The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, February 10, 2020

Psalm 119:105-112; 2 Kings 22:3-20; Romans 11:2-10

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, February 10, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 119:105-112

The law is light

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
        a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
        that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much;
        preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
        and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
        I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
        but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
        they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
        to the very end.

2 Kings 22:3-20

Huldah urges Josiah to keep the law

22:3 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5 Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord— 6 the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. 7 But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”

8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

15 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

So they took her answer back to the king.

Romans 11:2-10

A remnant remains faithful

11:2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

   “God gave them a spirit of stupor,
     eyes that could not see
     and ears that could not hear,
   to this very day.”

9 And David says:

   “May their table become a snare and a trap,
     a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
     and their backs be bent forever.”

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 MONDAY, February 10, 2020
Psalm 119:105-112; 2 Kings 22:3-20; Romans 11:2-10

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, February 10, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, February 10, 2020

On February 10, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released after twenty-seven years in a South African prison. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment for plotting to overthrow his government as part of the African National Congress (AFM), which stood in opposition to the ruling National Party’s apartheid policies. While imprisoned he became one of the most influential black leaders of South Africa. After the apartheid policy was defeated through nonviolent struggle, Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

Nelson Mandela said, “To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Lord, not many of us could sustain hope in the midst of such horrors as Apartheid South Africa. Thank you for the witness of people like Nelson Mandela, who reminds us that hope is a lifeline for those who hang by the threads of injustice. As long as there are people held in captivity, oppressed, and denied basic human rights, help us all to consider ourselves to be hanging by the same frail threads. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, February 10, 2020

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 13

Listen to 1 Corinthians 13

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 - Lunes 10 de febrero de 2020

Recuerda quién te lleva de la mano

Aunque mi padre y mi madre me abandonen, el Señor me recibirá en sus brazos.

—Salmo 27:10 (NVI)

Nadie nace con un manual ni con una cartilla que nos enseñe cómo ser mejores padres. Se trata de un compromiso que nos llega sin muchas veces haberlo buscado. El día menos esperado las cosas cambian y nos enfrentamos a esa realidad: «Voy a ser padre» o «Voy a ser madre». Incluso, en ocasiones puedes quedar en estado de choque un par de días. Entonces, después de hacer las pruebas, las cuentas y demás análisis, te cae el veinte y llegas a tu verdad, vas a ser padre.

¿Y qué me dices de los que tienen sus hijos sin contar con el respaldo de la pareja y les toca seguir adelante solos con esta enorme responsabilidad? Pues para todos va esta reflexión.

Tuve la oportunidad de vivir esta última situación con un embarazo no planeado. Sumado a eso, una pareja que prefirió abandonarme antes que asumir su papel de padre. No les niego que viví momentos de angustia, de soledad y de tristeza por no haberme guardado. Viví momentos de dolor por haberle fallado a mi Dios, a mis princesas y a mi familia.

Sin embargo, llegó el momento en que me tocó guardar mi dolor, levantar mi cabeza, pedir perdón a quienes afecté con esta situación y vivir ese último embarazo como si fuera el primero. Hoy en día mi princesa Anacristina tiene cinco años y es mi vida. Ha llenado de felicidad mi vida y la de mi familia.

Dios perdona nuestras faltas y nos da nueva oportunidades.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Nadie nace con un manual ni con una cartilla que nos enseñe cómo ser mejores padres.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, February 10, 2020

BOLD WITNESS NOT IN VAIN

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

—1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Lung Singh was a spirit worshiper and opium addict for forty-five years in the little Southeast Asian country of Laos. When he turned to Christ, he became a powerhouse for the Lord. Dr. Jan Pit shares about the day he baptized Lung Singh:

“I’ll never forget how, after coming up out of the waters, he began singing, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus,’ Then he pointed to the ripples spreading out in the water and said, ‘Brother Jan, there goes my old life. All the old things have passed away. It’s gone. Everything now is new.’

“Still soaking wet, he clambered onto the bank on the side of the famous Mekong River and knelt down. ‘Devil,’ he shouted. ‘I’ve been your servant for 45 years. Now I belong to Christ. Now I only serve him.’

“I’ve never met a man so on fire for the Lord. After I left the country in 1973, Lung Singh continued his courageous ministry. He was constantly warned by the Pathet Lao Communists to stop his preaching, but he refused.

“‘I cannot do that. Jesus saved me. He did everything for me. I can’t be quiet!’”

Years later he was executed but not before impacting for good the kingdom of heaven.

Sister Wu is a leader in a house church in China. One day her home was suddenly raided by the police. She had Christian literature from abroad and it was confiscated. Sister Wu was arrested and taken to the police station. The police were cruel and abusive towards her. She was questioned overnight not only by the police but also by the head of the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) of the city. She bravely responded to their questions.

Just a few days after her release, the chief of the RAB’s brother was severely injured in an automobile accident and taken to the hospital. By the time Sister Wu knew about it, she went to visit this RAB chief’s brother and mother. She led them to the Lord while they were in the hospital.

Later, on another occasion, Sister Wu was holding a Christian training class in a small room of a restaurant. One of the employees decided to report the meeting to the PSB hoping to make some money because it was an illegal meeting. The matter was reported all the way to the top of the RAB, but the chief of the RAB, upon discovering that it was Sister Wu conducting the meeting, said “Oh, don’t bother her. She’s OK.” Sister Wu’s boldness was rewarded.

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the strength of Christ and fearlessly refuse to give in to my enemy, Satan’s attempts to shut down my verbal and outgoing witness.

PRAYER: Pray for boldness for all believers to share the gospel openly.

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

Women of the Bible - Monday, February 10, 2020

Leah

Her name means: "Impatient" or "Wild Cow"

Her character: Capable of both strong and enduring love, she was a faithful mother and wife. Manipulated by her father, she became jealous of her sister, with whom, it seems, she never reconciled.
Her sorrow: That she lacked her sister's beauty, and that her love for her husband was one-sided.
Her joy: That she bore Jacob six sons and one daughter.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 29-35; Ruth 4:11

Her Story

We buried my sister Rachel today. But she is still alive. I catch glimpses of her in Jacob's broken heart, in dark-eyed Joseph and squalling little Benjamin, his favorite sons. Rachel's sons. I can hear my beautiful, determined sister weeping loudly for the children she might have had, stubbornly refusing to be comforted. Yet who takes note of my tears? Should they flood the desert, no one would notice.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, and then Gad and Asher by my maid—these are the children God has given me and I have given my beloved Jacob. And still he loves her best. Should my husband and I live another hundred years, I will never be his only wife.

Contrary to what Leah may have felt, God had taken note of her sorrow. Knowing well that Jacob's heart was too cramped a space to harbor both Rachel and Leah, he made Leah a mother, not once, but seven times, extending her influence in Jacob's household.

With the birth of each child, the unhappy Leah hoped to secure her husband's affection. But each time her disappointment grew. She felt the old curse asserting itself: "Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you" (Genesis 3:16).

Perhaps Jacob still resented Leah for tricking him on their wedding night, disguising herself as his beloved Rachel. Surely Leah's love had been passionate enough to deceive him until morning. She felt both glad and guilty for her part; though, truth to tell, she had little choice but to obey her father, Laban, in the matter. And she thanked God each day for enabling her to bear Jacob's children. Still, children often caused a mother untold sorrow.

Dinah, her only daughter, had been raped by a local prince on their return to Jacob's homeland. Leah hardly knew how to comfort her. To make matters worse, her sons Levi and Simeon avenged their sister by savagely murdering a town-full of people. Then Reuben disgraced himself by sleeping with his father's concubine Bilhah.

Hadn't God promised to protect us if we returned to this land of promise? How, then, could such things happen? Leah wondered. True, God had watched over them as they faced Esau and his four hundred men. But Leah's joy at the brothers' friendly reunion was eclipsed by her sorrow at once again being proved the lesser-loved wife. Jacob had made it plain enough by placing Rachel and her children last in their long caravan, giving them the best chance of escape should Esau prove violent.

But Jacob's love could not prevent Rachel from dying in childbirth. Leah, not Rachel, was destined to be his first and last wife. Alongside her husband, the father of Israel, she would be revered as a mother of Israel. In fact, the promise of a Savior was carried not through Rachel's Joseph but through Leah's Judah, whose descendants would include David, Israel's great king, and Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. In the end, Jacob was laid to rest in the cave of Machpelah, next to his first wife, Leah, rather than his favorite wife, Rachel, who was buried somewhere near Ephrath.

The two sisters, Rachel and Leah, remind us that life is fraught with sorrow and peril, much of it caused by sin and selfishness. Both women suffered—each in her own way—the curse of Eve after she was expelled from her garden paradise. While Rachel experienced great pain in giving birth to children, Leah experienced the anguish of loving a man who seemed indifferent to her. Yet both women became mothers in Israel, leaving their homeland to play essential roles in the story of God's great plan for his people.

Her Promise

The Lord noticed Leah's misery. He looked down and saw a woman who was lonely and sad because her husband loved his other wife better than he loved her. So, to ease her sorrow, to provide her comfort, God gave her children—beautiful, intelligent, strong children, one of whom would establish the lineage of the priests of Israel and another who was an ancestor of Jesus himself.

This same God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Leah is our God. He sees our miseries, no matter how small or how large. He knows our circumstances, our feelings, our hurts. And, just as in Leah's life, he is willing to step in and create something beautiful in and through us.

This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Used with permission.
We buried my sister Rachel today. But she is still alive. I catch glimpses of her in Jacob's broken heart, in dark-eyed Joseph and squalling little Benjamin …

LHM Daily Devotions - February 10, 2020 - Bad News, Good News

"Bad News, Good News"

Feb. 10, 2020

For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

—Psalm 112:6-7 (ESV)

Which do you want to hear first, the bad news or the good news? That might be a line from a book or movie, or even the opening line to a joke. But this is no joke. Our world has no lack of bad news. We are confronted daily with stories of natural disasters, violent crime, and political conflicts. Still, even that bad news is relieved now and then by good news—the heroic work of first-responders, a local good Samaritan who lends a hand to a neighbor, or charitable organizations that provide help to those in need.

Some bad news may strike closer to home, even in the home, through family strife and brokenness, employment and financial troubles, or through illness, grief, and loss. Such circumstances may be relieved with a bit of good news, through repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation—as well as the help and support of brothers and sisters in Christ.

But there is even more terrible news that strikes every one of us deeply and personally. Apart from Christ, we were held captive by sin and death, with no relief in sight. But thanks be to God, we have heard the Good News, the sweet Gospel that sets us free! It was announced by the angel on the first Christmas night: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

Christ our Lord took on our human flesh—and our bad news. For us, He endured rejection, betrayal, arrest, and unjust condemnation. Hanging on the cross, He bore the weight of our sin, guilt, and shame; He suffered the penalty of death that we deserved. He was taken down from the cross and buried. Then, on the third day after His death—on the first Easter morning—Jesus rose up from the grave, victorious over sin, death, and Satan. Once again, an angel announced good news: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen" (Luke 24:5b-6a). Our crucified, risen, and reigning Lord knows that we will still experience bad news in our lives. He tell us, "In the world you will have tribulation." But His good news has conquering power: "But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b).

As our psalm proclaims, we are remembered forever, held securely in our Savior's nail-scarred hands. Clothed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus, we are "not afraid of bad news," because we know there is better news. Our hearts remain firm, trusting in our Lord. Do you know someone who is weighed down by the world's bad news? Share with them a message that is eternally different: "Would you like to hear some good news today? Let me tell you about Jesus!"

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, at Your birth the angel announced good news of great joy. Fill us with joy and with an eager longing to tell others the good news of salvation. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Has there been a time in your life when you felt profoundly sinful and in need of God's forgiveness?
2. How is it that the righteous will never be moved? What does that mean in our day-to-day lives?
3. What's your typical first reaction to bad news?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Has there been a time in your life when you felt profoundly sinful and in need of God's forgiveness?

CPTLN devocional del 10 de febrero de 2020 - Malas noticias, buenas noticias

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Malas noticias, buenas noticias

10 de Febrero de 2020

Y por eso nunca tendrá tropiezos. El hombre justo siempre será recordado; vivirá sin temor a las malas noticias, y su corazón estará firme y confiando en el Señor.

—Salmo 112:6-7 (RVC)

¿Cuál quieres escuchar primero, la mala noticia o la buena? Puedes oír esta frase común en un libro o una película, o incluso en una broma. Pero esto no es broma. A nuestro mundo no le faltan malas noticias. Nos enfrentamos diariamente con historias de desastres naturales, crímenes violentos y conflictos políticos. Aun así, esas malas noticias se alivian de vez en cuando con buenas noticias: el trabajo heroico de los socorristas, un buen samaritano local que echa una mano a un vecino u organizaciones caritativas que brindan ayuda a los necesitados.

Pero algunas malas noticias pueden ser más delicadas para nosotros: conflictos familiares, problemas laborales o financieros, enfermedad, dolor y pérdida. Tales circunstancias pueden aliviarse con un par de buenas noticias como optar por el arrepentimiento, el perdón y la reconciliación, así como contar con la ayuda y el apoyo de hermanos y hermanas en Cristo.

Pero hay noticias aún más terribles que nos afectan a todos profunda y personalmente. Sin Cristo, somos cautivos del pecado y la muerte, sin alivio o solución a la vista. Pero gracias a Dios, ¡hemos escuchado las Buenas Nuevas, el dulce Evangelio que nos libera! Esta buena noticia fue anunciada por el ángel en la primer Navidad. El ángel les dijo: "No teman, que les traigo una buena noticia, que será para todo el pueblo motivo de mucha alegría. Hoy, en la ciudad de David, les ha nacido un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor" (Lucas 2:10-11).

Cristo, nuestro Señor, se hizo hombre por nosotros. Por nosotros soportó el rechazo, la traición, el arresto y la condena injusta. Colgado en la cruz, soportó el peso de nuestro pecado, culpa y vergüenza; sufrió la pena de muerte que merecíamos. Fue bajado de la cruz y enterrado. Luego, al tercer día después de su muerte, en la primera mañana de Pascua, Jesús se levantó de la tumba victorioso sobre el pecado, la muerte y Satanás. Una vez más, un ángel anunció buenas noticias: "¿Por qué buscan entre los muertos al que vive? No está aquí. ¡Ha resucitado!" (Lucas 24:5b-6a). Nuestro Señor crucificado, resucitado y reinante sabe que aún experimentaremos malas noticias en nuestras vidas. Él nos dice: "En el mundo tendrán aflicción". Pero sus buenas noticias tienen poder de conquista: "pero confíen, yo he vencido al mundo" (Juan 16:33b).

Como proclama nuestro salmo, somos recordados para siempre, sostenidos de forma segura en las manos con cicatrices de clavos de nuestro Salvador. Vestidos con la justicia de Cristo Jesús, vivimos "sin temor a las malas noticias", porque sabemos que tenemos mejores noticias. Nuestros corazones permanecen firmes, confiando en nuestro Señor.

¿Conoces a alguien que esté abrumado por las malas noticias del mundo? Comparte con ellos un mensaje que es eternamente diferente.

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, en tu nacimiento el ángel anunció buenas noticias de gran gozo. Llénanos de gozo y de un ansioso deseo de contarles a los demás las buenas noticias de salvación. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Cuál es tu primera reacción ante las malas noticias?
2. ¿Ha habido un momento en tu vida en el que te sentiste abrumado por tu pecado y necesitaste el perdón de Dios?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cuál es tu primera reacción ante las malas noticias?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Solidaires

Solidaires

Lisez : Romains 12.9-16
La Bible en un an : Lévitique 8 – 10 ; Matthieu 25.31-46

Réjouissez-vous avec ceux qui se réjouissent ; pleurez avec ceux qui pleurent.

—Romains 12.15

En 1994, en deux mois, des Hutu déterminés à tuer leurs compatriotes ont massacré jusqu’à un million de Tutsis au Rwanda. Après ce génocide inqualifiable, l’évêque anglican Geoffrey Rwubusisi a proposé à sa femme de venir en aide aux femmes ayant perdu des êtres chers. À cela, Marie a répondu : « Tout ce que je veux, c’est pleurer. » Elle aussi avait perdu des proches. Ce sage leader et bon mari lui a alors dit : « Mary, réunit les femmes et pleure avec elles. » Il savait que la douleur de sa femme l’avait préparée à partager celle des autres de façon particulière.

C’est dans l’Église, la famille de Dieu, que l’on peut partager toute sa vie, le bon comme le mauvais. Dans le Nouveau Testament, l’expression « les uns les autres » rend notre interdépendance. « [Soyez] pleins d’affection les uns pour les autres ; par honneur, usez de prévenances réciproques. […] Ayez les mêmes sentiments les uns envers les autres » (RO 12.10,16). On exprime l’étendue de cette réciprocité dans le verset 15 : « Réjouissez-vous avec ceux qui se réjouissent ; pleurez avec ceux qui pleurent. »

Bien que la profondeur et la portée de notre douleur ne se compare pas à celles des victimes d’un génocide, elle n’en reste pas moins personnelle et réelle. Par ailleurs, comme cela a été le cas de Mary, on peut accueillir et partager la nôtre pour la consolation et le bien d’autres personnes en raison de ce que Dieu a accompli pour nous.

Le don de l’amour de Dieu nous permet de partager et de ressentir la souffrance de quelqu’un d’autre, en pleurant avec lui et en partageant son affliction et sa tristesse.

par Arthur Jackson

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
En 1994, en deux mois, des Hutu déterminés à tuer leurs compatriotes ont massacré jusqu’à un million de Tutsis au Rwanda.