The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, January 2, 2020 — 9th Day of Christmas

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, January 2, 2020 — 9th Day of Christmas

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 20

(Answer us when we call)

Prayer for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1  The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
     The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2  May he send you help from the sanctuary,
     and give you support from Zion.
3  May he remember all your offerings,
     and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices.   Selah

4  May he grant you your heart’s desire,
     and fulfill all your plans.
5  May we shout for joy over your victory,
     and in the name of our God set up our banners.
   May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6  Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
     he will answer him from his holy heaven
     with mighty victories by his right hand.
7  Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
     but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8  They will collapse and fall,
     but we shall rise and stand upright.

9 Give victory to the king, O Lord;
    answer us when we call.

Genesis 12:1-7

(Abram and Sarai)

The Call of Abram
12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Hebrews 11:1-12

(Abraham’s faith)

The Meaning of Faith
11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

The Faith of Abraham
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, January 2, 2020 — 9th Day of Christmas
Psalm 20; Genesis 12:1-7; Hebrews 11:1-12

The Daily Prayer for THURSDAY, January 2, 2020

The Daily Prayer

THURSDAY, January 2, 2020

Basil of Caesarea (330—379)

Basil was born in modern-day Turkey. His grandfather was martyred, and his brother, Gregory of Nyssa, became a very influential bishop. In an age marked by doctrinal battles within the church, Basil was a tireless defender of orthodoxy. He is known as an early developer of Christian monasticism, and an incredible preacher and writer. Among his many writings are some of the church’s earliest prayers. Basil first left the world to join the monastery, but eventually brought the monastery to the world through the city of Basiliad, also called “The New City.” This was a giant community of monastic men and women working with doctors and other lay-people to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical assistance to the poor of Caesarea. He later went on to become a priest and a bishop, but he always kept his vision of a monastic life not cut off from the world but embracing the pain and sorrow of the world.

Basil of Caesarea wrote, “When someone steals a person’s clothes, we call him a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to those who need it; the shoes rotting in your closet to the one who has no shoes. The money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.”

Lord, you are always weaving the things of heaven with the things of earth. You dwell among us, above us, and within us. Make us expectant of angels tarrying to do your work. Form us into eager messengers, ready to speak peace in broken communities. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, January 2, 2020

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Read all of Psalm 90

Listen to Psalm 90

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

Un dia a la Vez - Jueves 02 de enero de 2020

Todos fallamos, pero Dios permanece

Confía en el Señor de todo corazón, y no en tu propia inteligencia. Reconócelo en todos tus caminos, y él allanará tus sendas.

—Proverbios 3:5-6 (NVI)

Muchas veces hemos confiado en personas por error y nos han defraudado porque nos han fallado. Quizá nos engañaran y por eso nos cueste mucho reconocer que debemos aprender a perdonar. Así que debemos entender que Dios es el único que no falla, que no nos dejará y que estará con nosotros por toda una eternidad.

Yo he ofendido y desilusionado a otros con mis actitudes, con mis reacciones. También he tenido que pasar por el trago amargo de perdonar de corazón a quien me ha fallado, a orar por esa persona que destruyó mi vida y mis ilusiones, por obediencia.

Durante varios años, fui madre soltera. Además, tuve que sufrir el abandono de los padres de mis hijas. De modo que enfrentar una vida sola con mis princesas me costó muchas lágrimas y mucho dolor. Sin embargo, los planes de Dios, que son perfectos, me permitieron perdonar de corazón.

¿Y tú? ¿Lo estás haciendo? ¿Hasta cuándo permitirás que tu vida sea amargada y triste? Confía en Dios y Él te sacará adelante porque esa es su promesa.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Yo he ofendido y desilusionado a otros con mis actitudes, con mis reacciones.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, January 2, 2020

STORMS CAN COME FROM OBEDIENCE

That day when evening came, he [Jesus] said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

— Mark 4: 35-37 (NIV)

(Read Mark 4:35-41)

From the disciples' experience we see that storms can arise just by following the path of obedience. We know that when Jesus says, “Let’s go to the other side,” we will reach the other side in spite of any storms.

Ahmad was a respected Muslim leader and a brilliant scholar. While studying for his doctorate in comparative religions he began reading the New Testament and ultimately gave his life to Jesus. When Sharia, the law of Islam, became the law of the land, Ahmad was called in for questioning. When he admitted to being a Christian, he was arrested, put in chains, and thrown into solitary confinement.

The first night in prison, the authorities tried to kill him. Unexplainably, however, they could find no gasoline for their car to drive him to the place of execution. The next day, he was to be arraigned before the Islamic High Court. A lawyer friend urged him to renounce his faith publicly and just keep it secretly in his heart. Ahmad refused. “Jesus is my only defense,” he said. “I cannot deny Him.”

Ahmad was sentenced to six months in prison, stripped of his military rank, and fired from his teaching position. His wife had already divorced him. He also lost his four children, his car, house, and bank account.

If at the end of his sentence he still refused to return to Islam, the judges said, he would spend six more months behind bars. Ahmad organized small Bible studies and prayer groups throughout the prison. “By the end of three months,” he said, “there were more than three hundred known Christians in our prison, at least seven from a Muslim background.”

One night, the guards threw Ahmad into a truck with orders to drown him in the river. But as the truck neared the river, it stopped mysteriously. Terrified, the guards and driver refused the officer’s orders to kill Ahmad. Soon after, he was released. 

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the awareness that storms are a normal part of life in this world and the wise disciple prepares for them.

PRAYER: Pray that you will be cognizant of the storms you face which simply result from your obedience to Jesus.

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

Men's Devotional Bible - Thursday, January 2, 2020

Unnatural Response

Ezekiel 24:15–27
Recommended Reading: Job 1:1–22; Psalm 22:1–5; 1 Peter 1:3–7

When President Ronald Reagan passed away in June of 2004, the news media spent an entire week documenting his surviving family’s grief. Cable and broadcast news programs covered the memorial services, ceremonies, and funeral. But one of the biggest news stories of the week had already been reported thousands of times and in thousands of ways over the years—that of Reagan’s loving relationship with his wife, Nancy.

Now imagine that his death had gone completely unnoticed—a mere footnote in the obituary section of the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. What if Nancy Reagan had gone on with her daily activities as though nothing had changed and the media had stayed away? That would have been an unnatural and inappropriate response to the passing of this world-changing individual. The nation of Israel reacted with questions and protest when Ezekiel’s wife died. God instructed the prophet not to mourn—no lamenting, weeping or shedding of tears. Naturally, the people noticed Ezekiel’s lack of public grief. They asked him why he didn’t mourn openly over the loss of someone he had obviously loved so deeply. Just the response God wanted! Ezekiel explained how his situation foreshadowed theirs. Because the Israelites had forsaken God, they would live in exile. Worse, the temple—their symbol of national pride—would be destroyed. Naturally, the nation would want to grieve. But how would the people, as exiles, be able to mourn?

What a tough assignment for Ezekiel—to function as a human object lesson at the time of the loss of his wife, “the delight of [his] eyes” (Ezekiel 24:16). The message to the people was that the pride and joy of their culture, the temple in Jerusalem, was going to be desolated. Those who thought that God would never allow his holy home to be destroyed were sorely mistaken and were about to discover how wrong they were.

Consider for yourself how this passage might speak to your life. In what areas do you feel God’s blessing will be protected? Perhaps you felt led to a certain job or ministry that you feel certain will be around for the foreseeable future. Maybe you’re placing your confidence in the fact that the pastor of your church will be in his position long enough to see your kids get married. Perhaps you’re relying on some possession in your life to remain solid, stable and valuable for years to come. Or maybe your retirement package is your source of security.

The old adage “change is the only constant” is just as true today as it ever was. Are you placing your confidence in something other than the grace and care of God? Plans change and people change; economies flourish and falter, but God is the only true constant.

To Take Away

• Would you generally describe your life right now as good or bad? Considering your answer, how close do you feel to God?
• What lessons do you recall from previous difficult times that remind you to stay close to God?
• How can you ensure that you’ll stay close to God no matter what happens in your life?

Consider for yourself how this passage might speak to your life.

LHM Daily Devotions - January 2, 2020 - REDEEMED AND PURIFIED

"REDEEMED AND PURIFIED"

Jan. 2, 2020

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

—Luke 2:22-24 (ESV)

It was time to head to Jerusalem. Jesus was 40 days old, and the firstborn Son of His mother. The Law of Moses said that such children belonged to the Lord, on account of God has saved them from death during the days of the Exodus from Egypt. Firstborn animals like sheep and goats were used as sacrifices, but that wasn't going to work for human beings. They had to be redeemed by their parents: "bought back" from the Lord (see Exodus 13).

Mary was also there for another reason—for purification after childbirth. To get back into ordinary life, she needed to make an offering. Usually, this would be a lamb and a bird, but for poorer women, it could be two birds—a pair of doves or pigeons (see Leviticus 12). Mary and Joseph brought birds for this offering, which tells us they weren't wealthy.

Once the offerings were completed, the young family could head home—everyone safely redeemed and purified, ready to begin their new life together. The offerings made the difference.

And that's what we need as well. We need purification. We need to be made clean and ready for a new life. We also need redemption. We need to be bought back, ransomed, and set free to live that new life. Only then can we begin life as a family—the family of God.

But where is our offering? It is right there—the baby Jesus Himself. God sent His own Son to become our offering, to redeem us and make us pure by His own self-offering on the cross. The minute details of God's Law are not just trivia; they point us to something real and wonderful about Jesus. He is our offering. Because of Him, we too begin a new life in the family of God.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for giving Yourself for us as an offering so that we might be God's family. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What rituals do people in your culture carry out when a baby is born?
• What kinds of offerings do you make to God in your own life?
• What words would you use to describe Jesus' offering of Himself for your sake?

Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What rituals do people in your culture carry out when a baby is born?

CPTLN devocional del 02 de enero de 2020 - Redimido y purificado

ADVIENTO—NAVIDAD 2019

Redimido y purificado

02 de Enero de 2020

Y cuando se cumplieron los días para que, según la ley de Moisés, ellos fueran purificados, llevaron al niño a Jerusalén para presentarlo ante el Señor y cumplir con lo que está escrito en la ley del Señor: "Todo primer hijo varón será consagrado al Señor", y para ofrecer un sacrificio en cumplimiento de la ley del Señor, que pide "un par de tórtolas, o dos palominos."

—Lucas 2:22-24 (RVC)

Era hora de ir a Jerusalén. Jesús tenía 40 días y era el primogénito de su madre. La Ley de Moisés decía que tales niños pertenecían al Señor, debido a que Dios había salvado a los primogénitos israelitas de la muerte durante los días del Éxodo. Los animales primogénitos como ovejas y cabras se usaban como sacrificios, pero eso no iba a funcionar para los seres humanos. Tenían que ser redimidos por sus padres: "recomprados" del Señor (ver Éxodo 13).

María también estaba allí para su purificación después del parto. Para volver a la vida cotidiana, necesitaba hacer una ofrenda. Por lo general podía ser un cordero y un pájaro, y para las mujeres más pobres podían ser dos pájaros: un par de tórtolas o de palominos (ver Levítico 12). María y José trajeron pájaros para esta ofrenda, lo que nos dice que no eran ricos. Una vez presentadas las ofrendas, la joven familia podía regresar a casa, todos redimidos y purificados, listos para comenzar su nueva vida juntos. Las ofrendas hicieron la diferencia.

Y eso es lo que nosotros necesitamos: ser purificados para una nueva vida. Necesitamos ser recomprados, rescatados y liberados para vivir esa nueva vida. Solo entonces podemos comenzar la vida como familia de Dios.

Pero ¿dónde está nuestra ofrenda? Está justo allí: el niño Jesús. Dios envió a su propio Hijo para que se convirtiera en nuestra ofrenda, para redimirnos y hacernos puros ofrendándose en la cruz. Los detalles minuciosos de la Ley de Dios no son simples trivialidades; nos señalan algo real y maravilloso sobre Jesús. Él es nuestra ofrenda. Gracias a él, nosotros también comenzamos una nueva vida en la familia de Dios.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, gracias por ofrecerte como ofrenda por nosotros para que podamos ser la familia de Dios. En tu nombre. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Qué tipo de ofrendas le haces a Dios en tu propia vida?
• ¿Qué palabras usarías para describir la ofrenda de Jesús por tí?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.
¿Qué tipo de ofrendas le haces a Dios en tu propia vida?

Хлеб наш насущный - Вкусно и полезно

Вкусно и полезно

Читать сейчас: Притчи 24:13-14 | Библия за год: Бытие 4-6; Матфея 2

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Познание мудрости [как мед] для души твоей. Если ты нашел ее, то есть будущность, и надежда твоя не потеряна.

— Притчи 24:14

В 2016 году люди по всему миру потратили около 98,2 миллиарда долларов на шоколад. Цифра впечатляет, но в то же время она не так уж удивительна. Все-таки шоколад вкусный, и нам нравится его кушать. Поэтому многие обрадовались, когда было обнаружено, что шоколад приносит и некоторую пользу. Он содержит флавоноиды, которые замедляют старение и предотвращают болезни сердца. Наверное, это самый приятный совет врачей, который они когда-либо давали (разумеется, здесь тоже нужно знать меру).

Соломон рекомендовал другую «сладость», достойную вложений, – мудрость. Он советовал своему сыну есть мед, «потому что он приятен» (Притч. 24:13), и сравнивал его сладость с мудростью. Человек, который питается Божьей мудростью Библии, находит ее не только сладкой для души, но и полезной для научения и подготовки «ко всякому доброму делу» (2 Тим. 3:16-17).

Мудрость позволяет нам принимать разумные решения и понимать окружающий мир. Она достойна того, чтобы вкладывать в нее и делиться ей с теми, кто нам дорог, как того желал Соломон для своего сына. Угощаясь Божьей мудростью из Библии, мы ощущаем ее сладость и пользу. Это вкусное угощение, которым можно наслаждаться без ограничений. Именно к этому нас и призывает Бог. Господь, спасибо Тебе за сладость Твоего Слова!

Какую мудрость вам нужно сегодня принять? Как Божья мудрость стала сладкой для вас?

Боже, питай нас Твоей мудростью.

автор: Кирстен Холмберг

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
В 2016 году люди по всему миру потратили около 98,2 миллиарда долларов на шоколад.