The Daily Bible Readings for TUESDAY, September 1, 2020

The Daily Readings

TUESDAY, September 1, 2020

Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18; Exodus 5:1—6:13; Revelation 3:7-13

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today's Verse-of-the-Day: Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Today's Readings:

Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18

God’s power like blazing fire

1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.

Exodus 5:1—6:13

Moses confronts Pharaoh

5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.

18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

21 And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

6:1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord:

3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.

4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord.

9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

10 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

12 And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?

13 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Revelation 3:7-13

Wake up to your faithlessness

3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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, King James Version (KJV).

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, 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 Readings for TUESDAY, September 1, 2020
Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18; Exodus 5:1—6:13; Revelation 3:7-13 (KJV)

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, September 1, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, September 1, 2020

Seventh-century monk and bishop Isaac of Syria said, “Do not fall into despair because of your stumblings, for you should not consider them incurable. There is indeed a healer: he who on the cross asked for mercy on those who were crucifying him, who pardoned murderers as he hung on the cross. Christ came on behalf of sinners, to heal the brokenhearted and to bind up their wounds.”

Lord, you are a God who heals and calls forth life. Keep us from the pitfalls of self-pity and despair, lest we ridicule your grace and power, and forsake our own healing. Amen.

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Duty to Warn

Duty to Warn

(The Word of the Lord said) "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, you shall give them warning from Me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul."

— Ezekiel 33:7-9

Last year my son was working with a crew of friends to build an outdoor stairway at a local bird sanctuary. It was an Eagle Scout project, and involved a lot of digging. We couldn't finish everything the first day, so we wrapped the whole area in yellow caution tape. We wanted to make sure that nobody tried to climb the half-finished stairway and ended up with a broken leg.

Some people probably thought it was overkill. After all, people should know better than to walk on half-finished work, right? And the holes in the ground were so obvious. Why should we have to spend money on flags and tape when any idiot could see the danger? Wouldn't it be their own fault if they fell in?

Well, yes, it would. But common decency means we have to do the best we can to protect people—even the ones who aren't using their common sense. And there are children, and people with bad eyesight. We knew the dangers. We had a duty to warn people.

Are you a parent, a teacher, a pastor, or leader of some sort? You, too, have a duty to warn. If the people under your care get involved in some kind of evil that leads to destruction, you cannot walk away and pretend you didn't notice. You have to try to fish them out of the danger they are in.

This is tough for a lot of us. Some of us really enjoy laying down the law, and do it in a self-righteous or ham-handed way that causes unnecessary pain and shame for the people involved. Others of us are just the opposite—we shrink away from getting involved, and we hope that somebody else will handle it. How can we get this right?

One of the earliest Christians, James, tells us, "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20). We can only do this right if we are acting under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit—if we truly love the person we are trying to reach, and we show that love through everything we do and say in the situation. If God's love is acting through us, that will stop us from either ignoring the dangerous situation or doing things that will make it worse.

Want an example? Look to Jesus our Savior. When we were in danger of death and hell, He warned us—and He did more than just warn us. He loved us so much that He came down into our mess as a human being to rescue us. He laid down His life for us in His death on the cross, destroying the power sin had over us. And He conquered death for us by rising to life again and sharing that life with everyone who trusts in Him. This is how much He loves us.

Lord, thank You for warning and saving us. Amen.

Dr. Kari Vo

Reflection Questions:

1. What warnings about danger do you see in your everyday life?

2. Has anybody ever warned you about a spiritual danger?

3. Is it easy or difficult for you to warn people you love about spiritual dangers? How can you find help for this?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What warnings about danger do you see in your everyday life?

Standing Strong Through the Storm — RECONCILIATION IN THE MIDST OF PAIN

RECONCILIATION IN THE MIDST OF PAIN

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

— 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

The first of September is a memorial day for the people of Beslan in North Ossetia as they remember the awful events of September first, 2004. More than one thousand children and adults were taken hostage in School Number One and two days later more than three hundred and thirty of them were killed in the violence.

Memorial services are held and memories of the nightmare overwhelm everyone in town. Beslan’s cemetery is unique; it has the youngest average age in the world (7-12 years old). The sight of so many graves of children deeply affects any visitor. One said, “People who do not live in Beslan have often forgotten the tragedy already, but as soon as you enter the city, you cannot escape the atmosphere of grief and deep mourning that is still enveloping the city.”

When the tragedy occurred at School Number One, almost every family in Beslan was affected. A peculiarity in Ossetia is that nearly everybody is related to one another, so the catastrophe has affected many people in a personal way. Even those who were watching television during the event suffered diseases, heart attacks and strokes.

Pastor Taimuraz Totiev and his wife Ria had their five children at school; only the eldest daughter, Madina, survived the attack. Their four other children, Larissa, Luba, Albina, and Boris, were buried on September 7, 2004.

The pastor’s brother, Sergey Totiev, also had children at the school. Sergey and his wife Bela buried two of their children on the same day: Dzerassa (15) and Anna (9). Their son Azamat lost his sight in one of his eyes and is having surgery to save his other eye.

Both men are pastors of the Beslan Baptist Church. At the children’s funeral Sergey spoke of forgiveness and advised people not to seek revenge, but to serve as peacemakers. His exact words were: “Yes, we have an irreplaceable loss, but we cannot take revenge. As Christians, the Bible teaches us that we must forgive. Vengeance is in God’s hands.” According to a Christian worker in the area, a demonic plan was broken when those words were spoken!

Since that time they have been doing everything they can think of to minister to families of the victims. Other churches and ministries have also taken up the enormous task of counseling and helping the survivors and the bereaved. Others decided to reach out to Chechen people (nationality of the neighboring terrorists) and are finding ways to minister God’s love to them.

RESPONSE: Today I commit to being a messenger of God’s reconciliation through Christ—even to those who may cause harm to me or my family.

PRAYER: Pray for the church to be an instrument of reconciliation and restoration in this volatile area of Central Asia.

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

John Piper Devotional — He Does All That He Pleases

He Does All That He Pleases

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

— Psalm 115:3

This verse teaches that whenever God acts, he acts in a way that pleases him.

God is never constrained to do a thing that he despises. He is never backed into a corner where his only recourse is to do something he hates to do.

He does whatever he pleases. And therefore, in some sense, he has pleasure in all that he does.

This should lead us to bow before God and praise his sovereign freedom—that in some sense at least he always acts in freedom, according to his own “good pleasure,” following the dictates of his own delights.

God never becomes the victim of circumstance. He is never forced into a situation where he must do something in which he cannot rejoice. He is not mocked. He is not trapped or cornered or coerced.

Even at the one point in history where he did what in one sense was the hardest thing for God to do, “not spare his own Son” (Romans 8:32), God was free and doing what pleased him. Paul says that the self-sacrifice of Jesus in death was “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). The greatest sin and the greatest death and the hardest act of God was pleasing to the Father.

And on his way to Calvary, Jesus himself had legions at his disposal. “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord”—of his own good pleasure, for the joy that is set before him. At the one point in the history of the universe where Jesus looked trapped, he was totally in charge doing precisely what he pleased—dying to justify the ungodly like you and me.

So let us stand in awe and wonder. And let us tremble that not only our praises of God’s sovereignty but also our salvation through the death of Christ for us, hang on this: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases.”
This verse teaches that whenever God acts, he acts in a way that pleases him.

Un dia a la Vez — Un nuevo día

Un nuevo día

¡Despierten, arpa y lira! ¡Haré despertar al nuevo día! [...] Te alabaré, Señor [...] Pues tu amor es tan grande que rebasa los cielos.

— Salmo 108:2-4

Cada día trae su propio afán. Entonces, ¿por qué nos vamos a afanar por el día de mañana? Hasta la Biblia nos recomienda que dejemos el estrés y vivamos cada día como si fuera el último.

Eso no significa que no te proyectes al futuro y que no planifiques. Estas cosas son buenas. Lo que no es bueno es que te dejes robar la bendición al preocuparte antes de tiempo.

Aprender a descansar en el Señor nos trae muchas ventajas, pues vives en paz y afrontas tus problemas confiando en que tendrán solución. Aun estando en aprietos financieros, conoces quién es Dios que no te desampara ni de día ni de noche. Cuando descansas en Dios, es porque has entendido en realidad que tu Padre que está en los cielos cuidará de tus hijos aun cuando partas de este mundo.

Comencemos entonces a darle gracias a Dios por el día de hoy. Además, vivamos a plenitud y saquemos el mejor provecho del mismo aunque venga con cosas que no esperábamos.

Ora cada mañana y encomiéndale tu camino al Señor. Preocúpate por los negocios de Dios y Él se preocupará por los tuyos.

Gracias, Señor, por este nuevo amanecer. Lo entrego en tus manos. En el nombre de Jesús, amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Cada día trae su propio afán. Entonces, ¿por qué nos vamos a afanar por el día de mañana? Hasta la Biblia nos recomienda que dejemos el estrés y vivamos cada día como si fuera el último.

Devocional CPTLN — Obligación de advertir

Obligación de advertir

Es a ti, hijo de hombre, a quien yo he puesto como atalaya para el pueblo de Israel. Tú oirás de mí mismo la advertencia, y les advertirás para que se prevengan. Cuando yo le diga a algún impío que está en peligro de muerte, si tú no le adviertes que se aparte de su mal camino, el impío morirá por causa de su pecado, pero yo te haré responsable de su muerte. Por el contrario, si tú le adviertes al impío que se aparte de su mal camino, y éste no te hace caso, morirá por causa de su pecado, pero tú habrás puesto a salvo tu vida.

— Ezequiel 33:7-9

El año pasado ayudé a mi hijo quien, junto con un grupo de amigos, tenía que construir una escalera al aire libre en un santuario de aves, un proyecto que involucró muchas excavaciones. No pudimos terminar todo el primer día, así que cerramos el área con una cinta amarilla de peligro. Queríamos asegurarnos de que nadie intentara subir la escalera a medio terminar y se rompiera una pierna.

Algunos pensaron que era una exageración. Después de todo, todos saben que no se debe caminar sobre un trabajo a medio terminar, y los pozos eran bien obvios. ¿Por qué gastar dinero en cintas cuando cualquiera podía ver el peligro? ¿No sería culpa suya si cayera?

Aun así, era nuestro deber hacer lo mejor que podíamos para proteger a las personas, incluso a las que no utilizan su sentido común. Además, hay niños y personas con mala vista. Conocíamos los peligros. Teníamos el deber de advertir a la gente.

Si eres padre, maestro, pastor o líder de algún tipo, tú también tienes el deber de advertir. Si las personas bajo tu cuidado se involucran en algo que conduce a la destrucción, no puedes alejarte y fingir que no lo has notado: tienes que intentar sacarlos del peligro en el que se encuentran.

Para muchos de nosotros esto es muy difícil, porque nos gusta imponer la ley y hacerlo de una manera moralista que causa un dolor y vergüenza innecesarios. Otros somos todo lo contrario: nos rehuimos de involucrarnos y esperamos que otro se encargue de ello. ¿Qué hacer?

Santiago nos dice: "Hermanos, si alguno de ustedes se ha apartado de la verdad y otro lo hace volver a ella, sepan que el que haga volver al pecador de su mal camino, lo salvará de la muerte y cubrirá una gran cantidad de pecados." (Santiago 5:19-20). Solo podemos hacer esto correctamente si actuamos bajo la guía del Espíritu Santo, si realmente amamos a la persona a la que estamos tratando de alcanzar y mostramos ese amor a través de todo lo que hacemos y decimos en la situación. Si el amor de Dios vive en nosotros, nos impedirá ignorar la situación peligrosa o hacer cosas que la empeorarán.

Si quieres un ejemplo mira a Jesús, nuestro Salvador. Cuando estábamos en peligro de muerte y del infierno él no solo nos advirtió, sino que nos amó tanto que vino a nuestro mundo dar su vida por nosotros en la cruz, destruyendo el poder que el pecado tenía sobre nosotros, conquistando la muerte al resucitar y compartiendo esa vida con todos los que confían en él. Tanto nos ama.

ORACIÓN: Señor, gracias por advertirnos y salvarnos. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Alguien te ha advertido alguna vez sobre un peligro espiritual?

* ¿Te resulta fácil o difícil advertir a las personas que amas sobre los peligros espirituales? ¿Cómo puedes encontrar ayuda para esto?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Alguien te ha advertido alguna vez sobre un peligro espiritual?

Nuestro Pan Diario — Sufrir juntos

Sufrir juntos

La escritura de hoy: 1 Corintios 12:14-26
La Biblia en un año: Salmos 135–136; 1 Corintios 12

… si un miembro padece, todos los miembros se duelen con él…

—  1 Corintios 12:26

En 2013, James McConnell, un veterano de guerra de la Marina Real Británica, murió a los 70 años de edad. Como no tenía familia, el personal del hogar de ancianos donde vivía temía que nadie asistiera a su funeral. El hombre designado para oficiar su servicio de recordación publicó en Facebook: «En esta época, es trágico que alguien tenga que dejar este mundo sin que nadie lamente su partida, pero este hombre era familia […]. Si puedes, trata de acercarte a su tumba […] para honrar a este hermano de armas». ¡Doscientos marinos colmaron los asientos!

Estos compatriotas británicos manifestaron una verdad bíblica: estamos vinculados unos con otros. «El cuerpo no es un solo miembro, sino muchos», dice Pablo (1 Corintios 12:14). No estamos aislados, sino unidos en Cristo. La Escritura revela una interconexión orgánica: «si un miembro padece, todos los miembros se duelen con él» (v. 26). Como creyentes en Cristo y miembros de la familia de Dios, entramos juntos a esos lugares oscuros de dolor y tristeza a los que tememos ir solos. Pero gracias a Dios, no vamos solos.

Quizá lo peor del sufrimiento es sentir que nos estamos hundiendo solos en la oscuridad, pero Dios ha creado una nueva comunidad que comparte ese dolor y nos saca a la luz.

De:  Winn Collier

Reflexiona y ora

Dios, gracias por ser parte de tu familia que me ama y se duele conmigo.

¿Cuándo te sentiste más solo? ¿Cómo la gracia, la bondad y la amistad de Dios te ayudan a enfrentar la soledad?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
En 2013, James McConnell, un veterano de guerra de la Marina Real Británica, murió a los 70 años de edad. Como no tenía familia, el personal del hogar de ancianos donde vivía temía que nadie asistiera a su funeral.…

The Daily Bible Readings for MONDAY, August 31, 2020

The Daily Readings

MONDAY, August 31, 2020

Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18; Exodus 4:10-31; Revelation 3:1-6

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today's Verse-of-the-Day: Psalm 95:6-7

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Today's Readings:

Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18

God’s power like blazing fire

1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.

Exodus 4:10-31

Moses doubts but obeys God

10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

14 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

19 And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.

25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

27 And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

30 And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Revelation 3:1-6

Wake up to your faithlessness

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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, King James Version (KJV).

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, 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 Readings for MONDAY, August 31, 2020
Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18; Exodus 4:10-31; Revelation 3:1-6 (KJV)

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, August 31, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, August 31, 2020

Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero said this shortly before his assassination: “I am going to speak to you simply as a pastor, as one who, together with his people, has been learning the beautiful but harsh truth that the Christian faith does not cut us off from the world but immerses us in it; the church is not a fortress set apart from the city. The church follows Jesus, who lived, worked, struggled and died in the midst of a city, in the polis.”

Lord, help us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Give us a new imagination so that we might live in ways that do not compute to the logic of materialism and militarism. Make us into holy nonconformists so that we might see the kingdoms of this world transformed into your glorious kingdom. Amen.

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Blessed and Forgiven

Blessed and Forgiven

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

— Psalm 32:1-2

Our psalm is one of the seven penitential psalms; the others are Psalms 6, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. These psalms of repentance were grouped this way in the early centuries of the church. They are often used in worship, especially during the season of Lent. Yet the use of these psalms, including Psalm 32 above, is not restricted to Lent. These psalms provide the words for daily prayers of repentance.

According to the psalmist David, blessings fall to the person whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessings come to the one "in whose spirit there is no deceit." When it comes to matters of repentance, that necessary lack of deceit is explained more fully by the apostle John: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).

Sin itself is deceitful and easily blinds us to our need for repentance and our need for a Savior. In these penitential psalms, the Word of God breaks through the deceit and reveals our need. David describes the spiritual and physical results of his futile attempts to conceal his sin: "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer" (Psalm 32:3-4).

An earlier psalm describes our Lord's suffering on the cross in words that mirror the psalmist's struggle with hidden sin: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from saving Me, from the words of My groaning? ... I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint" (Psalm 22:1, 14a). Jesus bore in His body the sins of the world, the sins that caused His groaning, and put His bones out of joint. On the cross the terrible wrath of God against sin was revealed as the Son of God was abandoned to suffering and death. It was the price that had to be paid for our healing and forgiveness, for "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22b).

The psalmist acknowledged his sins, confessed his transgressions to the Lord, and received forgiveness. When we stop trying to hide our sins, when we confess our sins to God, He is "faithful and just to forgive us." In Jesus Christ, through His redeeming death and triumphant resurrection, we are blessed—our transgressions are forgiven, our sins covered.

To be "blessed" is to be happy, but it is much more than that. To be blessed is to receive God's favor, favor we do not deserve, favor granted for the sake of Jesus. Washed clean in Jesus' blood, we join close our prayer of repentance with words of praise: "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" (Psalm 32:11)

Almighty God and Father, we praise You for the gift of our Savior, whose blood has cleansed us from sin. Amen.

Dr. Carol Geisler

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you feel remorse for your sins? Do you repent of your sins? What happens next?

2. How does God cover our sins?

3. How is forgiveness of our sins even possible?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you feel remorse for your sins? Do you repent of your sins? What happens next?

Standing Strong Through the Storm — MARTYRDOM

MARTYRDOM

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

— Revelation 2:10

In Ambon, Indonesia, a Christian youth camp was held in early 1999 with the theme “Soldiers of the Cross!” The camp was attacked by an angry group of Muslim extremists and a 15-year-old boy named Roy Pontoh was singled out for carrying his Bible and interrogated.

When asked, “Who are you?” he replied, “I am a soldier of Jesus Christ.” The angry mob chopped at his left arm with a machete. The questioning continued, “Who are you?” And again Roy answered, “I am a soldier of Jesus Christ.” Then they chopped at his right arm.

When they tried to force him to say, “Allahu Akbar,” he replied, “As far as I know, Jesus Christ is the only Lord.” Now the seething angry crowd cut open his stomach and demanded again, “Who are you?” With his last breath, Roy gasped, “I am a soldier of Jesus Christ.” The mob cut off his head and threw his body in a ditch.

Martyrdom may be the end result of those who endure. In addition to Jesus, three martyrs are named in the New Testament—John the Baptist, Stephen, and James. Some of the unnamed heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews 11:37 were also martyred.

Martyrdom is described as a legitimate response to persecution. This is not easily understood in our day and in our culture that specializes in personal “rights” and the avoidance of suffering. But a special crown is awaiting those who lay down their lives for their faith.

The appropriate response to persecution that one chooses depends on that person’s intimate relationship with God the Holy Spirit and openness to His direction.

No doubt if you and I had talked to Roy Pontoh before his death, we may not have detected such bravery and loyalty to Jesus. Roy passed the hot water test with flying colors. He graduated to a special place with his Lord as a victorious overcomer.

Overcomers are like teabags. You have to put them in hot water to know how strong they are!

RESPONSE: Today I will live in faith and assurance that even in the test and threat of death I can be a victorious overcomer.

PRAYER: Pray that all those who may face physical death today for the cause of Christ will walk in faith and realize they will never die.

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 — Elizabeth

Elizabeth

Her name means: "God is my oath"

Her character: A descendant of Aaron, Elizabeth was a woman the Bible calls "upright in the sight of God." Like few others, male or female, she is praised for observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations without blame. She is the first to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
Her sorrow: To be barren for most of her life.
Her joy: To give birth to John, later known as John the Baptist, the Messiah's forerunner. His name, divinely assigned, means, "The Lord Is Gracious."
Key Scriptures: Luke 1:5-80

Her Story

Her eyes were a golden brown. Like currants set in pastry, they winked out at the world from cheeks that had baked too long in the sun. Snowy strands of hair straggled from beneath a woolen shawl, tickling her wrinkled face. Small hands rested tenderly on her rounded belly, softly probing for any hint of movement. But all was still. From her vantage point on the roof of the house, she noticed a figure walking up the pathway and wondered who her visitor might be.

She and Zechariah had been content enough in their quiet house these last few months, secluded in their joy. Each morning she had opened her eyes as though waking to a fantastic dream. Sometimes she shook with laughter as she thought about how God had rearranged her life, planting a child in her shriveled-up, old-woman's womb.

Six months ago, Zechariah had been chosen by lot to burn incense before the Most Holy Place, a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. But during his week of priestly service in the temple, he had been frightened half to death by a figure who appeared suddenly next to the altar of incense. "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son," the angel told him, "and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord." It was Sarah and Abraham all over, Rebekah and Isaac, Rachel and Jacob. God was once again kindling a fire with two dry sticks.

For the life of her, Elizabeth couldn't understand her husband's response to the messenger that had so terrified him. Once you'd laid eyes on an angel, how could you fail to believe that anything was possible? But Zechariah had blurted out his skepticism and suffered the consequences. His voice had been snatched away and would not be given back until the angel's words came to pass. These days he communicated by scribbling on a wax tablet.

Elizabeth looked down again at the figure advancing up the path, a green sprig of a girl. The older woman stepped carefully down the stairs and into the house to welcome her guest. But with the young woman's words of greeting came something that felt like a gale-force wind, shaking the beams and rafters of the house. Steadying herself, the older woman felt suddenly invigorated. Her unborn baby leapt inside her as she shouted out a welcoming response: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary had made the journey all the way from Nazareth to visit her relative Elizabeth. The same angel who had spoken to Zechariah in the temple had whispered the secret of the older woman's pregnancy to the virgin, who was also with child. The magnificent song of praise that burst from Mary's lips during their meeting may have taken shape during the course of her sixty-mile journey south, to the hill country of Judea where Elizabeth lived.

The two women held each other, their bonds of kinship now stronger than what mere flesh and blood could forge. For Israel's God—the God of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Miriam, Deborah, Naomi, Ruth, Abigail, and Hannah—was on the move again, bringing the long-ago promise to fulfillment. And blessed was she who did not doubt that what the Lord had said to her would be accomplished.

Her Promise

God always keeps his promises! For hundreds of years, God had been telling the people of Israel that he would send a Messiah. One who would provide a direct bridge to God himself. One whose sacrifice would provide redemption for all time. The events in this first chapter of Luke are just the beginning of the fulfillment of God's greatest promise to his people. With Mary, we can say: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!"

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.
Her eyes were a golden brown. Like currants set in pastry, they winked out at the world from cheeks that had baked too long in the sun. Snowy strands of hair straggled from beneath a woolen shawl, tickling her wrinkled face. Small hands rested tenderly on her rounded belly, softly probing for any hint of movement. But all was still. From her vantage point on the roof of the house, she noticed a figure walking up the pathway and wondered who her visitor might be.

John Piper Devotional — The Lion and the Lamb

The Lion and the Lamb

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

— Matthew 12:18–21

The Father’s very soul exults with joy over the servant-like meekness and compassion of his Son.

When a reed is bent and about to break, the Servant will tenderly hold it upright until it heals. When a wick is smoldering and has scarcely any heat left, the Servant will not pinch it off, but cup his hand and blow gently until it burns again.

Thus the Father cries, “Behold, my Servant in whom my soul delights!” The worth and beauty of the Son come not just from his majesty, nor just from his meekness, but from the way these mingle in perfect proportion.

When the angel cries out in Revelation 5:2, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” the answer comes back, “Weep not; look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (5:5).

God loves the strength of the Lion of Judah. This is why he is worthy in God’s eyes to open the scrolls of history and unfold the last days.

But the picture is not complete. How did the Lion conquer? The next verse describes his appearance: “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.” Jesus is worthy of the Father’s delight not only as the Lion of Judah, but also as the slain Lamb.
The Father’s very soul exults with joy over the servant-like meekness and compassion of his Son.

Un dia a la Vez — Oración por liberación

Oración por liberación

Si el Hijo los libera, serán ustedes verdaderamente libres.

— Juan 8:36

Dios mío, sé que tú quieres liberarme de la pobreza y el desorden. Por eso, hoy me presento delante de ti entendiendo y reconociendo que soy tu hijo. También comprendo que, como hijo, tengo los derechos y los privilegios de ti, que eres mi Padre.

En este día cancelo con autoridad todas las enseñanzas negativas que me han hecho creer que, por ser cristiano, debo ser pobre.

Así que hoy entiendo que tú tienes bendiciones en abundancia para mi familia y para mí.

Gracias, Señor, porque he aprendido que tú eres un Dios de orden.

Mi Jesús, hoy te pido, por favor, que me libres de toda atadura y pongas en mi corazón el deseo de salir adelante y de luchar por alcanzar mis sueños.

Renuncio este día a la pobreza, al desorden, al abandono, a la suciedad, a la depresión y me declaro libre. Recibo tu bendición ahora.

En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por liberación

Devocional CPTLN — Bendecidos y perdonados

Bendecidos y perdonados

¡Cuán bienaventurado es aquel cuya transgresión es perdonada, cuyo pecado es cubierto! ¡Cuán bienaventurado es el hombre a quien el Señor no culpa de iniquidad, y en cuyo espíritu no hay engaño!

— Salmo 32:1-2 (LBLA)

Este es uno de los siete salmos penitenciales; los otros son los Salmos 6, 38, 51, 102, 130 y 143. Estos salmos de arrepentimiento fueron agrupados de esta manera en los primeros siglos de la iglesia. A menudo se usan en la adoración, especialmente durante la temporada de Cuaresma, pero no están limitados a ella ya que proporcionan palabras para las oraciones diarias de arrepentimiento.

Según el salmista David, las bendiciones recaen sobre la persona cuyas transgresiones son perdonadas, cuyos pecados son cubiertos. Las bendiciones llegan a aquel "en cuyo espíritu no hay engaño". Cuando se trata de cuestiones de arrepentimiento, el apóstol Juan explica con más detalle esa necesaria falta de engaño: "Si decimos que no tenemos pecado, nos engañamos a nosotros mismos y la verdad no está en nosotros. Si confesamos nuestros pecados, Él es fiel y justo para perdonarnos los pecados y para limpiarnos de toda maldad" (1 Juan 1: 8-9).

El pecado es engañoso y fácilmente nos ciega a nuestra necesidad de arrepentimiento y de un Salvador. En estos salmos penitenciales, la Palabra de Dios rompe el engaño y nos revela esas necesidades. David describe los resultados espirituales y físicos de sus inútiles intentos por ocultar su pecado: "Mientras callé mi pecado, mi cuerpo se consumió con mi gemir durante todo el día. Porque día y noche tu mano pesaba sobre mí; mi vitalidad se desvanecía con el calor del verano" (Salmo 32:3-4).

Un salmo anterior describe el sufrimiento de nuestro Señor en la cruz con palabras que reflejan la lucha del salmista con el pecado oculto: "Dios mío, Dios mío, ¿por qué me has abandonado? ¿Por qué estás tan lejos de mi salvación y de las palabras de mi clamor?... Soy derramado como agua, y todos mis huesos están descoyuntados" (Salmo 22:1, 14a). Jesús cargó en su cuerpo los pecados del mundo, los pecados que lo hicieron gemir y descoyuntaron sus huesos. En la cruz, donde el Hijo de Dios fue abandonado al sufrimiento y la muerte, se reveló la terrible ira de Dios contra el pecado. Él pagó allí el precio que nosotros teníamos que pagar por nuestra sanidad y perdón, porque "sin derramamiento de sangre no hay perdón de pecados" (Hebreos 9:22b).

El salmista reconoció sus pecados, confesó sus transgresiones al Señor y recibió el perdón. Cuando dejamos de intentar ocultar nuestros pecados y confesamos nuestros pecados a Dios, Él es "fiel y justo para perdonarnos". A través de la muerte redentora y resurrección triunfante de Jesucristo somos bendecidos: nuestras transgresiones son perdonadas, nuestros pecados cubiertos.

Ser "bendecido" es recibir el favor de Dios, un favor que no merecemos, un favor concedido por la causa de Jesús. Lavados con la sangre de Jesús, cerramos nuestra oración de arrepentimiento con palabras de alabanza: "¡Alégrense en el Señor y regocíjense, justos; den voces de júbilo todos ustedes, los rectos de corazón! (Salmo 32:11).

ORACIÓN: Dios Todopoderoso y Padre nuestro, te alabamos por el regalo de nuestro Salvador, cuya sangre nos ha limpiado del pecado. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿De qué manera cubre Dios nuestros pecados?

* ¿Cómo es posible el perdón de nuestros pecados?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿De qué manera cubre Dios nuestros pecados?

Notre Pain Quotidien — Le serviteur entend

Le serviteur entend

Lisez : 1 Samuel 3.1-10
La Bible en un an : Psaumes 135 – 136 ; 1 Corinthiens 12

L’Éternel vint et se présenta, et il appela comme les autres fois : Samuel, Samuel ! Et Samuel répondit : Parle, car ton serviteur écoute.

— 1 Samuel 3.10

Si la radio avait été allumée, on aurait su que le Titanic était en train de couler plus rapidement. Cyril Evans, l’opérateur radio d’un autre navire, avait cherché à transmettre un message à Jack Phillips, l’opérateur radio du Titanic, pour lui faire savoir qu’ils étaient tombés sur un champ de glace. Toutefois, Phillips a brusquement demandé à Evans de se taire parce qu’il était occupé à transmettre des messages de la part des passagers. Evans a éteint à contrecœur sa radio et est allé se coucher. Dix minutes plus tard, le Titanic a heurté un iceberg et ses signaux de détresse sont restés sans réponse.

Nous lisons dans 1 Samuel que les sacrificateurs d’Israël étaient corrompus et avaient perdu leur vue et leur ouïe spirituelles, n’alertant donc pas la nation des dangers qu’elle courait. « La parole de l’Éternel était rare en ce temps-là, les visions n’étaient pas fréquentes » (1 S 3.1). Dieu n’allait toutefois pas abandonner son peuple. Il a commencé à parler à un jeune garçon nommé Samuel, qui grandissait dans la maison du sacrificateur. Or, le nom de Samuel, qui signifie « l’Éternel entend », évoquait l’exaucement de la prière de sa mère. Il reste que Samuel allait devoir apprendre à entendre Dieu.

« Parle, car ton serviteur écoute » (V. 10). Voilà le serviteur qui entend. Puissions-nous aussi choisir d’écouter ce que Dieu nous révèle dans la Bible et d’y obéir. Soumettons-lui notre vie et adoptons la posture d’humbles serviteurs, qui gardent leur « radio » allumée.

Précieux Jésus, merci pour la Bible, qui m’aide à te suivre avec obéissance. Parle, car ton serviteur écoute.

Lorsque nous lisons la Bible, Dieu nous parle et nous donne des directives.

par Glenn Packiam

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Si la radio avait été allumée, on aurait su que le Titanic était en train de couler plus rapidement.

The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, August 30, 2020 — 13th Sunday After Pentecost

The Daily Readings

SUNDAY, August 30, 2020 — 13th Sunday After Pentecost

Standing on Holy Ground

Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Romans 12:9-21;

Matthew 16:21-28

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Opening Sentences

Just when we think we have God figured out, God overturns our expectations once again. God takes an inarticulate, excuse-riddled murderer and turns him into one of the greatest leaders of the Hebrew people. Writing in Romans, Paul (who has a life-changing story to rival that of Moses) gives us an upside-down recipe for living in Christ: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Meanwhile, Jesus reminds us of one of the greatest, and most difficult, paradoxes of Christianity: to save your life you must first lose it. So we find ourselves once again surprised by the limitless and inexplicable nature of God’s love, and we rejoice to stand together on holy ground.

Take Up Your Cross

Opening Prayer

Surprising God, you have an uncomfortable habit of showing up where we least expect you: in a burning bush, in the face of an enemy, in a livestock feed trough, on a rough wooden cross. Turn our lives upside down with your radical love. Help us fully embrace your surprises, even as we revel in the joy of being fully embraced by your all-encompassing grace and mercy. We pray in the name of your most amazing surprise of all: your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God of Mystery, we are constantly amazed by the depth and breadth of your love. Over and over again, you turn our expectations inside out and upside down. And still we don’t understand the radical nature of your grace. We play by our own rules of justice, even when it means excluding those we are called to love and defend. In our darkest moments, we doubt if we are worthy of your trust. God, help us remember that you give us all the tools we need; that through the solid foundation of your love, we find the strength to follow your call as true disciples of Jesus Christ. Surprise us again, O God. Surprise us again.

Assurance of Pardon

The God who brought our ancestors out of slavery will not desert us. God has promised to be with us throughout all generations. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice, for God is with us!

First Reading

Exodus 3:1-15

God calls Moses

3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b

Remembering Moses

1 O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

26 He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.

45b Praise ye the Lord.

Second Reading

Romans 12:9-21

Live in harmony

12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Gospel

Matthew 16:21-28

The rebuke to Peter

16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Here end the Readings

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The Apostles’ Creed

• I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

• I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

• I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us;. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Communion

A nondenominational serving of bread and wine

Many churches around the world are working hard to adapt to online worship, and one challenge is how our members can celebrate communion from home. Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present.

Sending

God promised to be with Moses, and we are here to witness to the fulfillment of that promise. From generation to generation, the God of Israel is also the God of (your community’s name). The God of the burning bush is waiting even now to encounter you, call you, challenge you, and change you. Go out to be sustained and surprised by the love of God. Amen.

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, King James Version (KJV).

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, 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 Bible Readings
SUNDAY, August 30, 2020 — 13th Sunday After Pentecost
Standing on Holy Ground
Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)