The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, November 1, 2020 — 22nd Sunday After Pentecost

 

The Daily Readings
SUNDAY, November 1, 2020 — 22nd Sunday After Pentecost

Come All Who Would be Leaders
Joshua 3:7-17; Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13;
Matthew 23:1-12
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Sometimes it’s difficult to see God in America. The principles on which we were founded are no longer the principles by which we live. Slowly, our nation has forgotten where its freedom came from. As election day approaches, many of us are filled with indecision. How do we make a choice when it’s so difficult to see the hand of God? The truth is, there are times when we simply need to pray and trust in God. Because, even in the chaos, He is sovereign, He is holy, He is faithful and He is Lord.

Opening Sentences

Our baptism into the life of Christ recalls Israel’s miraculous crossing of the river Jordan into the Promised Land. Even as baptized Christians, we sometimes wander in the wilderness of our existence, facing spiritual hunger, thirst, temptation to fall away, restlessness, and bitterness. We await God’s deliverance into the promised land of intimate relationship with the divine. Such a relationship is not without work and responsibility. Paul underscores this in his letter to the Thessalonians, and Jesus warns disciples against religious complacency. But in our hard work and spiritual diligence, God’s purposes undergird our lives.

Opening Prayer

God of mercy and truth, through the waters of our baptism you have made us your own. From the wandering wilderness of our existence, you lead us to the river’s shore, part the waters, and bring us to where we can abide with you in peace. We pray that our lives and the work of our hands may please you and accomplish your will for creation. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Lord, you provide rushing waters to quench our thirst, and we complain about vast deserts. You shower us with love and guidance, and we whine about all the work placed before us. You give us gifts for healing and building and we denigrate those gifts. Forgive us the very many times when we are angry, greedy, lazy and weak. Pick us up, O Lord, and heal those wounds that we can serve you more effectively. Dust us off, O Lord, and place us on pathways of peace. Embrace us, the apathetic and ignorant ones, the angry and greedy, with your mercy and justice that we may grow in your spirit to live lives of great compassion and witness to your love and power for all people. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Rise up! God has heard your cries. You are healed and restored. Nothing can hold you back from serving God who walks with you. This is the great good news!

First Reading
Joshua 3:7-17
Crossing into the promised land

3:7 And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God.

10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.

12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.

13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.

14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;

15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Commentary
The waters of Jordan shall be cut off. This must be done in such a way as never was done, but in dividing the Red sea. That miracle is here repeated; God has the same power to finish the salvation of his people, as to begin it; the WORD of the Lord was as truly with Joshua as with Moses. God's appearances for his people ought to encourage faith and hope. God's work is perfect; he will keep his people. Jordan's flood cannot keep out Israel, Canaan's force cannot turn them out again.

Jordan overflowed all its banks. This magnified the power of God and his kindness to Israel. Although those who oppose the salvation of God's people have all advantages, yet God can and will conquer. This passage over Jordan, as an entrance to Canaan, after their long, weary wanderings in the wilderness, shadowed out the believer's passage through death to heaven, after he has finished his wanderings in this sinful world. Jesus, typified by the ark, hath gone before, and he crossed the river when it most flooded the country around. Let us treasure up experiences of His faithful and tender care, that they may help our faith and hope in the last conflict.

Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
Thanks for a beautiful land

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

Commentary
In these verses, there is a reference to Egypt's deliverance, and perhaps that from Babylon: but the circumstances of travelers in those countries are also noted. It is scarcely possible to conceive the horrors suffered by the hapless traveler when crossing the trackless sands, exposed to the burning rays of the sun. The words describe their case whom the Lord has redeemed from the bondage of Satan, who pass through the world as a dangerous and dreary wilderness, often ready to faint through troubles, fears, and temptations. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, after God, and communion with him, shall be filled with the goodness of his house, both in grace and glory.

What surprising changes are often made in the affairs of men! Let the present desolate state of Judea and other countries explain this. If we look abroad in the world, we see many greatly increase, whose beginning was small. We see many who have thus suddenly risen, as suddenly brought to nothing. Worldly wealth is uncertain; often, those filled with it, where they are aware, lose it again. God has many ways of making men poor. The righteous shall rejoice. It shall fully convince all those who deny the Divine Providence. When sinners see how justly God takes away the gifts they have abused, they will not have a word to say. It is of great use to us to be fully assured of God's goodness and duly affected with it. It is our wisdom to mind our duty and to refer our comfort to him. A truly wise person will treasure in his heart this delightful psalm. From it, he will fully understand the weakness and wretchedness of man, and the power and loving-kindness of God, not for our merit, but for his mercy's sake.

Second Reading
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
The apostle’s teaching

2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Commentary
Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those called with such a high and holy calling. Our great business is to honor, serve, and please God and to seek to be worthy of him. We should receive the word of God with affections suitable to its holiness, wisdom, truth, and goodness. The words of men are frail and perishing, like themselves, and sometimes false, foolish, and fickle; but God's word is holy, wise, just, and faithful. Let us receive and regard it accordingly.

The Gospel
Matthew 23:1-12
Loving God and neighbor

23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Commentary
The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance, but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Exodus 13:2-10, Exodus 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 6:13-21. They made these phylacteries broad that they might be thought more zealous for the law than others. God appointed the Jews to make fringes upon their garments, Numbers 15:38, to remind them of their being a peculiar people. Still, the Pharisees made them larger than common, as if they were thereby more religious than others. Pride was the darling, reigning sin of the Pharisees, the sin that most easily beset them, and which our Lord Jesus takes all occasions to speak against. For him, that is taught in the word to give respect to him that teaches, is commendable, but for him, that teaches, to demand it, to be puffed up with it, is sinful. How much is all this against the spirit of Christianity! The consistent disciple of Christ is pained by being put into chief places. But who that looks around on the visible church would think this was the spirit required? It is plain that some measure of this antichristian spirit prevails in every religious society and in every one of our hearts.

Here end the Readings

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

Go in peace! Walk in confidence! Follow God’s leading! Rely on God’s love! Be people of peace!

Politics Of Jesus

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
Our baptism into the life of Christ recalls Israel’s miraculous crossing of the river Jordan into the Promised Land. Even as baptized Christians, we sometimes wander in the wilderness of our existence, facing spiritual hunger, thirst, temptation to fall away, restlessness, and bitterness. We await God’s deliverance into the promised land of intimate relationship with the divine. Such a relationship is not without work and responsibility. Paul underscores this in his letter to the Thessalonians, and Jesus warns disciples against religious complacency. But in our hard work and spiritual diligence, God’s purposes undergird our lives.
Joshua 3:7-17; Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:1-12
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for SUNDAY, November 1, 2020

 

Prayer of the Day
SUNDAY, November 1, 2020

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

— Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

Dear Father in heaven, we seek you and your kingdom. We gather to hear your Word so that we may receive strength for our own lives and for all our relationships with others. We want to stand firm, believing that in everything great and small your will is being done and that we may yet experience a new coming of your glory on earth. Then earthly concerns will no longer torment us and wear us out, but heavenly things may surround us and everything become new in accordance with your good, merciful, and perfect will. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, November 1, 2020

 

Ephesians 1:18

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…

There is a big difference between having the blessings of God and actually enjoying them. We experience the riches of the Lord’s grace by learning what blessings He has provided for us and then laying hold of them by faith.

Read all of Ephesians 1

Listen to Ephesians 1

Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — For All the Saints

 

For All the Saints

♫♪ "Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine, Alleluia! Alleluia!

"And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!" ♪♫

Today is All Saints' Day, the church festival on which we remember faithful believers who have entered into glory before us. They are the "blest communion, fellowship divine" who enjoy their rest in the presence of their Savior. We share in that blest communion because we too are saints, right here, right now. The apostle Paul addresses the Christians in Corinth with the designation shared by all who confess Jesus as Lord: "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:2). We are not called saints because we deserve the title. We are saints—holy people, a people set apart—because God in His grace chose us and bestowed sainthood on us.

The saints in glory fought and served and struggled on earth and now they rest from their labors. We, the saints on earth, still "feebly struggle," while they "in glory shine." The fight is fierce for us as, in faith, we follow our Savior and endure temptation, illness, loss, pain, and persecution. Yet even for us the fight has already been won. The victory belongs to our Lord, described in the hymn as our "Captain in the well-fought fight." Our Savior suffered and died on the cross, the Captain who sacrificed Himself to save His troops. But on the first Easter morning, His empty tomb revealed that He had risen from the dead! Our Captain has conquered in the fight and through faith in Him, we too will rise from death!

When our earthly warfare is long, "the distant triumph song" steals on the ear. The triumph song echoes from the past to announce Jesus' redeeming death, His glorious resurrection and the hope and promise of eternal life for all who believe in Him. Resounding from the future, the song blends with the "cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God" that will announce the return of our conquering Lord (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16). On that great day, as the King of glory passes by, we, in the words of the hymn, will "triumphant rise in bright array." Raised up from death, we will join the saints in glory and so be forever with the Lord.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are saints, today and every day, God's holy people, set apart to serve and strive in His Name. However long or fierce the fight, our "hearts are brave again and arms are strong" because always ringing in our ears is that "distant triumph song."

Lord Jesus, we give thanks to You for the saints who now rest in Your presence. Sustain us in our earthly fight until the day when we too stand before Your throne. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "For All the Saints."

Reflection Questions:

1. Is it important to remember and honor believers who have died?

2. How are we one—or connected—with the saints who have died before us?

3. What's something you can do to honor Christians who have lived, served, and died?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Today is All Saints' Day, the church festival on which we remember faithful believers who have entered into glory before us.

Standing Strong Through the Storm — BOLDER AND FEARLESS

 

BOLDER AND FEARLESS

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

— Philippians 1:14

The Apostle Paul indicates that another reason why the gospel was actually advancing during his imprisonment was the bold, courageous witness of other believers who had lost their fear.

Two Chinese itinerant evangelists who carried Christian books with them were arrested in Anhui Province during their ministry. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) put them in jail and beat them. The guard beat the face of one until it bled and then took his shoes away in the cold of winter. Then they poured cold water on him throughout the winter. He became deformed from the harsh treatment. Both were kept in jail for six months.

They had led two people to the Lord in that prison location before they were arrested, and when they were released from jail after six months, there were over one hundred new Christians in the area from the seeds that these men had planted. The two people that they led to the Lord spread the message to others. The work grew even while the itinerant evangelists were in prison.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, fourteen Christians continued their witness while in prison by reading scripture aloud. By the time they were released, they had read through the entire New Testament, and forty-four inmates professed faith in Jesus Christ.

Pedro Pablo Castillo shares a similar situation in Nicaragua, where half of the four thousand political prisoners became Christians. On the eve of their release, they prayed, sang, and read scripture to celebrate their pardon. Castillo returned to the jail to urge them to let Christ shine in their lives, whether in jail or outside.

We shared earlier about Pastor Tu in Vietnam—leader of the fastest growing house church network. Pastor Tu spent three years in prison for his evangelistic ministry. When he was released, he found his house church network had grown three hundred percent during his imprisonment years.

I received a Christmas card from him the following year that read: “…God greatly gives our church 20,203 more new believers this year. Hallelujah!”

RESPONSE: God’s kingdom will advance when I overcome my fear and become a bold and courageous witness to the power of the gospel.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to trust You fully and become a dynamic force in boldly advancing the growth of Your church.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
The Apostle Paul indicates that another reason why the gospel was actually advancing during his imprisonment was the bold, courageous witness of other believers who had lost their fear.

John Piper Devotional — Christ’s Sufferings in Us

 

Christ’s Sufferings in Us

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

— Colossians 1:24

Christ has prepared a love offering for the world by suffering and dying for sinners. It is full and lacking in nothing—except one thing, a personal presentation by Christ Himself to the nations of the world.

God’s answer to this lack is to call the people of Christ (people like Paul) to make a personal presentation of the afflictions of Christ to the world. In doing this, we “fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” We finish what they were designed for, namely, a personal presentation to the people who do not know about their infinite worth.

But the most amazing thing about Colossians 1:24 is how Paul fills up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

He says that it is his own sufferings that fill up Christ’s afflictions. This means that Paul exhibits the sufferings of Christ by suffering himself for those he is trying to win. In his sufferings, they see Christ’s sufferings.

Here is the astounding upshot: God intends for the afflictions of Christ to be presented to the world through the afflictions of his people.

God really means for the body of Christ, the church, to experience some of the sufferings he experienced so that when we proclaim the Cross as the way to life, people will see the marks of the Cross in us and feel the love of the Cross from us.
Christ has prepared a love offering for the world by suffering and dying for sinners.

Un dia a la Vez — Jesús y el ayuno

 

Jesús y el ayuno

Cuando ores, entra en tu aposento, y cerrada la puerta, ora a tu Padre que está en secreto; y tu Padre que ve en lo secreto te recompensará en público.

— Mateo 6:6, RV-60

Comenzamos un nuevo mes y una enseñanza más de nuestros veintiún días en los que recordamos lo que Dios dejó escrito en su Palabra para que lo entendamos y le podamos obedecer.

Tanto con la oración como con la ofrenda, Jesús nos hace la misma observación. Nos pide que lo hagamos en privado, sin ser llamativos y escandalosos, pues lo que hacemos es para el Señor y no para los hombres.

El ayuno es una oportunidad que tenemos para estar en verdadera comunión con Dios. Además, tiene poder y un gran valor para nuestro Padre celestial. En esos días de ayuno casi siempre hay peticiones específicas que ponemos delante de Dios y es impresionante cómo responde Él. Esto lo comprobamos en los testimonios que son poderosos de verdad.

Sin embargo, el día que ayunes, lo único que te pide Dios es que no lo estés divulgando. Porque si lo haces, te considerarán un hipócrita. ¿Sabes? Con solo de imaginarme que Dios piense de mí que soy una hipócrita, ya me hace ser obediente. Por eso quiero y trato de agradarle.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Comenzamos un nuevo mes y una enseñanza más de nuestros veintiún días en los que recordamos lo que Dios dejó escrito en su Palabra para que lo entendamos y le podamos obedecer.

Unser Täglich Brot — Jeder Taco zählt

 

Jeder Taco zählt

Lesung: Matthäus 10,37-42 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: Jeremia 24-26; Titus 2

Wer dem geringsten meiner Nachfolger auch nur ein Glas kaltes Wasser reicht, darf sicher sein, dafür belohnt zu werden.

— Matthäus 10,42

Ashton und Austin Samuelson war es ein großes Anliegen, sich nach dem Studienabschluss für Jesus einzusetzen. Einen traditionellen Gemeindedienst konnten sie sich nicht vorstellen. Eher etwas Weltweites. Die Last der hungernden Kinder lag ihnen auf dem Herzen. Beide waren unternehmerisch begabt. Und so eröffneten sie 2014 ein Restaurant, in dem sie Tacos anboten. Natürlich kein normales Restaurant. Ihr Prinzip ist: Kauf einen, spende einen. Für jede verkaufte Mahlzeit spenden sie Geld, damit unterernährte Kinder eine ausgewogene Ernährung erhalten können. Bislang haben sie damit über sechzig Länder unterstützt. Ihr Ziel ist es, den Hunger der Kinder in der Welt zu beenden – mit einem Taco nach dem anderen.

Jesu Worte in Matthäus 10 geben kein Rätsel auf. Sie sind erstaunlich klar. Hingabe zeigt sich in Taten, nicht in Worten (V. 37-42). Eine Tat ist, den „Geringsten“ etwas zu geben. Für die Samuelsons sind das die Kinder. Aber Achtung: „Geringste“ bezieht sich nicht nur auf das Alter. Jesus ruft uns auf, allen zu helfen, die in den Augen der Welt geringgeachtet sind: Arme, Kranke, Gefangene, Flüchtlinge oder Benachteiligte. Und was sollen wir geben? Egal. Und wenn es „nur ein Glas kaltes Wasser“ ist (V. 42). Wenn das schon genügt, darf es sicher auch ein Taco sein.

Wer gehört in deiner Umgebung zu den „Geringsten“ dieser Welt? Was kannst du heute Kleines für sie tun?

Herr, schenke mir Augen, die sehen, und Ohren, die hören, damit ich den „Geringen“, die mir heute begegnen, dienen kann, und wenn es nur mit einer Kleinigkeit ist.

Von John Blase

© 2020 Unser Täglich Brot
Ashton und Austin Samuelson war es ein großes Anliegen, sich nach dem Studienabschluss für Jesus einzusetzen. Einen traditionellen Gemeindedienst konnten sie sich nicht vorstellen.

The Daily Bible Readings for SATURDAY, October 31, 2020

 

The Daily Readings
SATURDAY, October 31, 2020
Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; Joshua 2:15-24; Matthew 23:13-28
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We must never forget that we are in a spiritual war—with an enemy who is looking for weaknesses. We should never give him a foothold. Regardless of how well things may seem to be going for us, we must always keep our hearts and minds focused on Christ—obedient to His commands and faithful to His purposes (Eph. 6:10–17).

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
Thanks for a beautiful land

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

Commentary
In these verses, there is a reference to Egypt's deliverance, and perhaps that from Babylon: but the circumstances of travelers in those countries are also noted. It is scarcely possible to conceive the horrors suffered by the hapless traveler when crossing the trackless sands, exposed to the burning rays of the sun. The words describe their case whom the Lord has redeemed from the bondage of Satan, who pass through the world as a dangerous and dreary wilderness, often ready to faint through troubles, fears, and temptations. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, after God, and communion with him, shall be filled with the goodness of his house, both in grace and glory.

What surprising changes are often made in the affairs of men! Let the present desolate state of Judea and other countries explain this. If we look abroad in the world, we see many greatly increase, whose beginning was small. We see many who have thus suddenly risen, as suddenly brought to nothing. Worldly wealth is uncertain; often, those filled with it, where they are aware, lose it again. God has many ways of making men poor. The righteous shall rejoice. It shall fully convince all those who deny the Divine Providence. When sinners see how justly God takes away the gifts they have abused, they will not have a word to say. It is of great use to us to be fully assured of God's goodness and duly affected with it. It is our wisdom to mind our duty and to refer our comfort to him. A truly wise person will treasure in his heart this delightful psalm. From it, he will fully understand the weakness and wretchedness of man, and the power and loving-kindness of God, not for our merit, but for his mercy's sake.

Joshua 2:15-24
Rahab helps the scouts escape

2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:

24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

Commentary
Rahab had heard of the miracles the Lord wrought for Israel. She believed that his promises would certainly be fulfilled, and his threatenings take effect; and that there was no way of escape but by submitting to him and joining with his people. The conduct of Rahab proved that she had the real principle of Divine faith. Observe the promises the spies made to her. God's goodness is often expressed by his kindness and truth, Psalm 117:2; in both these, we must be followers of him. Those who will be conscientious in keeping promises are cautious in making them. The spies make needful conditions. The scarlet cord, like the blood upon the doorpost at the passover, recalls to remembrance the sinner's security under the atoning blood of Christ; and that we are to flee to it for refuge from the wrath of a justly offended God. The same cord Rahab used to save these Israelites was to be used for her own safety. What we serve and honor God with, we may expect he will bless and make useful to us.

The report the spies brought was encouraging. All the people of the country faint because of Israel; they have neither wisdom to yield nor courage to fight. Those terrors of conscience, and that sense of Divine wrath, which dismay the ungodly, but bring not to repentance, are fearful forebodings of approaching destruction. But grace yet abounds to the chief of sinners. Let them, without delay, flee to Christ, and all shall be well.

Matthew 23:13-28
Woe to the scribes and Pharisees

23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Commentary
The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of men's souls. It is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him. Yet it is no new thing for the show and form of godliness to be made a cloak to the greatest enormities. But dissembled piety will be reckoned double iniquity. They were very busy to turn souls to be of their party. Not for the glory of God and the good of souls, but that they might have the credit and advantage of making converts. Gain being their godliness, by a thousand devices; they made religion give way to their worldly interests. They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law but careless and loose in weightier matters. It is not the scrupling a little sin that Christ here reproves; if it be a sin, though, but a gnat, it must be strained out, but the doing that, and then swallowing a camel, or, committing a greater sin. While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy, but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here, we must begin with ourselves. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was like the ornaments of a grave or dressing up a dead body, only for show. The deceitfulness of sinners' hearts appears in that they go down the streams of the sins of their own day, while they fancy that they should have opposed the sins of former days. We sometimes think, if we had lived when Christ was upon earth, that we should not have despised and rejected him, as men then did; yet Christ in his Spirit, in his word, in his ministers, is still no better treated. And it is just with God to give those up to their hearts' lusts, who obstinately persist in gratifying them. Christ gives men their true characters.

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 SATURDAY, October 31, 2020
Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; Joshua 2:15-24; Matthew 23:13-28 (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for SATURDAY, October 31, 2020

 

Prayer of the Day
SATURDAY, October 31, 2020

Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever." When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

— Psalm 118:4–6 (NIV)

Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we thank you. How often you rescue us from all fear and distress! How often you hear and answer us! Grant that our hearts may always be eager and joyful because you answer us. There is nothing else for us in this world; you are our one hope, our only hope. You alone can help our times, help the nations, help each person. Nothing else matters to us. Lord our God, for the rest of our life on earth you alone are our help, our comfort, and our strength. Amen.

Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, October 31, 2020

 

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We must never forget that we are in a spiritual war—with an enemy who is looking for weaknesses. We should never give him a foothold. Regardless of how well things may seem to be going for us, we must always keep our hearts and minds focused on Christ—obedient to His commands and faithful to His purposes (Eph. 6:10–17).

Read all of 1 Peter 5

Listen to 1 Peter 5

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — The Reason We Boast

 

The Reason We Boast

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong; God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things of the world to nullify the things that are, so that no one can boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Jesus Christ, who has become for us wisdom from God, that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption, therefore as it is written; "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord!"

— 1 Corinthians 1:27-31

Reformation Day is a wonderful day! It's the day some 500 years ago when the German monk Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany. In so doing, he pointed to the power of real forgiveness in the Person and work of Jesus. Led by God's Holy Spirit, Luther came to understand that the Good News of salvation for everyone is not wishful thinking; it's not based in works that we can do, or imagine we can do. Rather, it's the grace-filled work of God in the flesh for the sake of every sinner in the world.

The spirit of the Reformation is centered on Jesus, and how He—not the institutional church, not the purchase of indulgences for bogus pardons, not performed rituals for special favors—but Jesus provides for our salvation through His life, death, and resurrection. Concerning this divine truth, Luther was willing to boast about his Savior and His message of grace alone, through faith alone, based on Scripture alone—no matter what it cost him. Why? Because he wanted people like you and me to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

The passage in 1 Corinthians is clear. When it comes to us, there's no boasting possible. Our science, our technology, our engineering, our cumulative wisdom is always tainted by our sin, our pride, our selfish ambition. When God comes to remedy that, He is even willing to come as a Servant, through a manger, on a cross, because that's the power of God for salvation to all who believe (see Romans 1:16). And that's worth boasting about because it blesses not just the proclaimer but the listener as well.

Martin Luther knew that Jesus is the only One worthy of our boasting because He alone won the victory for each of us at Calvary. Luther boasted about that grace, and I will echo his words and boast about that grace in Jesus, too. Why? So that everyone—from the greatest to the least of us—might come to know true life and salvation in Him forever. I pray that His Gospel has been a blessing to you.

Keep the faith, and have a blessed Reformation Day.

Dear Lord Jesus, give us the confidence to trust in You, to boast in You, to live life boldly for You in all we do. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz

Reflection Questions:

1. What accomplishments do you take pride in?

2. How has God shamed the strong by choosing the lowly things?

3. Is it bad to boast about yourself? About someone else? What's the difference?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Reformation Day is a wonderful day! It's the day some 500 years ago when the German monk Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany. In so doing, he pointed to the power of real forgiveness in the Person and work of Jesus.

Standing Strong Through the Storm — IN CHAINS FOR CHRIST

 

IN CHAINS FOR CHRIST

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

— Philippians 1:13

In Afghanistan, authorities arrested Said Musa on May 31, 2010, days after the local TV station broadcast images of Afghan Christians being baptized and worshiping the Lord. A Christian for eight years, he is married and the father of six. Before release from prison, he wrote:

Hello, my dear brothers and sisters, lovely and strong in faith. On Saturday, I went to court, but my session was not held. I met then two persons. I became very happy when they introduced themselves [as my] defense attorneys…I immediately felt joy in my heart, like somebody gave me comfort, like stars, like lights. I one hundred percent believe it was the Holy Spirit healing my heart.

On Thursday, some high officials came from the Attorney General’s office. They asked me, “What is your name?” I introduced myself to them. After that, they asked me, “Are you truly a Christian?” I replied to them, “I am one hundred percent Christian. I believe in the Son of God Almighty. He is my Savior and Lord. I told them the only way to come to God is to have faith in Jesus Christ, He’s the way, He’s eternal life, He’s truth, He’s love, He’s really God.”

After that, they asked me, “What is wrong with being a Muslim that you converted to the Christian religion?” I told them, “it’s the plan of God. God chose his people to complete his work on the earth. Muslim is not bad. The Christian people are never against any religion in the world. Our fight is just with Satan. We love our enemies, like ourselves.” They joked and mocked me. “You want to make us Christians now?”

Today a new person came. He asked me, “Why do you not accept Islam; why is this religion better?” I replied to him, “the golden thing is this; love your enemy as yourself. In which religion do you find this word? Just in Christianity.”

He told me, “You know your punishment. It’s death.” I told him, “I am one hundred percent ready for the sake of my faith. My Savior gave his life for me. I am not afraid of a human; he just kills my body, but does not hurt my soul. I am afraid of my Lord and Savior; He will be able to punish my soul too. I told him I am holding on to my faith. I will never betray my faith. Without Jesus, what does the life in this world or the afterlife mean? Nothing!”

RESPONSE: Today, I will pray for those like Said Musa, who are truly in prison for their faith.

PRAYER: Lord, may I have the strength and courage to confess You even under severe pressure.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
In Afghanistan, authorities arrested Said Musa on May 31, 2010, days after the local TV station broadcast images of Afghan Christians being baptized and worshiping the Lord.

The NIV Couples Devotional — Giving With Grace

 

Giving With Grace

Deuteronomy 15:1–11

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

— Deuteronomy 15:10

Years ago, I said something that still bothers me when I think about it. I had led a young couple to faith in Jesus. The husband earned a good living in his hairstyling salon. In the basement of their home, he kept the barber’s chair that his deceased father had once used in a shop in another town.

His father’s chair was more than an item of nostalgia, however. My friend used the chair in his basement two evenings and part of Saturday each week to seat customers who couldn’t afford to see him in his shop. In this homey room, my friend clipped and snipped the hair of the poor. Some, like me, he charged a nominal fee; others he waved out the door with a smile.

After one splendid haircut, I pulled out my wallet and handed him a note that was twice what he usually charged me. It was my smallest note, but he had no change. “Just keep it,” I said. “Next time, I won’t have to pay anything.”

Indeed, as I stepped out of the chair after my next grooming session and reached for my wallet, my friend said, “Wait! You’ve already paid for this one!”

It was then that I said some horrible words: “If you had remembered that earlier,” I teased, “you wouldn’t have done such a good job, would you?”

A slight grimace furrowed my friend’s brow before he caught himself and laughed. He was a generous man, and I had treated his kindness flippantly by joking that mercenary demons drove his heart.

It seems like materialism is all around us, and it is not uncommon for people to be driven by need and greed. During the lean years that many of us experience, we can become selfish and cheap. Those attitudes can stick, even when resources grow and demands diminish.

God built safeguards into Israelite society so that debt wouldn’t dehumanize those who became trapped in it. But God also knew that some people would try to manipulate handouts and bailouts and other kinds of welfare for their own cunning ends. So he asked his people to be generous to the poor, even if the poor appeared to be abusing the gifts.

Generosity and graciousness are learned qualities. They must be caught from the example of bighearted souls. Like God. Like the widow who gave two very small copper coins—all she had to live on (see Mark 12:41–44). Like the disciples who shared their lunch with a crowd (see Matthew 15:32–39). Like my barber.

We must practice giving so that generosity becomes an essential part of who we are. And when we give, we’ll find that our generosity is rewarded by God, who will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

Wayne Brouwer

Let’s Talk

• In what ways has God blessed us? In what ways are we tight-fisted about sharing what we have? How can we make our spending and giving reflect our values?
• Who are some generous people who have helped us along the way? What have we learned from them? How are we becoming like them?
• What did we learn about money and generosity from our parents? Were these good or bad lessons? What will our children learn from us?

Years ago, I said something that still bothers me when I think about it.

John Piper Devotional — The Seminary of Suffering

 

The Seminary of Suffering

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

— 2 Corinthians 12:9

This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world. I have never heard anyone say, “The really deep lessons of life have come through times of ease and comfort.”

But I have heard strong saints say, “Every significant advance I have ever made in grasping the depths of God’s love and growing deep with him has come through suffering.”

The pearl of greatest price is the glory of Christ.

Thus, Paul stresses that in our sufferings, the glory of Christ’s all-sufficient grace is magnified. If we rely on him in our calamity and he sustains our “rejoicing in hope,” then he is shown to be the all-satisfying God of grace and strength that he is.

If we hold fast to him, “when all around our soul gives way,” then we show that he is more to be desired than all we have lost.

Christ said to the suffering apostle, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responded to this: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

So suffering clearly is designed by God not only as a way to wean Christians off of self and onto grace but also as a way to spotlight that grace and make it shine. That is precisely what faith does; it magnifies Christ’s future grace.

The deep things of life in God are discovered in suffering.
This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world.

Un dia a la Vez — Jesús y la limosna

 

Jesús y la limosna

Cuando ores, entra en tu aposento, y cerrada la puerta, ora a tu Padre que está en secreto; y tu Padre que ve en lo secreto te recompensará en público.

— Mateo 6:6, RV-60

Fíjense bien que lo que Dios nos ha exhortado durante estos últimos devocionales es a que todo lo que hagamos para Él sea en silencio, pues es un Dios de intimidad. Es evidente que le molesta la gente ruidosa y que les dicen a todos lo que diezman, lo que ofrendan y hoy, en este devocional, lo que oran.

Una vez más Jesús dice que si vas a orar, lo hagas solo, que no seas como los hipócritas que oran de pie en las sinagogas y en la calle para que los vean. ¡Cuánto le choca esto a nuestro Dios!

Ahora bien, esto no quiere decir que no podamos orar en grupo o en familia de una manera audible. Tampoco se trata de que no podamos ir a las misiones, pues a lo que Dios se refiere es a la intención de nuestro corazón.

También nos enseña que no seamos repetitivos en la oración como los loros, sino tengamos una conversación natural y sincera de nuestro corazón con Él.

Aprendemos, entonces, que todo lo que hagamos en secreto, Él nos lo recompensara en público. Y aun si no se nos reconociera, es bueno hacerlo en silencio.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Fíjense bien que lo que Dios nos ha exhortado durante estos últimos devocionales es a que todo lo que hagamos para Él sea en silencio, pues es un Dios de intimidad.

Хліб Наш Насущній — Бруски, цеглини і Бог

 

Бруски, цеглини і Бог

Читати: Йова 1:18-22 | Біблія за рік: Єремії 22–23 ; Тита 1

Завантажити MP3

Господь дав, – і Господь узяв… Нехай буде благословенне Господнє Ім’я!

— Йова 1:21

Після молитви про Боже покликання для подальшого життя, Марк і Ніна вирішили, що їм треба переїхати в центр міста. Вони придбали будинок і розпочали ремонт, але раптом налетів ураган. Марк написав мені текстове повідомлення: “Цього ранку в нас сталася несподіванка. Торнадо, який прийшов з Джефферсон-Сіті, знищив нашу будівлю. Залишилися лише бруски і цеглини. Бог щось готує для нас”.

Неконтрольовані бурі – не єдине, що нас дивує і бентежить. У нещасті важливо не втратити з поля зору Бога.

Природна буря, яка сталася в житті Йова і призвела до втрати майна та смерті його дітей (Йов 1:19), була лише однією з шокуючих несподіванок, яких він зазнав. Перед цим до нього прийшли три посланці з поганими новинами (вв. 13-17).

Одного дня ми можемо перейти від святкування до скорботи, від радіння життю до помирання або до інших життєвих труднощів. Наше життя може швидко зруйнуватися до “брусків та цеглин” у фінансовій, родинній, фізичній, емоційній або в духовній сферах. Однак Бог сильніший за будь-яку бурю. Щоб витримати життєві випробування, нам потрібна віра, зосереджена на Ньому, віра, яка допомагає нам разом з Йовом та іншими сказати: “Нехай буде благословенне Господнє Ім’я!” (в. 21).

Що допомогло вам прояснити бачення, коли ви втратили з поля зору Бога? Як історія Йова може вам допомогти впоратися з життєвими бурями?

Отче, прости, що під час життєвих труднощів я втрачав Тебе з поля зору. Допоможи подивитися на Тебе новим поглядом.

Автор Артур Джексон

© 2020 Хліб Наш Насущні
Після молитви про Боже покликання для подальшого життя, Марк і Ніна вирішили, що їм треба переїхати в центр міста. Вони придбали будинок і розпочали ремонт, але раптом налетів ураган.

The Daily Bible Readings for FRIDAY, October 30, 2020

 

The Daily Readings
THURSDAY, October 29, 2020
Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; Joshua 2:1-14; 2 Peter 2:1-3
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

If our salvation were dependent upon our actions—if we could be redeemed by doing good works, keeping the commandments, and refraining from sin—we would always be in danger of losing it whenever we stumbled. However, because salvation is a gift given to us freely—and not in exchange for anything we can do—it is completely secure. Therefore, our salvation magnifies the awesome love and grace of God alone, since He blesses us not because of our merit but because of His goodness.

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
Thanks for a beautiful land

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

Commentary
In these verses, there is a reference to Egypt's deliverance, and perhaps that from Babylon: but the circumstances of travelers in those countries are also noted. It is scarcely possible to conceive the horrors suffered by the hapless traveler when crossing the trackless sands, exposed to the burning rays of the sun. The words describe their case whom the Lord has redeemed from the bondage of Satan, who pass through the world as a dangerous and dreary wilderness, often ready to faint through troubles, fears, and temptations. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, after God, and communion with him, shall be filled with the goodness of his house, both in grace and glory.

What surprising changes are often made in the affairs of men! Let the present desolate state of Judea and other countries explain this. If we look abroad in the world, we see many greatly increase, whose beginning was small. We see many who have thus suddenly risen, as suddenly brought to nothing. Worldly wealth is uncertain; often, those filled with it, where they are aware, lose it again. God has many ways of making men poor. The righteous shall rejoice. It shall fully convince all those who deny the Divine Providence. When sinners see how justly God takes away the gifts they have abused, they will not have a word to say. It is of great use to us to be fully assured of God's goodness and duly affected with it. It is our wisdom to mind our duty and to refer our comfort to him. A truly wise person will treasure in his heart this delightful psalm. From it, he will fully understand the weakness and wretchedness of man, and the power and loving-kindness of God, not for our merit, but for his mercy's sake.

Joshua 2:1-14
Rahab shelters the scouts

2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Commentary
Faith in God's promises ought not to do away but to encourage our diligence in the use of proper means. The providence of God directed the spies to the house of Rahab. God knew where there was one that would be true to them, though they did not. Rahab appears to have been an innkeeper, and if she had formerly been one of evil life, which is doubtful, she had left her evil courses. That which seems to us most accidental is often overruled by the Divine providence to serve great ends. By faith, Rahab received those with peace, against whom her king and country had war. We are sure this was a good work; it is so spoken of by the apostle, James 2:25; and she did it by faith, such faith had set her above the fear of man. Those only are true believers, who find in their hearts to venture for God; they take his people for their people and cast in their lot among them. God's special providence led the spies, and Rahab entertained them out of regard to Israel and Israel's God, and not for lucre or for any evil purpose. Though excuses may be offered for Rahab's falsehood's guilt, it seems best to admit nothing, which tends to explain it away. Her views of the Divine law must have been very dim: a falsehood like this, told by those who enjoy the light of revelation, whatever the motive, would deserve heavy censure.

2 Peter 2:1-3
False prophets and their punishment

2:2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Commentary
Though the way of error is hurtful, many are always ready to walk therein. Let us take care we give no occasion to the enemy to blaspheme the holy name whereby we are called, or to speak evil of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These seducers used feigned words; they deceived the hearts of their followers. Such are condemned already, and the wrath of God abides upon them. Examples show God's usual method of proceeding. Angels were cast down from all their glory and dignity for their disobedience. If creatures sin, even in heaven, they must suffer in hell.

Sin is the work of darkness, and darkness is the wages of sin. See how God dealt with the old world. The number of offenders no more procures favor than their quality. If the sin is universal, the punishment shall likewise extend to all. If the people abound in sin in a fruitful soil, God can at once turn a fruitful land into barrenness and a well-watered country into ashes. No plans or politics can keep off judgments from a sinful people. He who keeps fire and water from hurting his people, Isaiah 43:2, can make either destroy his enemies; they are never safe. When God sends destruction on the ungodly, he commands deliverance for the righteous. In bad company, we cannot but get either guilt or grief. Let the sins of others be troubles to us. Yet it is possible for the children of the Lord, living among the most profane, to retain their integrity; there being more power in the grace of Christ, and his dwelling in them, than in the temptations of Satan, or the example of the wicked, with all their terrors or allurements. In our intentions and inclinations to commit sin, we meet with strange hindrances, and if we mark them when we intend mischief, God sends many stops to hinder us, as if to say, Take heed what you do. His wisdom and power will surely affect his love's purposes and the engagements of his truth, while wicked men often escape suffering here because they are kept to the day of judgment, to be punished with the devil and his angels.

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 FRIDAY, October 30, 2020
Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; Joshua 2:1-14; 2 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)