The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, February 12, 2020

Psalm 119:105-112; Proverbs 6:6-23; John 8:12-30

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, February 12, 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.
       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.

Proverbs 6:6-23

The law is a lamp

6  Go to the ant, you sluggard;
     consider its ways and be wise!
7  It has no commander,
     no overseer or ruler,
8  yet it stores its provisions in summer
     and gathers its food at harvest.

9  How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
     When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
     a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
     and scarcity like an armed man.

12 A troublemaker and a villain,
     who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13   who winks maliciously with his eye,
     signals with his feet
     and motions with his fingers,
14  who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
     he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
     he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

16 There are six things the Lord hates,
     seven that are detestable to him:
17     haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
18     a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19     a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

20 My son, keep your father’s command
     and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
     fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
     when you sleep, they will watch over you;
     when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
     this teaching is a light,
   and correction and instruction
     are the way to life,

John 8:12-30

Christ the light of the world

8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

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 12, 2020
Psalm 119:105-112; Proverbs 6:6-23; John 8:12-30

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, February 12, 2020

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, February 12, 2020

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established on February 12, 1909, after a race riot in Springfield, Illinois. Some of the founding members included W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Wells-Barnett, and Oswald Garrison Villiard. Over the years, it has become one of the most influential justice organizations in the United States, leading movements against lynching, segregation, discrimination, and race-based violence.

W.E.B. DuBois, a co-founder of the NAACP, wrote, “Only by a union of intelligence and sympathy across the color-line in this critical period of the Republic shall justice and right triumph.”

Lord, help us to see that without unity and solidarity very little can be accomplished as we strive for racial harmony and economic justice. As your children, we are in this together. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, February 12, 2020

1 Corinthians 13:6-7

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

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 - Miércoles 12 de febrero de 2020

Tenemos que creer

No temas, porque yo estoy contigo; no te angusties, porque yo soy tu Dios. Te fortaleceré y te ayudaré; te sostendré con mi diestra victoriosa.

—Isaías 41:10 (NVI)

Es verdad que casi todos hemos experimentado un milagro de Dios en nuestras vidas. Bueno, quizá consideres que no es así en la tuya.

¿Por qué será que los seres humanos dudamos tanto, y a veces más entre los que decimos creer en Dios, de que Él es capaz de hacer cualquier milagro? ¿Por qué olvidamos que Dios es el mismo hoy y siempre y que hace y hará milagros? Lo que ocurre es que nuestra falta de fe no nos permite verlo en nuestras vidas.

En lo personal, he recibido milagros de todo tipo: familiares, financieros, de salud. Dios ha hecho milagros en mis hijas, como lo hizo al sanar a mi princesa de cinco años, Anne, de una enfermedad en la piel. Le detectaron un virus llamado molluscum contagiosum [molusco contagioso] y quedé aterrorizada. Solo sabía que era horrible, contagioso, que las verrugas en la piel le podían durar de seis a dos años y que se podía extender por todo el cuerpo. Sentí un frío en mi interior y la miré con esas pápulas en las piernas y dije: «¡No, Señor, a ella no!».

Esa noche, me metí sola al baño y me derrumbé. Allí me desahogué con mi Padre Dios y le dije: «Por favor, sana a mi hija. Te ofrezco mi vida y mi trabajo, pero sánala».

Recuerdo que la pusimos en el grupo de oración que tenemos en la emisora donde trabajo, y les digo algo, a las dos semanas esas pápulas se desvanecieron. Lo que duraría seis meses como mínimo, Dios lo llevó a dos semanas.

Tenemos que creer que Dios es bueno y conoce nuestra necesidad. Recuerda, «sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios» (Hebreos 11:6).

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Por qué será que los seres humanos dudamos tanto, y a veces más entre los que decimos creer en Dios, de que Él es capaz de hacer cualquier milagro?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, February 12, 2020

REFUSING TO COMPROMISE

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

—Matthew 10:28 (NIV)

When do you compromise and when do you refuse to? On the one hand, Jesus instructed us to make friends with our enemy before any court case can develop; and on the other, he teaches us to be true to the principles of the kingdom of God.

The history of Christian persecution is filled with inspiring stories featuring people of principle—those individuals who are immortalized for refusing to compromise their beliefs. John Bunyan was one of those.

In 1660, England’s experiment as a republic came to an abrupt end with the return to monarchist rule under Charles II. With this change, religious freedom also ended and Anglicanism was once again designated as the official state religion. It became illegal to conduct church services outside of the Church of England and unlicensed individuals were forbidden from addressing a religious gathering.

With these new laws, John Bunyan was arrested for preaching without a license. His growing popularity, though, prompted the judge to seek some sort of a compromise. Promising Bunyan immediate release if he only promised not to preach again, the judge’s leniency was met with the reply, “If you release me today, I shall preach tomorrow!”

Three times in his life Bunyan was arrested, convicted and jailed for preaching without a license. In the end, he spent over twelve years in prison. At any time during those years, he could have secured his freedom by simply promising not to preach. But Bunyan knew God’s calling on his life and so he adamantly refused to compromise his convictions.

Those prison years were certainly not wasted. It was during this time that Bunyan wrote the book Pilgrim’s Progress. Its immediate success and ongoing popularity have made it a Christian classic, the second most read book in English literature next to the Bible.

Today Christians around the world still languish in prison because they will not compromise their faith and give in to government suggestions for release. Christians in Laos are accused of following an “American” religion and would be released from prison and left in peace if they would sign a document recanting their commitment to Christ. Most refuse.

Christians in “shipping container” prisons in Eritrea would be released if they also signed such a document but prefer to suffer indefinitely for the cause of Christ than deny Him.

Compromise is not always bad, but when it comes to issues of faith, we are expected to stand for Christ and His kingdom principles.

RESPONSE: Today I will stand strong and true to my convictions and faith in Jesus and His kingdom principles.

PRAYER: Pray for those Christians in prison today mentioned above, that they will not give in to Satan’s temptations to deny their faith.

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 12, 2020 - Feed Your Faith

"Feed Your Faith"

Feb. 12, 2020

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

—1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (ESV)

Recall for a moment kids learning how to eat. From milk and formula to runny goo in baby food jars, they slowly and steadily move on to other cuisines—and other eating challenges. Soon their palates are experiencing flavor bonanzas like pureed meat, whipped carrots, and whatever you do to zucchini to make it edible.

Before long, it's time for their first plate of food (one of life's major transition zones, don't you think?) where mashed potatoes and apple sauce are early crowd favorites. Though it seems a lifetime, soon they're on to bigger and better things—and the best thing of all: they can feed themselves!

Oh, that we might say the same!

The apostle Paul knew this situation well. Addressing the fellowship of believers at Corinth, he was unable to speak to them in the way he would have preferred. They knew Christ. They had received Him and made the good confession of faith. But their faith-walk was a constipated one. They locked up on issues they should have long been past: petty jealousies and internal strife made their progress negligible at best, halted at worst.

Paul could not talk with them in a way that was fitting for how long they had been believers. Instead, he had to spend time on the fundamentals, treating them like children who, having once learned how to consume solid food, were now unable to consume anything more than milk.

How often are we like the folks at Corinth, stunted in our growth because our spiritual nourishment is loaded with human additives? For Paul, there was one way to becoming the man or woman we can be: devotion to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. What he said to the church at Philippi bears repeating: "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained" (Philippians 3:14-16).

Indeed, let us hold tight to what we have attained—and grow into Him who is Head of all.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may we learn to live as those who are mature in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you think celebrity lives influence society's thinking in a significant way? How so?
2. Why would the Corinthians have chosen one teacher over another (Paul, Apollos, or someone else)? How do you think it got to that point?
3. Who is some prominent person you respect and admire? Has your esteem remained constant over time for that person?

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).
Do you think celebrity lives influence society's thinking in a significant way? How so?

CPTLN devocional del 12 de febrero de 2020 - Alimenta tu fe

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Alimenta tu fe

12 de Febrero de 2020

Hermanos, yo no pude hablarles como a personas espirituales sino como a gente carnal, como a niños en Cristo. Les di a beber leche, pues no eran capaces de asimilar alimento sólido, ni lo son todavía, porque aún son gente carnal. Pues mientras haya entre ustedes celos, contiendas y divisiones, serán gente carnal y vivirán según criterios humanos. Y es que cuando alguien dice: «Yo ciertamente soy de Pablo»; y el otro: «Yo soy de Apolos», ¿acaso no son gente carnal? Después de todo, ¿quién es Pablo, y quién es Apolos? Sólo servidores por medio de los cuales ustedes han creído, según lo que a cada uno le concedió el Señor. Yo sembré, y Apolos regó, pero el crecimiento lo ha dado Dios. Así que ni el que siembra ni el que riega son algo, sino Dios, que da el crecimiento. Y tanto el que siembra como el que riega son iguales, aunque cada uno recibirá su recompensa conforme a su labor. Porque nosotros somos colaboradores de Dios, y ustedes son el campo de cultivo de Dios, son el edificio de Dios.

—1 Corintios 3:1-9 (RVC)

Recordemos por un momento cómo aprenden a comer los niños. Comienzan con leche, pasan a la comidita pegajosa en frascos para bebés y luego se mueven lenta y constantemente hacia otros desafíos alimenticios. Pronto sus paladares experimentan bonanzas de sabor como puré de carne, zanahorias batidas y todo lo que hacen con el calabacín para que sea comestible.

En poco tiempo, llega la hora de su primer plato de comida con puré de papas y de manzana. Aunque parezca que falta mucho tiempo, pronto podrán comer alimentos más complejos y sabrosos. Y lo mejor de todo: ¡podrán alimentarse solos!

¡Sería bueno que pudiéramos decir lo mismo en otros aspectos de la vida!

El apóstol Pablo conocía bien esta situación. Al dirigirse a la comunidad de creyentes en Corinto, no pudo hablarles de la manera que hubiera querido. Ellos conocían a Cristo. Lo habían recibido y habían hecho confesión de fe. Pero su caminar en fe se había estancado. Se ensañaron en asuntos que deberían haber superado hacía mucho tiempo: los celos mezquinos y las luchas internas hicieron que su progreso en el camino de la fe fuera insignificantemente pequeño, o que hasta se detuviera.

Es por ello que Pablo tuvo que dedicar tiempo a explicar los fundamentos de la fe, tratándolos como niños que, si bien una vez habían aprendido a consumir alimentos sólidos, ahora no podían consumir nada más que leche.

¿Con qué frecuencia somos como los corintios, atrofiados en nuestro crecimiento porque nuestro alimento espiritual está cargado de aditivos humanos? Para Pablo había una manera de convertirnos en el hombre o la mujer que podemos ser: la devoción a Jesucristo como Señor y Salvador. Lo que dijo a la iglesia en Filipos vale la pena repetir: "¡prosigo a la meta, al premio del supremo llamamiento de Dios en Cristo Jesús! Así que, todos los que somos perfectos, sintamos esto mismo; y si ustedes sienten otra cosa, también esto se lo revelará Dios. Pero en aquello a que hemos llegado, sigamos una misma regla y sintamos una misma cosa" (Filipenses 3:14-16).

Sujetémonos firmemente a lo que hemos logrado, y crezcamos en Aquél que es la Cabeza de todos.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, ayúdanos para que podamos aprender a vivir como aquellos que son maduros en Cristo Jesús, nuestro Señor y Salvador. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Crees que las vidas de las celebridades influyen en el pensamiento de la sociedad de manera significativa? ¿De qué forma?
2. ¿A qué persona prominente respetas y admiras?

© 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 las vidas de las celebridades influyen en el pensamiento de la sociedad de manera significativa? ¿De qué forma?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Confie em mim

Confie em mim

Leia: 1 Reis 17:7-16 | A Bíblia em um ano: LEVÍTICO 13; MATEUS 26:26-50

Baixe a versão MP3

Portanto, não se preocupem com o amanhã, pois o amanhã trará suas próprias inquietações.

—Mateus 6:34

Após me formar, recebia pouco, o dinheiro era curto e, às vezes, nem tinha o suficiente para a próxima refeição. Aprendi a confiar em Deus por minha provisão diária.

Isso me lembra a experiência do profeta Elias. Durante seu ministério profético, ele aprendeu a confiar em Deus para a satisfação das suas necessidades diárias. Logo após Elias declarar que Deus mandaria uma seca a Israel, o Senhor o enviou a um lugar deserto, o riacho de Querite, onde usou corvos para levar-lhe as refeições diárias e a água do riacho para refrescá-lo (vv.1-4).

Mas veio a seca. O riacho encolheu-se num minúsculo ribeiro e lentamente se tornou num fio de água. Somente quando secou, Deus disse: “Vá morar em Sarepta […] Dei ordem a uma viúva que mora ali para lhe dar alimento” (v.9). Sarepta ficava na Fenícia, cujos habitantes eram inimigos dos israelitas. Alguém daria abrigo a Elias? E uma pobre viúva teria comida para compartilhar?

Muitos de nós preferiríamos que Deus desse em abundância bem antes de os nossos recursos se esgotarem, ao invés de o suficiente para cada dia. Mas o amoroso Pai sussurra: Confiai em mim. Assim como Ele usou corvos e a viúva para cuidar de Elias, nada é impossível para Ele. Podemos contar com o Seu amor e poder para suprir nossas necessidades diárias.

Pai, obrigado por saberes o que precisamos antes mesmo de pedirmos. Ajuda-nos a confiar em ti para suprir nossas necessidades.

Deus supre todas as nossas necessidades — um dia de cada vez.

por Poh Fang Chia

© 2020 Ministérios Pão Diário
Após me formar, recebia pouco, o dinheiro era curto e, às vezes, nem tinha o suficiente para a próxima refeição.…