The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, January 7, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, January 7, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 72

(Prayers for the king)

Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King
Of Solomon.
1  Endow the king with your justice, O God,
     the royal son with your righteousness.
2  May he judge your people in righteousness,
     your afflicted ones with justice.

3  May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
     the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4  May he defend the afflicted among the people
     and save the children of the needy;
     may he crush the oppressor.
5  May he endure as long as the sun,
     as long as the moon, through all generations.
6  May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
     like showers watering the earth.
7  In his days may the righteous flourish
     and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

8  May he rule from sea to sea
     and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9  May the desert tribes bow before him
     and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
     bring tribute to him.
   May the kings of Sheba and Seba
     present him gifts.
11 May all kings bow down to him
     and all nations serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
     the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
     and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
     for precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
     May gold from Sheba be given him.
   May people ever pray for him
     and bless him all day long.
16 May grain abound throughout the land;
     on the tops of the hills may it sway.
   May the crops flourish like Lebanon
     and thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever;
     may it continue as long as the sun.

   Then all nations will be blessed through him,
     and they will call him blessed.

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
     who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
     may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
   Amen and Amen.

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

1 Kings 10:1-13

(Gifts to Solomon from Sheba)

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.

6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”

10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11 (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones. 12 The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.)

13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

Ephesians 3:14-21

(Knowing the love of Christ)

A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! 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, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Daily Lectionary is a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, January 7, 2020
Psalm 72; 1 Kings 10:1-13; Ephesians 3:14-21

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, January 7, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, January 7, 2020

Twentieth-century Jesuit Alfred Delp wrote, “If through one man’s life there is a little more love and kindness, a little more light and truth in the world, then he will not have lived in vain.”

Lord, it is hard to live by your patience. Your timing is not our timing, and your ways are not our ways. Keep us from trying to rush peace, and prepare us for the peace that comes only by sacrifice and discipline. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, January 7, 2020

Ephesians 5:1-2

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Listen to Ephesians 5

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

Un dia a la Vez - Martes 7 de enero de 2020

Siempre aprendemos del pasado

Señor, hazme conocer tus caminos [...] olvida los pecados y transgresiones que cometí en mi juventud. Acuérdate de mí según tu gran amor, porque tú, Señor, eres bueno.

—Salmo 25: 4, 7 (NVI)

Cuando me pongo a pensar en mi vida antes de Cristo, reflexiono en lo mismo: ¡Qué lástima que no lo conocí antes! ¡De cuántas cosas me hubiera guardado! Sobre todo, analizo mi juventud. A pesar de que fui una chica sana y de que nunca tuve experiencias con las drogas, Dios me guardó de no cometer muchas locuras. Sin embargo, fui muy inquieta en lo emocional y terminé casándome sin estar enamorada siquiera.

A los veintiún años, ya tenía entre mis brazos a mi primera princesa, Naty. Aunque fue una bendición, cambió mi vida por completo. Dejé muchas cosas de mi juventud sin concluir y estudios sin terminar. De una manera drástica, empecé una vida llena de responsabilidades. Todos estos ajustes coincidieron con mi llegada a los Estados Unidos con una bebé de cuatro meses, un país extraño y sin saber el idioma. Con todo, aprendí mucho y, lo más importante, maduré.

Quizá tú estás leyendo esta pequeña historia y recuerdas lo que vives hoy. Quiero que sepas que Dios te permite vivir cada experiencia para enseñarte muchas cosas y para que aprendamos a verlo en cada circunstancia de nuestra vida. Recuerda que Dios te ayuda en todo momento… ¡si tú se lo permites!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Cuando me pongo a pensar en mi vida antes de Cristo, reflexiono en lo mismo: ¡Qué lástima que no lo conocí antes!

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, January 7, 2020

CAN YOU SLEEP WHILE THE WIND BLOWS?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

During a recent hurricane storm, the following story circulated on the Internet:

A farmer on the Atlantic seacoast constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic because of the awful storms that wreaked havoc on the buildings and crops. One applicant for the job was a short, thin man, well past middle age.

“Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well and kept busy from dawn to dusk. The farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!”

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. He hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

When you’re prepared for storms, spiritually, mentally, and practically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

We secure ourselves against the storms of life by soaking ourselves with the Word of God, being obedient to it and then placing our faith and trust in God’s goodness. We don’t need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the midst of our storms.

RESPONSE: Today I will prepare myself practically, mentally and spiritually so that I can sleep when the storms blow in my life.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the peace only You can give when the strong winds try and wreak havoc in my life and daily situations.

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

LHM Daily Devotions - January 7, 2020 - The Servant of the Lord

"The Servant of the Lord"

Jan. 7, 2020

Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

—Isaiah 42:1 (ESV)

Last Sunday we began the season of Epiphany. During this time we celebrate Jesus' Baptism. We remember the day He went down to the Jordan River and was baptized by His cousin John. We also remember our own baptisms on this day.

There is something strange about Jesus' Baptism, though. We all know why we were baptized: we were sinners and enemies of God. But when we were baptized, we became God's own children, clean and holy. This happened because of God's own promise to everyone who believes in His Son Jesus.

But why was Jesus baptized? He wasn't a sinner; He never did a wrong thing in His life. He wasn't an enemy of God. He was God's own Son. So why was He baptized?

John wanted to know the reason, too. He felt funny having to baptize Someone so much greater than he was himself. But Jesus told him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15b).

There are probably a lot of reasons why Jesus was baptized. But one of them must have had to do with His work. When Jesus was baptized, He began His public ministry to the world. This is the work Isaiah alludes to in our Old Testament reading today.

What kind of a servant was Jesus? Isaiah describes Him very well. He starts by saying, "Behold My Servant, whom I uphold." That means that Jesus depended on God all the way. He did not try to do things in His own power or strength, according to His human nature. He trusted God for everything He needed.

God also calls Jesus "My chosen, in whom My soul delights." This means that God is happy with Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, God spoke from heaven and said, "You are My beloved Son; with You, I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11b). These words were true then, and they are still true today.

Jesus is the Servant of the Lord. He is the One who has done all of these things for us: He fulfilled God's Law perfectly; He went to the cross and died for our sins, and He rose from the dead, three days later, to defeat sin, death, and the devil on our behalf. He did these things because He loves us.

Now He calls us to follow Him in the same work for others. At our Baptism, that is one of the gifts we received: the opportunity to share in the service of God's people.

This is a blessed gift God gives to us. Let us embrace it wholeheartedly and live unto Him throughout 2020.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have called us to Yourself through the life, death, and resurrection of Your Son Jesus. May we cling to Him in faith, loving You forevermore. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What are the servant-like qualities Jesus displayed when He was on earth?
• How will Jesus bring "justice to the nations"?
• How can we live in a way that is pleasing to God? Would a life lived like that be different than the one you're living now?

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Minh Chau Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What are the servant-like qualities Jesus displayed when He was on earth?

CPTLN devocional del 07 de enero de 2020 - El Siervo de Dios

ALIMENTO DIARIO

El Siervo de Dios

07 de Enero de 2020

»¡Aquí está mi siervo, mi escogido, en quien me complazco! Yo lo sostengo; sobre él reposa mi espíritu. Él traerá la justicia a las naciones.

—Isaías 42:1 (RVC)

El domingo pasado comenzamos la época de Epifanía. Durante este tiempo celebramos el bautismo de Jesús, cuando su primo Juan lo bautizó en el río Jordán, al igual que el día de nuestro bautismo.

Pero en el bautismo de Jesús hay algo extraño. Tú y yo sabemos por qué fuimos bautizados: éramos pecadores y por tanto enemigos de Dios, por lo que a través de nuestro bautismo, Dios nos hizo hijos suyos limpios y santos, en base a los méritos de Jesús.

Pero ¿por qué fue bautizado Jesús, si no era pecador, nunca hizo nada malo y no era enemigo de Dios? Si Jesús era el Hijo de Dios. Entonces, ¿por qué fue bautizado?

Juan también quería saber la razón. Se sintió raro al tener que bautizar a alguien tan inocente. Pero Jesús le dijo: "Por ahora, déjalo así, porque conviene que cumplamos toda justicia" (Mateo 3:15b).

Probablemente hay muchas razones por las cuales Jesús fue bautizado. Pero una de ellas tuvo que ver con su obra. Cuando Jesús fue bautizado, comenzó su ministerio público al mundo. Esta es la obra a la que alude Isaías en nuestra lectura del Antiguo Testamento para hoy.

¿Qué clase de siervo era Jesús? Isaías lo describe muy bien. Comienza diciendo: "Aquí está mi siervo, mi escogido, en quien me complazco! Yo lo sostengo". Eso significa que Jesús dependió de Dios todo el tiempo. No trató de hacer las cosas con su propio poder o fuerza. Confió en Dios para todo lo que necesitaba.

Cuando Jesús fue bautizado, Dios habló desde el cielo y dijo: "Tú eres mi Hijo amado, en quien me complazco" (Marcos 1:11b). Esto significa que Dios está contento con Jesús. Estas palabras eran ciertas en ese entonces, y aún lo son hoy.

Jesús es el siervo del Señor. Él es quien cumplió perfectamente la Ley de Dios; Él fue a la cruz y murió por nuestros pecados, y resucitó de la muerte tres días después, para vencer el pecado, la muerte y el diablo en nuestro nombre. Hizo estas cosas por nosotros, porque nos ama.

Ahora nos invita a seguir con su obra para los demás. Ese es uno de los regalos que recibimos en nuestro bautismo: la oportunidad de servicio al pueblo de Dios.

Este es un regalo bendito que Dios nos da. Abracémoslo de todo corazón y vivamos para Él en todo el año 2020.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, nos has llamado hacia ti a través de la vida, muerte y resurrección de tu Hijo Jesús. Enséñanos a aferrarnos a Él con fe, amándote para siempre. Amén.

Rev. Minh Chau Vo

Para reflexionar:
¿Cuáles son las cualidades de siervo que Jesús mostró cuando estuvo en la tierra?
¿Cómo podemos vivir de una manera que sea agradable a Dios?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cuáles son las cualidades de siervo que Jesús mostró cuando estuvo en la tierra?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Entrega secreta

Entrega secreta

La escritura de hoy: Mateo 6:1-4

La Biblia en un año: Génesis 18–19; Mateo 6:1-18

Mas cuando tú des limosna, no sepa tu izquierda lo que hace tu derecha.

—Mateo 6: 3

Un florero de vidrio transparente con lirios, tulipanes y narcisos recibió a Silvia en la puerta de su casa. Durante siete meses, un anónimo creyente en Cristo le enviaba flores. Cada mes, el regalo llegaba con una nota con versículos bíblicos alentadores, y firmado: «Con amor, Jesús».

Silvia compartió en Facebook fotos de estas entregas secretas. Las flores le daban oportunidad de celebrar la bondad de un individuo y reconocer la manera en que Dios le expresaba su amor a través de sus hijos. Confiando en Él durante su batalla con una enfermedad terminal, cada flor colorida y cada nota manuscrita reafirmaban el amor compasivo de Dios hacia ella.

El carácter anónimo de aquella persona refleja la motivación del corazón que Cristo insta a su pueblo a tener al dar. Advierte de hacer obras justas «para ser vistos» por otros (Mateo 6:1). El objetivo de las buenas obras es expresar la adoración que brota de corazones agradecidos por todo lo que Dios ha hecho por nosotros. Resaltar nuestra generosidad puede quitar el foco del Dador de todo: Jesucristo.

Dios sabe cuando damos con buenas intenciones (v. 4). Él simplemente desea que nuestra generosidad sea motivada por el amor, y que demos a Él la gloria, la honra y la alabanza.

De:  Xochitl Dixon

Reflexiona y ora

Señor, gracias por todo lo que nos das y por el privilegio de poder dar a otros.

¿Cómo puedes atribuir el reconocimiento a Dios al ofrendar y servir a alguien durante esta semana?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Un florero de vidrio transparente con lirios, tulipanes y narcisos recibió a Silvia en la puerta de su casa.