The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, February 5, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, February 5, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 37:1-17

God will bless the righteous

1  Do not fret because of those who are evil
     or be envious of those who do wrong;
2  for like the grass they will soon wither,
     like green plants they will soon die away.

3  Trust in the Lord and do good;
     dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4  Take delight in the Lord,
     and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5  Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him and he will do this:
6  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
     your vindication like the noonday sun.

7  Be still before the Lord
     and wait patiently for him;
   do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
     when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
     do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9  For those who are evil will be destroyed,
     but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
     though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
     and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
     and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
     for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
     and bend the bow
   to bring down the poor and needy,
     to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
     and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
     than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
     but the Lord upholds the righteous.

Ruth 3:1-13; 4:13-22

Ruth one of the blessed

3:1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

9 “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”
…
4:13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 This, then, is the family line of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron,

19 Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab,

20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

21 Salmon the father of Boaz,

Boaz the father of Obed,

22 Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of David.

Luke 6:17-26

The beatitudes in Luke’s gospel

6:17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

   “Blessed are you who are poor,
     for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
     for you will be satisfied.
   Blessed are you who weep now,
     for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
     when they exclude you and insult you
     and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
     for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
     for you will go hungry.
   Woe to you who laugh now,
     for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
     for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

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, February 5, 2020
Psalm 37:1-17; Ruth 3:1-13; 4:13-22; Luke 6:17-26

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, February 5, 2020

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, February 5, 2020

On February 1, 1960, four college students—Ezell A. Blair Jr., David Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain—initiated the first sit-in demonstration at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. The store manager ignored the protestors, hoping they would leave. The next day, twenty-seven more students came to protest. By February 5, three hundred students had arrived, igniting a mass movement of sit-ins for desegregation throughout the South.

Eighteenth-century Jesuit Jean-Pierre de Caussade wrote, “The great and firm foundation of the spiritual life is the offering of ourselves to God and being subject to his will in all things. We must completely forget ourselves, so that we regard ourselves as an object which has been sold and over which we no longer have any rights. We find all our joy in fulfilling God’s pleasure—his happiness, his glory and the fact that he is our great and only delight. Once we have this foundation, all we need to do is spend our lives rejoicing that God is God and being so wholly abandoned to his will that we are quite indifferent as to what we do and equally indifferent as to what use he makes of our activities.”

Lord, remind us that it is not always agitated uprisings and nonstop activity which leads to justice, but that change often comes through the quiet commitment of a small group of people. Help us raise our small body of people to set about quietly becoming the change we want to see in the world. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, February 5, 2020

Psalm 33:4-5

For the word of the Lord is right and true;
  he is faithful in all he does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
  the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Read all of Psalm 33

Listen to Psalm 33

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 5 de febrero de 2020

El beneficio del dolor

Enjugará Dios toda lágrima de los ojos de ellos; y ya no habrá muerte, ni habrá más llanto, ni clamor, ni dolor; porque las primeras cosas pasaron.

—Apocalipsis 21:4 (RVR1960)

¿Cómo vamos a poder decir tal cosa? ¿Que el dolor tiene una parte positiva en nuestras vidas?

¡Sí! No hay nada más poderoso en nuestro caminar con Cristo que haber experimentado, aunque sea una vez, el dolor a través de una prueba.

Dios permite que nos prueben y sabe a la perfección la capacidad que tenemos para resistir. Es más, su Palabra dice que no permitirá algo que tú y yo no podamos tolerar para salir triunfantes, pues Él nos ayudará durante la situación que estemos viviendo y después de esta (véase 1 Corintios 10:13).

En el dolor nos volvemos más sensibles. En medio del dolor conocemos a Dios de una manera más personal. Al atravesar momentos desesperados de dolor, tenemos grandes experiencias con Él.

Muchas veces, Dios permite esas situaciones en nuestras vidas porque estamos alejados de Él, porque quizá nuestro corazón esté corrupto o porque solo necesitamos que nos moldee a fin de pasar a otro nivel en nuestra vida.

No hay un momento en el que tú y yo demos más frutos que después de pasar una gran tribulación.

Sin duda, el crecimiento duele.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Cómo vamos a poder decir tal cosa?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, February 5, 2020

FREEDOM IN CHRIST

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

—Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Claiming one’s freedom in Christ is central to the faith and fighting fear. For example, in China when authorities threaten house church leaders with the confiscation of their property, they reply, “If you want this farm, you need to talk to Jesus, as I have given it to Him. But if you do take it, I am free to trust God for my daily bread.”

When Chinese Christians are threatened with torture, they claim they are “free to trust God for healing.”

When they are imprisoned, they proclaim that they are then “free to share their faith with other prisoners.”

When Chinese believers are told they will be killed, they state that then they are “free to be with Jesus.”

The country of Bulgaria is plagued by a prevailing spirit of fear. Even many Christians suffer from it. It’s a country that was occupied by the Turks for five centuries (1396-1878) followed by several wars. After 1946, it was ruled with an iron hand by the Communists. This long story of repression and sufferings passed on for generations from the parents to the children has left durable marks in their spirits which results in deep anguish. It acts as a spiritual yoke and creates, as a consequence, the fear of taking any initiative. In families, this anguish has been passed on through generations as a legacy. It has become a vicious circle from which it is difficult to escape. A popular Bulgarian proverb says, “Fear has big eyes!”

Our co-workers were thus surprised when they delivered Bibles to Bulgarian Pastor Simeon Popov. He appeared radiant and serene. The absence of anguish could be explained as much by the action of the Holy Spirit, who releases us from yokes, as by the influence of his study time in Germany. According to the pastor, he not only studied theology, but he also learned to claim his freedom in Christ.

So this draws me to a significant conclusion and principle: If you are a Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit, and have lost your fear of death, you are unstoppable until God calls you home to heaven!

RESPONSE: Today I will claim my freedom in Christ and live in the power He gives me.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for freedom from fear that comes only from You.

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 February 5, 2020 - Lost in Self

"Lost in Self"

Feb. 5, 2020

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

—1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (ESV)

We live in an age of non-stop information flow. It hits us from all sides. We get data from our social media accounts, the major news outlets, the tidbits of gossip we receive from family and friends, and the hearsay of coworkers and others. It's really too much when you get right down to it.

We get loads of information on spiritual matters, too. Religious-based programming on radio, TV, and online dish up a daily menu hailing everything from old-time, Bible-thumpin' fundamentalism to New Age prosperity teaching. And then there's our infatuation with the spiritual lives of celebrities—what they believe, where they go to church, who their gurus are, and what hidden truths lie behind their success.

It's all a bit overwhelming when you think about it. And when you consider the millions who have little to no grounding in the Christian faith and next to zero training in the Bible as God's Word, it's no wonder the world's adrift—lost in that place it retreats to and thinks it knows best: itself.

Listen again to Paul's response to everything that can sidetrack and derail us from our faith. He says, "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Nothing. This is the only thing he would preach about. He preached about a Man, Jesus Christ, who is also God. Jesus came down from heaven to become one of us, to live and to die as a man. And He was crucified.

But why was He crucified?

Because that was the way Jesus could rescue all of us—all the people He loved—from the power of evil. And then He rose from the dead by the power of God. Today, He is triumphant forever over the sin that scourges the world and stains our souls. Now we can trust in Him when evil things come. He is Lord of all lords and has power over everything. He is our Savior.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the timeless truth of Your Son's saving work on our behalf. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you have any kind of "system" for taking in news, or is your approach more haphazard?
2. Do you think Paul's rabbinical training figured much into his new life in Christ?
3. What would be your advice to a new Christian who is wanting to be the best Christian he or she can be?

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).
Do you have any kind of "system" for taking in news, or is your approach more haphazard?

CPTLN devocional del 05 de febrero de 2020 - Perdido en sí mismo

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Perdido en sí mismo

05 de Febrero de 2020

Así que, hermanos, cuando fui a ustedes para anunciarles el testimonio de Dios, no lo hice con palabras elocuentes ni sabias. Más bien, al estar entre ustedes me propuse no saber de ninguna otra cosa, sino de Jesucristo, y de éste crucificado. Estuve entre ustedes con tanta debilidad, que temblaba yo de miedo. Ni mi palabra ni mi predicación se basaron en palabras persuasivas de sabiduría humana, sino en la demostración del Espíritu y del poder, para que la fe de ustedes no esté fundada en la sabiduría de los hombres, sino en el poder de Dios.

—1 Corintios 2:1-5 (RVC)

Vivimos en una era de flujo continuo de información. Obtenemos datos de nuestras cuentas de redes sociales, los principales medios de comunicación, los chismes que recibimos de familiares y amigos, y los rumores de compañeros de trabajo y otros. Realmente, es demasiado.

También recibimos mucha información sobre las cosas espirituales. La programación basada en la religión en la radio, la televisión y en línea ofrece un menú diario que va desde el fundamentalismo antiguo de la Biblia hasta la enseñanza de la prosperidad de la Nueva Era. Y luego está nuestro enamoramiento con la vida espiritual de las celebridades: lo que creen, a dónde van a la iglesia, quiénes son sus gurús y qué verdades ocultas subyacen a su éxito.

Es todo un poco abrumador. Cuando consideramos a los millones que tienen poca o ninguna base en la fe cristiana y casi cero entrenamiento en la Biblia como la Palabra de Dios, no es de extrañar que el mundo esté a la deriva, perdido en ese lugar al que se retira al lugar que mejor conoce: a sí mismo.

Escuchemos nuevamente la respuesta de Pablo a todo lo que puede desviarnos y descarrilarnos de nuestra fe. Él dice: "Me propuse no saber de ninguna otra cosa, sino de Jesucristo, y de éste crucificado". Y esto es lo único que predicaría: sobre Jesucristo, que también es Dios. Jesús bajó del cielo para convertirse en uno de nosotros, para vivir y morir como hombre. Y fue crucificado.

¿Pero por qué fue crucificado?

Porque esa era la forma en que Jesús podía rescatarnos a todos del poder del mal. Y luego resucitó de entre los muertos por el poder de Dios. Hoy, Él triunfa para siempre sobre el pecado que azota el mundo y mancha nuestras almas. Ahora podemos confiar en Él cuando nos sucedan cosas malas. Él es el Señor de todos los señores y tiene poder sobre todo. Él es nuestro Salvador.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, gracias por la verdad eterna de la obra redentora de tu Hijo en nuestro nombre. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Rev. Minh Chau Vo

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Crees que el la educación rabínica de Pablo tuvo que ver con su nueva vida en Cristo?
2. ¿Cuál sería tu consejo a un nuevo cristiano que quiere ser un buen cristiano?

© 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 el la educación rabínica de Pablo tuvo que ver con su nueva vida en Cristo?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Ouvindo a Sua voz

Ouvindo a Sua voz

Leia: João 10:25-30 | A Bíblia em um ano: ÊXODO 36–38; MATEUS 23:1-22

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Minhas ovelhas ouvem a minha voz; eu as conheço, e elas me seguem.

—João 10:27

Tenho problemas de audição — “sou surdo de um ouvido e não consigo escutar com o outro”, como dizia meu pai. Então, uso aparelho auditivo.

Na maior parte do tempo, o aparelho funciona bem, exceto quando estou em ambientes muito barulhentos. Nesses lugares, o aparelho capta cada voz no ambiente e eu não consigo ouvir a pessoa que está à minha frente.

Assim é com a nossa cultura: a cacofonia dos sons pode abafar a voz tranquila de Deus. “Onde a Palavra será encontrada, onde ela ressoará?”, pergunta o poeta T. S. Eliot. “Não aqui, não há silêncio suficiente.”

Felizmente, meu aparelho auditivo tem um recurso de ajuste que elimina os sons ambientes e me permite ouvir somente as vozes que quero. Da mesma forma, apesar das vozes que nos cercam, se nós aquietarmos nossa alma e escutarmos, ouviremos a voz de “suave sussurro ” de Deus (1 REIS 19:11,12).

Ele fala conosco todos os dias em meio à nossa inquietação e desejo. Ele nos chama em nossa mais profunda tristeza e na incompletude e insatisfação de nossas maiores alegrias.

Porém, Deus fala conosco, principalmente, em Sua Palavra (1 TESSALONICENSES 2:13). Ao manusear e ler o Seu livro, você também ouvirá a Sua voz. Ele o ama mais do que você jamais saberá e quer que ouça o que Ele tem a lhe dizer.

Querido Senhor, obrigado por nos dares a Tua Palavra. Ajuda-me a ouvir a Tua voz quando estou a sós contigo.

Deus fala através de Sua Palavra quando nos dispomos a ouvir.

por David H. Roper

© 2020 Ministérios Pão Diário
Tenho problemas de audição — “sou surdo de um ouvido e não consigo escutar com o outro.”