The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, March 3, 2020

Psalm 32; Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 4:14—5:10

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, March 3, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 32

Mercy embraces us

1  Blessed is the one
     whose transgressions are forgiven,
     whose sins are covered.
2  Blessed is the one
     whose sin the Lord does not count against them
     and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3  When I kept silent,
     my bones wasted away
     through my groaning all day long.
4  For day and night
     your hand was heavy on me;
   my strength was sapped
     as in the heat of summer.

5  Then I acknowledged my sin to you
     and did not cover up my iniquity.
   I said, “I will confess
     my transgressions to the Lord.”
   And you forgave
     the guilt of my sin.

6  Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
     while you may be found;
   surely the rising of the mighty waters
     will not reach them.
7  You are my hiding place;
     you will protect me from trouble
     and surround me with songs of deliverance.

8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
     I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9  Do not be like the horse or the mule,
     which have no understanding
   but must be controlled by bit and bridle
     or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
     but the Lord’s unfailing love
     surrounds the one who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
     sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Genesis 4:1-16

God protects Cain

4:1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Hebrews 4:14—5:10

Christ was tempted as we are

4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5:1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

   “You are my Son;
     today I have become your Father.”

6 And he says in another place,

   “You are a priest forever,
     in the order of Melchizedek.”

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

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 TUESDAY, March 3, 2020
Psalm 32; Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 4:14—5:10

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, March 3, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, March 3, 2020

On March 3, 1968, more than twenty thousand Mexican and Chicano students walked out of Los Angeles high schools, calling for an end to racist policies. The students were not allowed to speak Spanish in the classroom or to use the bathroom during lunchtime. Mexican-American history was often denied, and Chicano students were advised toward menial labor instead of college.

Pandita Ramabai, a nineteenth-century Indian activist, said, “People must not only hear about the kingdom of God, but must see it in actual operation, on a small scale perhaps and in imperfect form, but a real demonstration nevertheless.”

Lord, where there is injustice, unite us as your children to speak out and walk out as necessary. May all of our acts of protest be steeped in love for others and for you. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, March 3, 2020

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
  neither are your ways my ways,”
    declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
  so are my ways higher than your ways
  and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Read all of Isaiah 55

Listen to Isaiah 55

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 TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 - Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

40 Days of Lenten Prayers

Day 6 - Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Father of my soul, Mother of my heart, I know your love for me is limitless beyond imagining.

You care for me as a loving parent. Through my smallest Lenten sacrifices, help me to become less selfish and more aware of your ways. Fan the flame of my desire to draw ever closer to you. Guide me to seek your love. Amen.

Un dia a la Vez - Martes 03 de marzo de 2020

Aprendemos cada día

Porque todo el que pide, recibe; el que busca, encuentra; y al que llama, se le abre.

— Lucas 11:10 (NVI)

Debido a que he estado por mucho tiempo en la radio, soy más sensible y tengo más conocimiento de las necesidades de los demás. Así que, mediante este devocional, quiero que veas que no eres la única persona que sufre, se siente sola o enferma. Y que cuando clamamos por ayuda, Dios no nos deja esperando.

En días pasados, le pedíamos al Señor que nos permitiera tener más misericordia por los demás. Ahora, esas necesidades han hecho eco en mí. Y solo le pido a Dios que nos haga sensibles y sigamos aprendiendo de estas lecciones de vida.

En menos de una hora de programa radial, dos personas se pusieron en contacto con la cabina para informarnos que sus vidas eran un desastre. Coincidían en que conocen de Dios, pero que no es suficiente y claman por la ayuda de un consejo.

Recuerdo a Aurora que me llamó desesperada diciendo: «Claudia, estoy mal. Me siento muy mal de salud. Mi esposo es alcohólico y tengo cinco hijos». Cuando atendí su llamada y le hice algunas preguntas, me dijo que debido a tanto trabajo se ha alejado de Dios. Los domingos está tan cansada que prefiere no ir a la iglesia. Por lo tanto, mi reflexión fue: «Estando en necesidad, te acuerdas de Dios. Entonces, ¿por qué no cambias tus prioridades y le das el primer lugar a Dios?». También le dije: «Te aseguro que si le das el primer lugar a Dios, Él enderezará tus caminos».

¿Estás tú en esa misma situación? ¿Estás tan ocupado en tus cosas que no buscas de su instrucción? Invierte tus prioridades y nunca te arrepentirás.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
En menos de una hora de programa radial, dos personas se pusieron en contacto con la cabina para informarnos que sus vidas eran un desastre.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, March 3, 2020

TEARS OF SUFFERING

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?

— Psalm 56:8 (NIV)

Somewhere in this world a persecuted Christian might be crying right at this moment. It might seem that their tears are in vain and simply drop to the ground. But ages ago King David was convinced that God was interested in his tears. In the passage noted above, alternate translations for listing tears on a “scroll” include putting tears in a “bottle” or “wineskin.”

Today in the Middle East it is not uncommon to see a collection of oddly-shaped bottles, labeled only as “sprinklers.” But in ancient Middle Eastern times, these bottles were known as “tear-catchers.” When a husband went off to war, his wife would collect her tears for him in a bottle. On his return, she would hand him the bottle as proof of her love. In times of death or serious trouble, family members would bring their tear-catchers and collect tears from all the people present. Sometimes the tears would be stored in a small round jar with a lid. These tear bottles represented the sorrows of the family; tears serving as a message in a bottle. In those days each person was buried with his or her tear bottle; archaeologists have found many of these bottles in ancient tombs.

In the days of King David of Israel, the bottle was more likely made of animal skin. David was a man who went through a lot of suffering and persecution. David had no doubts: his tears were not shed in vain but were collected by God. The words in Psalm 56 could also be those of our persecuted brothers and sisters. They serve as a reminder for us to “treasure” their tears.

The words of David are still true today. People try to trample on our brothers and sisters; want to harm them; spy on their movements. David put his trust clearly in the Lord. In verses 3 and 4 he says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Watching the moving DVD documentary, A Cry from Iran, you will be brought to tears as you see and hear the story of Iranian Pastor Haik who was martyred for his faith in the mid-1990s. He worked tirelessly for the release from prison of Christian brother Mehdi Dibaj who was sentenced to death for apostasy. Miraculously Mehdi was released. At Pastor Haik’s funeral, a teary-eyed Mehdi Dibaj said, “I was the one who should have died, not Haik.” Six months later he too was martyred.

Recently our office for the Middle East received an Iranian “tear-catcher” as a present. The bottle helps us to remember the tears of the Iranian Christians but with them all of the Christians around the world who are being persecuted. It speaks about grief, about tears, about suffering; but also about faith and confidence in the Lord.

Let us remember their tears, knowing that as one member suffers, all members suffer. And let us rejoice that someday God will wipe away all tears from their eyes and our eyes.

RESPONSE: Today I will remember those of my extended Christian family around the world who are suffering and shedding tears.

PRAYER: Pray for persecuted church believers today who may be shedding sorrowful tears of grief.

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 - March 3, 2020 - BEING UPFRONT WITH US

"BEING UPFRONT WITH US"

Mar. 3, 2020

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

— Matthew 8:18-20 (ESV)

Revolutions are not easy. Taking part in one is rarely clean or nice. This is also true for the revolution Jesus was beginning—the revolt against the devil, the breaking of his power over the whole human race, and the beginning of our glorious freedom as the children of God.

But first comes the suffering. And so anyone invited to take part in such a revolution needs to be aware of what they are getting into.

Take the man in the Bible passage above. "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go," he says. But was he still saying that after Jesus warned him that it would involve homelessness? I hope so. But we don't know, do we? Possibly because Jesus wants us to consider the same question, though in a larger sense.

What does following Jesus cost for us? It may not be homelessness or persecution or loss of family for you. It might be something more subtle—a failure to be promoted at work, maybe, because your conscience won't let you use the tactics that other candidates do. It may mean taking someone into your family—a relative who falls on hard times, or a student who suddenly loses grant funding and can't afford an apartment. It might mean giving that old car to a single mother who needs one, rather than trading it in.

As a Christian believer, you have Jesus living in you, and He shows Himself through the things you do. There is a cost—plenty of annoyance and frustration and burdens to bear. But ask those who are serious about following Jesus, and they will tell you—they'd never trade it for anything else.

THE PRAYER: Lord, live through me, and help me to be glad to serve You in the ways You set before me. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever made a commitment too quickly?
2. What has being a Christian cost you?
3. What has being a Christian given to you? Be as specific as you can.

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 made a commitment too quickly?

Devocional CPTLN del 03 de marzo de 2020 - Jesús es transparente con nosotros

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Jesús es transparente con nosotros

03 de Marzo de 2020

Al verse Jesús rodeado de tanta gente, dio órdenes de cruzar el lago. Entonces se le acercó un escriba, y le dijo: "Maestro, yo te seguiré adondequiera que vayas." Jesús le dijo: "Las zorras tienen guaridas, y las aves del cielo tienen nidos, pero el Hijo del Hombre no tiene dónde recostar su cabeza."

— Mateo 8:18-20 (RVC)

Las revoluciones no son fáciles. Participar en una rara vez es transparente o agradable. Esto también es cierto para la que Jesús estaba comenzando: la revolución contra el diablo, la ruptura de su poder sobre toda la raza humana y el comienzo de nuestra gloriosa libertad como hijos de Dios.

Pero primero viene el sufrimiento. Por lo tanto, cualquier persona invitada a participar en tal revolución debe saber en qué se está metiendo.

Piensa en el hombre en el pasaje bíblico de arriba. "Maestro, yo te seguiré adondequiera que vayas", le dice. ¿Pero habrá seguido diciendo lo mismo después que Jesús le advirtió que posiblemente no tendría vivienda fija? Ojalá que sí. Pero no lo sabemos. Jesús quiere que consideremos la misma pregunta, aunque en un sentido más amplio.

¿Cuánto nos cuesta seguir a Jesús? Puede que para ti no sea la falta de vivienda o la persecución o la pérdida de la familia. Puede ser algo más sutil: quizás perder una promoción en el trabajo porque tu conciencia no te permite usar las tácticas que usan otros candidatos. O puede ser que necesites incluir a alguien más en tu familia: un pariente que atraviesa tiempos difíciles o un estudiante que de repente pierde la ayuda económica y no puede pagar un apartamento. Podría significar darle tu auto usado a una madre soltera que lo necesita, en lugar de cambiarlo.

Como cristiano tienes a Jesús viviendo en ti, y él se muestra a través de las cosas que haces. Pero muchas veces, ello incluye un costo: molestia, frustración y cargas que soportar. Sin embargo, pregúntales a los que se toman en serio lo de seguir a Jesús, y te dirán que nunca lo cambiarían por nada.

ORACIÓN: Señor, vive en y a través de mí, y ayúdame a estar feliz de servirte en las formas que tienes preparadas para mí. En Jesús. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Cuánto te ha costado ser cristiano?
2. ¿Qué beneficios has tenido? Sé tan específico como puedas.

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cuánto te ha costado ser cristiano?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Plenamente conocido

Plenamente conocido

La escritura de hoy: Jeremías 1:1-8
La Biblia en un año: Números 28–30; Marcos 8:22-38

… Antes que te formase […] te conocí… — Jeremías 1:5

«No entiendo cómo está aquí. Alguien la estaba cuidando», le dijo el conductor de la grúa a mi madre después de haber sacado su auto del borde de un escarpado barranco de la montaña y haber estudiado las marcas de las llantas que produjeron el accidente. Mamá estaba embarazada de mí en ese momento. Mientras yo crecía, ella solía contar cómo Dios había salvado la vida de ambos ese día, y así me reafirmaba que Él me valoraba aun antes de que naciera.

Nadie está fuera del alcance del Dios que todo lo sabe. Hace más de 2.500 años, Él le dijo al profeta Jeremías: «Antes que te formase […] te conocí» (Jeremías 1:5). Dios nos conoce más íntimamente que cualquier otra persona, y puede darle significado y propósito a nuestra vida como nadie. No solo nos formó con su sabiduría y poder, sino que también sustenta cada momento de nuestra existencia; incluso lo que nos sucede inconscientemente, como los latidos de nuestro corazón o el intrincado funcionamiento del cerebro. Al reflexionar en todos estos aspectos de nuestra vida, David exclamó: «¡Cuán preciosos me son, oh Dios, tus pensamientos!» (Salmo 139:17).

Dios está más cerca de nosotros que nuestro último aliento. Él nos hizo, nos conoce y nos ama, y es digno de nuestra alabanza y adoración.

De:  James Banks

Reflexiona y ora

Dios, gracias por sostenerme y ayudarme a atravesar cada momento del día.

¿En qué área le agradecerías a Dios por su cuidado? ¿Cómo alentarías hoy a otros a confiar en el cuidado de Dios?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Nadie está fuera del alcance del Dios que todo lo sabe.