The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, April 24, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, April 24, 2020

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19

I will call upon God

1  I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
     he heard my cry for mercy.
2  Because he turned his ear to me,
     I will call on him as long as I live.

3  The cords of death entangled me,
     the anguish of the grave came over me;
     I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4  Then I called on the name of the Lord:
     “Lord, save me!”

12 What shall I return to the Lord
     for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
     and call on the name of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
     in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
     is the death of his faithful servants.
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
     I serve you just as my mother did;
     you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
     and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
     in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—
     in your midst, Jerusalem.

   Praise the Lord.

Isaiah 26:1-4

God sets up victory like bulwarks

1  In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

   We have a strong city;
     God makes salvation
     its walls and ramparts.
2  Open the gates
     that the righteous nation may enter,
     the nation that keeps faith.
3  You will keep in perfect peace
     those whose minds are steadfast,
     because they trust in you.
4  Trust in the Lord forever,
     for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

1 Peter 1:13-16

A holy life

1:13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

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, April 24, 2020
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; Isaiah 26:1-4; 1 Peter 1:13-16

The Daily Prayer for FRIDAY, April 24, 2020

The Daily Prayer

FRIDAY, April 24, 2020

Francis of Assisi, a twelfth-century mendicant preacher, said, “Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit, which Christ grants to His friends, is that of self-conquest and of willingly bearing sufferings, injuries and reproaches and discomforts for the love of Christ. If we shall bear all these things patiently and with cheerfulness, thinking on the suffering of Christ the blessed, which we ought to bear patiently for His love, O Brother Leo, write that here and in this is perfect joy.”

Christ of the cross and of the empty tomb, strengthen us to bear the burdens of the day, to seek you amid the hurts and questions, and to trust you for mercy enough for this day. Amen.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, April 24, 2020

1 Peter 1:18-19

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Read all of 1 Peter 1

Listen to 1 Peter 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 - Viernes 24 de abril de 2020

Oración por protección

Responde a mi clamor, Dios mío y defensor mío. Dame alivio cuando esté angustiado, apiádate de mí y escucha mi oración.

— Salmo 4:1, NVI

Señor Jesús, hoy quiero pedirte perdón porque reconozco que he estado enviciado con mi trabajo. También he sido negligente porque me he concentrado en servirte y he descuidado lo más preciado para ti, mi familia.

Reconozco que mi vida puede estar llena de conflictos porque me equivoqué al cambiar el orden que estableciste y en el que me encargas que atienda a mi familia en primer lugar.

Sé que me he encerrado mucho en mis necesidades financieras y que he luchado en mis fuerzas por alcanzar lo que necesito. Así que te pido perdón por haber descuidado a mis hijos y mi cónyuge al disfrazarlo con mi trabajo.

Te necesito y necesito de tu sabiduría para vivir de acuerdo con tu voluntad.

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por protección

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Friday, April 24, 2020

ALL KINDS OF PRAYER

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

— Ephesians 6:18, NIV

Prayer is mentioned in the context of the wardrobe of the Christian warrior but not as a specific weapon of war or a piece of armor. That’s because prayer is the key to consistent victory in our warfare. Therefore, prayer is one of the most important things we can do when fighting the enemy.

David’s battle with Goliath was not won when the stone flew from the sling. It was won in David’s close relationship with the Living God. Our battles are won or lost in the way we walk with God. Prayer is talking with God and letting Him talk with you. Prayer is taking a stand against the spiritual forces of darkness that influence events and circumstances in the world.

Prayer is asserting God’s victory before we walk into battle. But prayer is more than kneeling before God. Prayer is as much an attitude as it is an act. Prayer is keeping your heart open to His leadership. Prayer is the constant communion with God needed to face the challenge of completing Jesus’ mission.

A Bible courier recounts: “We walked up to the customs with our suitcases full of Bibles. We know that at that moment there are as many as a hundred people praying for us. And can you feel it! We felt peace and joy as we push our trolley of suitcases towards the customs desk. I am absolutely certain that we were surrounded by angels. It sounds strange, but I just know.

‘Excuse me, ladies, do you have anything to declare?’ says the custom agent. At that moment, a good friend rushes up to the officer. They greet each other profusely. The customs man no longer sees us. We walk on, and a moment later we are standing with all our suitcases, which have not been opened, waiting for a taxi.

“I feel small and think, ‘Who am I? I only walk past the customs with my suitcases and I don't even have to answer any questions. That’s all that God asks of me. And it’s He who does the rest—incredibly!’”

RESPONSE: Today I commit myself to being a person of prayer as I put on the whole armor of God.

PRAYER: Pray today with all kinds of prayers for all of God’s people. A great challenge and a great opportunity!

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, April 24, 2020

Samuel

His name means: "The Name of God"

His work: Priest, prophet, and judge, Samuel helped transform Israel from a nation led by charismatic figures called "judges" to one ruled by kings, who were to exercise their authority not as other kings did, but as men who belonged to God. He anointed Israel's first two kings: Saul and David.
His character: Samuel was eager to hear God's voice and willing to speak his word, even when doing so meant rebuking a king and risking his life. A spiritual leader who won military victories against the Philistines, he reminded the people of God's faithfulness and of the vital importance of their obedience. Sadly, he failed to pass on these same character traits to his sons, who acted corruptly as judges in his stead.
His sorrow: That Saul, Israel's first king, failed to obey God.
His triumph: To help shape Israel into a monarchy whose kings were to be God's servants.
Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 1:1-28; 2:18-26; 3:1-20; 7:2-16; 8:1-10:26; 12:1-25

A Look at the Man

Years had passed since the death of Eli and his sons, and Samuel was growing old, his own sons more like Eli's than he cared to admit. He had judged Israel faithfully for many years, but the elders were clamoring for a change, insisting Israel needed a king like the other nations of the world.

This demand for a king seemed to Samuel like more evidence of their waywardness. This stiff-necked people were impossible to lead, always so certain they knew what was best for them. So Samuel railed against the idea until the people became so adamant that he made it a matter for prayer. He heard a surprising answer from the Lord: "Samuel, listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."

So Samuel described in frightening detail all the demands a king would place on them—drafting their sons and daughters to work and die for him, devouring the fruits of their labor, requiring so much that they would feel enslaved by him. But the leaders insisted, "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations with a king to go out before us and fight our battles."

So God gave them a king named Saul, a man who stood a head taller than most other men, yet a man who was no better at following the Lord than they had been. This was the king Samuel had to anoint. The king he had to guide. The king he finally had to pass judgment on, delivering a message any man would fear to render a king—that God intended to tear the crown from him and give it to another man.

Then the Lord told Samuel to fill his horn with oil and go to Jesse of Bethlehem, because one of his sons was to be king. Though Samuel feared Saul's wrath if he were to anoint a new king, he did as the Lord commanded, and as soon as he saw Jesse's eldest son, he was certain he had found Israel's next king.

But the Lord thought otherwise, saying to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Six more of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, but each one was rejected. And then came David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, a shepherd boy, as strong and solid on the inside as he looked on the outside. Samuel took the horn and poured the oil over David's head, anointing him king in the presence of his brothers.

Years passed before David finally ascended to the throne of Israel. By then Samuel was dead. But the man who had been an answer to his mother's prayer and who had been dedicated to God in a special way for the whole of his lifetime had fulfilled God's purpose, helping Israel make the transition from the chaotic period of the judges, when every man did what was right in his own eyes, to the period of the kings of Israel, when the Lord God searched for a ruler who would be a man after his own heart.

Reflect On: 1 Samuel 3:1–10
Praise God: For speaking to us.
Offer Thanks: For the way God has revealed himself to you.
Confess: Any failure to listen to what God is saying.
Ask God: To help you listen for his voice.

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.
Sadly, he failed to pass on these same character traits to his sons, who acted corruptly as judges…

LHM Daily Devotions - April 24, 2020 - "Discipleship Is Transformative"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Discipleship Is Transformative"

April 24, 2020

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He (Jesus) saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

— Matthew 4:18-19, ESV

The cornerstone of evangelism is to come and, by God's grace, experience the Gospel. The next step is to follow. God first calls you to "come." He then invites you to follow Him. Through the gift of faith we become His disciples and join with Him in His mission. This involves aligning our lives with the One we follow, the One we want to be most like.

But what does it mean to follow Jesus, to be His disciple? What did it mean for those who followed Him during His lifetime? Jewish rabbis in Jesus' day shared their lives and gave their disciples an example to emulate. A rabbi's disciples would strive to do everything their rabbi did. Following his lead closely, they would interpret Scripture as he did; they would treat their wife as he did; they would pray the way he did.

We see this idea picked up by the apostle Paul who writes, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul, too, was from the rabbinic tradition of education, and he knew well the power of imitating those who were worth following. Conversely, he knew the responsibility of being an example to those who trusted him as their teacher in Christ: "Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the Gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me" (1 Corinthians 4:15-16).

Does it then mean to follow Jesus (or Paul's example as he imitated Him), we need to quit our job, leave our friends and family behind, and hit the road as a traveling preacher? While it might mean that, it helps to keep the concept of discipleship in perspective. Following Jesus is a Holy Spirit-empowered, lifelong process of following and becoming more like Jesus.

Discipleship, of course, is not some act of justification (an attempt to get right with God by our own merits), it's about living our lives to honor and worship our Lord and Savior, so that we may "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2).

Discipleship is transformative. We know from the story of the original disciples that Jesus radically changed their lives. He took them from being fishermen to being fishers of men. He took them and transformed them—slowly, steadily, day by day—into becoming those who would not only follow their Master, but who would lead others to Him as well.

And He can do the same for you and me.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as we have been led to receive Your grace and mercy, so too transform us into those who are able to lead others to the well of Your forgiveness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you try to follow the example of a significant person in your life?

2. Have you ever felt compelled (almost immediately) to follow someone else? Who was it and what was it about them that caused to react that way?

3. Do you ever consider yourself as being an example to someone else? Should we think of our lives in this way?

Adapted from the LHM booklet, Make Him Known: A Foundation for Witnessing, by Andrew Fitzgerald. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you try to follow the example of a significant person in your life?

Devocional CPTLN del 24 de abril de 2020 - "El discipulado es transformador"

ALIMENTO DIARIO

El discipulado es transformador

24 de Abril de 2020

Mientras Jesús caminaba junto al lago de Galilea, vio a dos hermanos, Simón, llamado Pedro, y Andrés, que estaban echando la red al agua, pues eran pescadores. Jesús les dijo: «Síganme, y yo haré de ustedes pescadores de hombres».

— Mateo 4:18-19, RVC

La piedra angular del evangelismo es, por la gracia de Dios, experimentar el Evangelio. El siguiente paso es seguir. Dios primero nos llama y luego nos invita a seguirlo. A través del don de la fe nos convertimos en sus discípulos y nos unimos a él en su misión. Esto implica alinear nuestra vida con la de Aquél a quien seguimos y a quien queremos parecernos cada vez más.

Pero, ¿qué significa seguir a Jesús y ser su discípulo? ¿Qué significó para quienes lo siguieron? Los rabinos judíos en los días de Jesús compartieron sus vidas y les dieron a sus discípulos un ejemplo a emular. Los discípulos de un rabino se esforzaban por hacer todo lo que su rabino hacía. Siguiendo de cerca su ejemplo, interpretaban las Escrituras como él, trataban a su esposa como él, rezaban como él.

El apóstol Pablo toma esta idea cuando escribe: "Imítenme a mí, así como yo imito a Cristo" (1 Corintios 11:1). Él también era de la tradición rabínica, por lo que conocía bien el poder de imitar a quienes valía la pena seguir. Y también era consciente de la responsabilidad que tenía de ser un ejemplo para quienes confiaban en él como su maestro en Cristo: "Porque aunque ustedes tengan diez mil instructores en Cristo, no tienen muchos padres, pues en Cristo Jesús yo los engendré por medio del evangelio. Por tanto, les ruego que me imiten" (1 Corintios 4:15-16).

¿Quiere decir, entonces, que para seguir a Jesús (o para imitarlo como lo hacía Pablo), tenemos que dejar nuestro trabajo, dejar atrás a nuestros familiares y amigos y salir a predicar por todos lados? Si bien en algunos casos puede significar eso, en realidad no es lo que nos está diciendo. Pero sí ayuda a mantener el concepto de discipulado en perspectiva. Seguir a Jesús es un proceso de toda la vida, empoderado por el Espíritu Santo, de seguir a Jesús y de ser cada vez más como él.

El discipulado no es un acto de justificación, un intento de hacer las paces con Dios por nuestros propios méritos, sino que se trata de vivir de tal forma de honrar y adorar a nuestro Señor y Salvador, para que podamos vivir "en amor, como también Cristo nos amó y se entregó a sí mismo por nosotros, como ofrenda y sacrificio a Dios, de aroma fragante" (Efesios 5:2).

El discipulado es transformador. Sabemos por la historia de los primeros discípulos que Jesús cambió radicalmente sus vidas. Los llevó de pescadores a pescadores de hombres y los transformó lenta y constantemente, día a día, para que no solo siguieran a su Maestro, sino también condujeran a otros a Él.

Y Él puede hacer lo mismo por ti y por mí.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, ya que hemos sido guiados a recibir tu gracia y misericordia, también transfórmanos para que guiemos a otros a la fuente de tu perdón. En el nombre de Jesús oramos. Amén.

Andrew Fitzgerald

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Alguna vez has sentido el impulse de seguir a alguien más? ¿Quién fue y qué fue lo que hizo que reaccionaras de esa manera?

* ¿Alguna vez te has considerado un ejemplo para alguien más? ¿Deberíamos pensar en nuestra vida de esta manera?

© 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 sentido el impulse de seguir a alguien más? ¿Quién fue y qué fue lo que hizo que reaccionaras de esa manera?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Sự Sắp Xếp Thiên Thượng

Sự Sắp Xếp Thiên Thượng

Đọc: Rô-ma 11:33–36 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: II Sa-mu-ên 19–20; Lu-ca 18:1–23

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Ôi! Sự giàu có, khôn ngoan và hiểu biết của Đức Chúa Trời thật sâu nhiệm biết bao! Sự phán xét của Ngài làm sao biết được, đường lối Ngài làm sao hiểu được!

— Rô-ma 11:33

Tôi cảm thấy bồn chồn, lo lắng nên thức dậy giữa đêm, đi tới đi lui cầu nguyện. Thành thật mà nói, thái độ của tôi không phải là đầu phục Chúa trong sự cầu nguyện, mà là nghi ngờ và tức giận. Khi chẳng tìm được sự yên ủi nào, tôi ngồi xuống và ngó ra cửa sổ lớn nhìn bầu trời đêm. Tôi bất ngờ chú ý đến chòm sao Orion – ba ngôi sao được sắp xếp hoàn hảo, là điều thường thấy vào những đêm bầu trời trong sáng. Tôi chỉ biết về thiên văn học đủ để hiểu rằng những ngôi sao này ở cách xa hàng trăm năm ánh sáng.

Tôi biết rằng nếu tôi càng đến gần hơn, các ngôi sao này sẽ càng ít thẳng hàng hơn. Tuy vậy, từ góc nhìn xa của tôi, các ngôi sao trông như được sắp xếp cẩn thận trên các tầng trời. Và giây phút đó, tôi nhận ra rằng mình nhìn cuộc đời quá thiển cận nên khó có thể thấy được điều Chúa thấy. Trong bức tranh lớn của Ngài, mọi thứ đều khớp với nhau cách hoàn hảo.

Sau khi trình bày những mục đích tối thượng của Đức Chúa Trời, sứ đồ Phao-lô đã viết một bài ca ngợi khen Chúa (Rô. 11:33-36). Lời của ông hướng chúng ta nhìn lên Đấng tối cao, đường lối Ngài vượt quá khả năng hiểu biết hay dò thấu của chúng ta (c.33). Nhưng Đấng nắm giữ mọi vật trên trời và dưới đất lại vô cùng yêu thương và quan tâm đến từng chi tiết trong cuộc đời chúng ta (Mat. 6:25–34; Cô. 1:16).

Ngay cả khi mọi việc dường như khó hiểu thì kế hoạch của Chúa đang diễn ra vì ích lợi của chúng ta, và vì danh cao cả và vinh hiển của Ngài.

Có thắc mắc nào mà bạn mong Chúa trả lời cho mình không? Bạn tìm được sự yên nghỉ ra sao khi tin rằng trong cái nhìn của Chúa, cuộc đời bạn đang diễn ra đúng theo mục đích tối thượng của Ngài?

Lạy Chúa, xin nhắc con nhớ rằng mục đích và chương trình của Ngài cho cuộc đời con vượt quá sự hiểu biết của con, và xin giúp con yên nghỉ trong Ngài.

bởi Evan Morgan

© 2020 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Thành thật mà nói, thái độ của tôi không phải là đầu phục Chúa trong sự cầu nguyện, mà là nghi ngờ và tức giận.