The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, February 13, 2020

Psalm 119:1-8; Genesis 26:1-5; James 1:12-16

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, February 13, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 119:1-8

Happy are those who walk in the law

1  Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
     who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2  Blessed are those who keep his statutes
     and seek him with all their heart—
3  they do no wrong
     but follow his ways.
4  You have laid down precepts
     that are to be fully obeyed.
5  Oh, that my ways were steadfast
     in obeying your decrees!
6  Then I would not be put to shame
     when I consider all your commands.
7  I will praise you with an upright heart
     as I learn your righteous laws.
8  I will obey your decrees;
     do not utterly forsake me.

Genesis 26:1-5

God blesses Isaac

26:1 Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”

James 1:12-16

God tempts no one

1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

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 THURSDAY, February 13, 2020
Psalm 119:1-8; Genesis 26:1-5; James 1:12-16

The Daily Prayer for THURSDAY, February 13, 2020

The Daily Prayer

THURSDAY, February 13, 2020

On February 13, 2008, the prime minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, issued a national apology to aboriginal families torn apart by Australian government agencies and church missions during the period between 1869 and 1969. Children were taken from their families and forced into institutions where they were often unable to speak their native language and were given new names and birthdates. It is estimated that between 1910 and 1971, fifty-five thousand children were taken from their families.

Zitkála-Šá, an American Indian woman who spent three years in an off-reservation boarding school, wrote this account of her experience: “Judéwin knew a few words of English, and she had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting our long, heavy hair. Our mothers had taught us that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among our people, short hair was worn by mourners and shingled hair by cowards! I cried aloud, shaking my head all the while until I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck, and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids. Then I lost my spirit. In my anguish, I moaned for my mother, but no one came to comfort me. Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now, I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder.”

Lord, forgive us for not learning the cultures of your children around the world and in our communities. You speak to us in many languages and customs. Train our ears and our hearts to hear you. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, February 13, 2020

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Read all of John 3

Listen to John 3
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 - Jueves 13 de febrero de 2020

Cuando te roban el gozo

Por tu nombre, Señor, dame vida; por tu justicia, sácame de este aprieto.

—Salmo 143:11 (NVI)

¿Cuántas veces te ha sucedido esto? Nos levantamos con alegría y con ánimo. Es más, llevamos un día feliz. Entonces, de repente, ¡pumba! Ya sea tu hijo, tu hija, tu esposo, tu jefe, tu compañero de trabajo o incluso alguien que te cerró el camino cuando manejabas, te daña literalmente el día. Una discusión, una injusticia, un mal comentario de alguien que no esperabas, una reacción diferente de tu pareja. De modo que sientes que se te viene todo abajo y se transforma tu día y también tu actitud.

Esa cara feliz que traíamos cambia en de segundos por una cara amargada, quizá con llanto y ganas de decirle a esa persona unas cuantas cosas. En verdad, no queremos expresar palabras de bendición… Ja, ja, ja.

Sin embargo, es ahí donde debe aparecer la otra parte. ¿Cómo debemos reaccionar ante situaciones tan comunes? No podemos dejar que nada ni nadie nos roben el gozo. No podemos permitir que por un momento de ira hagamos o digamos cosas de las que nos vamos arrepentir después.

Siempre hemos escuchado que, cuando te enojes, cuenta hasta diez, respira profundo y medita en las cosas lindas que ya viviste en el día. ¡Eso es todo! Cada día se presentarán momentos que te llevarán al límite de tu reacción. Lo más importante es que no nos quedemos ahí, en las circunstancias, en la incomodad del momento. Por el contrario, debemos pedirle a Dios que nos dé la calma y la paz para seguir adelante. No nos dejemos robar la alegría. Es un regalo de Dios para nuestras vidas.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Cuántas veces te ha sucedido esto?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, February 13, 2020

I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

—Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

Cuba is an island full of color, warmth, and smells, yet it is also run down and dilapidated. This island seems to be open, but it is subject to many restrictions. Almost all Cubans experience shortages of literally everything.

Christians can be found throughout Cuba, and shortages are extreme for them. There is a chronic shortage of Bibles and Christian literature. “Every month, we have baptism services and we often have tens and sometimes dozens of new Christians being baptized,” reported a female pastor. “Due to the shortage of Bibles, we do not give people a Bible when they convert. They first have the possibility to enter a ‘Christianity course’ before being baptized. Once people have finished the course and have been baptized, they receive a Bible. This way we have more certainty that the Bible will really be used.”

Christian leadership is lacking in Cuba. “There is a shortage of good, solid Christian leadership in the churches. We don’t have the knowledge and could really use good study material on biblical leadership,” stated a Cuban pastor.

Christians lack places to worship together. One pastor in Cuba said, “We don’t have our own building and our houses are too small to meet in. Every Sunday we use all the means of transport that we can find to go out into the countryside. There we're less conspicuous and we can hold an open-air service. But if it’s raining or too windy, it has to be called off. That’s a pity, because we like meeting together so much.”

Another pastor said, “We don’t get permission to build new churches or church buildings. Only the church buildings that have been here before 1959 are officially registered as church buildings. Since then, it has not been possible to obtain permits for new church buildings.”

When a pastor was asked what his greatest wish is, he replied, “To conquer the city for Jesus Christ!” This is the dream of many Cuban Christians, who show their resiliency in the midst of restrictions. Are there too few Bibles? Then they simply share Bibles with each other and copy out Bible texts. Is it prohibited to proclaim God’s Word outside your church building? Then they make sure that the music and the words of the psalms and hymns are heard through the open windows of the building. When the police drive them away while evangelizing on the street, then they carry on somewhere else tomorrow. The scripture above is sung as a favorite hymn.

Cuban Christians see the restrictions as a challenge. They have the courage to dream. They stand up for their faith. In this way, the Word is heard and the Church in Cuba is growing.

RESPONSE: Today I will follow the example of Cuban Christians and rejoice in Jesus and serve Him faithfully even when the necessities and comforts of life are absent.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to be so dependent on You that I can sing the closing song of Habakkuk too.

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

Men's Devotional Bible - Thursday, February 13, 2020

First Serve

Mark 10:35–45
Recommended Reading: Joshua 24:14–27; Matthew 6:19–24; Ephesians 6:5–9

When was the last time you volunteered to do something in service to another person? If you’re a father, you’ve probably done something selfless already to serve your child or children today. If you’re a husband, chances are you can remember the last time you served your wife without her asking. But if you’re a single guy in your first job, scraping together a living and trying to make ends meet, it’s possible that it’s been a while. Most of us know we should serve others, but we don’t really know how. Talking about serving is a lot easier than actually doing it.

Jesus served throughout his ministry. When he served others, the act often involved self-sacrifice. Ultimately, he sacrificed his life for our sins. When we serve others, especially those who have no way of repaying us, we imitate Jesus. We represent Christ to those we serve. Kenneth Leech writes, “Christian spirituality is the spirituality of the Poor Man of Nazareth who took upon himself the form of a servant. To follow the way of the kingdom is, therefore, to follow him who fed the hungry, healed the sick, befriended the outcast, and blessed the peacemakers.”

Even with Jesus living and serving right in front of them, the disciples didn’t seem to get it. They wondered how they could be great. But Jesus answered, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43–44).

That’s the paradox of serving. When we give ourselves away in service, we find ourselves. When we empty ourselves in service, we find fulfillment.

A lot of people search for identity and self-fulfillment. Most look for it in repeated highs of promotions, exotic vacations or an endless parade of worldly possessions. But real fulfillment comes from serving God by serving others. When we give ourselves away in service to others, we find meaning and joy in life that selfishness can never equal.

To Take Away

• What opportunities do you have to serve others—even people who can’t ever repay you?
• What small and practical acts of service can you do at work or in your neighborhood to serve others?
• What steps can you take to cultivate a selfless and humble heart of service?

When was the last time you volunteered to do something in service to another person?

LHM Daily Devotions February 13, 2020 - Paid to the Last Penny

"Paid to the Last Penny"

Feb. 13, 2020

(Jesus said) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny."

—Matthew 5:21-26 (ESV)

Jesus really keeps us on our toes in Matthew 5. After His wilderness temptation, He hit the road, calling His first disciples and announcing the Good News. Along the way, He was healing the sick, casting out demons, and fast earning a reputation as the One to watch. "And great crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan" (Matthew 4:25).

In Matthew 5, Jesus heads up the side of a mountain and has what appears to be a "cabinet meeting" with His disciples. "Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him" (Matthew 5:1), to listen to Him. After pronouncing the Beatitudes, those familiar "Blessed-are" one-liners, He moves on to other matters: salt and light, His coming to fulfill the Law, and then some of the more weighty matters of living in a sin-fallen world.

And wouldn't you know it—anger is at the top of the list.

After referring to God's Old Testament Law (the Fifth Commandment) and how it's unlawful to murder, He destroys any notion we might have of harboring anger or thinking it is somehow less potent than the real act of killing someone. It's one and the same, and Jesus has come to dispense with all of it. He shows us He is the end of the Law. "You have heard that it was said," He told the crowd, pointing to God's Commandment as given to Moses, "But I say to you" He then said, declaring His authority over all things (see Matthew 28:18).

To this, the writer of the book of Hebrews gives a hearty "Amen!": "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the Name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs" (Hebrews 1:1-4).

This then is Jesus—the One who fulfilled the Law for us and paid the price for our sins, and calls us to the mountain to listen to Him.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we bow before Your Son, our Lord and Savior. In His Name we pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever reconciled with someone after a significant difference or argument? Was that a difficult process?
2. How is it that Jesus can actually equate anger with the act of murder?
3. Have you ever held a grudge or refused forgiveness to someone for a long period of time? Has that issue been resolved or just swept under the carpet?

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).
Have you ever reconciled with someone after a significant difference or argument? Was that a difficult process?

CPTLN devocional del 13 de febrero de 2020 - Pagar hasta el último centavo

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Pagar hasta el último centavo

13 de Febrero de 2020

Ustedes han oído que se dijo a los antiguos: "No matarás", y que cualquiera que mate será culpable de juicio. Pero yo les digo que cualquiera que se enoje contra su hermano, será culpable de juicio, y cualquiera que a su hermano le diga "necio", será culpable ante el concilio, y cualquiera que le diga "fatuo", quedará expuesto al infierno de fuego. Por tanto, si traes tu ofrenda al altar, y allí te acuerdas de que tu hermano tiene algo contra ti, deja allí tu ofrenda delante del altar, y ve y reconcíliate primero con tu hermano, y después de eso vuelve y presenta tu ofrenda. Ponte de acuerdo pronto con tu adversario, mientras estás con él en el camino, no sea que el adversario te entregue al juez, y el juez al alguacil, y seas echado en la cárcel. De cierto te digo que no saldrás de allí, hasta que hayas pagado el último centavo.

—Mateo 5:21-26 (RVC)

Jesús realmente nos pone en alerta en Mateo 5. Después de su tentación en el desierto, salió a llamar a sus primeros discípulos y a anunciar las Buenas Nuevas. En el camino, iba sanando a los enfermos, expulsando demonios y ganando rápidamente una gran reputación. "Y lo seguía mucha gente de Galilea, de Decápolis, de Jerusalén, de Judea y del otro lado del Jordán" (Mateo 4:25).

En Mateo 5, Jesús se encamina a la ladera de una montaña y tiene lo que parece ser una "reunión de gabinete" con sus discípulos. "Cuando Jesús vio a la multitud, subió al monte y se sentó. Entonces sus discípulos se le acercaron" (Mateo 5:1). Después de enseñarles las Bienaventuranzas, Jesús pasa a otros asuntos como: ser la sal y la luz, su venida al mundo para cumplir la Ley, y luego algunos asuntos importantes en cuanto a cómo sobrevivir en un mundo caído por el pecado.

Y el enojo era uno de sus temas principales.

Jesús menciona la Ley del Antiguo Testamento (el Quinto Mandamiento específicamente) y explica que es ilegal asesinar. Y con esa base, destruye cualquier noción que podamos tener de albergar enojo dentro de nosotros y pensar que de alguna manera este hecho es menos ilegal que el acto de matar a alguien. Tener enojo en contra de alguien es lo mismo que asesinarlo, y Jesús ha llegado a poner esto en claro. Nos muestra que él tiene la última palabra en cuanto a la ley. Ustedes "han oído que se dijo", le dijo a la multitud, señalando el Mandamiento de Dios que se le había dado a Moisés, "pero yo les digo" enfatizó, declarando su autoridad sobre todas las cosas (ver Mateo 28:18).

A esto, el escritor del libro de Hebreos da un cordial "¡Amén!": "Dios, que muchas veces y de distintas maneras habló en otros tiempos a nuestros padres por medio de los profetas, en estos días finales nos ha hablado por medio del Hijo, a quien constituyó heredero de todo, y mediante el cual hizo el universo. Él es el resplandor de la gloria de Dios. Es la imagen misma de lo que Dios es. Él es quien sustenta todas las cosas con la palabra de su poder. Después de llevar a cabo la purificación de nuestros pecados por medio de sí mismo, se sentó a la derecha de la Majestad, en las alturas, y ha llegado a ser superior a los ángeles, pues ha recibido un nombre más sublime que el de ellos." (Hebreos 1:1-4).

Este es Jesús, el que cumplió la Ley por nosotros y pagó el precio de nuestros pecados.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, nos inclinamos ante tu Hijo, nuestro Señor y Salvador. En su nombre oramos. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Alguna vez te has reconciliado con alguien después de haber tenido una diferencia o discusión grande? ¿Fue un proceso difícil?
2. ¿Alguna vez has guardado rencor o te has negado a darle el perdón a alguien durante un largo período de tiempo? ¿Se ha resuelto ese problema o simplemente lo has ocultado?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Alguna vez te has reconciliado con alguien después de haber tenido una diferencia o discusión grande? ¿Fue un proceso difícil?

Хлеб наш насущный - Освобождение из клетки

Освобождение из клетки

Читать сейчас: Псалом 17:2-7, 15-18 | Библия за год: Левит 14; Матфея 26:51-75

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...[Бог] взял меня, и извлек меня из вод многих.

— Псалом 17:18

Во время прогулок писатель Мартин Лэрд часто встречал человека с четырьмя терьерами керри-блю. Три собаки неистово носились по окрестностям, а одна всегда оставалась рядом с хозяином, бегая узкими кругами. Когда Лэрд наконец остановился и поинтересовался таким странным поведением животных, хозяин объяснил, что это собака-спасатель. Большую часть жизни она провела в закрытой клетке. И даже получив свободу, терьер продолжал бегать кругами, словно все еще находился в замкнутом пространстве.

В Библии сказано, что мы тоже находимся взаперти и не имеем надежды, если Бог не спасет нас. Псалмопевец рассказывал, как он страдал от преследований врага. Его облегли «цепи ада» и опутали «сети смерти» (Пс. 17:6). Запертый и скованный, он возопил к Богу о помощи (ст. 7). И тогда Господь с громоподобной мощью «простер руку с высоты… и извлек» его (ст. 17).

То же самое Бог способен сделать и для нас. Он может разорвать цепи и освободить нас из тесных клеток. Он может вывести нас «на пространное место» (ст. 20). Как печально, если мы продолжаем бегать узкими кругами, словно все еще заключены в старых тюрьмах! Давайте же облечемся в Его силу и избавимся от цепей страха, стыда или подавленности. Бог спас нас от клеток смерти. Мы свободны!

Какие клетки держали вас взаперти? Может, вы иногда ведете себя так, словно старая клетка по-прежнему удерживает вас?

Боже, Ты говоришь, что освобождаешь узников. Помоги мне поверить в это. Помоги мне пережить это. Я хочу быть свободным. Я хочу находиться в Твоем просторном месте.

автор: Уинн Кольер

© 2020 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Три собаки неистово носились по окрестностям, а одна всегда оставалась рядом с хозяином, бегая узкими кругами.

Хлеб наш насущный - Самые трудные места

Самые трудные места

Читать сейчас: Бытие 41:46-52 | Библия за год: Левит 26-27; Марка 2

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И скопил Иосиф хлеба весьма много, как песка морского.

— Бытие 41:49

Сегодня Джеф трудится молодежным пастором в том же городе, где раньше употреблял героин. Бог потрясающим образом преобразил и его сердце, и обстоятельства жизни. «Я хочу удержать детей от тех ошибок и страданий, через которые прошел сам, – говорит Джеф, – а Иисус им поможет». В свое время Бог освободил его от зависимости и поручил важное служение, несмотря на его прошлое.

Господь способен использовать во благо ситуации, в которых надежда, казалось бы, потеряна. Иосиф был продан в рабство в Египте, затем ложно обвинен и брошен в тюрьму, где о нем забыли на многие годы. Но Бог восстановил его и дал положение второго человека в стране после фараона. Получив власть, он смог спасти от голодной смерти многих людей, включая предавших его братьев. В Египте Иосиф женился и стал отцом двоих детей. Второго сына он назвал Ефрем (это имя происходит от еврейского «дважды плодоносный») и объяснил это так: «Бог сделал меня плодовитым в земле страдания моего» (Быт. 41:52).

Истории Джефа и Иосифа, хотя их и разделяют четыре тысячи лет, указывают на одну неизменную истину: даже самые трудные периоды нашей жизни могут стать плодородной почвой для Бога, Который пошлет через нас благословение многим людям. Любовь и сила Спасителя никогда не меняются. Он всегда верен тем, кто полагается на Него.

Когда вы видели, как Бог извлекает что-то доброе из трудностей в вашей жизни? Как вы сегодня можете использовать свои прошлые переживания, чтобы поддержать других?

Всемогущий Отец, я радуюсь, что для Тебя нет ничего невозможного! Спасибо за Твою совершенную верность сегодня и всегда.

автор: Джеймс Бэнкс

© 2020 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Сегодня Джеф трудится молодежным пастором в том же городе, где раньше употреблял героин. Бог потрясающим образом преобразил и его сердце, и обстоятельства жизни.