The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, January 21, 2020

Psalm 40:6-17; Isaiah 53:1-12; Hebrews 10:1-4

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, January 21, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 40:6-17

Not sacrifice but divine mercy

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.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
     my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
   They are more than the hairs of my head,
     and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
     come quickly, Lord, to help me.

14 May all who want to take my life
     be put to shame and confusion;
   may all who desire my ruin
     be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
     be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
     rejoice and be glad in you;
   may those who long for your saving help always say,
     “The Lord is great!”

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
     may the Lord think of me.
   You are my help and my deliverer;
     you are my God, do not delay.

Isaiah 53:1-12

The one like a lamb

1  Who has believed our message
     and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2  He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
     and like a root out of dry ground.
   He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
     nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3  He was despised and rejected by mankind,
     a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
   Like one from whom people hide their faces
     he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4  Surely he took up our pain
     and bore our suffering,
   yet we considered him punished by God,
     stricken by him, and afflicted.
5  But he was pierced for our transgressions,
     he was crushed for our iniquities;
   the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
     and by his wounds we are healed.
6  We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
     each of us has turned to our own way;
   and the Lord has laid on him
     the iniquity of us all.

7  He was oppressed and afflicted,
     yet he did not open his mouth;
   he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
     and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
     so he did not open his mouth.
8  By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
     Yet who of his generation protested?
   For he was cut off from the land of the living;
     for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9  He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
     and with the rich in his death,
   though he had done no violence,
     nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him
         to suffer,
     and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
   he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
     and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
     he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
   by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
     and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
     and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
   because he poured out his life unto death,
     and was numbered with the transgressors.
   For he bore the sin of many,
     and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hebrews 10:1-4

Animal sacrifices cannot take away sins

10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

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 21, 2020
Psalm 40:6-17; Isaiah 53:1-12; Hebrews 10:1-4

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, January 21, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, January 21, 2020

Irish rock star Bono has said, “Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.”

Enlighten the eyes of our hearts, O Lord, so we may not only see and receive your mercy but also notice the places in our world where you call us to extend mercy. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, January 21, 2020

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Read all of Galatians 6

Listen to Galatians 6

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 21 de enero de 2020

Días difíciles

Jesús dijo: Vengan a mí todos ustedes que están cansados y agobiados, y yo les daré descanso.

—Mateo 11:28 (NVI)

Sé que levantarse y encontrarse con un día lleno de situaciones, problemas familiares, quizá hasta problemas de dinero o la incertidumbre de estar un día más sin trabajo te puede frustrar y llevar a renegar y pelear contra Dios. Mi consejo es que no pelees contra Él. Como hijo de Dios, tienes todo el derecho de decirle cómo te sientes, pero no cuestionarlo y mucho menos maldecir tu vida.

Tal vez te parezca repetitivo, pero es cierto. Este es el día que Dios creó para ti, y algo que alegra el corazón de Dios es que a pesar de tu situación, de tu problema, puedas alegrarte y gozarte en el día que te levantas hoy. Recuerda que no eres el único. Todos tenemos días de angustia, pero no todos tenemos la misma actitud ante la adversidad. De modo que nuestra actitud y nuestra fe sí cambian por completo el panorama.

Descansa en Él y dile: «Señor, aunque no entiendo lo que estoy viviendo, quiero decirte que me alegraré y me gozaré este día. Y esperaré confiadamente en ti. Amén».

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Tal vez te parezca repetitivo, pero es cierto.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, January 21, 2020

ENDURE HARDSHIP AS DISCIPLINE

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?...No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

—Hebrews 12:7-11 (NIV)

As we see in Hebrews chapter twelve, once we “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus,” we will be aware of how we should then live. Now he teaches us about the value of hardships and discipline that does not seem helpful but in the end produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

Alexander was on his first research trip to Cuba for Open Doors. He asked a Cuban pastor what his needs were. He expected the response to itemize the many material needs that the churches in Cuba obviously lacked.

“The first thing we need is your prayers,” he replied, “to know the Body of Christ is with us.” Then he went on to list their tremendous need for Bibles, teaching aids, Sunday school materials, and printing supplies. Then he concluded with the statement that they could use anything and everything. “If you send us just a bar of soap, we’ll be grateful,” he confessed. “We'll praise God for it!”

Alexander says, “I felt a big lump in my throat as I thought of all the Bibles, literature and freedoms I enjoyed. Yet even with all my blessings, my testimony was not as strong. So I struggled to articulate my feelings. ‘Pastor,’ I said, ‘I can only begin to sense and imagine the difficulties you have encountered.’”

The pastor’s eyes became misty and he softly responded, “Oh yes brother, we have been through the most difficult years. Yet we don’t fear persecution. As a matter of fact, we welcome it because it purifies us!”

Freddie Sun spent years in prison in China because of his Christian faith. Prison was literally a trial of fire for him. He worked in a factory making tee-joints from pig iron. Every day he loaded and unloaded the furnace which fired up to 2700 degrees Fahrenheit. In the midst of this hell on earth, God spoke to him. “I have put you in this high-temperature furnace. Don’t worry—you won’t melt. But your impurities will be removed so you can become a useful tee-joint!”

RESPONSE: Today I will receive God’s discipline with the awareness that it is refining me to be more like Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord help me to accept hardship as Your discipline for my life. I look forward to the harvest of righteousness and peace.

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 21, 2020 - We Sometimes Forget

"We Sometimes Forget"

Jan. 21, 2020

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, You have broken as on the day of Midian.

—Isaiah 9:1-4 (ESV)

These verses precede the famous ones we all know about a Child being born, a Son given, the Gift of God to each of us on Christmas morn. We forget sometimes how God promised His Chosen One to the people of Israel when they were most definitely undeserving of any consideration from God at all—let alone the pledge of His own dear Son.

Sadly, the children of Israel were fond of chasing after foreign gods, giving their allegiance to evil cultic practices and wrongdoing on a grand scale. This practice led to untold numbers of crimes committed against God who not only delivered them from the slavery of their Egyptian overlords but led them into the Promised Land. Yet, even in the middle of Israel's persistent spurning of God, the Almighty did not abandon His people. He did not give them over to their sins and the hopelessness that results from apostasy.

Instead, He gave them the promise of a future, an inheritance that lasts forevermore. "Of the increase of His government and of peace, there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this" (Isaiah 9:7).

We too are an undeserving lot—blessed to overabundance by a God who gives good things and does so time and time again. Even as we have rebelled, seeking our own best interests, God has acted on our behalf. As it was said of ancient Israel, so it could be said of us: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).

And who is this "Him" who has taken our sins and iniquity? It's none other than Jesus Christ the Lord. He is the One who was "despised and rejected" for our sakes. It is Jesus who "has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows," who was "smitten by God," "pierced," "crushed," and chastised for our sins, and it is Jesus—and Him alone—by whose "wounds we are healed" (see Isaiah 53:4-5).

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have brought light to the nations through the gift of Your Son. Thank You and praise You for this! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• How does a promise of God coming true in the future impact your life now?
• Do you think those who first heard the words above from Isaiah were filled with hope because of them?
• Have you seen God deliver you from some dark days or misdeeds? Care to share?

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
How does a promise of God coming true in the future impact your life now?

CPTLN devocional del 21 de enero de 2020 - A veces se nos olvida

ALIMENTO DIARIO

A veces se nos olvida

21 de enero de 2020

Pero no siempre habrá oscuridad para la que ahora está angustiada. En los primeros tiempos las regiones de Zabulón y Neftalí fueron afligidas, pero en los últimos tiempos se llenará de gloria el camino del mar, al otro lado del Jordán, en Galilea de los gentiles. El pueblo que andaba en tinieblas vio una gran luz; sí, la luz resplandeció para los que vivían en un país de sombras de muerte. Tú aumentaste el regocijo, y acrecentaste la alegría. En tu presencia se alegrarán, como se alegran durante la siega; como se regocijan cuando se reparten el botín. Tú quebraste el yugo y la vara que pesaban sobre sus hombros, y el cetro que los oprimía, como en el día de Madián.

—Isaías 9:1-4 (RVC)

Estos versículos preceden a los famosos versículos que todos conocemos acerca de un Niño que nos nace, un Hijo que nos es dado, el Regalo de Dios para cada uno de nosotros en la mañana de Navidad. A veces nos olvidamos de cómo Dios prometió a Su Elegido al pueblo de Israel cuando ellos definitivamente estaban descuidando la Palabra de Dios, y mucho menos ponían atención a la promesa de Su propio Hijo amado.

Lamentablemente, a los hijos de Israel les gustaba ir tras los dioses extranjeros, dando su lealtad a las prácticas de culto malvadas y a las malas acciones en gran escala.

Esta práctica condujo a innumerables crímenes cometidos contra el Dios que no solo los libró de la esclavitud de sus señores egipcios sino que los condujo a la Tierra Prometida. Sin embargo, incluso en medio del desprecio persistente hacia Dios por parte de Israel, el Todopoderoso no abandonó a su pueblo. No los entregó a sus pecados ni a la desesperanza que resulta de la apostasía.

En cambio, les dio la promesa de un futuro, una herencia que dura para siempre. "La extensión de su imperio y la paz en él no tendrán límite. Reinará sobre el trono de David y sobre su reino, y lo afirmará y confirmará en la justicia y el derecho, desde ahora y para siempre. Esto lo hará el celo del Señor de los ejércitos." (Isaías 9:7).

Nosotros también hemos desobedecido, pero somos bendecidos por la sobreabundancia de un Dios que da cosas buenas y lo hace una y otra vez. Aun cuando nos hemos rebelado, buscando nuestros propios intereses, Dios ha actuado en nuestro nombre. Como se dijo del antiguo Israel, así se podría decir de nosotros: "Todos perderemos el rumbo, como ovejas, y cada uno tomará su propio camino; pero el Señor descargará sobre él todo el peso de nuestros pecados."(Isaías 53:6).

¿Y quién es "Él" que ha tomado nuestros pecados e iniquidad? No es otro que Jesucristo el Señor. Él es el que fue "despreciado y rechazado" por nuestro bien. Es Jesús quien "llevó sobre sí nuestros males, y sufrió nuestros dolores", a quien "Dios lo ha azotado, lo ha herido y humillado", quien fue herido por nuestros pecados; ¡molido por nuestras rebeliones!, y es Jesús, y solo Él, por cuyas "llagas seremos sanados "(ver Isaías 53:4-5).

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, has traído luz a las naciones a través del regalo de tu Hijo. ¡Gracias y alabado seas por esto! En el Nombre de Jesús oramos. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Crees que aquellos que escucharon por primera vez las palabras anteriores de Isaías se llenaron de esperanza?¿En qué sentido?
• ¿Has visto a Dios librarte de días oscuros o fechorías?¿Cómo lo hizo?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Crees que aquellos que escucharon por primera vez las palabras anteriores de Isaías se llenaron de esperanza?¿En qué sentido?

Nuestro Pan Diario - ¿Hacia dónde te diriges?

¿Hacia dónde te diriges?

La escritura de hoy: 2 Samuel 12:1-14
La Biblia en un año: Éxodo 1–3; Mateo 14:1-21

Entonces dijo Natán a David: Tú eres aquel hombre…

—2 Samuel 12:7

En el norte de Tailandia, el equipo juvenil de fútbol Wild Boars decidió explorar una caverna. Después de una hora, quisieron salir, pero descubrieron que la entrada estaba inundada. Día tras día, al crecer el agua, esta los iba introduciendo cada vez más en la cueva, hasta que quedaron atrapados a más de cuatro kilómetros de la salida. Dos semanas más tarde, cuando fueron heroicamente rescatados, muchos se preguntaban cómo habían quedado tan desesperadamente atrapados. ¿La respuesta? Paso a paso.

En Israel, Natán confrontó a David por haber asesinado a su leal soldado Urías. ¿Cómo el hombre «conforme [al] corazón [de Dios]» (1 Samuel 13:14) llegó a ser culpable de asesinato? Paso a paso. David no fue de la nada al asesinato de la noche a la mañana, sino que todo ocurrió con el tiempo, con una mala decisión tras otra: una segunda mirada seguida de lujuria, de abuso de poder, de encubrimiento y de engaño. Cuando Urías rehusó ir a estar con su esposa mientras sus camaradas estaban en guerra, David decidió que debía morir (leer 2 Samuel 11).

Quizá nosotros no seamos culpables de asesinato ni estemos atrapados en una cueva autoimpuesta, pero sí vamos camino hacia Jesús o hacia las dificultades. Los problemas no surgen de un día para otro; nos destruyen gradualmente: paso a paso.

De:  Mike Wittmer

Reflexiona y ora

Señor, ¡estoy corriendo hacia ti!

¿Qué decisión puedes tomar ahora para acercarte a Cristo y alejarte de los problemas? ¿Qué debes hacer para cumplirla?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
En el norte de Tailandia, el equipo juvenil de fútbol Wild Boars decidió explorar una caverna.