The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Psalm 121; Micah 7:18-20; Romans 3:21-31

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 121

The Lord watches over you

1  I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
     where does my help come from?
2  My help comes from the Lord,
     the Maker of heaven and earth.

3  He will not let your foot slip—
     he who watches over you will not slumber;
4  indeed, he who watches over Israel
     will neither slumber nor sleep.

5  The Lord watches over you—
     the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6  the sun will not harm you by day,
     nor the moon by night.

7  The Lord will keep you from all harm—
     he will watch over your life;
8  the Lord will watch over your coming and going
     both now and forevermore.

Micah 7:18-20

God’s faithfulness

18 Who is a God like you,
     who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
     of the remnant of his inheritance?
   You do not stay angry forever
     but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
     you will tread our sins underfoot
     and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
20 You will be faithful to Jacob,
     and show love to Abraham,
   as you pledged on oath to our ancestors
     in days long ago.

Romans 3:21-31

Paul relates law and faith

3:21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

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 FRIDAY, March 6, 2020
Psalm 121; Micah 7:18-20; Romans 3:21-31

The Daily Prayer for FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

The Daily Prayer

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Twentieth-century mystic and philosopher Simone Weil said, “Today it is not nearly enough merely to be a saint; but we must have the saintliness demanded by the present moment, a new saintliness.”

Lord, guide us to act, live, and pray as the times determine. Make our faith grow to accommodate the needs of your people and the fulfillment of your kingdom. Amen.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Isaiah 25:1

Lord, you are my God;
  I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
  you have done wonderful things,
  things planned long ago.

Read all of Isaiah 25

Listen to Isaiah 25

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 FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 - Friday of the First Week of Lent

40 Days of Lenten Prayers

Day 9 - Friday of the First Week of Lent

Creator of my Life,
renew me: bring me to new life in you.
Touch me and make me feel whole again.
Help me to see your love
in the passion, death and resurrection of your son.

Help me to observe Lent
in a way that allows me to celebrate that love.
Prepare me for these weeks of Lent
as I feel both deep sorrow for my sins
and your undying love for me.

Amen.

Un dia a la Vez - Viernes 06 de marzo de 2020

Día de dar gracias

Pero el Señor es fiel, y él los fortalecerá y los protegerá del maligno.

— 2 Tesalonicenses 3:3 (NVI)

Sé que no todos nuestros días deben ser de peticiones y que no debemos buscar a Dios solo para obtener algo a cambio.

Es una tremenda terapia acostumbrarnos a darle gracias todos los días mientras tengamos vida. Comprendo que para muchas personas ser agradecidos les resulta demasiado difícil.

Pues así como para obtener fe necesitamos ejercerla, que es similar a un músculo en el gimnasio, debemos acostumbrarnos a abrir la boca y contar en público todas las maravillas de Dios.

Sé que ese testimonio dará esperanza al abatido.

Mucha gente está en este mundo sin la experiencia de tener a Jesús en el corazón. Nuestro testimonio puede hacer que el incrédulo cambie su manera de pensar.

Por lo tanto, hoy le doy gracias al Señor por estar viva, por sanarme hace casi cuatro años. Le doy gracias por mis princesas, por el esposo que reservó para mí, por mi trabajo, por mis talentos, por la posibilidad de escribir este libro inspirado por Él y también le doy gracias por mi familia.

Y tú, ¿qué esperas? Ahí donde estás abre tu boca y dile a Dios todo lo que por años has dejado de valorar. Además, pon en esta oportunidad toda tu confianza en Él.

«Gracias, Dios mío, gracias».

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Es una tremenda terapia acostumbrarnos a darle gracias todos los días mientras tengamos vida.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Friday, March 6, 2020

THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

— Revelation 12:11 (NIV)

On the cross, Jesus conquered forever the worst that sin and evil could do to Him. He met the full assault of evil and overcame it. Those who have entrusted their lives to Him share in that victory over evil.

In the context of this verse, Satan is noted to be the “accuser” of the brethren. He knows we are sinners and is constantly accusing us of it. But that is not the whole story. It is through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (the blood of the lamb) that sin is forgiven. When we receive by faith what Christ has done, our sins are wiped out. We are cleansed by faith in Christ’s blood. His saving grace and a willingness to receive us as sinners saved by grace is the key to this principle, not our feelings of worthiness.

We overcome him—our enemy—by confessing we are sinners and then confessing the cleansing of that sin through the sacrificial blood of the Lamb. And when we are forgiven there is then nothing of which we can possibly be accused by Satan. There is no possible accusation he can make against one who is completely forgiven! Thus we overcome him first, by the blood of the Lamb.

Romans 8:33-34 in the J. B. Phillips version reads, “Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us!” So Satan, you are defeated and impotent! Get out of here!

Charles Wesley wrote about this in one of his beloved hymns:

No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

RESPONSE: Today I will overcome my enemy, Satan, by faith in the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for providing all I need to be an overcomer.

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

Men of the Bible - Friday, March 6, 2020

Moses

His name Is Associated with the Phrase "To Give Birth"

His work: To lead God's people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
His character: Moses enjoyed a depth of relationship with God that set him apart from every other figure in the Old Testament and enabled him to intercede powerfully on behalf of his people. Though a reluctant prophet, he obeyed God as he led the Israelites out of Egypt. Through him God communicated his plan to forge a people unique in history, a people who belonged to him.
His sorrow: To have been burdened with the leadership of a "stiff-necked" people whose failure to believe and obey God resulted in delaying their entrance into the Promised Land while they wandered for forty years in the desert wilderness. Moses died before entering the Promised Land.
His triumph: On numerous occasions Moses encountered both the power and the love of God to such a degree that his face shone. Unlike other men, Moses spoke with God directly, face to face.
Key Scriptures: Exodus 1-20; Numbers 13-14

A Look at the Man

When Moses witnessed how God had demolished the enemies of his people, he must have been filled with the knowledge of the greatness of God, utterly convinced that no one and nothing was beyond the reach of the Lord's power. That day Moses may have thought the worst was over in his struggle to lead the Israelites to freedom and into the land of promise. He couldn't have known how hard it would be to lead them across the Sinai Peninsula and into Canaan, a journey that would take not months but years.

For though God had freed the people, they were still in bondage—not to any military power but to their own way of looking at the world, to their stubbornness, and to their fear of taking the risks that inevitably accompany a life of faith.

When Moses appointed a contingent of leaders, one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, to conduct a reconnaissance mission in Canaan, all but two (Joshua and Caleb) came back with a bad report: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! But the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large. The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

The spies' report incited the people to rebellion, and they grumbled and complained, saying: "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"

Because the Israelites entertained an evil vision of God's intentions toward them, making it impossible for them to obey him, he punished them by making them wander in the desert until the last of their generation (except for Joshua and Caleb) had died off. The Israelites who had left Egypt as slaves were not yet ready for the full freedom God intended for them.

But though Moses was frustrated by their response, he did not abandon his people. He did not shrug off the burden of leadership God had given him. Instead, he led them, taught them God's commandments, judged their disputes, prayed for them, and stayed with them until a new generation had grown up that was no longer burdened by a slave's mentality. And God loved Moses and praised him for his faithfulness and strengthened him with everything he needed to stay faithful throughout his long ordeal.

Reflect On: Exodus 32:30–32
Praise God: For his mercy.
Offer Thanks: That God hears our prayers on behalf of others.
Confess: Any failure to regularly intercede for the needs of others.
Ask God: To bring people to mind for whom he wants you to pray regularly.

Today's reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book's title must be included when sharing the above content on social media.
When Moses witnessed how God had demolished the enemies of his people, he must have been filled with the knowledge of the greatness of God…

LHM Daily Devotions - March 6, 2020 - GIVING FREELY

"GIVING FREELY"

Mar. 6, 2020

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them ... "Proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay."

— Matthew 10:5a, 7-8 (ESV)

What is it worth to you, the new life Jesus has given? What is the value of your faith, your forgiveness, your freedom in Christ?

This is an easy question to answer for people who come to faith later in life. They remember the darkness, what it was like to live without Christ. They remember—and shudder. Ask them if they'd ever go back—and prepare to have your hair blown away from the explosive "No!"

But what about you? Maybe you were born into the faith—born to Christian parents, who had you baptized as soon as possible and brought you up in the church. If you've always lived in the light, you may find it hard to value what you've always had.

What have you received? Forgiveness—all your guilt taken away, removed forever. Covering for shame—you are clothed in Christ, all your nakedness hidden. Strength for today, whether it's an ordinary, humdrum day or a time of crisis. A solid foundation under your feet in times of doubt and fear. The knowledge that God's arm is there, holding you up, even in the most terrible storms. Love—a love that does not depend on your own lovability, but on the never-changing character of God Himself.

This is what God has given to you. Pass it along to others!

THE PRAYER: Lord, help me to see the worth of what You have given me—and to pour myself out willingly for the people around me, the people You love. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Has anyone ever given you a gift you cherish? What was it?
2. What kinds of things do you find easy to share? What kinds are hard?
3. Pray for someone you would like to share God's gifts with.

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).
Has anyone ever given you a gift you cherish? What was it?

Devocional CPTLN del 06 de marzo de 2020 - Dando con toda libertad

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Dando con toda libertad

06 de Marzo de 2020

Jesús envió a estos doce, con las siguientes instrucciones: "No vayan por camino de paganos, ni entren en ciudad de samaritanos... Vayan y prediquen: El reino de los cielos se ha acercado. Sanen enfermos, limpien leprosos, resuciten muertos y expulsen demonios. Den gratuitamente lo que gratuitamente recibieron."

— Mateo 10:5, 7-8 (RVC)

¿Qué valor tiene para ti la nueva vida que Jesús te ha dado? ¿Cuál es el valor de tu fe, tu perdón, tu libertad en Cristo?

Estas son preguntas fáciles de responder para las personas que llegan a la fe más adelante en la vida, porque recuerdan la oscuridad, lo que era vivir sin Cristo; se acuerdan y se estremecen. Pregúntales si alguna vez volverían a su vida anterior y prepárate para el "¡No!" explosivo que te gritarán a la cara.

¿Cuál es tu experiencia? Es probable que hayas nacido de padres cristianos que te bautizaron, te criaron en la iglesia. Si siempre has vivido en la luz, puede que te resulte difícil valorar lo que siempre has tenido.

¿Qué has recibido? Perdón: toda tu culpa fue quitada, quitada para siempre. Una manta para cubrir tu vergüenza: estás vestido de Cristo, toda tu desnudez queda oculta. Fuerza para hoy, ya sea un día ordinario y aburrido o un momento de crisis. Una base sólida bajo tus pies en tiempos de duda y miedo. La seguridad de saber que el brazo de Dios está sosteniéndote, incluso en las tormentas más terribles. Amor: un amor que no depende de que seas digno de ser amado, sino del carácter inmutable de Dios.

Esto es lo que Dios te ha dado. ¡Compártelo con los demás!

ORACIÓN: Señor, ayúdame a ver el valor de lo que me has dado y a ser generoso con las personas que me rodean, las personas que amas. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Qué cosas te resultan fáciles de compartir? ¿Qué cosas te resultan difíciles?
2. Ora por alguien con quien te gustaría compartir los dones de Dios.

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué cosas te resultan fáciles de compartir? ¿Qué cosas te resultan difíciles?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Hai Người Hơn Một

Hai Người Hơn Một

Đọc: Truyền Đạo 4:9–11 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Phục Truyền Luật Lệ Ký 1–2; Mác 10:1–31

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Hai người hơn một, vì họ sẽ được công giá tốt về công lao của mình.

— Truyền Đạo 4:9

Trong cuộc thi Ironman Triathlon ở Hawaii năm 1997, hai nữ vận động viên đã nỗ lực để giữ vững bước chân khi họ đi khập khiễng về đích. Kiệt sức, nhưng Sian Welch và Wendy Ingraham vẫn kiên trì trên đôi chân chao đảo, cho đến khi họ va vào nhau và cả hai cùng ngã xuống. Cố gắng đứng dậy, họ lại vấp ngã về phía trước chỉ cách vạch đích hai mươi mét. Khi Ingraham bắt đầu bò lê, khán giả vỗ tay. Khi đối thủ của cô trườn theo, họ cổ vũ to hơn. Ingraham vượt qua vạch đích ở vị trí thứ tư, rồi cô ngã vào vòng tay dang rộng của những khán giả đang cổ vũ mình. Sau đó, cô quay lại và đưa tay về phía người chị em bị ngã. Welch lao người về phía trước, đưa cánh tay rã rời về phía Ingraham và vượt qua vạch đích. Khi cô hoàn thành cuộc đua ở vị trí thứ năm, đám đông reo lên ủng hộ.

Cặp đôi hoàn thành cuộc đua 241km bơi lội, đạp xe và chạy bộ đã truyền cảm hứng cho nhiều người. Hình ảnh hai đối thủ đuối sức nhưng vẫn cùng nhau kiên trì cứ khắc ghi trong tâm trí tôi, khẳng định chân lý truyền sức sống được chép trong Truyền Đạo 4:9-11.

Không có gì xấu hổ khi thừa nhận mình cần sự giúp đỡ trong cuộc sống (c.9), bởi vì chúng ta không thể phủ nhận nhu cầu của mình hoặc che giấu với Đấng toàn tri. Tất cả chúng ta rồi cũng sẽ có lúc vấp ngã, về mặt thể chất hay tinh thần. Việc biết rằng mình không hề cô đơn sẽ đem đến sự an ủi để chúng ta tiếp tục kiên trì. Khi Cha yêu thương giúp đỡ, Ngài cũng ban năng lực để chúng ta đến với những người khó khăn, khẳng định với họ rằng họ cũng không hề cô đơn.

Bạn đã được giúp đỡ như thế nào? Trong tuần này, bạn sẽ khích lệ người khác ra sao?

Lạy Chúa toàn năng, cảm ơn Ngài đã đảm bảo với chúng con rằng Ngài luôn hiện diện để giúp đỡ và ban cho chúng con cơ hội giúp đỡ người khác.

bởi Xochitl E. Dixon

© 2020 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Trong cuộc thi Ironman Triathlon ở Hawaii năm 1997, hai nữ vận động viên đã nỗ lực để giữ vững bước chân khi họ đi khập khiễng về đích.