

Listen to Psalm 138

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 29 de junio de 2020

Oración por paz en el corazón

La paz les dejo; mi paz les doy. Yo no se la doy a ustedes como la da el mundo. No se angustien ni se acobarden.

— Juan 14:27 (NVI)

Acuérdate, Señor, de tu ternura y gran amor que siempre me has demostrado.

Ayúdame, Señor, a relacionarme cada día más contigo y así poder confiar plenamente en ti.

Perdóname por los momentos en que he hecho todo en mis propias fuerzas, poniendo la confianza en mi propia sabiduría.

Deseo, Señor, ser una persona madura en ti y me comprometo a conocerte mejor, a pasar más tiempo a tu lado y así poder experimentar la bendición de tenerte como el Padre que cuida de mi familia y de mí.

Gracias, mi Señor, y te entrego el resto de este día en tus manos. En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por paz en el corazón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, June 29, 2020

THE DISCIPLINE OF FASTING

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

— Matthew 6:17-18 (NIV)

Jesus assumes in this passage that His followers practice fasting. He says “when” you fast—not “if” you fast and then goes on to give these instructions. Fasting is a significant spiritual activity that goes along with intensive prayer times. To fast means to put God first. Fasting is an attitude of the heart in which we interrupt our normal life to pray for a specific matter or cause. It means to abstain from food—and for some, even drink—so that we can focus on God and be more sensitive to spiritual matters. Fasting is also perseverance in prayer until you have received an answer—be it yes, no, wait, or something different. In essence, fasting means that we rend our hearts before God, confess our sins, and turn to the Lord anew (Joel 2:12-13).

Fasting is biblical. Consider the following: Moses fasted twice for forty days (Exodus 34:28); Daniel fasted (partially) for twenty-one days (Daniel 10:3); Joel called for a day of fasting (Joel 1:14; 2:12); Ezra withdrew for a period of fasting and mourning (Ezra 10:6); Elijah fasted for forty days (1 Kings 19:8); Leaders of the church in Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2-3); Jesus fasted for forty days (Luke 4:2); Paul and Barnabas fasted (Acts 14:23; 27:33).

Captain Bill Tinsley was arrested on false charges under President Marcos in the Philippines following the completion of Project Pearl in 1981. As the days of his confinement passed, Bill fasted from eating. After a few days of fasting, his blood pressure rose very high. A doctor visited him daily. Everything possible was done to get him to eat. He was accused of staging a hunger strike. Bill carefully explained to his captors many times, “My fasting is a spiritual exercise. If I want my God to take my part, I must become weak that He may become strong. President Marcos is a very powerful man. I cannot fight him. I must let God take my part.” His explanation brought only a certain resignation by his jailers. They did not understand.

Each day during his captivity Bill went for a walk. A soldier always went along to guard against possible escape. On that tenth morning, after reading of Elijah’s running a great distance while fasting, Bill jogged. The soldier that went along couldn’t keep up and was forced to take shortcuts across the fields to stay with him.

“How can you be so strong without eating?” a colonel asked referring to the jogging incident that morning.

“It’s the power of God,” Bill told him sincerely. “And if you keep me here, you’re going to see me grow stronger and stronger!” The eyes of all the men present grew large. They believed him and that prospect was not to their liking. It was with some reluctance Bill later walked out of his cell for the last time. He had experienced God’s presence there. His captors, the same ones that had falsely arrested him, gave him a send-off as they would a dear friend.

RESPONSE: Today I resolve to practice all the spiritual disciplines…including fasting.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to practice fasting as a spiritual discipline without making it obvious.

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, June 29, 2020

Jezebel

Her name means: "Where Is the Prince?"

Her character: A religious woman, she spread idolatry throughout Israel. Powerful, cunning, and arrogant, she actively opposed God, even in the face of indisputable proofs of his sovereignty.
Her triumph: To have enhanced her own power at the expense of others.
Her tragedy: Her arrogance led to a shameless death.
Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 16:29-33; 18:1-19:2; 21:1-25; 2 Kings 9

Her Story

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess, daughter of the priest-king of Sidon. Married to King Ahab, she reigned as queen in northern Israel one hundred years after David's death and sixty years after Israel split into northern and southern kingdoms just after Solomon's death.

A woman of great conviction and unwavering devotion, Jezebel's ardent worship was directed not to the God of Israel but to the pagan fertility god Baal, thought to control the rain and hence the harvest. So determined was she to convert Israel to her own religion that she hunted down and killed all the prophets she could lay hands on, replacing them with 850 of her own.

Despite Jezebel's efforts, one prophet had escaped her, and he was the most annoying of all. His name was Elijah, which meant "My God Is Yahweh." By contrast, Jezebel meant "Where Is the Prince (Baal)?" or "The Prince (Baal) Exists." Inevitably, the two squared off.

By pushing Baal worship, Jezebel was spreading idolatry across Israel, but her brand of worship wasn't producing the desired results for the fields remained barren. The fertility gods, it seemed, had gone AWOL, or else they were impotent.

Elijah, meanwhile, warned King Ahab: "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

After three-and-a-half years of drought and famine, Elijah challenged the king to assemble the prophets of Baal and Asherah to compete in a lopsided contest—850 to 1. Two bulls were prepared for sacrifice, but the fire for sacrifice was not lit. Instead, the true God would prove himself by sending fire from heaven.

From morning until noon Baal's prophets danced and shouted, "O Baal, answer us!" But the god of the storm was silent.

Relishing the spectacle, Elijah couldn't resist a few well-aimed taunts: "Shout louder! Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." Elijah's sarcasm spurred the prophets of Baal to more frenzied efforts, but that day Baal, the god of fire, couldn't even light a match.

Then Elijah's turn came. To dramatize the difficulty of his task, he drenched the sacrifice with water not once but three times, praying: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command."

Immediately, fire burned up the sacrifice. Rallying the people, Elijah then slaughtered Jezebel's 850 prophets.

Enraged at the news, the queen sent a messenger to Elijah, vowing to kill him. But he fled south, beyond her grasp.

Still, Jezebel kept busy, managing to find other targets for her schemes. One day she discovered her husband, Ahab, in a childish rage. Pouting, Ahab confided his troubles to her. Naboth, his near neighbor, had a lovely vineyard that the king desired. It would make such a nice vegetable garden. Yet his stingy subject refused to sell it.

"Is this how you act as king over Israel?" Jezebel challenged. "Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard."

Jezebel wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sent it to the elders of the town instructing them to produce witnesses to testify falsely that Naboth had cursed both God and the king, offenses punishable by death.

Ahab felt better when he heard the news that Naboth had been stoned to death as a traitor. Now his table would be laden with delicious vegetables straight from the garden. But then who should show up but Elijah, interrupting the king's leisurely stroll through his new garden.

"So you have found me, my enemy," the king greeted him.

"I have found you," Elijah replied, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. And also, concerning Jezebel, the Lord says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' "

Elijah's words came true. Ahab eventually died in battle, the dogs licking the blood from his chariot. Jezebel, however, survived him by at least ten years. Then one day, a man called Jehu came riding into Jezreel to carry out the last half of Elijah's prophecy.

Tough as nails, Jezebel stood proudly at the window of her palace. Never one to back away from a challenge, Jezebel seized the initiative, shouting at Jehu: "Have you come in peace, Zimri (the name of a traitor), you murderer of your master?"

But Jehu simply ignored her, challenging those who stood near her. "Who is on my side? Throw her down!" Quickly, Jezebel's servants shoved her through the window. The palace walls were splattered a bloody red as horses trampled her body and the palace dogs finished the job. A powerful figure while she lived, hardly anything of her remained just shortly after her death.

Paired with Israel's worst king, Jezebel was the nation's worst queen and one of the Bible's most infamous women. How different her story would have been had she harnessed her power, her drive, and her devotion. A strong character, Jezebel could have been a female apostle Paul, whose misguided zeal was redirected toward the kingdom of God. Instead, unlike many biblical figures who are depicted with a mixture of good and bad traits, she stands out as someone purely evil, whose moral character is one-dimensional. Totally devoted to her gods, she reflected their image completely. Despite obvious miracles and repeated warnings, she was a woman who chose to harden her heart and suffer the consequences.

Her Promise

Jezebel's end (2 Kings 9:33-37) is exactly what Elijah had earlier prophesied for her (1 Kings 21:23). No doubt judgment for her wicked life was swift and sure. It's hard to reconcile this aspect of our God with our image of him as loving and compassionate, yet he is a God who hates evil and will surely punish it. If, however, we come to him for forgiveness and reconciliation, he is also a God who loves to show mercy.

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.
Jezebel reigned as queen in northern Israel one hundred years after David's death and sixty years after Israel split into northern and southern kingdoms.