The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, February 27, 2020

Psalm 51; Jonah 3:1-10; Romans 1:1-7

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, February 27, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 51

Create in me a clean heart

1  Have mercy on me, O God,
     according to your unfailing love;
   according to your great compassion
     blot out my transgressions.
2  Wash away all my iniquity
     and cleanse me from my sin.

3  For I know my transgressions,
     and my sin is always before me.
4  Against you, you only, have I sinned
     and done what is evil in your sight;
   so you are right in your verdict
     and justified when you judge.
5  Surely I was sinful at birth,
     sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6  Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
     you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
     wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8  Let me hear joy and gladness;
     let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9  Hide your face from my sins
     and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
     and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
     or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
     and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
     so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
     you who are God my Savior,
     and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
     and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
     you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
     a broken and contrite heart
     you, God, will not despise.

Jonah 3:1-10

Nineveh hears Jonah’s preaching and repents

3:1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Romans 1:1-7

Appointed to preach the good news of Christ

1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 27, 2020
Psalm 51; Jonah 3:1-10; Romans 1:1-7

The Daily Prayer for THURSDAY, February 27, 2020

The Daily Prayer

THURSDAY, February 27, 2020

In the year 280, Roman Emperor Constantine was baptized into the church, beginning Christianity’s transition from a minority movement to an empire’s religion. It was not long before the persecuted became the persecutors, and the cross of Christ was exchanged for the sword of Rome.

Clement, an early bishop of Rome, wrote, “When the heathen hear the words of God from our lips, they marvel at them as something beautiful and great. However, when they find out that our deeds are unworthy of the words we speak, they turn from this to blasphemy. They say it is a myth and a delusion.”

Jesus, keep us from the tragedy of blaspheming your name because we have succumbed to a watered-down faith. Make our spirits restless whenever we think that the way things are is the way things have to be. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, February 27, 2020

1 John 3:18

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Read all of 1 John 3

Listen to 1 John 3

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Lenten Prayer for THURSDAY, February 27 - Thursday After Ash Wednesday

40 Days of Lenten Prayers

Day 2 - Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Lord, Let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent come from you, be inspired by you.

I long to be closer to you. Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life unless it glorifies you in some way.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying, "Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer," but now my longing meets your love and I want to do it now. Help me to rely on you for help.

The prayer asks you that I reach perfection. Please, Lord, remind me that "perfection" isn't the crazy, "successful" way I try to live my life, but a perfection of my most authentic, real self. My "perfection" might be holding my many flaws in my open hands, asking you to help me accept them.

Heal me, Lord, and help me to find you in the darkness of my life.
Let me reach out in this darkness and feel your hand and love there to guide me.

Amen.

Un dia a la Vez - Jueves 27 de febrero de 2020

¿Libertad o felicidad?

El Señor es mi roca, mi amparo, mi libertador.

—2 Samuel 22:2 (NVI)

La libertad no necesariamente te hace feliz. Muchos de ustedes no tienen una autoridad a la que le deban respeto. Quizá seas una mujer o un hombre que lleva muchos años de soledad y han aprendido a sentirse «libres».

Cuando llevamos mucho tiempo solos, tal vez viviendo con nuestros hijos pero ya con una vida resuelta, nos cuesta cambiar ese patrón: Llegar a la hora que quieras, hacer las cosas de tu casa cuando puedas, sin una presión encima, o estás cansado y decidiste comer fuera o no comer. Nos acostumbramos a ese tipo de rutina. No estoy diciendo que esto sea malo ni bueno. Solo quiero llegar al punto en que «ese estilo de vida» cambia de forma radical.

Te casas o decides vivir con unas amigas. Entonces, dejarás de ser el dueño de tu tiempo, tus gustos, tus caprichos y tu libertad. Ahora debes honrar, respetar, cuidar y pensar que ya no estás solo. No te preocupes, no eres un ser extraño. Estás atravesando un tiempo de ajuste. Todo cambio incomoda y a todos nos pasa lo mismo.

Quiero que sepan, en especial a los que están en esa oración perpetua de que Dios les envíe un cónyuge, que sus vidas nunca más volverán a ser iguales. El matrimonio, sobre todo para los que nos casamos después de cierta edad, es toda una aventura.

Te confieso que pasan por la mente muchas cosas cuando nos estamos acoplando y muchas veces, por no decir todas, nos toca morir a nosotros mismos y pensar en la felicidad de nuestra pareja. Sin embargo, te digo que no solo el matrimonio te hace feliz cuando aprendes a tener a Dios como base, también la oración te dará la sabiduría.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
La libertad no necesariamente te hace feliz.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, February 27, 2020

SUFFERING ACCOMPLISHES UNKNOWN PURPOSES

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

—1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

The Bible makes it clear that Christians will suffer. Some pastors have the idea that teaching this fact will drive away new believers. Note that when Paul traveled throughout Asia Minor, he told the new believers; “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). He was preparing them for the future as well as explaining their present situation. We should prepare for the same. Paul showed us an example of this when he prayed three times for the removal of his “thorn in the flesh.” Then he saw that it was God’s will for him, and he accepted it. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

When suffering Christians are not sure they are in the will of God they will be unsure if their suffering is really God’s will. However, 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 an act of our will. No believer needs to suffer alone and in doubt. Commit it all to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3).

As a young Muslim boy, twelve years of age, Abdul, experienced a tragedy that would change his life forever. Abdul drowned and was dead for more than an hour.

During his death he had a vision of angels coming to fetch him and then bringing him to a closed door. A man met him at the door and asked him where he was going. Abdul answered that he was on his way to heaven. The man answered that he would not be allowed in because Abdul still had a lot of work to do on earth. He woke up on his bed to find a pastor praying for him.

This happened twenty years ago and ever since Abdul’s life has been changed. Even though Abdul only completed fifth grade in school, he is currently the pastor of a small church in a very poor village on the island of Mindanao in the Philippine Islands.

In his own words, Abdul says, “I don’t understand God’s purposes in my suffering, but I now know the Lord.”

Abdul has a ministry in healing and is a source of great encouragement in his village.

RESPONSE: Today I will accept that suffering accomplishes purposes unknown to us now.

PRAYER: Pray for Christians who are suffering today and cannot accept this as God’s will. Praise God that someday we will understand all things fully.

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 27, 2020

The Highly Effective Christian

Luke 19:11–27
Recommended Reading: Exodus 4:10–12; Isaiah 6:8; Ezekiel 2:1–7; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31

In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey recommends the following mental exercise: Imagine that you’ve died and that four people representing different aspects of your life speak at your funeral: a relative, a fellow church member, a business colleague and someone else from your community. What would each one honestly say about your life?

While it’s not easy to imagine others testifying to the effectiveness of our lives in the context of a funeral, this exercise does provide some much-needed perspective. There’s nothing like the end of a life to get others to consider the course of their days. Take a few minutes to seriously think about what these individuals might say about you to a gathered crowd.

Now take a few moments to imagine what Jesus would say about your Christian life to this point. What does he think about your faith? What does he think about your accomplishments for his kingdom? Would he describe you as someone growing closer to him each day?

Jesus told a story about three servants in order to illustrate that God expects each of us to be faithful with what he has given us. Of course, any number of fears might hinder us from using the gifts God gives us: fear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of God’s disapproval, to name a few biggies. Failure to invest represents the most serious potential shortfall of all. Only when we use our faith does it stand a chance of growing. If we don’t exercise it, it becomes stagnant and lifeless. Can you think of anyone whose faith looks like that?

Let’s look ahead ten years and repeat the mental exercise. If you spend the next ten years investing your faith and wholeheartedly using the gifts God gives you to serve him, what would a relative, a fellow church member, a business colleague and someone else from your community be likely to say at your funeral? What would Jesus say?

To Take Away

• What gifts and opportunities have God provided that you can use for him?
• Be honest with yourself. How have you done at living a life of faith in God?
• What aspects of your life have you been withholding from God? What steps can you take to invest these areas in faithful service to him?

Imagine that you’ve died and that four people representing different aspects of your life speak at your funeral: a relative, a fellow church member, a business colleague and someone else from your community. What would each one honestly say about your life?

LHM Daily Devotions - February 27, 2020 - STARTING OFF RIGHT

"STARTING OFF RIGHT"

Feb. 27, 2020

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

— Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV)

You may remember the story of Moses and how he started his work. God found him tending sheep in the wilderness, and He spoke to him through a burning bush and sent him to set the people of Israel free. What you may not know is that Moses had already taken a whack at that job, 40 years before. He had attacked an Egyptian slave driver who was beating a Hebrew man. Moses' self-appointed rescue job didn't work out. He was accused as a murderer and he had to run for it. It was another 40 years before God called and sent him back to do it right (see Exodus 2:11-25). God's call makes all the difference.

Jesus knew that, too. And when the time came for Him to leave His quiet life in Nazareth and start actively walking the path to the cross, He didn't hesitate. He came to the place where God was calling—to the place where the prophet John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing people at the Jordan. This wasn't any fancy place—it was out in the wilderness, far from any palace or big city. But it was where God was at work. And Jesus was baptized.

To be sure, Jesus had no sin of His own that would make Baptism at all necessary. But we certainly did! And since He was coming to be our Rescuer, He submitted Himself to the same Baptism that marks our lives as God's people. It was the right start. He joined Himself to us in Baptism so that we ultimately would be joined to Him in His suffering, death, and resurrection.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for joining Yourself to us so that we could belong to You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever started a job wrong and then had to re-start it right?
2. When were you baptized? What do you know about the circumstances of your Baptism?
3. In Baptism, God marked you as His own child. What kind of a start has that given you in your life?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Have you ever started a job wrong and then had to re-start it right?

CPTLN devocional del 27 de febrero de 2020 - COMENZANDO BIEN

ALIMENTO DIARIO

"COMENZANDO BIEN"

27 de febrero de 2020

Jesús fue de Galilea al Jordán, donde estaba Juan, para ser bautizado por él. Pero Juan se le oponía, diciendo: "Yo necesito ser bautizado por ti, ¿y tú vienes a mí?" Jesús le respondió: "Por ahora, déjalo así, porque conviene que cumplamos toda justicia." Entonces Juan aceptó. Después de ser bautizado, Jesús salió del agua. Entonces los cielos se abrieron y él vio al Espíritu de Dios, que descendía como paloma y se posaba sobre él. Desde los cielos se oyó entonces una voz, que decía: "Éste es mi Hijo amado, en quien me complazco."

— Mateo 3:13-17 (RVC)

Quizás recuerdes la historia de Moisés y de cómo comenzó su trabajo. Dios lo encontró cuidando ovejas en el desierto, le habló a través de una zarza ardiente y lo envió a liberar al pueblo de Israel. Lo que quizás NO sepas es que Moisés ya había tenido una mala experiencia en Egipto cuarenta años antes, donde había atacado a un egipcio que había golpeado a un hebreo. Moisés fue acusado de asesino y tuvo que huir por su vida. Antes de que Dios lo llamara y lo enviara de regreso, pasaron otros cuarenta años (Éxodo 2:11-25).

Jesús también fue enviado. Y cuando llegó el momento de abandonar su tranquila vida en Nazaret y comenzar a andar activamente por el camino hacia la cruz, no dudó. Llegó al lugar donde Dios lo estaba llamando: al lugar donde el profeta Juan el Bautista predicaba y bautizaba a las personas en el Jordán. No era un lugar elegante; al contrario, estaba en el desierto, lejos de cualquier palacio o gran ciudad. Pero era donde Dios estaba obrando. Y allí Jesús fue bautizado.

Jesús no tenía ningún pecado propio que hiciera necesario el Bautismo. ¡Pero nosotros sí! Y dado que él venía a ser nuestro Salvador, se sometió al mismo Bautismo que marca nuestras vidas como pueblo de Dios. Fue el comienzo adecuado: Jesús se unió a nosotros en el Bautismo, para finalmente unirnos a él en su sufrimiento, muerte y resurrección.

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, gracias por unirte a nosotros para que podamos pertenecer a ti. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Cuánto sabes de las circunstancias de tu Bautismo?
2. En el Bautismo, Dios te marcó como su hijo. ¿Qué significa eso para tu vida?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cuánto sabes de las circunstancias de tu Bautismo?

Хлеб наш насущный - Неожиданная перемена

Неожиданная перемена

Читать сейчас: Иакова 4:13-17 | Библия за год: Числа 17-19; Марка 6:30-56

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Вы... не знаете, что случится завтра. — Иакова 4:14

В январе 1943 года теплый ветер Чинук резко повысил температуру в Спирфише (штат Южная Дакота) с -20° до +7°С. Небывалое потепление на целых двадцать семь градусов длилось всего две минуты. А самая большая разница в температурах за 24-часовой период, зафиксированная в США, составила пятьдесят семь градусов: с -48° до +9°С.

Впрочем, резкие перемены – это не только погодный феномен. Иногда это сама суть жизни. Иаков напоминает: «Теперь послушайте вы, говорящие: “Сегодня или завтра отправимся в такой-то город, и проживем там один год, и будем торговать и получать прибыль”, – вы, которые не знаете, что случится завтра» (Иак. 4:13-14). Ведь завтра может случиться все что угодно. Неожиданная утрата. Пугающий диагноз. Финансовый крах. Внезапные перемены.

Жизнь – это путешествие со многими непредсказуемыми элементами. Именно поэтому Иаков предостерегает нас от «тщеславия» (ст. 16), которое не принимает в расчет Всемогущего. Он советует говорить: «Если угодно будет Господу и живы будем, то сделаем то или другое» (ст. 15). События нашей жизни могут быть изменчивыми, но одно верно: в любых неожиданностях Бог ни на миг не оставит нас. Он – единственное, что остается неизменным на протяжении всей жизни.

Как вы себя ведете, сталкиваясь с неожиданными переменами? Каким, по вашему мнению, должен быть правильный отклик веры на неожиданности жизни?

Небесный Отец, прости меня, что временами я беспокоюсь о том, чего не могу дождаться или контролировать. Помоги мне найти покой в Тебе.

автор: Билл Краудер

© 2020 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Жизнь – это путешествие со многими непредсказуемыми элементами.