The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, April 30, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, April 30, 2020

Psalm 23; Exodus 2:15b-25; 1 Peter 2:9-12

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 23

God our shepherd

1  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
   he leads me beside quiet waters,
3    he refreshes my soul.
   He guides me along the right paths
     for his name’s sake.
4  Even though I walk
     through the darkest valley,
   I will fear no evil,
     for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff,
     they comfort me.

5  You prepare a table before me
     in the presence of my enemies.
   You anoint my head with oil;
     my cup overflows.
6  Surely your goodness and love will follow me
     all the days of my life,
   and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
     forever.

Exodus 2:15b-25

Moses the shepherd

2:15b Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. 16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock.

18 When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”

19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”

20 “And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.”

21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22 Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

1 Peter 2:9-12

Living as God’s people

2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

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 THURSDAY, April 30, 2020
Psalm 23; Exodus 2:15b-25; 1 Peter 2:9-12

The Daily Prayer for THURSDAY, April 30, 2020

The Daily Prayer

THURSDAY, April 30, 2020

North and South Vietnam were reunited on April 30, 1975, bringing an end to the Vietnam War.

Twentieth-century novelist Georges Bernarnos said, “Every particle of Christ’s divine charity is today more precious for your security—for your security, I say—than all the atom bombs in all the stockpiles.”

If our days do not begin and end in you, O Lord, they come to nothing. Bless our efforts at faithfulness; work through us despite our supposed strengths. Establish the work of our hands, O God, and be merciful. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, April 30, 2020

Ephesians 4:15

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Read all of Ephesians 4

Listen to Ephesians 4

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 - Jueves 30 de abril de 2020

Oración para hacer su voluntad

Enséñame a hacer tu voluntad, porque tú eres mi Dios. Que tu buen Espíritu me guíe por un terreno sin obstáculos.

— Salmo 143:10, NVI

Señor, en estos días me has hablado acerca de mantener mi mirada en ti, sin importar las situaciones que pueda estar viviendo.

Hoy estoy reconociendo que te he juzgado, que me he enojado contigo y te he culpado por todo lo que estoy pasando y por todo lo que viví en el pasado.

Te pido perdón y te suplico que me ayudes a hacer tu voluntad y morir a mis caprichos.

También te pido que me ayudes a andar en tus caminos y a hacer tu voluntad para mi vida.

Límpiame y purifica mi mente, Jesús.

Enséñame a entender que tú has estado en cada adversidad, aunque no te haya visto.

Quiero confiar en ti y serte fiel.

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración para hacer su voluntad

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, April 30, 2020

GOD USES PROBLEMS AND PERSECUTION TO PERFECT YOU

"We can rejoice when we run into problems...they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.”

— Romans 5:3-4, LB

Here is the final of five ways God uses problems and persecution in your life: God uses problems and persecution to PERFECT you.

Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you are going to take with you into eternity.

Christian singer, Helen Berhane, wrote a song of victory while in the terrible conditions of an Eritrean shipping container cell for almost three years:

Christianity costs you your life

But at the end, its outcome is victory

The beating of the Hebrews with the whip was awful

The waves of the sea and the mighty wind

Crushed by the stone, suffering by day and night;

Paul’s faithfulness was tested by a sword.

Christianity costs you your life

But at the end, its outcome is victory

The journey of Ruth was a hope where there was no hope;

A sacrifice was paid even for a despised tribe.

Although there was nothing promised for Ruth

By faith she made her way toward Nazareth

And she entered into Jesus’ genealogy.

Christianity costs you your life

But at the end, its outcome is victory[1]

RESPONSE: God is at work in my life—even when I do not recognize it or understand it. It is much easier and more profitable when I cooperate with Him. This is the way to victory!

PRAYER: Thanks be to God who gives us the victory!

1. Ibid, p.106.

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

Men's Devotional Bible - Thursday, April 30, 2020

The Journey to Obedience

Genesis 12:1–9

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 3:5–6; Luke 9:23–27; Hebrews 11:8–19

If you’ve ever seen the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team, you’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible capabilities of the F-16 fighter jet.

The F-16 was developed to act as a support weapons system for the U.S. military’s larger and more expensive fighter aircraft, the F-14 Tomcat and the F-15 Eagle. Blindingly fast and agile, the F-16 Fighting Falcon carries out a wide range of air-to-air and, with its heavy bomb load capacity, air-to-ground missions. An amazing technological achievement, the F-16 has a top speed of over 1300 mph (2124 km/h) and a ceiling of 50,000 feet (15,240 m), which it can reach in approximately 60 seconds. Its combat radius is 340 miles, carrying six 1000 pound (453 kg) bombs. These same aircraft also excel in multinational service in patrol and combat situations around the world.

Of course, whether in a show or in combat, an F-16 requires one vital element to be effective: a pilot who is in complete control. Despite its whiz-bang technical capabilities, without a pilot in control, an airborne F-16 would either fly uselessly in a straight line or spiral out of control. Either way, a devastating crash is inevitable.

Similarly, if you possess every gift imaginable but don’t allow God to guide you in using those gifts, you could very well become useless. Or worse, you might spiral out of control and crash. As the ultimate “Pilot” of your life (yes, the “God is my co-pilot” bumper stickers are misguided), God can do amazing and remarkable things.

Imagine what might have happened if Abram (Abraham) had set out on his own way instead of taking the journey God had set before him. Ultimately, Abraham willingly left behind everything, and everyone he knew to follow God’s will. Yet as a direct result of his obedience Abraham experienced God’s blessings—and the rewards were greater than he could ever have imagined.

God desires the same for you. When you begin a relationship with him, he calls you to leave behind what’s comfortable and familiar to set out on a journey filled with wonder, blessing, and the promise of a new life. On your journey to obedience, you’ll leave behind old habits, old attitudes, old sins, and old ways of thinking. Yet the blessing that awaits you is greater than you can begin to imagine.

Is God the Pilot of your life? When you allow Him to guide you, God offers not only a full and satisfying journey through life but a home for all eternity. Like that F-16 pilot, God is ready and willing to take all of your potentials into his skillful hands and use it to fulfill his ultimate mission.

To Take Away

• In what ways does your life show that you are living for God’s purposes and seeking his approval rather than the world’s?
• Why is it difficult at times to leave behind your “old life” and step out in faith?
• When you pray, ask sincerely that God will steer you away from foolish choices and self-centeredness and take you on the ride of your life.

The incredible capabilities of the F-16 fighter jet.

LHM Daily Devotions - April 30, 2020 - "What Do You Think of Jesus?"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"What Do You Think of Jesus?"

April 30, 2020

So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

— John 10:7-10, ESV

Doors make a huge difference, don't they? They keep people safe behind them. They open to allow you to come in, and then they shut to keep out trouble. A good door is a blessing.

People who come in through doors are usually considered legitimate, especially if a doorkeeper waves them through. They are there for a proper reason. But that's not the case for people who climb over a wall or break through a window. We call the police as soon as we see that. They're clearly up to no good!

Jesus calls Himself a door in this passage. He is our Protector, and He is the One through whom we come into God's kingdom. While He is on duty, we don't need to be afraid. He gives us life, freedom, and safety.

But there are people out there who try to mislead us, often on purpose. They may be trying to sell us the latest-and-greatest philosophy for changing our lives. They may be trying to recruit us to "special" Bible studies or to attend a new church or lecture series. How can we tell if they are legitimate? Look at their attitude to the door—to Jesus.

Ask them: "What do you think of Jesus?" Their answer will tell you a lot about their hearts. If they say, "He is our Savior, and He died and rose again so we could be God's children," that's good! They are coming to you through the true door. But what if they say something like this? "Jesus is a great teacher, and we should all follow His rules and teachings." Or, "Jesus was a highly evolved soul, and we should follow His example to get to a higher plane of living." Or even, "Jesus is okay for those who want to follow Him, but we have something more important to share with you." Whoa! These are not good or safe people to be listening to. They are not entering through the true door: Jesus; they are climbing over the wall.

We know who Jesus is—not just a great teacher, like hundreds of other people. Not a highly evolved soul who serves as an example for us while we try to work our way to perfection. No, He is God Himself, born as a Man among us, born to rescue us from the powers of evil. He is the One who died on the cross to break the power of evil and then rose from the dead three days later—never to die again. He is the One who offers free, joyful, everlasting life to everyone who trusts in Him and belongs to Him. He is our door. He is our safety.

THE PRAYER: Lord, keep us safe in Your care. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Which is your favorite door, and why?

2. Who has the key to the door of your home? Why did you trust them with it?

3. How has Jesus kept you safe in your life?

This Daily Devotion was 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).
Which is your favorite door, and why?

Devocional CPTLN del 30 de abril de 2020 - "¿Qué piensas de Jesús?"

ALIMENTO DIARIO

¿Qué piensas de Jesús?

30 de Abril de 2020

Una vez más Jesús les dijo: «De cierto, de cierto les digo: Yo soy la puerta de las ovejas. Todos los que vinieron antes de mí, son ladrones y salteadores; pero las ovejas no los oyeron. Yo soy la puerta; el que por mí entra, será salvo; y entrará y saldrá, y hallará pastos. El ladrón no viene sino para hurtar, matar y destruir; yo he venido para que tengan vida, y para que la tengan en abundancia.

— Juan 10:7-10, RVC

Las puertas hacen una gran diferencia, ¿no? Mantienen a las personas seguras, se abren para permitir entrar a alguien, y luego se cierran para evitar problemas. Una buena puerta es una bendición.

A las personas que entran por la puerta se las consideran legítimas, especialmente si un portero las hace pasar; están allí por una razón adecuada. Pero con las personas que trepan por una pared o que rompen una ventana, las cosas son diferentes: de apuro llamamos a la policía pues sabemos que no están haciendo nada bueno.

En el texto de hoy, Jesús se llama a sí mismo una puerta. Él es nuestro protector, y es el único a través del cual entramos en el reino de Dios. Mientras esté de servicio, no debemos tener miedo. Nos da vida, libertad y seguridad. Pero hay personas que intentan engañarnos, a menudo a propósito. Quizás traten de vendernos la filosofía más reciente para cambiar nuestra vida, o quizás nos quieran reclutar para estudios bíblicos "especiales", o para asistir a una nueva iglesia. ¿Cómo podemos saber si son legítimos? Fijándonos en su actitud hacia la puerta Jesús.

Si se les pregunta qué piensan de Jesús, su respuesta dirá mucho sobre lo que creen. Si dicen: "Él es nuestro Salvador que murió y resucitó para que pudiéramos ser hijos de Dios", ¡es bueno! Quieren llevarte a través de la puerta verdadera. Pero, ¿y si dicen algo como esto? "Jesús es un gran maestro, y debemos seguir sus reglas y enseñanzas". O, "Jesús era un alma altamente evolucionada, y deberíamos seguir su ejemplo para llegar a un plano superior de vida". O, "Jesús está bien para quienes quieren seguirlo, pero tenemos algo más importante que compartir con ustedes". ¡Cuidado! Estas personas no te están invitando a entrar por la puerta verdadera, sino a trepar por encima del muro.

Sabemos que Jesús no fue solo un gran maestro, como cientos de otras personas, ni tampoco un alma altamente evolucionada que nos sirve de ejemplo para tratar de llegar a la perfección. No, Él es Dios mismo, nacido como un hombre entre nosotros para rescatarnos de los poderes del mal. Él es quien murió en la cruz para destruir el poder del mal, y resucitó de la muerte para no morir nunca más. Él es quien ofrece vida libre, gozosa y eterna a todos los que confían en Él. Él es nuestra puerta segura.

ORACIÓN: Señor, mantennos a salvo bajo tu cuidado. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Quién tiene la llave de la puerta de tu casa? ¿Por qué se la has confiado?

* ¿Cómo te ha salvado Jesús en tu vida?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Quién tiene la llave de la puerta de tu casa? ¿Por qué se la has confiado?

Хлеб наш насущный - По-настоящему свободны

По-настоящему свободны

Читать сейчас: Иоанна 8:31-36 | Библия за год: 3 Царств 8-9; Луки 21:1-19

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Если Сын освободит вас, то истинно свободны будете.

— Иоанна 8:36

В фильме «Амистад» рассказывается о событиях 1839 года, когда рабы из Западной Африки подняли бунт на перевозившем их корабле, в ходе которого убили капитана и часть команды. В конце концов их снова захватили, поместили в тюрьму, а затем доставили в суд. В незабываемом эпизоде Синке, предводитель рабов, страстно просит свободы. Три простых слова, которые он с возрастающей силой повторял на ломаном английском, заставили суд замолчать: «Дать нам свобода!» Справедливость восторжествовала. Узников освободили.

Большинству людей нашего времени не угрожает физическое рабство. Но, как и раньше, освобождение от духовного рабства и власти греха остается недостижимой мечтой. Желанное облегчение приносят слова Христа, записанные в Евангелии от Иоанна: «Если Сын освободит вас, то истинно свободны будете» (Ин. 8:36). Иисус указал на Себя как на источник настоящей свободы. Он дарит прощение всякому верующему в Него. Хотя некоторые из Его слушателей считали себя свободными (ст. 33), их слова, поступки и отношение ко Христу противоречили их заявлениям.

Господь сегодня хочет слышать слова, повторяющие просьбу Синке: «Дай мне свободу!» Полный сочувствия, Он ждет просьбы от тех, кто скован неверием, страхом и разочарованием. Настоящая свобода – в сердце. Она дается тем, кто верит, что Иисус – Божий Сын, пришедший в мир, чтобы сокрушить власть греха Своей смертью и воскресением.

Как Христос освободил вас? Что вы можете рассказать людям о Божьей освобождающей силе?

Господь Иисус, помоги мне верить, что Ты можешь меня освободить.

автор: Артур Джексон

© 2020 Хлеб Наш Насущный
В фильме «Амистад» рассказывается о событиях 1839 года, когда рабы из Западной Африки подняли бунт на перевозившем их корабле, в ходе которого убили капитана и часть команды.