The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 114

God saves through water

1  When Israel came out of Egypt,
     Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2  Judah became God’s sanctuary,
     Israel his dominion.

3  The sea looked and fled,
     the Jordan turned back;
4  the mountains leaped like rams,
     the hills like lambs.

5  Why was it, sea, that you fled?
     Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6  Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
     you hills, like lambs?

7  Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
     at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8  who turned the rock into a pool,
     the hard rock into springs of water.

Jonah 2:1-10

Jonah’s praise for deliverance

2:1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:

   “In my distress I called to the Lord,
     and he answered me.
   From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
     and you listened to my cry.
3  You hurled me into the depths,
     into the very heart of the seas,
     and the currents swirled about me;
   all your waves and breakers
     swept over me.
4  I said, ‘I have been banished
     from your sight;
   yet I will look again
     toward your holy temple.’
5  The engulfing waters threatened me,
     the deep surrounded me;
     seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6  To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
     the earth beneath barred me in forever.
   But you, Lord my God,
     brought my life up from the pit.

7  “When my life was ebbing away,
     I remembered you, Lord,
   and my prayer rose to you,
     to your holy temple.

8  “Those who cling to worthless idols
     turn away from God’s love for them.
9  But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
     will sacrifice to you.
   What I have vowed I will make good.
     I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Matthew 12:38-42

Jesus speaks of the sign of Jonah

12:38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

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 WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2020
Psalm 114; Jonah 2:1-10; Matthew 12:38-42

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2020

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2020

In the spring of 1970, Gaylord Nelson announced that a demonstration about the environment would happen on April 22. Approximately twenty million people showed up to celebrate the first Earth Day. Since then, environmental concerns such as oil spills, global warming, extinction of wildlife, and pollution have been pushed to the forefront of political agendas and popular concern.

A sixth-century rabbi wrote, “God, from the very beginning of creation, was occupied before all else with planting, as it is written, ‘And first of all, the Eternal God planted a Garden in Eden.’ Therefore, occupy yourselves first and foremost with planting.”

Lord, give us humility to remember that we are made from dirt so that we might till the dirt and love it as we love ourselves. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2020

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Read all of Romans 1

Listen to Romans 1

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

Un dia a la Vez - Miércoles 22 de abril de 2020

Sin que descuides lo tuyo

El temor del Señor es el principio del conocimiento; los necios desprecian la sabiduría y la disciplina.

— Proverbios 1:7, NVI

Este devocional forma parte del tema anterior: El servicio a Dios debe ser equilibrado por completo.

No debemos abandonar nuestra familia por servir en la obra de Dios. De ahí que el Señor sea el único capaz de ayudarnos a equilibrar nuestro trabajo.

He tenido la oportunidad de conocer algunos casos cercanos. Se trata de jóvenes procedentes de familias pastorales que están cansados de vivir solos en sus casas. No tienen una vida en familia como los demás, ni tienen derecho a la privacidad ni en su casa. El problema es que la casa pastoral vive repleta de gente cualquier día de la semana, ni hablar el día del servicio. Tampoco se puede pensar en salir de vacaciones, pues papá o mamá están con agendas repletas de compromisos de la iglesia.

Esta es una exhortación muy especial que tengo para ti pastor, pastora, líder, capellán o cualquiera que sea tu posición. El servicio a Dios es el mayor privilegio que tú y yo podemos experimentar. Es gratificante y muy bien remunerado por Dios.

Sin embargo, no olvides que antes de servir a Dios, tu primer ministerio, tu primera obra, es cuidar de tu familia. No la descuides, pues te necesita.

Pídele a Dios que te dé el tiempo perfecto y que logres ser el mejor de los padres.

Hay un orden ya establecido por nuestro Señor. Tú con Dios como cabeza, tu familia, primera obligación, el trabajo y la iglesia.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Este devocional forma parte del tema anterior: El servicio a Dios debe ser equilibrado por completo.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, April 22, 2020

THE HELMET OF SALVATION

Take the helmet of salvation…

— Ephesians 6:17a, NIV

In describing the Christian’s helmet, Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, “…and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” The best armor you can give a soldier is the kind that cannot be destroyed by the enemy. Paul, knowing the eternal nature of God’s salvation, exhorts the servant-soldier to put on—that is, believe in—the hope of life beyond this world. Soldiers without fear of death? What a mighty force!

God also provides the helmet to protect our minds. When the enemy tries to infiltrate our thinking with doubts about our salvation, the helmet becomes our protection.

You are God’s own child. He Himself redeemed you from slavery. He does not want the enemy to overcome you. You are secure in your relationship with God. The power within you is greater than the power in your enemy. Give no place to doubt. Take your stand for God in confidence wearing you helmet of salvation.

Teshome comes from northern Ethiopia and grew up in the traditional Orthodox Church. In Sunday school he was taught that the evangelical Christians eat the meat of dogs and cats when they celebrate Holy Communion. Their Sunday school teachers made a mistake by asking them to read the gospels and so Teshome discovered the truth about Jesus Christ. He went to evangelical Christians to hear more about Jesus. He found that his Sunday school teachers, priests and bishops were teaching him lies. He accepted Christ. After this he was chased away by his family, community and congregation.

Brother Teshome and new friends went to live with Christians who received them in their homes. It was during their stay with these Christians that they heard about a well-established evangelical church. They contacted its leadership and joined after getting a positive reply. Presently they have sixty members in their region. Brother Teshome’s vision is to go back to his people and witness to them.

RESPONSE: Today I put on the helmet of salvation so Satan will not have a stronghold on my thoughts.

PRAYER: Lord, I rejoice in my salvation and ask You to help me keep my mind focused on You.

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 - April 22, 2020 - "Good News When You're Stranded"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Good News When You're Stranded"

April 22, 2020

And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower fails, but the Word of the Lord remains forever." And this Word is the good news that was preached to you.

— 1 Peter 1:17-25, ESV

This is one of those passages that if I were stranded on a desert island and could have only a few treasured words from the Bible, perhaps some fragile manuscript fragment from God's Word, this text from 1 Peter might well be it.

In life's difficult and uncertain times (like when we're stranded on a desert island), we long for something solid to stand on. Here Peter delivers, as he reminds his readers of the God we serve and the love He has for us.

How wonderful that now, centuries later, God has the apostle Peter—one of Jesus' inner circle—speaking to us. Peter walked with Jesus and spent time regularly with the Savior. They were close. Peter knew Jesus probably as well as any human who spent time with Him could.

And from this deep conviction, Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, drew from personal experience his faith and confidence of who Jesus was—both the Son of Man and the Son of God. From this fisherman of Galilee, we have "good news" of the first order.

No longer lost in the futile ways of our forefathers, we have been redeemed, "ransomed," set free from God's righteous and impartial judgment. And how do we know this redemption is complete? Because the unblemished Lamb of God's own blood has been mercifully spilt on our behalf. He is the One who lived before the world's foundation. He is the One God raised "from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

God has done it all for us and done it beautifully. Though we quickly fade from this world, shrinking like frail grass, God's Word remains constant (see also John 1:1-17).

And that's some pretty good news when you're stranded on a desert island.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Your Word stands forever. Remind us of that truth, and keep us close to Jesus. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you have a go-to Scripture verse that uplifts and inspires you? What is it?

2. How has your faith in Jesus as Savior "ransomed" you from the "futile ways" of your ancestors?

3. Has your perception of your life changed over the years? Are there areas where you are not as active and vital as you once were?

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you have a go-to Scripture verse that uplifts and inspires you? What is it?

Devocional CPTLN del 22 de abril de 2020 - "Buenas noticias cuando estás varado"

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Buenas noticias cuando estás varado

22 de Abril de 2020

Si ustedes llaman «Padre» a aquel que al juzgar se fija en lo que se ha hecho y no en quién lo hizo, vivan el resto de sus vidas en el temor de Dios. Ustedes saben que fueron rescatados de una vida sin sentido, la cual heredaron de sus padres; y que ese rescate no se pagó con cosas corruptibles, como el oro y la plata, sino con la sangre preciosa de Cristo, sin mancha y sin contaminación, como la de un cordero, que ya había sido destinado desde antes de que Dios creara el mundo, pero que se manifestó en estos últimos tiempos por amor a ustedes. Por él ustedes creen en Dios, que fue quien lo resucitó de los muertos y lo ha glorificado, para que ustedes tengan puesta su fe y su esperanza en Dios. Y ahora, ya que se han purificado mediante su obediencia a la verdad, para amar sinceramente a sus hermanos, ámense los unos a los otros de todo corazón, pues ustedes han nacido de nuevo, y no de una simiente perecedera, sino de una simiente imperecedera, por la palabra de Dios que vive y permanece para siempre. Porque: «Todo hombre es como la hierba, y toda su gloria es como una flor. La hierba se seca, y la flor se marchita, pero la palabra del Señor permanece para siempre.» Y éstas son las buenas noticias que se les han anunciado.

— 1 Pedro 1:17-25, RVC

Este es uno de esos pasajes que elegiría si estuviera varado en una isla desierta y pudiera tener solo unas pocas palabras preciadas de la Biblia.

En los tiempos difíciles e inciertos de la vida (como cuando estamos varados en una isla desierta), anhelamos algo sólido en qué apoyarnos. Aquí Pedro nos recuerda el Dios que servimos y el amor que tiene por nosotros.

Qué maravilloso es que ahora, siglos después, Dios nos hable a través del apóstol Pedro, uno del círculo íntimo de Jesús. Pedro caminó con Jesús y pasó tiempo regularmente con el Salvador. Pedro conocía a Jesús probablemente tan bien como cualquier humano que haya pasado tiempo con él. Y a partir de esa conexión profunda Pedro, inspirado por el Espíritu Santo, extrajo de la experiencia personal su fe y confianza de quién era Jesús: tanto Hijo del Hombre como Hijo de Dios. De este pescador de Galilea tenemos "buenas noticias" de primera mano.

Ya no nos perdemos en los caminos inútiles de nuestros antepasados, hemos sido redimidos, "rescatados", liberados del juicio justo e imparcial de Dios. ¿Cómo sabemos que esta redención está completa? Porque la sangre inmaculada del Cordero de Dios se ha derramado misericordiosamente en nuestro nombre. Él es quien vivió antes de la fundación del mundo. Él es el único a quien Dios "resucitó de los muertos y lo ha glorificado, para que ustedes tengan puesta su fe y su esperanza en Dios".

Dios lo ha hecho todo por nosotros y lo hizo maravillosamente. Aunque nos desvanecemos rápidamente de este mundo, encogiéndonos como hierba frágil, la Palabra de Dios permanece para siempre (ver también Juan 1:1-17).

Y esas son buenas noticias cuando estás varado en una isla desierta.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, tu Palabra permanece para siempre. Recuérdanos esta verdad y mantennos siempre cerca de Jesús. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Cómo te ha "rescatado" tu fe en Jesús como Salvador de los "caminos inútiles" de tus antepasados?

* ¿Ha cambiado tu percepción de la vida con los años? ¿Hay áreas en las que no eres tan activo y vital como antes?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cómo te ha "rescatado" tu fe en Jesús como Salvador de los "caminos inútiles" de tus antepasados?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Deus em detalhes

Deus em detalhes

Escritura de hoje: Mateus 10:29-31
Bíblia em um ano: 2 Samuel 14–15; Lucas 17:1-19

O Senhor é bom para todos; derrama misericórdia sobre toda a sua criação.

— Salmo 145:9

Quando o “Chocolate”, meu filhote de labrador retriever, estava com três meses, nós o levamos para tomar vacinas e fazer exames. Enquanto a veterinária o examinava cuidadosamente, percebeu uma pequena mancha branca no pelo da pata esquerda. Ela sorriu e disse: “Olha só! Foi por aqui que Deus segurou você quando o mergulhou no chocolate”.

Eu ri. Mas, sem querer, ela tinha colocado uma questão significativa sobre o interesse profundo e pessoal de Deus a respeito de Sua criação.

Jesus nos diz em Mateus 10:30 que: “…até os cabelos de sua cabeça estão contados”. Deus é tão maravilhoso que é capaz de ter interesse infinito nos detalhes mais íntimos de nossa vida. Não há nada tão pequeno que escape à Sua percepção e não existe preocupação trivial demais a ser levada perante Ele. O Senhor simplesmente se preocupa a esse ponto!

Deus não apenas nos criou, Ele nos sustém e nos guarda a cada momento. Às vezes é dito que “o diabo está nos detalhes”. Mas é muito melhor entender que Deus está neles, cuidando até das coisas que escapam à nossa percepção. Como é reconfortante saber que o nosso Pai celeste, perfeitamente sábio e cuidadoso, nos segura — com toda a criação — em Suas mãos fortes e amorosas.

Por:  James Banks

Refletir & Orar

Amoroso Senhor, eu te louvo pela maravilha de Tua criação. Ajuda-me a refletir a Tua compaixão, cuidando daquilo que criaste.

Deus preocupa-se com cada uma de nossas necessidades.

© 2020 Ministérios Pão Diário
Quando o “Chocolate”, meu filhote de labrador retriever, estava com três meses, nós o levamos para tomar vacinas e fazer exames.