The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, February 24, 2020

Psalm 78:17-20, 52-55; Exodus 33:7-23; Acts 7:30-34

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, February 24, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 78:17-20, 52-55

Israel led to God’s holy mountain

17 But they continued to sin against him,
     rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
18 They willfully put God to the test
     by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God;
     they said, “Can God really
     spread a table in the wilderness?
20 True, he struck the rock,
     and water gushed out,
     streams flowed abundantly,
   but can he also give us bread?
     Can he supply meat for his people?”
…
52 But he brought his people out like a flock;
     he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
     but the sea engulfed their enemies.
54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,
     to the hill country his right hand had taken.
55 He drove out nations before them
     and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance;
     he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.

Exodus 33:7-23

Moses asks to see God’s glory

33:7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Acts 7:30-34

Moses on holy ground

7:30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

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 24, 2020
Psalm 78:17-20, 52-55; Exodus 33:7-23; Acts 7:30-34

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, February 24, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, February 24, 2020

Dag Hammarskjöld, former United Nations Secretary General, said, “In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.”

Train us to be faithful, Lord, and teach us your ways so our lives may reflect you, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, February 24, 2020

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Read all of Jeremiah 29

Listen to Jeremiah 29

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 24 de febrero de 2020

Que nada te aparte de su amor

Ni lo alto ni lo profundo, ni cosa alguna en toda la creación, podrá apartarnos del amor que Dios nos ha manifestado en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor.

—Romanos 8:39 (NVI)

¿Cuántas veces has sentido que te has alejado de Dios? ¿Sientes que el mundo en que vives te absorbe de tal manera que vas dejando a un lado tu relación con Dios? Quizá digas que antes eras más espiritual, pero después de una situación determinada te has alejado y ya no sientes lo mismo cuando vas a la iglesia.

Hoy quiero que tengas en cuenta que no vale la pena que por alguna situación, sea la que sea, te alejes y pongas un abismo entre tu Padre y tú.

Las presiones existen aun para los líderes y pastores. Uno pensaría que estas personas que trabajan en la iglesia o para Dios en algún lugar no deben fallarle y que deben estar siempre a su lado, pero no es así. Yo diría que en el cuerpo de Cristo, la iglesia, o incluso conviviendo con cristianos, hay más tendencia a desilusionarse, a sentir ganas de salir corriendo y muchas veces preguntarse: «¿Esto es de Dios? ¿Esta persona es cristiana en realidad como dice?».

Por eso es que nuestra relación debe ser directamente con Dios, porque la Biblia dice: «¡Maldito el hombre que confía en el hombre!» (Jeremías 17:5).

Si ponemos la mirada en el hombre, terminaremos desilusionados. Mucho más cuando nos fallan personas que están vinculadas en forma directa al campo espiritual.

Las situaciones se van a presentar, pero mi llamado para ti es que nuestra mirada debe permanecer en Dios y nosotros en su amor.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Cuántas veces has sentido que te has alejado de Dios?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, February 24, 2020

SUFFERING BURNS AWAY PRIDE

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

—2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

Suffering burns away pride, as it did in Paul’s life. When Paul prayed three times for the removal of his “thorn in the flesh,” he saw that it was God’s will for him, and he accepted it.

Many Christians are defeated at this point because they are not sure that they are in the will of God, so they are not sure if the suffering is really His will for them. Without going aside into a Bible study on knowing the will of God, we can just present this thought. Our great God “works for the good of those who love him…” (Romans 8:28). If we consciously submit to His will, He will give His divine direction. Our suffering and persecution can be placed in His hands by a simple act of our will. No believer needs to suffer alone and in doubt. Commit it all to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3).

In an unscheduled visit to Lat Village in Vietnam, a co-worker had the joy of visiting Father Tranh, the leader of the local church. Realizing the isolation and loneliness of this leader the group with our co-worker immediately asked how they could pray for him.

Not having an abundance of fellowship, he started sharing his hardships and needs. He confirmed the persecution and discrimination against the tribal people as already expressed by all the leaders they had met in Saigon. He shared the hardship of ministering to his people and the difficulties of restriction both by the police as well as the dense forest that limited his movements.

Father Thanh had 6,000 members in his congregation and found it an overwhelming task to be the only leader. “How do you do it brother?” the group asked. “How many people assist you in this enormous task?”

“I am only me!” he responded and immediately went on to conclude his answer, “but even though I am limited, the Holy Spirit is unlimited.”

RESPONSE: Today I will recognize that God may send suffering into my life to burn away my pride.

PRAYER: Pray for suffering church leaders around the world today—especially Father Thanh.

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 24, 2020

Potiphar's Wife

Her character: The wife of a prosperous and influential Egyptian, she was unfaithful and vindictive, ready to lie in order to protect herself and ruin an innocent man.
Her sorrow: To be rebuffed by a slave.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 39

Her Story

We don't even know her name. She is merely presented as the spoiled wife of a prosperous Egyptian official, a miniature Cleopatra, determined to employ her charms to seduce the handsome young Hebrew slave, Joseph.

At the age of seventeen, Joseph was sold into slavery by his half brothers, the sons of Leah. The favorite child of Rachel and Jacob, Joseph seems to have unwittingly done everything possible to ensure his brothers' enmity, even recounting a dream predicting that he, the younger son, would one day rule over them. Envious, the brothers faked Joseph's death and contemptuously sold him to Midianite traders en route to Egypt.

There Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's executioners, bought the young slave and gradually entrusted him with responsibility for his entire household. Even in his exile, everything Joseph touched prospered, as Potiphar couldn't help but notice.

But the captain of the guard wasn't the only Egyptian impressed by Joseph. His wife had taken special note as well. She made her desire plain enough by inviting Joseph to share her bed. The young slave must have surprised his wealthy mistress with his quick rebuff: "My master has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"

From then on, Joseph did his best to avoid her. But with little else to occupy her time and attention, Potiphar's wife simply waited for her next opportunity, which came when Joseph entered the house one day to attend to his duties. Alone with him, she caught hold of his cloak, whispering once again, "Come to bed with me!" But Joseph could not be persuaded and instead fled from her, leaving his would-be seducer alone with her lust, furiously clutching his cloak in her hands.

She wasted no time accusing him of attempted rape. When her husband heard the news, he was outraged, quickly consigning his favorite servant to prison.

The story of Joseph and how God blessed him even in his prison cell, eventually enabling him to become master of the nation he had entered as a slave, is well known to us. But we haven't a clue about Potiphar's wife. Whatever became of her? Did her husband suspect her duplicity? Is that why he merely confined Joseph to prison rather than executing him, as he had every right to do? Compared with Joseph, the story's protagonist, Potiphar's wife was a hollow woman whose soul was steadily decaying through the corrosive power of lust and hate. Surrounded by luxury, she was spiritually impoverished. Empty of God, she was full of herself.

Her Promise

The promise of God is revealed in this story not so much through Potiphar's wife as through Joseph and his response to her. On the surface, if we look at Joseph's situation in this one story, it may appear that he is merely a pawn in the intrigue of the household of Potiphar. As before, he is rejected and tossed aside. He looks like the fool, the loser. However, God's continued blessing is on Joseph. Within the context of this one story, it may look as if Joseph has lost. But in the context of his life, he is nothing but a winner. Indirectly—through Potiphar's wife and her sexual advances toward Joseph—God reveals his promise to bless those who follow him with uprightness (an old-fashioned word, but a good one!) and integrity.

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.
… she was unfaithful and vindictive, ready to lie in order to protect herself and ruin an innocent man.

LHM Daily Devotions - February 24, 2020 - Rejoice with Trembling

"Rejoice with Trembling"

Feb. 24, 2020

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

— Psalm 2:10-12 (ESV)

Kiss the Son or perish. Declare your allegiance to the King or die. It's a demand one might expect from an earthly ruler, but we might not consider it a very welcoming statement about Jesus. The idea of any sort of absolute truth is often rejected today. Many argue that individuals are free to pursue their own personal "truth," as long as it's not imposed on others. Surveys indicate that even some Christians are reluctant to speak about their faith, believing it is wrong to push their private beliefs on others.

But the statement stands: "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way." Jesus, the Son and King to whom we owe allegiance, spoke in a similar way to those who rejected His lordship: "Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters" (Matthew 12:30). As the psalm proclaims, God the Father established this King, His only-begotten Son: "I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill." To His enthroned Son, God says, "I will make the nations Your heritage and the ends of the earth Your possession" (Psalm 2:6, 8b).

Yet no earthly ruler ever came to power in the way this King did. There were no armies locked in battle, no carefully negotiated treaties, only the King's dreadful, humiliating death. Soon we will observe the season of Lent and, for 40 days, with eyes of faith we will watch the King suffer rejection, betrayal, and condemnation. We will follow Him as He takes His final steps to a place of execution outside of Jerusalem. We will see Him crowned with thorns and lifted up, not on a throne, but nailed to a cross. There on the cross, this mighty King who demands our allegiance shed His blood to atone for the sins of all nations. At His death, His body was removed and laid in a borrowed tomb—an inglorious end to any kingdom. But it was not the end! On Easter morning, His tomb was empty. Our King has risen from the dead and reigns in glory!

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus destroyed the powers of sin and death that held us captive. God "has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13). Called by the Holy Spirit to believe this good news, by faith—and with great joy—we kiss the Son, declaring Him to be King of kings and Lord of lords. The psalmist invites us, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." And so we worship our King whose blood has washed away our sins. With gentleness and respect, we invite others to join us in declaring, by the Spirit's power, their allegiance to the King who died to save them.

THE PRAYER: Jesus, we worship You as Lord and King. In You alone, we have forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. May we proclaim to others the hope You have given us. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Has your trust in earthly leaders changed over the years? If so, how, and for what reasons?
2. Are there political leaders you know of (local, state, federal) you would consider "godly"?
3. Do you feel your faith influences your public behavior to a significant degree?

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 your trust in earthly leaders changed over the years? If so, how, and for what reasons?

CPTLN devocional del 24 de febrero de 2020 - Regocíjate con temor

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Regocíjate con temor

24 de Febrero de 2020

Ustedes, los reyes: ¡sean prudentes! Y ustedes, los jueces: ¡admitan la corrección! Sirvan al Señor con reverencia y ríndanle culto con temor reverente. Ríndanse a los pies de su Hijo, no sea que él se enoje y ustedes perezcan, pues su enojo se enciende de repente. ¡Bienaventurados son los que en él confían!

— Salmo 2:10-12 (RVC)

Ríndete a los pies del Hijo, o perece. Declara tu lealtad al Rey, o muere. Podríamos esperar una demanda así de un gobernante, pero no la consideraríamos una declaración muy acogedora si se refiriera a Jesús. La sociedad actual rechaza toda idea de verdad absoluta. Muchos dicen que las personas son libres de vivir de acuerdo a su "verdad" personal, en tanto no se impongan a otros. Las encuestas indican que incluso algunos cristianos son reacios a hablar de su fe, pues creen que está mal transmitir sus creencias a otros.

Sin embargo, la Biblia nos dice: "Ríndanse a los pies de su Hijo, no sea que él se enoje y ustedes perezcan". Jesús, el Hijo y Rey a quien debemos lealtad, habló de manera similar a aquellos que rechazaron su señoría: "El que no está conmigo, está contra mí; y el que no recoge conmigo, desparrama" (Mateo 12:30). Como proclama el salmo, Dios el Padre estableció a este Rey, su Hijo unigénito: "Ya he establecido a mi rey sobre el monte Sión, mi lugar santo". A su Hijo entronizado, Dios dice: "Pídeme que te dé las naciones como herencia, y tuyos serán los confines de la tierra" (Salmo 2:6, 8b).

Sin embargo, ningún gobernante terrenal llegó al poder como lo hizo este Rey. En la batalla no hubo ejércitos ni tratados: solo la muerte terrible y humillante del Rey. Pronto observaremos la temporada de Cuaresma donde, durante 40 días, veremos al Rey sufrir rechazo, traición y condena. Lo seguiremos mientras da sus pasos finales a un lugar de ejecución fuera de Jerusalén. Lo veremos coronado de espinas y levantado, no en un trono, sino clavado en una cruz. Allí en la cruz, este poderoso Rey que exige nuestra lealtad derramó su sangre para expiar los pecados de todas las naciones. Al morir, su cuerpo fue removido y puesto en una tumba prestada, un final sin gloria para cualquier reino. ¡Pero ese no fue el final! En la mañana de Pascua, su tumba estaba vacía. ¡Nuestro Rey ha resucitado de los muertos y reina en gloria!

Con su muerte y resurrección, Jesús destruyó los poderes del pecado y la muerte que nos mantenían cautivos. Dios "nos ha librado del poder de la oscuridad y nos ha trasladado al reino de su amado Hijo " (Colosenses 1:13). Llamados por el Espíritu Santo para creer estas buenas nuevas por fe, y con gran gozo, nos rendimos a los pies del Hijo, declarándolo Rey de reyes y Señor de señores. El salmista nos invita: "Sirvan al Señor con reverencia y ríndanle culto con temor reverente". Y así adoramos a nuestro Rey, cuya sangre ha lavado nuestros pecados. Con gentileza y respeto invitamos a otros a unirse a nosotros para declarar, por el poder del Espíritu, su lealtad al Rey que murió para salvarlos.

ORACIÓN: Jesús, te adoramos como Señor y Rey. Solo en ti tenemos el perdón y el don de la vida eterna. Ayúdanos para que podamos proclamar a quienes nos rodean la esperanza que nos has dado. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Ha cambiado tu confianza en los gobernantes a lo largo de los años? ¿Cómo y por qué?
2. ¿Influye tu fe en forma significativa en tu comportamiento público?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Ha cambiado tu confianza en los gobernantes a lo largo de los años? ¿Cómo y por qué?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Libéré par Jésus

Libéré par Jésus

Lisez : Marc 5.1-20
La Bible en un an : Nombres 7-8 ; Marc 4.21-41

Il s’en alla, et se mit à publier […] tout ce que Jésus avait fait pour lui.

— Marc 5.20

« J’ai vécu avec ma mère si longtemps qu’elle a fini par déménager ! » Voilà ce qu’a dit K. C., dont la vie avant la sobriété et son abandon à Jésus n’était pas jolie à voir. Il reconnaît avec franchise avoir financé sa toxicomanie en volant, même ses proches. Tout cela est maintenant derrière lui, et il prend note des années, des mois et des jours depuis qu’il est sobre. Quand je rencontre K. C., ce qui est fréquent, pour étudier avec lui la Parole de Dieu, je me retrouve devant un homme transformé.

Marc 5.15 parle d’un ancien démoniaque que Dieu avait aussi transformé. Avant sa guérison, on l’aurait considéré comme impuissant, désespéré et sans abri (V. 3-5). Tout cela a cependant changé après que Jésus l’a libéré (V. 13). Comme c’était le cas de K. C., sa vie d’avant sa rencontre avec Jésus était loin d’être normale. Son tumulte intérieur n’était pas différent de celui que les gens vivent aujourd’hui. Certaines personnes qui souffrent habitent des immeubles, des véhicules ou d’autres lieux abandonnés. Il y en a qui vivent sous leur propre toit, mais sont émotionnellement seuls. Ayant le cœur et l’esprit dans des chaînes invisibles, elles se sentent poussées à s’éloigner de tout le monde.

En Jésus, nous avons celui à qui nous pouvons confier notre souffrance et notre honte, pour le présent comme pour le passé. Par ailleurs, comme dans le cas de l’ancien démoniaque et de K. C., Jésus ouvre grand les bras avec miséricorde à tous ceux qui courent s’y réfugier (V. 19).

Mon Dieu, merci de ce que, par Jésus, les choses qui me dominaient par le passé peuvent rester dans le passé.

En acceptant le don du salut, nous obtenons l’assurance d’une vie nouvelle en Christ.

par Arthur Jackson

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
J’ai vécu avec ma mère si longtemps qu’elle a fini par déménager !