The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, January 29, 2020

Psalm 27:7-14; Genesis 49:1-2, 8-13, 21-26; Luke 1:67-79

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, January 29, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 27:7-14

Take courage in God

7  Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
     be merciful to me and answer me.
8  My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
     Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9  Do not hide your face from me,
     do not turn your servant away in anger;
     you have been my helper.
   Do not reject me or forsake me,
     God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
     the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
     lead me in a straight path
     because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
     for false witnesses rise up against me,
     spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
     I will see the goodness of the Lord
     in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
     be strong and take heart
     and wait for the Lord.

Genesis 49:1-2, 8-13, 21-26

Judah Zebulun Naphtali and Joseph blessed

49:1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2  “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob;
     listen to your father Israel.

8  “Judah, your brothers will praise you;
     your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
     your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9  You are a lion’s cub, Judah;
     you return from the prey, my son.
   Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
     like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
     nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
   until he to whom it belongs shall come
     and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,
     his colt to the choicest branch;
   he will wash his garments in wine,
     his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes will be darker than wine,
     his teeth whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun will live by the seashore
     and become a haven for ships;
     his border will extend toward Sidon.

21 “Naphtali is a doe set free
     that bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,
     a fruitful vine near a spring,
     whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
     they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
     his strong arms stayed limber,
   because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
     because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
     because of the Almighty, who blesses you
   with blessings of the skies above,
     blessings of the deep springs below,
     blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
     than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
     than the bounty of the age-old hills.
   Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
     on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

Luke 1:67-79

Christ the light dawning

1:67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
     because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
     in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
     and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors
     and to remember his holy covenant,
73   the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
     and to enable us to serve him without fear
75   in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the
         Most High;
     for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way
         for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
     through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
     by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
     and in the shadow of death,
   to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

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 WEDNESDAY, January 29, 2020
Psalm 27:7-14; Genesis 49:1-2, 8-13, 21-26; Luke 1:67-79

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, January 29, 2020

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, January 29, 2020

Twentieth-century Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor said, “I think there is no suffering greater than what is caused by the doubts of those who want to believe. I know what torment this is, but I can only see it, in myself anyway, as the process by which faith is deepened. What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.”

How merciful are you, O Lord, when you receive us even with our doubts and suspicions. We pray to keep tiptoeing toward you without fear of rejection. We pray to keep up our feeble attempts at serving you even when we question the worth of our efforts. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, January 29, 2020

Mark 9:35

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Read all of Mark 9

Listen to Mark 9

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 - Miércoles 29 de enero de 2020

Dios alivia mi dolor

Responde a mi clamor, Dios mío y defensor mío. Dame alivio cuando esté angustiado, apiádate de mí y escucha mi oración.

—Salmo 4:1 (NVI)

Oh, Dios mío, en ti confío. Sé que eres mi consuelo y que en medio de esta prueba tú estás conmigo.

Quiero decirte, mi Dios, que aunque no entiendo el porqué estoy viviendo esta situación y estoy sufriendo, te ofrezco a ti cada lágrima, cada noche sin dormir, cada pensamiento negativo que ha llegado a mi mente de que mejor sería no existir y deposito mi corazón en ti para que lo llenes de tu amor.

Señor, renuévame y restaura mi alma. Permite que muy pronto pueda encontrar alivio a esta situación y logre ver la salida en medio de esta tribulación.

Señor, tú eres mi refugio y mi esperanza.

Señor, que se haga tu voluntad y no la mía.

Y ayúdame a aprender de esto que hoy me permites vivir.

Que pueda crecer después de esta prueba y sea capaz de ayudar a otras personas que sufren.

Gracias, mi Dios, por formar en mí el carácter de tu Hijo Jesucristo.

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oh, Dios mío, en ti confío. Sé que eres mi consuelo y que en medio de esta prueba tú estás conmigo.…

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, January 29, 2020

SATAN’S ATTACK ON THE BIBLE

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

—1 Peter 1:23-25a (NIV)

Brother Andrew continues his teaching on Satan’s strategic attacks:

The second prong of Satan’s attack is on the written word of God. He has historically tried to prevent Christians from having access to the Bible.

Satan understands the power of the Word of God. At the temptation of Jesus, he even made a sly attempt to use Scripture (actually misapplying it) to deflect Jesus from His true mission (Luke 4:1-3). Twisting Scripture is still a favorite tactic of Satan, and we believers need to know the Word so we can respond, just as Jesus did, with a well-applied “It is written…”

Peter recognized the significant role the Word has in our salvation. In his epistle to Christians passing through “fiery trials,” he gives the words of encouragement in today’s scripture above.

Now you can understand my life’s passion to distribute the Bible, even in places where its importation or distribution is prohibited. Because I’ve gone around the world preaching that message, many people assume that I must have been the first “God’s smuggler.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

I personally believe that the first Bible smuggler probably was Timothy, the man Paul looked upon as his son in the gospel. This young man of delicate health, but of great spirituality and loyalty, was converted in Paul’s first campaign at Lystra. At the end of his life, when Paul was in prison in Rome, he looked to Timothy for comfort. In a letter to him, Paul asked his friend to bring his books to the prison the next time he visited.

In 2 Timothy 4:13, it becomes clear Paul was requesting that scrolls of Old Testament Scriptures be brought to him for further study. But how could Timothy get them into Rome and into the jail when, by that time, Christians have already become an outlawed sect? The only possible way would have been to smuggle them in with other items.

Billy Graham, in his book Hoofbeats, suggests that John the apostle had to write his Revelation secretly, while closely guarded by the Romans. The parchment manuscript pages would have been smuggled off the island of Patmos and Christian volunteers copy them for the churches…

This world is an enemy-occupied territory filled with souls to whom Christ holds rightful claim. Under Christ’s command, we invade countries by any means that will help us to get in with the Word of God…

Today I want others to have what makes me grow spiritually—the Bible.

RESPONSE: Today I will make every effort to ensure that the Bible is available to everyone to read and practice.

PRAYER: Pray for many believers around the world still waiting for their first personal Bible.

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 29, 2020 - Jesus Knows

"Jesus Knows"

Jan. 29, 2020

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

—Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV)

When facing a difficult or traumatic event in your life, does it help to know that others have gone through something similar? There can be comfort in knowing we're not alone in what we're facing—that others have weathered a similar tragedy and have come out okay on the other side. This seems especially true when going through something like a serious illness or the loss of a loved one.

Strong bonds can be forged between those who have experienced similar life events like cancer, the destruction of their homes and property to fire or storm, or the loss of a child or grandchild. At such times, there may seem to be no hope, no light whatsoever at the end of the tunnel. But knowing we're not alone in such times—that we can lean on someone who understands our anguish and overwhelming grief—can be strong medicine to our ailing spirit.

This certainly is what the writer of the book of Hebrews is getting at in our passage above. The Heavenly Father in His wise and generous provision appointed His very own Son to become like us (see John 1:14), to be "like his brothers in every respect," to experience what we experience, to know fully—at our level—the anguish, temptation, grief, and suffering that's part of being human, in this present age.

Jesus understood our anguish when everywhere He went He saw people lost and confused, desperately in need of the healing He had to offer (see Matthew 9:35-38). He experienced our temptations full bore when He faced the devil head-on in the wilderness (see Matthew 4:1-11). He felt our grief when He wept over the death of His friend, Lazarus (see John 11:1-44). And more than we can ever know, Jesus took on our suffering when He went to the cross with our sins (see John 19:1-37).

Yes, Jesus knows. He knows when we're at our wits' end, and there seems to be no hope. It is then He is there with an outstretched hand, reaching into our lives, telling us, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

No matter where you're at in your life, no matter how far down you might feel, Jesus understands your situation. He knows. Please, take a moment, and go to Him in prayer.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, revive me with Your love and the comfort of Your presence. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Has someone ever been there for you in a big way when you were going through something tragic? How did they help or support you?
2. How does knowing that Jesus faced the sorts of things we face empower your faith?
3. Do you try to make yourself available to others when things are tough for them? How do you let them know they can count on you?

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).
Has someone ever been there for you in a big way when you were going through something tragic? How did they help or support you?

CPTLN devocional del 29 de enero de 2020 - Jesús te entiende

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Jesús te entiende

29 de Enero de 2020

Así como los hijos eran de carne y hueso, también él era de carne y hueso, para que por medio de la muerte destruyera al que tenía el dominio sobre la muerte, es decir, al diablo, y de esa manera librara a todos los que, por temor a la muerte, toda su vida habían estado sometidos a esclavitud. Ciertamente él no vino para ayudar a los ángeles, sino a los descendientes de Abrahán. Por eso le era necesario ser semejante a sus hermanos en todo: para que llegara a ser un sumo sacerdote misericordioso y fiel en lo que a Dios se refiere, y expiara los pecados del pueblo. Puesto que él mismo sufrió la tentación, es poderoso para ayudar a los que son tentados.

—Hebreos 2:14-18 (RVC)

Cuando te enfrentas a un evento difícil o traumático en tu vida, ¿te ayuda saber que otros han pasado por algo similar? Puede ser reconfortante saber que no estamos solos en lo que estamos enfrentando, que otros han atravesado una tragedia similar y han salido más fuertes. Esto parece especialmente cierto cuando se pasa por una enfermedad grave o la pérdida de un ser querido.

A veces se forjan fuertes lazos entre quienes han experimentado eventos similares como el cáncer, la destrucción de sus hogares y propiedades por un desastre natural, la pérdida de un hijo o nieto. En esos momentos puede parecer que no hay esperanza ni luz alguna al final del túnel. Pero saber que no estamos solos, que podemos apoyarnos en alguien que entiende nuestra angustia y dolor abrumador, puede ser una medicina fuerte para nuestro espíritu enfermo.

Esto ciertamente es a lo que el escritor del libro de Hebreos se refiere en nuestro pasaje de hoy. El Padre Celestial, en su provisión sabia y generosa, designó a su propio Hijo para ser como nosotros (véase Juan 1:14), para "ser semejante a sus hermanos en todo", para experimentar lo que experimentamos, para conocer plenamente a nuestro nivel la angustia, la tentación, el dolor y el sufrimiento que son parte del ser humano.

Jesús entendió nuestra angustia. La vio en las personas perdidas y confundidas que necesitaban desesperadamente la curación que él tenía (ver Mateo 9:35-38). Experimentó nuestras tentaciones cuando enfrentó al diablo en el desierto (ver Mateo 4:1-11). Sintió nuestro dolor cuando lloró por la muerte de su amigo Lázaro (ver Juan 11:1-44). Y más de lo que podemos entender, Jesús asumió nuestro sufrimiento cuando fue a la cruz con nuestros pecados (ver Juan 19:1-37).

Sí, Jesús lo sabe. Él sabe cuándo estamos entre la espada y la pared y sentimos como que no hay esperanza. Él está con su mano extendida, diciéndonos: "Vengan a mí todos ustedes, los agotados de tanto trabajar, que yo los haré descansar. Lleven mi yugo sobre ustedes, y aprendan de mí, que soy manso y humilde de corazón, y hallarán descanso para su alma; porque mi yugo es fácil, y mi carga es liviana" (Mateo 11:28-30).

No importa en qué momento de tu vida estés, no importa cuán lejos te sientas, Jesús entiende tu situación. Él te comprende. Acércate a Él en oración.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor Jesús, revíveme con tu amor y el consuelo de tu presencia. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Quién estuvo contigo cuando estabas pasando por algo trágico? ¿Cómo te ayudó o apoyó?
2. ¿De qué forma se fortalece tu fe al saber que Jesús enfrentó el mismo tipo de dificultades que enfrentamos nosotros?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Quién estuvo contigo cuando estabas pasando por algo trágico? ¿Cómo te ayudó o apoyó?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Como uma criança pequena

Como uma criança pequena

Leia: Mateus 18:1-5; 19:13,14 | A Bíblia em um ano: ÊXODO 21-22; MATEUS 19

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…a menos que vocês se convertam e se tornem como crianças, jamais entrarão no reino dos céus.

—Mateus 18:3

Uma noite, muitos anos atrás, depois de orar com a nossa filha de 2 anos, antes de ela ir dormir, minha esposa surpreendeu-se com a pergunta. “Mamãe, onde está Jesus?”

Ela lhe respondeu: “Jesus está no Céu e Ele está em toda parte, e também está aqui conosco. E pode estar em seu coração se você pedir-lhe para entrar”.

—Eu quero que Jesus entre em meu coração.

—Um destes dias você pode pedir-lhe.

—Quero pedir para Jesus estar no meu coração agora.

Então, nossa menininha disse: “Jesus, por favor, entre em meu coração e fique comigo”. E isso iniciou sua jornada de fé com Ele.

Quando os discípulos de Jesus lhe perguntaram quem era o maior no reino dos céus, Ele chamou uma criança para vir e se juntar a eles (vv.1,2).

E disse: “a menos que vocês se convertam e se tornem como crianças, jamais entrarão no reino dos céus. […] e quem recebe uma criança como esta em meu nome recebe a mim” (vv.3,5).

Através dos olhos de Jesus podemos ver uma criança confiante como nosso exemplo de fé. E nos é dito que acolhamos todos os que lhe abrem o coração. “Deixem que as crianças venham a mim”, disse Jesus, “Não as impeçam, pois o reino dos céus pertence aos que são como elas” (19:14).

Senhor Jesus, obrigado por nos chamares para seguir-te com a fé confiante de uma criança.

Nossa fé em Jesus deve ser como a de uma criança confiante.

por David C. McCasland

© 2020 Ministérios Pão Diário
Nossa fé em Jesus deve ser como a de uma criança confiante.