The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, January 16, 2020

Psalm 40:1-11; Isaiah 22:15-25; Galatians 1:6-12

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, January 16, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 40:1-11

Doing the will of God

1  I waited patiently for the Lord;
     he turned to me and heard my cry.
2  He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
     out of the mud and mire;
   he set my feet on a rock
     and gave me a firm place to stand.
3  He put a new song in my mouth,
     a hymn of praise to our God.
   Many will see and fear the Lord
     and put their trust in him.

4  Blessed is the one
     who trusts in the Lord,
   who does not look to the proud,
     to those who turn aside to false gods.
5  Many, Lord my God,
     are the wonders you have done,
     the things you planned for us.
   None can compare with you;
     were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
     they would be too many to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
     but my ears you have opened—
     burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
7  Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
     it is written about me in the scroll.
8  I desire to do your will, my God;
     your law is within my heart.”

9  I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
     I do not seal my lips, Lord,
     as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
     I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
   I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
     from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
     may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

Isaiah 22:15-25

God replaces disobedient leaders

22:15 This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:

   “Go, say to this steward,
     to Shebna the palace administrator:
16 What are you doing here and who gave you permission
     to cut out a grave for yourself here,
   hewing your grave on the height
     and chiseling your resting place in the rock?

17 “Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you
     and hurl you away, you mighty man.
18 He will roll you up tightly like a ball
     and throw you into a large country.
   There you will die
     and there the chariots you were so proud of
     will become a disgrace to your master’s house.
19 I will depose you from your office,
     and you will be ousted from your position.

20 “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. 21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 23 I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat of honor for the house of his father. 24 All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.

25 “In that day,” declares the Lord Almighty, “the peg driven into the firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down.” The Lord has spoken.

Galatians 1:6-12

Paul’s calling through a revelation of Christ

1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

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 THURSDAY, January 16, 2020
Psalm 40:1-11; Isaiah 22:15-25; Galatians 1:6-12

The Daily Prayer for THURSDAY, January 16, 2020

The Daily Prayer

THURSDAY, January 16, 2020

After twelve years of civil war and approximately seventy-five thousand deaths, El Salvador’s government and rebel leaders signed a peace treaty in Mexico City on January 16, 1992. Six government negotiators, five guerilla commanders, and five rebel negotiators signed the treaty one after another.

El Salvador’s Archbishop Oscar Romero said, “I have frequently been threatened with death. I must say that, as a Christian, I do not believe in death but in the resurrection. If they kill me, I shall rise again in the Salvadoran people. Martyrdom is a great gift from God that I do not believe I have earned. But if God accepts the sacrifice of my life, then my blood will be like the seed of liberty, and a sign of the hope that will soon become a reality.”

Lord, as humans we are always moving closer to death. Each morning is a reminder that our lives are fleeting gifts. But as your children, we are also always moving toward life. May this morning remind us that we are one day closer to the life that lasts forever. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, January 16, 2020

Galatians 5:16

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Read all of Galatians 5

Listen to Galatians 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 - Jueves 16 de enero de 2020

Vive tu vida… ¡y no critiques!

No juzguen, y no se les juzgará [...] Perdonen, y se les perdonará.

—Lucas 6:37 (NVI)

¿Has escuchado ese refrán que dice que «con la medida que midan a otros, se les medirá a ustedes»? Pues no es un dicho, sino una recomendación que encontramos en la Biblia (véase Mateo 7:1).

Si eres de los que te la pasas criticando a tu compañero de trabajo, juzgas todo lo que hace tu pareja, vives lleno de rencor y lo que menos piensas es en perdonar a los que te han ofendido, así sea a tus padres o a tus hijos, déjame decirte que estás muy lejos de agradar y tener complacido a Dios.

En su Palabra, Dios nos enseña exactamente lo contrario. Nos orienta que no debemos juzgar para que nadie nos juzgue a nosotros. Nos instruye que debemos perdonar hasta setenta veces siete… ¿Te imaginas?

¿Por qué no hacemos hoy este ejercicio? Hagamos una pequeña evaluación de cómo está nuestra vida en estas dos esferas: la crítica y la falta de perdón. Aunque no parecen muy importantes en el diario vivir, sí tienen un gran efecto en el ámbito espiritual.

Piensa en que si no cambias esa actitud, todo el mundo juzgará tus acciones. Serás el centro permanente de burla y de chimes. Te expondrás en todo lo que haces. Por otro lado, si no le pides a Dios que te ayude a tomar la decisión de perdonar, el día que falles, el día que te equivoques, no te van a perdonar. Recuerda que todo lo que sembramos eso mismo cosechamos. Si Dios que es Dios no nos critica y nos perdona sin merecerlo, ¿por qué no hacemos hoy ese pacto de cambiar?

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Has escuchado ese refrán que dice que «con la medida que midan a otros, se les medirá a ustedes»?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, January 16, 2020

NEVER FAILS TO BEAR FRUIT

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream…and never fails to bear fruit.”

—Jeremiah 17:7-8d (NIV)

Trees were not plentiful in Israel and most grew by sources of water like an oasis or a stream. Jeremiah’s simile indicates a person with confidence in the Lord is like a deep-rooted tree by the stream that bears fruit faithfully year after year in all kinds of weather.

The most remarkable report I’ve heard from China is about a Christian lady in prison during the “anti-spiritual pollution campaign” in the mid-eighties. She spent her time in prison hand carving scripture verses in miniature lettering with a sharpened end of a toothbrush on the walls and even on the frame of the cot in her cell. Years later she actually met another person who subsequently spent time in the same cell and came to Christ through reading those verses over and over.

One year when visiting Christians in the north of China, I asked the whereabouts of Aunty Mei Bo. This short octogenarian medical doctor, I was told, was away on a missions outreach in spiritually needy Tibet. The next summer she was home and very anxious to hear of our group experience in Tibet—the rooftop of the world—since she was planning another mission trip there soon. She concluded, “Jesus is saying, ‘Hurry up and get the job done so I can come back again!’”

Aunty Mei Bo often stored Bibles from foreign couriers in her home where she lived alone. One day the Public Security Police raided her home and confiscated all the Christian materials they found. Later in the day she found a JESUS video they had missed. So off to the police station she headed with the video.

The young lady at the desk looked askance in her direction. “I want to talk to the Chief of Police!” Mei Bo demanded firmly. “Today his men were at my house and they did not see this,” she said waving the videotape in the air. The receptionist ushered Mei Bo into the police chief’s office. He acted oblivious to her arrival yet grunted a question of intent.

“Sir,” Mei Bo began slowly. “Earlier today your men raided my house and took all the Bibles I had stored there. I understand that they were just doing their job. But after they left, I noticed that they missed this videotape. I need to know from you if this is acceptable material or not. Would you and your staff check it for me?”

“Very well, come back in two weeks,” he muttered dismissing her with a wave of the hand. Mei Bo almost skipped out the door with overflowing joy as she headed toward home. “Thank you, Lord! How else could I get the Beijing chief of police with his staff to watch the JESUS video?”

Aunty Mei Bo led many to the Lord all through her long life and spent her time in disciplining them. She never failed to bear fruit.

RESPONSE: I want to be a tree that bears fruit without fail, regardless of age and weather conditions.

PRAYER: Lord, may my deep rootedness in You cause me to never fail to produce lasting fruit.

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 16, 2020

Life’s “Do-Overs”

Joel 2:12–27
Recommended Reading: Psalm 32:1–11; Ezekiel 33:10–16; Acts 2:37–39

To kids on a playground, the concept of a “do-over” is well known. When they’re playing kickball and the ball gets stuck in a tree, or when they’re playing basketball and the ball sticks between the backboard and the rim, a chorus of “do-over” spontaneously erupts. It’s an unspoken rule that every kid knows.

Sometimes as adults we wish we could resurrect the rule in our own lives. When we miss a bill payment, we long to be able to appeal to the utility company for a “do-over.” When we speak a thoughtless word that hurts another person, we wish for the same.

Through the prophet Joel God tells the Israelites they can have a “do-over.” If they’ll repent God will return what he has taken away in punishment. Apparently, a plague of locusts has destroyed the nation’s crops, and God promises to give the people abundant harvests once again.

So how can we make the reality of the “do-over” active in our life once again? Truth be told, this concept usually doesn’t work in our adult lives and relationships without a good deal of work and humility on our part. We bear the consequences of our mistakes until regret grows and we ask for forgiveness. That’s when grace can intervene, and the person we’ve harmed can forgive. The same is true in our relationship with God. If we understand that sin has kept us from realizing our potential, we need to do the same as the Israelites: repent. In this case, we don’t really achieve the “do-over” ourselves; instead, we receive it from God. We simply turn to God with our confession.

Many men find confession especially difficult because it cuts at our dignity and self-worth. When we confess we admit our mistakes and failures. We assume that these admissions don’t make us look very good. However, God loves to see us confess and repent of our sin, because in doing so we show that we desire to turn to him. When we’re “man enough” to confess our wrongs, God can choose to pour out his blessings for the next phase of our lives.

To Take Away

• What areas of your life feel so damaged by sin that they require a fresh start?
• What do you hope your life will amount to? How does that mesh with God’s plan for your life?
• Do you trust God enough to confess your mistakes and failures to him? Why or why not? How can you gain this kind of trust in God?

What areas of your life feel so damaged by sin that they require a fresh start?

LHM Daily Devotions -January 16, 2020 - Knowing Jesus

"Knowing Jesus"

Jan. 16, 2020

The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who ranks before me, because He was before me.' I myself did not know Him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

—John 1:29-34 (ESV)

Like John, many people today wonder about Jesus. They ask, "Who is He? Do I know Him? Is He someone I should welcome in my life?"

You may remember John, Jesus' cousin. His mother Elizabeth was a relative of Mary's. God sent an angel to tell Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah that she would get pregnant and have a baby boy, whom they would call John. He would grow up to be the prophet who got things ready for the coming Messiah.

But there is something very strange in the Bible. When both of them were grown up, John said about Jesus, "I didn't know Him," and "I would not have known Him except ..." How could John not know who Jesus was? Didn't he hear the Christmas story?

Hard to say, but we can guess a little. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, where He lived until King Herod tried to kill Him. Then His family was refugees in Egypt for several years. When they returned, Jesus was probably about five years old. John was a little older.

The Bible says John grew up and lived in the desert. Maybe he never met Jesus. One day, in the desert, God told John to preach and baptize people with water until he met one special Man, the Son of God. He would recognize that Man when he saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him.

So John began preaching, telling people the Lord was coming soon, and they needed to get ready. Months passed. Thousands were baptized. John was still waiting. Then one day it happened. John saw an ordinary Man in dusty clothes coming through the crowd. He was no one special. But John by the Holy Spirit recognized Jesus as the One he was waiting for. This was the Son of God.

God had kept His promise. John saw the Holy Spirit come down to rest on Jesus. This was the One—the Son of God who would save the world.

Many people are still waiting. Your family, your neighbors—maybe even you are asking, "Who is this Jesus? Do I know Him?"

Through our human eyes, Jesus does not look like anyone special. But with the help of God's Holy Spirit, we can see who Jesus really is. We can recognize that He is our Savior, who loved us and gave Himself to die on the cross for our sins. And three days later He rose from the dead, overcoming death and hell for us, and giving us life forever in His Name.

Because of the Holy Spirit's help, we never need to ask Jesus, "Do I know You?" We do know Him, and He is our Savior.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, give us the gift of recognition, the gift of knowing Jesus as our Savior. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever met a longtime relative like a cousin for the first time when you were an adult?
• Do you think John ever met Jesus before the encounter in the text above?
• How do we recognize Jesus as our Lord and Savior today?

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).
Have you ever met a longtime relative like a cousin for the first time when you were an adult?

CPTLN devocional del 16 de enero de 2020 - Conociendo a Jesús

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Conociendo a Jesús

16 de Enero de 2020

El siguiente día Juan vio que Jesús venía hacia él, y dijo: «Éste es el Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo. Él es de quien yo dije: "Después de mí viene un varón, el cual es antes de mí; porque era primero que yo." Yo no lo conocía; pero vine bautizando con agua para esto: para que él fuera manifestado a Israel.» Juan también dio testimonio y dijo: «Vi al Espíritu descender del cielo como paloma, y permanecer sobre él. Yo no lo conocía; pero el que me envió a bautizar con agua me dijo: "Aquél sobre quien veas que el Espíritu desciende, y que permanece sobre él, es el que bautiza con el Espíritu Santo." Y yo lo he visto, y he dado testimonio de que éste es el Hijo de Dios.»

—Juan 1:29-34 (RVC)

Al igual que Juan, muchas personas hoy tienen preguntas acerca de Jesús. ¿Quién es Él? ¿Lo conozco? ¿Es alguien a quien debería dar la bienvenida en mi vida?

Quizás recuerdes a Juan, el primo de Jesús. Su madre Elizabeth era pariente de María. Dios envió un ángel para decirle a Elizabeth y a su esposo Zacarías que ella quedaría embarazada y tendría un bebé, a quien llamarían Juan. Él crecería y sería el profeta que prepararía el camino para el Mesías.

Pero hay algo muy extraño en esta historia. Cuando ambos crecieron, Juan dijo acerca de Jesús: "Yo no lo conocía". ¿Cómo podría Juan no saber quién era Jesús? ¿No escuchó la historia de Navidad?

Es difícil saberlo, pero podemos adivinar un poco. Jesús nació en Belén, donde vivió hasta que el rey Herodes intentó matarlo. Luego, su familia se refugió en Egipto durante varios años. Cuando regresaron, Jesús probablemente tenía unos cinco años. Juan era un poco mayor.

La Biblia dice que Juan creció y vivió en el desierto. Quizás nunca conoció a Jesús. Un día, en el desierto, Dios le dijo a Juan que predicara y bautizara a las personas con agua hasta que conociera a un Hombre especial, el Hijo de Dios. Reconocería a ese hombre cuando viera al Espíritu Santo descender sobre él.

Entonces Juan comenzó a predicar, diciéndole a la gente que el Señor vendría pronto y que necesitaban prepararse. Pasaron los meses. Miles fueron bautizados. Juan seguía esperando. Entonces un día ocurrió. Juan vio a un hombre común con ropas polvorientas atravesando la multitud. No era nadie especial. Pero Juan, por el Espíritu Santo, reconoció a Jesús como Aquel a quien estaba esperando. Ese era el Hijo de Dios. Dios había cumplido su promesa. Juan vio al Espíritu Santo descender y reposar sobre Jesús. Ese era el Hijo de Dios que salvaría al mundo.

Mucha gente todavía está esperando. Tu familia, tus vecinos, tal vez incluso tú mismo te preguntas: "¿Quién es este Jesús? ¿Lo conozco?"

A nuestros ojos humanos, Jesús no se parece a nadie especial. Pero con la ayuda del Espíritu Santo de Dios, podemos ver quién es realmente Jesús. Podemos reconocer que Él es nuestro Salvador, que nos amó y se entregó a morir en la cruz por nuestros pecados. Y tres días después resucitó de entre los muertos, venciendo la muerte y el infierno por nosotros, y dándonos vida para siempre en su nombre.

Con la ayuda del Espíritu Santo, nunca necesitamos preguntarle a Jesús: "¿Te conozco?" Porque sí lo conocemos y Él es nuestro Salvador.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, danos el don del reconocimiento, el don de conocer a Jesús como nuestro Salvador. Amén.

Rev. Minh Chau Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Has conocido a un pariente por primera vez cuando ya siendo adulto?
• ¿Cómo reconocemos a Jesús como nuestro Señor y Salvador hoy?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Has conocido a un pariente por primera vez cuando ya siendo adulto?

Хлеб наш насущный - Принесите, что есть

Принесите, что есть

Читать сейчас: Иоанна 6:4-14 | Библия за год: Бытие 39-40; Матфея 11

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[Иисус] сказал: «Принесите их Мне сюда». — Матфея 14:18

«Суп из камня» – старая сказка, которую рассказывают в самых разных вариациях. В ней голодный путешественник приходит в деревню, но никто не дает ему ни крошки еды. Тогда он наливает в котелок воды, кладет туда камень и ставит на огонь. Заинтригованные жители смотрят, как он начинает помешивать свой «суп». Наконец один приносит пару картофелин, другой – несколько морковок. Третий добавляет луковицу, еще один – горсть ячменя. Фермер дает немного молока. В результате «суп из камня» становится вкусной похлебкой.

Эта сказка показывает, как важно делиться. А еще она напоминает нам давать то, что у нас есть, даже если это кажется незначительным. В Евангелии от Иоанна 6:1-14 рассказывается о мальчике, который оказался единственным среди множества людей, у кого было немного еды. Обед мальчика – пять хлебов и две рыбы – был очень скромным. Но когда он отдал его, Иисус совершил чудо и накормил тысячи голодных людей!

Однажды я услышала, как кто-то сказал: « Вы не должны кормить пять тысяч. Вам лишь нужно принести свой хлеб и рыбу». Так же как Иисус взял обед мальчика и умножил его так, что это превзошло самые смелые ожидания (Ин. 6:11), Он примет и употребит наши усилия, таланты и служение. Он просто хочет, чтобы мы были готовы принести Ему то, что имеем.

Что вы удерживаете, не отдавая Богу? Почему вам трудно доверить Ему эту область жизни?

Господь Иисус, помоги мне доверить все, что я имею, Тебе, зная, что Ты можешь из малого сделать многое.

автор: Синди Хесс Каспер

© 2020 Хлеб Наш Насущный
«Суп из камня» – старая сказка, которую рассказывают в самых разных вариациях.