The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, April 6, 2020 — Monday of Holy Week

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, April 6, 2020 — Monday of Holy Week

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Isaiah 42:1-9

The servant brings forth justice

1  “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
     my chosen one in whom I delight;
   I will put my Spirit on him,
     and he will bring justice to the nations.
2  He will not shout or cry out,
     or raise his voice in the streets.
3  A bruised reed he will not break,
     and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
   In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4    he will not falter or be discouraged
   till he establishes justice on earth.
     In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

5  This is what God the Lord says—
   the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
     who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
     who gives breath to its people,
     and life to those who walk on it:
6  “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
     I will take hold of your hand.
   I will keep you and will make you
     to be a covenant for the people
     and a light for the Gentiles,
7  to open eyes that are blind,
     to free captives from prison
     and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

8  “I am the Lord; that is my name!
     I will not yield my glory to another
     or my praise to idols.
9  See, the former things have taken place,
     and new things I declare;
   before they spring into being
     I announce them to you.”

Psalm 36:5-11

Refuge under the shadow of your wings

5  Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
     your faithfulness to the skies.
6  Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
     your justice like the great deep.
     You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
     People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8  They feast on the abundance of your house;
     you give them drink from your river of delights.
9  For with you is the fountain of life;
     in your light we see light.

10 Continue your love to those who know you,
     your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
     nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

Hebrews 9:11-15

The blood of Christ redeems for eternal life

9:11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

John 12:1-11

Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus

12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

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, April 6, 2020 — Monday of Holy Week
Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, April 6, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, April 6, 2020

Elizabeth of the Trinity, a nineteenth-century Carmelite nun, said, “Let us ask God to make us true in our love, to make us sacrificial beings, for it seems to me that sacrifice is only love put into action.”

God of love, forgive us when we make a mockery of love by only speaking of love. Burden us with your embodied love so that our first response may be to love with our hands and feet. May our love take on the flesh you so humbly bore. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, April 6, 2020

1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

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 MONDAY, April 6, 2020 - Monday of Holy Week

40 Days of Lenten Prayers

Day 35 - Monday of Holy Week

God of love,

My prayer is simple:

Your son, Jesus, suffered and died for me.

I know only

that I cannot have real strength

unless I rely on you.

I cannot feel protected

from my many weaknesses

until I turn to you

for forgiveness and your unalterable love.

Help me to share this

strength, protection and love with others.

Amen.

Un dia a la Vez - Lunes 06 de abril de 2020

La belleza es pasajera

Engañoso es el encanto y pasajera la belleza.

— Proverbios 31:30, NVI

En estos tiempos que estamos viviendo, la gente dice de la belleza: «No hay mujeres feas… sino hombres sin billete. Ja, ja, ja. (Esto es un chiste, pues ya estoy como nuestro humorista colombiano José Ordóñez).

Hoy en día, cambiarse la figura y operarse parece más bien como parte del diario vivir. Por querer estar a la moda, los hombres y las mujeres luchan por tener cuerpos perfectos a costa de lo que sea y se desenfocan. Se vuelven vanidosos. Entonces se concentran en la belleza como su prioridad y olvidan por completo quién les dio la vida. Pueden más la vanidad y el orgullo al creerse que vivirán así eternamente.

Sin duda, admiro la belleza humana. Admiro cómo cambia y avanza la ciencia, de modo que hacerse una operación no es el problema. Siento decirles que el problema está en volverse un idólatra de uno mismo o está en el momento que esto se convierte en una adicción.

El asunto es que los expertos dicen que hay personas adictas a estas operaciones y pierden la belleza original. A menudo, se ven hasta deformes y sabemos que muchos han perdido la vida en un quirófano.

Recuerda que todo llevado a los extremos es malo. Y Dios es el dueño de nuestros cuerpos.

Esto se ajusta también para los hombres que se hacen tantas cosas por lucir mejor que pierden la masculinidad.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
En estos tiempos que estamos viviendo, la gente dice de la belleza: «No hay mujeres feas… sino hombres sin billete.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, April 6, 2020

LIVING FOR JESUS

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

— John 12:32-33, NIV

Manuel was an effective evangelist among the mountain Quechua people in Peru. He felt called by the Lord to take Bibles and share the gospel with the anti-government guerilla soldiers who camped in hiding in the mountains. For the many illiterates, he took the New Testament on cassette. It was a bold and risky ministry.

One day some Shining Path guerrillas with their big AK-47 guns intercepted him on the trail and ordered him to stop going to the mountains; stop handing out Bibles, cassettes and other Christian materials; and stop preaching about Jesus. They threatened his life if he did not desist.

Some months later Manuel did not return home when expected. A search party discovered his dead body at the side of the trail. It was more than just a cadaver. His feet, hands, and tongue had been cut off. And with a knife they had carved on his torso a message in Spanish, “We told you to stop!” The chopped body parts completed the message, “stop visiting the villages; stop distributing Bibles; stop preaching about Jesus!”

There was a memorial service for Manuel attended by many believers. Hundreds of people came from the mountains to honor his memory. Our Open Doors co-worker reported that there were more people standing outside the rural church than sitting inside the crowded sanctuary.

An evangelist preached the memorial service message and challenged young people to come forward and take Manuel’s place. Ten young people made the commitment and knelt at the front altar.

An elder standing at the side asked in a loud voice, “But young people. What if the same thing happens to you as happened to Manuel?”

One of the youths at the front cried out, “If we die, a hundred will spring up and take our place!”

Living for Jesus is actually harder than dying for Jesus. It means I must die to myself every day!

RESPONSE: Since Jesus gave His life for me, what more can I give Him than my own life. And until that day of physical death, I will die to myself daily.

PRAYER: Thank You, Jesus, for giving Your lifeblood for me. I give You my life in service today and every day until You call me to be with You in Your heavenly home.

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, April 6, 2020

Delilah

Her name means: "Dainty One"

Her character: A prostitute whose nationality is unknown, she used her beauty to betray her lover and enrich herself.
Her sorrow: That Samson lied to her, making her look foolish on three different occasions.
Her joy: That she overpowered one of history's most powerful men, handing him over to his enemy, the Philistines.
Key Scriptures: Judges 16:4-22

Her Story

Her teeth gleamed white in the dusky light as a smile parted lips soft and smooth as a scarlet ribbon. Earrings glinted gold as she threw back her head and laughed out loud. Fortune had come knocking on her door that day. No lover had ever paid Delilah as well as Samson would.

The Philistine kings hated the long-haired strongman who had set their fields afire and slain a thousand of their countrymen. Each had offered Delilah an incredible sum—eleven hundred shekels of silver! She had merely to deliver the secret of Samson's strength. His would be no match for hers, a strength born of beauty and schooled in the arts of love. Weakened by passion, he would tell her everything she needed to know.

"If anyone ties me with seven fresh thongs that have not been dried, I'll become as any other man," he replied to her persistent probing. Hiding a few Philistines in the room for good measure, Delilah waited until he slept and then carefully wrapped him with the thongs and exclaimed, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" But he had outsmarted her, snapping the cords as his enemies fled.

Like a man toying with a kitten, Samson repeated the ruse twice, tricking Delilah with crazy stories about new ropes and braided hair. Finally, Delilah confronted him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength." Worn down by her nagging, Samson gave in.

"No razor has ever been used on my head," he confided, "because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man." Years earlier, before his birth, an angel had instructed his mother that he should drink no wine, touch nothing unclean, and never cut his hair. He was to be dedicated to God in a special way, destined to play a great role in God's plan to free his people from their Philistine overlords. A strong man unable to subdue his own tempestuous nature, Samson had already broken the first two stipulations of his vow. Now he was about to break the third, preferring the good graces of a woman to the favor of his God.

Sensing she had heard the truth, at last, Delilah sent word to the Philistines. After cutting his hair while he slept, she once again called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" This time Samson awoke from his sleep unable to resist his enemies, who quickly seized him, gouging out his eyes. Then they imprisoned him in Gaza, where he spent his days in darkness, performing women's work grinding grain.

That's the last we hear of the lovely, treacherous, and now wealthy Delilah, but not the last we hear of her lover. Slowly Samson's hair began to grow back, first a short cap to warm his head and then a cover for his ears. What harm can a blind man do us? the Philistines must have reasoned.

One day they held a great celebration in honor of Dagon, god of the harvest, for delivering Samson into their hands. Oblivious to their danger, they brought him out of prison to make sport of their once-mighty enemy. But when Samson stood among the pillars of their temple, he prayed, "O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then he braced himself against the two central pillars of the temple and pushed. The roof buckled and collapsed, and Samson and his enemies were buried together under its rubble. By his death, Samson killed more Philistines than he had in life. Just as the angel had predicted, Samson had begun a work of deliverance that David would complete many years later.

The strange story of Samson and Delilah is hardly edifying. It's tempting to conclude that the selfish, ill-disciplined Samson had finally met his match in the greedy Delilah. A visitation by an angel, the gift of supernatural strength, a prophetic destiny—such obvious blessings could not assure Samson's devotion. Why would God use such a man, enabling him to become a judge in Israel? What a contrast to Deborah, who had ruled Israel a century earlier! Perhaps God had little promising material to choose from, given the state of his people during an era of Israel's history where "everyone did as he saw fit" (Judges 21:25).

If anything, Delilah's role in this sordid tale assures us that God will use anything and anyone to accomplish his purpose. Even our sin. Even our enemies. Our deliverance is purely a matter of grace. But how much better if we become people set apart for his service, whose inner strengths match our outer strengths, enabling us to live out our destiny assured of God's pleasure.

Her Promise

Even the sordid story of Delilah and her Hebrew lover, Samson, conveys an important truth: God loves us and will not abandon us even when we make mistakes, even when we sin. Over and over throughout the biblical narrative, we see God using people who are great sinners, people who are less than perfect, people who through their own folly fail and only then recognize their need of him. He didn't abandon people like Samson, foolish and sinful though he was, and he won't abandon us, foolish and sinful though we might be.

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.
Her teeth gleamed white in the dusky light as a smile parted lips soft and smooth as a scarlet ribbon. Earrings glinted gold as she threw back her head and laughed out loud. Fortune had come knocking on her door that day.

LHM Daily Devotions - April 6, 2020 - HE SEES YOU

"HE SEES YOU"

April 6, 2020

And there followed Him (Jesus) a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for Him. But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

— Luke 23:27-31, ESV

Have you ever been in the middle of terrible suffering? If you're like me, it gives you a kind of tunnel vision. I can't concentrate on anything but the pain. Oh, somewhere in the back of my mind I know that life goes on—that other people still exist—even that they might be suffering, just as I am. But it's incredibly hard to put my own suffering aside to focus on theirs. My own suffering takes up all my energy.

But notice that Jesus is different. Just look at Him on the road to the cross! He's already been beaten, tortured, kept up all night, put through five separate trials—and yet He still notices the women on the side of the road who are grieving for Him.

In fact, He goes further than that. He lays His own suffering aside and takes a minute to warn them of what's on the way—their own suffering at the fall of Jerusalem. Those days will be so horrible, He says, that being childless will look like a blessing. After all, if such evil things are happening now, while God Himself is walking the face of the earth, what will happen when He is no longer visibly present?

Jesus sees us just as clearly as He saw those women. He sees you—your situation, your needs, your suffering. He is concerned for you. Your suffering is the reason for His suffering. As Isaiah put it, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5). He loves you this much.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to respond to Your love with love. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. When you have pain and medicine isn't helping, what do you usually do?
2. Who in your life has cared for you in spite of their own suffering?
3. Does it comfort you to know that Jesus sees you clearly? Why or why not?

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).
When you have pain and medicine isn't helping, what do you usually do?

Devocional CPTLN del 06 de abril de 2020 - Él te ve

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Él te ve

06 de Abril de 2020

Detrás de Jesús iba una gran multitud del pueblo, y mujeres que lloraban y se lamentaban por él. Pero Jesús se volvió hacia ellas y les dijo: "Mujeres de Jerusalén, no lloren por mí, sino por ustedes mismas y por sus hijos. Porque vienen días en que se dirá: 'Dichosas las estériles, y los vientres que no concibieron, y los pechos que no amamantaron.' Entonces comenzarán a pedir a los montes: '¡Caigan sobre nosotros!' Y dirán a las colinas: '¡Cúbrannos por completo!' Porque, si esto hacen con el árbol verde, ¡qué no harán con el árbol seco!"

— Lucas 23:27-31, RVC

¿Alguna vez has estado en medio de un sufrimiento terrible? Si eres como yo, no puedes concentrarte en otra cosa que no sea el dolor. En el fondo de mi mente sé que la vida continúa, que otras personas aún existen, incluso que podrían estar sufriendo, tal como yo. Pero es increíblemente difícil dejar a un lado mi sufrimiento para centrarme en el de ellos. El sufrimiento me roba la energía.

Jesús es diferente. ¡Solo míralo en el camino a la cruz! Ya lo golpearon, lo torturaron, lo mantuvieron despierto toda la noche, lo sometieron a cinco juicios por separado y, sin embargo, todavía se da cuenta de que las mujeres que están al lado del camino se lamentan por él.

Jesús deja a un lado su propio sufrimiento para advertirles lo que está en camino: el sufrimiento de ellas en la caída de Jerusalén. Esos días serán tan terribles, dice, que no tener hijos parecerá una bendición. Después de todo, si estas cosas malvadas están sucediendo ahora, mientras Dios mismo sigue caminando sobre la faz de la tierra, ¿qué sucederá cuando ya no esté visiblemente presente?

Jesús nos ve tan claramente como vio a esas mujeres. Él ve tu situación, tus necesidades, tu dolor. Tu sufrimiento es la razón de su sufrimiento. Como dijo Isaías: "Él llevará sobre sí nuestros males, y sufrirá nuestros dolores... Él será herido por nuestros pecados; ¡molido por nuestras rebeliones! Sobre él vendrá el castigo de nuestra paz, y por su llaga seremos sanados" (Isaías 53:4-5).

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, ayúdame a responder a tu amor con amor. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

1. ¿Quién te ha cuidado a pesar de su propio sufrimiento?
2. ¿Te consuela saber que Jesús te ve claramente?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Quién te ha cuidado a pesar de su propio sufrimiento?

Notre Pain Quotidien - La force dans la souffrance

La force dans la souffrance

Lisez : Matthieu 5.1-12
La Bible en un an : 1 Samuel 7 – 9 ; Luc 9.18-36

Heureux ceux qui sont persécutés pour la justice.

— Matthieu 5.10

En 1948, Harlan Popov, le pasteur d’une Église clandestine, s’est fait sortir de chez lui pour subir un « petit interrogatoire ». Deux semaines plus tard, on l’a interrogé jour et nuit sans le nourrir pendant dix jours. Chaque fois qu’il niait être un espion, on le rouait de coups. Popov a non seulement survécu à ces mauvais traitements, mais il a aussi conduit d’autres détenus à Jésus. Finalement, onze ans après, on l’a relâché et il a continué de proclamer sa foi jusqu’à ce que, deux ans plus tard, il a pu quitter le pays et retrouver sa famille. Il a passé les années suivantes à prêcher et à amasser de l’argent pour distribuer des bibles dans des pays hostiles à l’Évangile.

Comme d’innombrables croyants en Jésus au fil des siècles, Popov s’est fait persécuter en raison de sa foi. Longtemps avant de se faire lui-même torturer et mettre à mort, et que ses disciples se fassent persécuter par la suite, Christ a dit : « Heureux ceux qui sont persécutés pour la justice, car le royaume des cieux est à eux ! » (MT 5.10.) Puis il a ajouté : « Heureux serez-vous, lorsqu’on […] vous persécutera et qu’on dira faussement de vous toute sorte de mal, à cause de moi » (V. 11).

« Heureux » ? Que voulait donc dire Jésus ? Il évoquait ainsi la plénitude, la joie et la consolation que procure une relation avec lui (V. 4,8-10). Popov a persévéré parce qu’il sentait la présence de Dieu lui en insuffler la force, malgré la souffrance. Si nous marchons avec Dieu, en toute situation, nous pouvons nous aussi jouir de sa paix. Il est avec nous.

Père bienveillant, merci de ne jamais nous délaisser ni nous abandonner durant nos heures les plus sombres.

Dieu nous donne la paix dans les épreuves.

par Alyson Kieda

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
En 1948, Harlan Popov, le pasteur d’une Église clandestine, s’est fait sortir de chez lui pour subir un « petit interrogatoire ».