The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, March 13, 2020

Psalm 95; Exodus 16:9-21; Ephesians 2:11-22

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, March 13, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 95

The rock of our salvation

1  Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
     let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2  Let us come before him with thanksgiving
     and extol him with music and song.

3  For the Lord is the great God,
     the great King above all gods.
4  In his hand are the depths of the earth,
     and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5  The sea is his, for he made it,
     and his hands formed the dry land.

6  Come, let us bow down in worship,
     let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7  for he is our God
     and we are the people of his pasture,
     the flock under his care.

   Today, if only you would hear his voice,
8  “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
     as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,
9  where your ancestors tested me;
     they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
10 For forty years I was angry with that generation;
     I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
     and they have not known my ways.’
11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
     ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Exodus 16:9-21

God gives manna and quail

16:9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”

20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

Ephesians 2:11-22

Christ the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile

2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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 13, 2020
Psalm 95; Exodus 16:9-21; Ephesians 2:11-22

The Daily Prayer for FRIDAY, March 13, 2020

The Daily Prayer

FRIDAY, March 13, 2020

Perpetua of Carthage, a third-century martyr, said, “Stand fast in the faith, and love one another.”

Lord, you ask us not to fear but to trust. Help our unbelief and grant us faith to stand fast in our love for one another. Amen.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, March 13, 2020

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Read all of Romans 8

Listen to Romans 8

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 13, 2020 - Friday of the Second Week of Lent

40 Days of Lenten Prayers

Day 15 - Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Loving God, Caring parent,

I am a child who so often turns my back

on your love.

Please accept my small acts of sorrow today

and help to release me from the self-absorption

that closes my heart to you.

As I journey through Lent,

let me remember the feast you have prepared for me

in the resurrection

and let me be filled with thanks to you.

Amen.

Un dia a la Vez - Viernes 13 de marzo de 2020

¿Por qué terminar en crisis?

Aunque un ejército acampe contra mí, no temerá mi corazón; aunque contra mí se levante guerra, yo estaré confiado.

— Salmo 27:3 (RVR1960)

Sé que es muy común escuchar que personas atormentadas por sus problemas, por situaciones desesperantes de economía, celos, por estar ilegal en este país, y muchas otras situaciones que tú y yo conocemos, llegan a un punto tal de crisis que hasta quieren dejar de existir. A menudo, prefieren huir de sus problemas desahogándose en el alcohol o las drogas y no afrontan una realidad dolorosa. Aun así, esta manera de escapar de la realidad es temporal, pues no podrás estar siempre drogado ni tomado. Vas a tener momentos de lucidez, donde estarán presentes de nuevo esas preocupaciones.

Es lamentable, pero muchos llegan a la decisión más cobarde, y valiente a la vez, de quitarse la vida. Entonces, ¿qué pasa cuando escuchamos que alguien con mucho dinero, propiedades, trabajo, fama y todo lo que al parecer llena a un ser humano también entró en crisis y siguiendo el mismo cuadro anterior también termina quitándose la vida?

La gran conclusión es que no importa el dinero que tengas, ni los títulos universitarios, ni las posiciones en un trabajo, ni la familia, ni la mucha fama. Si no tienes a Dios en tu corazón por medio de Jesucristo, siempre estarás buscando cómo llenar ese vacío.

No permitas que la crisis se plante en tu vida. Sin duda, llegarán tormentas y problemas.

Sentirás que no puedes más, pero cuando pones tu mirada en Dios y le entregas toda esa carga pesada, empezarás a sentir un alivio, un descanso, y verás que ya no estás solo.

Si has tenido este tipo de situaciones, pídele perdón a Dios y sigue adelante.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Si no tienes a Dios en tu corazón por medio de Jesucristo, siempre estarás buscando cómo llenar ese vacío.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Friday, March 13, 2020

WORTH FOLLOWING

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

— Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

The first thing most Christians think of when they hear or read the word, “persecution” is torture. And indeed torture is what many persecuted believers experience. Helen Berhane was kept in shipping container prisons for almost three years because she would not deny her faith. She was beaten so severely she could not even walk. Other times Helen was chained for hours outside in the severe heat of the sunshine.

One time after a full day of being chained outside, she was handcuffed and thrown into an old rusty shipping container full of holes. She lay on the icy floor in her thin dress. With no blanket, she soon began shivering. Her whole body ached from the cold and the beating she had received. She feared she might die from the freezing cold so she composed this song and sang it repeatedly throughout the chilly night:

I love you, that’s why I draw myself closer to you

I know that it’s worth following you.

I am not only ready for prison, but I trust you until death.

Even in a closed space or in a pit I will not surrender to evil spirits,

Not even if I am bound or I am chained and I am suffering from cold,

I will sing and I am not going to tire of singing, nor give up.

My heart is burning with your love,

And my heart declares I will never stop respecting you or lifting you up.

I will sing again and again,

I will sing a melody for you,

My soul is pleased to sing for you.[1]

RESPONSE: I will praise the Lord today and every day—regardless of my circumstances.

PRAYER: Pray for all Christians who today are persecuted by being tortured. Pray they will respond as Helen did.

1. Helen Berhane, Song of the Nightingale (Colorado Springs: Authentic Media, 2009), p. 52.

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 13, 2020

Aaron

His work: Aaron was the first in the line of Israel's hereditary priesthood.
His character: Aaron's role was primarily a passive one: to do and say whatever Moses told him to. Though he stood by Moses throughout his struggle with Pharaoh, he seemed unable to stand on his own as a leader. When Moses was absent for forty days, Aaron gave in to the people's insistent demands for a god to worship. On another occasion, however, he joined Moses in stopping a plague that threatened to destroy the Israelites because of their rebellion.
His sorrow: Aaron disobeyed the Lord by presiding over an incident of false worship. At another point he angered God by joining his sister Miriam in complaining against their brother's leadership.
His triumph: To have spoken God's word, entrusted to him through Moses, and eventually to have acted as a mediator between God and man, providing for the atonement of sin and the people's reconciliation with God.
Key Scriptures: Exodus 20:1-6; 28; 32; Numbers 12:1-15

A Look at the Man

After the incident with the calf, Aaron must have been aware of the seriousness of his failure to lead the people and of his own need for forgiveness. He would have realized that his life had been in jeopardy because of God's anger. But Aaron was spared because of God's merciful response to his brother's prayers. In the book of Deuteronomy, which depicts Moses addressing the Israelites prior to their entrance into the Promised Land, Moses says that "the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too" (Deuteronomy 9:20).

Aaron was a man who had witnessed God's power over Pharaoh and who had for a time stood on the mountain with Moses and seen the glory of God. As one who was set apart by God to play an important role among his people, he had a unique part to play in the story of salvation. And yet even his kinship with Moses, even God's call to be a priest, did not spare him from the power of sin's temptation.

Thereafter, whenever Aaron performed his priestly duties as a mediator between a holy God and a sinful people, he would not be able to come before the Lord with any air of self-righteousness, as though only the people, and not he, were guilty of sin. Because of his own weakness, he would be capable of sympathizing with the weakness of God's people.

A priest who could sympathize with the people, as it turns out, was only half of what God had planned for his people. Centuries later there would be a man who would perfectly embody the role of the high priest, not only sympathizing with the weakness of his people, but also resisting the power of temptation. Because of him, we are now able to approach God, confident that his attitude toward each of us is marked by grace and mercy.

Reflect On: Hebrews 4:14–16
Praise God: For providing us with a great high priest.
Offer Thanks: That God has made a way for us to return to him.
Confess: Any pride that makes you want to live life strictly on your own terms.
Ask God: To increase your confidence in his forgiveness.

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.
Aaron's role was primarily a passive one: to do and say whatever Moses told him to.

LHM Daily Devotions - March 13, 2020 - WHEN PAIN CAN'T WAIT

"WHEN PAIN CAN'T WAIT"

March 13, 2020

Now He (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.

— Luke 13:10-13 (ESV)

Imagine the scene: Jesus is teaching in a synagogue when He suddenly notices a woman who is bent over and can't straighten up. Something is seriously wrong, and she is doubtless in a lot of pain as well. He stops in mid-sermon, calls her over, and heals her immediately. She is set free from her trouble.

I love this story, because Jesus doesn't care that He's just interrupted His own sermon and the whole worship setting. He sees someone in need, and His reaction is to help. Right away. No waiting. She matters to Him.

That was not the attitude of the synagogue ruler, who got all upset over the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. All he could see was a broken rule. He didn't see the broken person—now made straight, healthy, and strong, because Jesus cared enough to help her.

This is Jesus' attitude toward you and toward me. He sees someone broken, in trouble, enslaved—and His first thought is to heal them, help them, set them free. Is it the Sabbath day? Why, then, all the better: as He says, "And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

Jesus shows God's heart to us—a heart that is always seeking to free us from our griefs and burdens. Our pain matters to Him. We matter to Him. He doesn't mind if He catches flak for helping us. He doesn't mind if He suffers personal humiliation, grief, sorrow, pain, and shame either—so long as He can rescue us, can set us free into the glorious life of the children of God. He will go to the cross to make it happen. He will even rise from the dead to make us His, safe and free.

THE PRAYER: Lord and Savior, thank You for caring so much about us and our pain. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever helped someone who was sick or injured?
2. Did you ever break a rule or expectation to help someone?
3. Tell a story about a time when someone did something that proved to you that you mattered to that person.

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 helped someone who was sick or injured?

Devocional CPTLN del 13 de marzo de 2020 - Cuando el dolor no puede esperar

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Cuando el dolor no puede esperar

13 de Marzo de 2020

Jesús estaba enseñando en una sinagoga, y allí estaba una mujer que hacía ya dieciocho años sufría de un espíritu de enfermedad. Andaba encorvada, y de ninguna manera podía enderezarse. Cuando Jesús la vio, la llamó y le dijo: "Mujer, quedas libre de tu enfermedad." Y en el mismo instante en que Jesús puso las manos sobre ella, la mujer se enderezó y comenzó a glorificar a Dios.

— Lucas 13:10-13 (RVC)

Imagina la escena: Jesús está enseñando en una sinagoga cuando de repente se da cuenta de que una mujer está inclinada y no puede enderezarse. Algo está muy mal y, sin duda, también tiene mucho dolor. Se detiene a mitad del sermón, la llama y la cura de inmediato. La mujer queda liberada de sus problemas.

Me encanta esta historia porque a Jesús no le importa interrumpir su sermón y la adoración. Ve a alguien que lo necesita y su reacción es ayudar. Inmediatamente. Sin esperar. Para él, ella es importante.

Esa no fue la actitud del gobernante de la sinagoga, que se molestó por el hecho de que Jesús sanó en sábado. No vio a la persona enferma, ahora sana y fuerte, porque Jesús se preocupó lo suficiente como para ayudarla. Todo lo que pudo ver fue una ley quebrantada.

Esta es la actitud de Jesús hacia ti y hacia mí. Él ve a alguien quebrantado, en problemas, esclavizado, y su primer pensamiento es curarlo, ayudarlo y liberarlo. ¿Es el día de reposo? ¡No importa!

Jesús nos muestra el corazón de Dios; un corazón que siempre busca liberarnos de nuestras cargas. Nuestro dolor es importante para él. No le importa si lo critican por ayudarnos. Tampoco le importa si sufre humillación personal, pena, dolor o vergüenza, con tal que pueda rescatarnos, que pueda liberarnos para la gloriosa vida de los hijos de Dios. Para que esto suceda irá a la cruz y resucitará de entre los muertos para hacernos suyos.

ORACIÓN: Señor y Salvador, gracias por preocuparte tanto por nosotros y nuestro dolor. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Alguna vez has ayudado a alguien que estaba enfermo o herido?
2. ¿Alguna vez alguien te ayudó de tal manera que te demostró cuánto le importabas?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Alguna vez has ayudado a alguien que estaba enfermo o herido?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Trò Chơi Đập Chuột

Trò Chơi Đập Chuột

Đọc: Phi-líp 4:10–20 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Phục Truyền Luật Lệ Ký 20-22; Mác 13:21–37

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Sự tin kính cùng sự thỏa lòng chính là nguồn lợi lớn.

— I Ti-mô-thê 6:6

Có thể bạn đã biết. Các hóa đơn liên tục đến sau quá trình điều trị – từ việc gây mê, phẫu thuật, phòng xét nghiệm, trang thiết bị. Jason đã trải qua điều này sau cuộc phẫu thuật cấp cứu. Anh than vãn: “Chúng tôi nợ hàng ngàn đô-la sau khi được bảo hiểm chi trả. Giá như chúng tôi có thể trả hết những hóa đơn này thì cuộc sống sẽ tốt đẹp và tôi sẽ thỏa lòng! Tôi có cảm giác như đang chơi trò chơi điện tử Đập Chuột” – ở đó có những con chuột nhựa bật lên từ những cái lỗ, và người chơi dùng búa đập chúng tới tấp.

Đôi khi cuộc sống của chúng ta cũng giống như vậy. Và sứ đồ Phao-lô chắc chắn cũng từng như vậy. Ông nói: “Tôi biết thế nào là thiếu thốn”, nhưng “trong mọi nơi, mọi tình huống tôi đã học bí quyết để sống” (Phi. 4:12). Bí quyết của ông là gì? “Tôi làm được mọi sự nhờ Đấng ban năng lực cho tôi” (c.13). Khi tôi trải qua giai đoạn bất mãn, tôi đọc được câu này trên một tấm thiệp: “Nếu không ở đây thì ở đâu?” Đó là lời nhắc nhở mạnh mẽ rằng nếu tôi không thỏa lòng ở đây và bây giờ, điều gì khiến tôi nghĩ mình sẽ thỏa lòng nếu ở trong một hoàn cảnh khác?

Làm sao để chúng ta học cách an nghỉ trong Chúa Jêsus? Có lẽ đó là vấn đề về sự tập trung. Là tận hưởng và biết ơn về những điều tốt đẹp. Là học biết nhiều hơn về Cha thành tín. Là tăng trưởng trong sự tin cậy và kiên nhẫn. Là nhận ra rằng cuộc sống thuộc về Chúa chứ không phải tôi. Là cầu xin Ngài dạy tôi biết thỏa lòng.

Bạn cần học cách thỏa lòng trong những lĩnh vực nào của cuộc sống? Bạn sẽ thay đổi trọng tâm của mình ra sao?

Lạy Chúa, Ngài thật tốt lành và mọi việc Ngài làm đều tốt đẹp. Xin dạy con học biết thỏa lòng trong Ngài.

bởi Anne Cetas

© 2020 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Jason đã trải qua điều này sau cuộc phẫu thuật cấp cứu.