The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, May 11, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, May 11, 2020

Psalm 102:1-17; Exodus 13:17-22; Acts 7:17-40

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 102:1-17

Prayer for deliverance

1  Hear my prayer, Lord;
     let my cry for help come to you.
2  Do not hide your face from me
     when I am in distress.
   Turn your ear to me;
     when I call, answer me quickly.

3  For my days vanish like smoke;
     my bones burn like glowing embers.
4  My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
     I forget to eat my food.
5  In my distress I groan aloud
     and am reduced to skin and bones.
6  I am like a desert owl,
     like an owl among the ruins.
7  I lie awake; I have become
     like a bird alone on a roof.
8  All day long my enemies taunt me;
     those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9  For I eat ashes as my food
     and mingle my drink with tears
10 because of your great wrath,
     for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow;
     I wither away like grass.

12 But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
     your renown endures through all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
     for it is time to show favor to her;
     the appointed time has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
     her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
     all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion
     and appear in his glory.
17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
     he will not despise their plea.

Exodus 13:17-22

God leads the way

13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”

20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Acts 7:17-40

Stephen addresses the council

7:17 “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. 18 Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’ 19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family. 21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

23 “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 26 The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’

27 “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28 Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.

30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

35 “This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.

37 “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’ 38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.

39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to 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, May 11, 2020
Psalm 102:1-17; Exodus 13:17-22; Acts 7:17-40

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, May 11, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, May 11, 2020

Francis de Sales, a sixteenth-century bishop in France, wrote, “Love the poor and love poverty, for it is by such love that we become truly poor. As the Scripture says, we become like the things we love. If you love the poor you will share their poverty and be poor like them. If you love the poor be often with them. Be glad to see them in your own home and to visit with them in theirs. Be glad to talk to them and be pleased to have them near you in church, on the street, and elsewhere. Be poor in conversing with them and speak to them as their companions do, but be rich in assisting them by sharing some of your more abundant goods with them.”

Lord, turn our praises into hands that clothe the naked, arms that comfort the afflicted, tables that host the stranger, and shoulders that support the weary so that your name may be praised by those who live and die with their backs against the wall. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, May 11, 2020

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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 - Lunes 11 de mayo de 2020

Oración por el amor de Dios

Dios, que es rico en misericordia, por su gran amor por nosotros, nos dio vida con Cristo.

— Efesios 2:4-5, NVI

Señor, hoy he recordado que el favor, la gracia y tu misericordia son muestras grandiosas de tu amor por mí.

Puedo entender que ya perdonaste mis pecados con el mayor sacrificio que hiciste por la humanidad, al entregar a tu único Hijo, Jesús, para que sufriera una muerte de cruz a fin de darme vida eterna.

Señor, ayúdame a vivir esto ahora como un principio de vida y a no sentirme nunca más culpable. Que aunque te falle porque soy humano, nunca más volveré a pensar que ya no me quieres o que me vas a quitar el regalo de una vida eterna.

Que si caigo, me levantaré y seguiré adelante en esta nueva oportunidad de vida. Y que si me desvío, con tu amor me encaminarás y corregirás.

Gracias, Dios mío, por el regalo de la vida.

Ayúdame a conocer cada día más tu amor.

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por el amor de Dios

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, May 11, 2020

PRAYER: TURNING PERIODS INTO COMMAS

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

— Acts 14:19-20a, NIV

Today we hear from Open Doors’ author and co-worker, Anneke Companjen. These are the concluding paragraphs of her first book, Hidden Sorrow, Lasting Joy:

My husband, Johan, likes to speak on Acts 14 when he challenges Christians around the world to care for the Suffering Church.

In that chapter, we read how the authorities won the crowd over and stoned Paul. They dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.

“Period!” Johan tells his audience. “The devil wanted to put a period here. Paul was finished as far as the enemy was concerned. But God had other plans. The story continues, ‘But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city’ (Acts 14:20). Something happened that turned the devil's period into God’s comma. What made the difference? The disciples’ prayer.”

God loves to change the devil's periods into commas, and he’s still doing it today.

It is my heart’s desire that he will use you and me to make a difference in the lives of Christians who are persecuted for their faith around the world. We can reach out to them, each in our own church and community, and in our own way, through awareness, through action, and most of all, through prayer.[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will not underestimate the power of prayer for persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. I will pray asking God to turn the devil’s periods into His commas.

PRAYER: Pray for persecuted Christians today whether they are experiencing pain or pressure, guilt or relief, sorrow or joy, faith or denial, isolation or fellowship, prison or freedom, hope or despair, forgiveness or bitterness.

1. Anneke Companjen, Hidden Sorrow, Lasting Joy (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), pp. 216-217.

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, May 11, 2020

Abigail

Her name means: "My Father Is Joy"

Her character: Generous, quick-witted, and wise, she is one of the Bible's great peacemakers.
Her sorrow: To have been mismatched in marriage to her first husband.
Her joy: That God used her to save lives, eventually making her the wife of David.
Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 25:2-42

Her Story

Blockhead, numskull, nincompoop—the words strike us as both harsh and humorous. But any woman married to a man worthy of such labels would have little to laugh about.

Abigail must have felt suffocated, having been paired with just such a husband. Her father may have thought the wealthy Nabal was a catch, little realizing the man's domineering attitude might one day endanger his daughter's future. But fools and ruin often keep close company, as Abigail discovered.

For some time Abigail had been hearing of David: his encounter with Goliath, his ruddy good looks, his prowess in battle, his rift with King Saul. Recently, he had become her near neighbor in the Desert of Maon, west of the Dead Sea, where he had taken refuge from Saul. Since David had arrived with his six hundred men, marauders kept clear of her husband's livestock, and Nabal's flocks prospered as a result.

But when David sent ten of his men to ask Nabal for provisions, Nabal, who had grown richer by the day thanks to David, nearly spit in their faces. "Who is this David? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?" Rich though he was, Nabal had just foolishly insulted the region's most powerful man.

Aware of their danger, one of the servants ran quickly to Abigail, begging her to intervene. As Nabal's wife, she must have suffered his arrogance every day of her life. But this time his folly jeopardized the entire household. Wasting no time, and without a word to her husband, she loaded a caravan of donkeys with gifts for David and his men—freshly baked bread, skins of wine, red meat, and various delicacies—and took them to David's camp. As soon as she saw him, she fell to the ground at his feet, making one of the longest speeches by a woman recorded in the Bible:

"My lord," she pleaded, "let the blame be on me alone. May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent. Please forgive your servant's offense, for the Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master because he fights the Lord's battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone pursues you, your life will be held securely by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling."

Her well-chosen words, of course, reminded David of his success against Goliath, erasing his anger and enabling his gracious reply: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. If you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." In addition to saving lives, Abigail's wisdom had spared David from sinning, reminding him that vengeance belongs only to God.

After her encounter with David, Abigail went to Carmel, where Nabal had been shearing his sheep and celebrating his good fortune. Once again, she found him playing the fool. Oblivious to danger, he was drunkenly presiding over a festival banquet, like a great king. She waited until morning, when he was sober, to tell him what had happened. As soon as Nabal heard the news, his heart failed. Ten days later he was dead.

Arrogance, greed, and selfishness had conspired to rob Nabal of any good sense he might once have possessed. Thinking himself a great man when he was only a small one, he lost everything. Abigail was Nabal's opposite, a woman whose humility, faith, generosity, intelligence, and honesty made her wise. Rather than putting others at risk by an ungoverned tongue, her gracious words saved lives.

When David heard the news of Nabal's death, he sent word to Abigail, asking her to be his wife. This time it was Abigail's choice whether or not to marry. She accepted, becoming David's third wife and eventually mother to his second son, Kileab.

Unlike Michal, who had been a mere pawn on a chessboard, Abigail was a woman who rose above her circumstances to change the course of events. Though Scripture doesn't offer details regarding her daily life, it is logical to suppose she was a good wife to Nabal. Even her entreaty to David was the act of a good wife. Perhaps her marriage was the catalyst for her character, helping her to cultivate contrasting virtues to Nabal's vices. Regardless, through her quick-witted action, she spared her husband's life and goods. It was God, not Abigail or David, who paid Nabal back for his arrogance and greed.

Her Promise

Abigail was a courageous woman, who made the best out of a difficult situation. She knew the cultural principles at work here: Nabal—out of just plain good hospitality and out of gratitude for the protection David's men had provided—should have given David's men what they asked for. Yet when David sought vengeance, Abigail interceded, realizing that vengeance wasn't something that was up to David—or her—to give.

Years of living with Nabal did not seem to have made Abigail bitter, nor had the years caused her to look for ways to get back at him and seek revenge. The Lord honored Abigail for her consistency, her generosity, and her willingness to continue on the right path, no matter how difficult. In the same way, God continues to honor those who are faithful even when faithfulness brings difficulty and hardship and pain. He doesn't promise to always deliver, as he delivered Abigail, but he does promise to go with us.

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.
Blockhead, numskull, nincompoop—the words strike us as both harsh and humorous. But any woman married to a man worthy of such labels would have little to laugh about.

LHM Daily Devotions May 11, 2020 - "Tested"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Tested"

May 11, 2020

For You, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out to a place of abundance.

— Psalm 66:10-12, ESV

Why does God permit suffering? The question is often a stumbling block for unbelievers and baffling to believers. Upon hearing of the murder of Galilean pilgrims and of eighteen people killed by a falling tower, Jesus did not answer the question that may have been on His listeners' minds (and on our minds, too): "Why them?" The purpose for the deaths remained unknown. Jesus instead warned of a greater, eternal disaster. Those who had died were not worse sinners than others, He said, "but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5b).

God's purposes are often hidden and not for us to know. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us" (Deuteronomy 29:29a). Our psalm reveals to us a story of suffering as it describes the sorrow and pain endured by the people of Israel. They had endured the "crushing burden" of slavery and the oppressive might of conquering enemies who rode over them. But God did not abandon His suffering people. He freed them from slavery and led them through the wilderness for forty years to humble them and to test them to know what was in their hearts (Deuteronomy 8:2). The Israelites passed through water as God "turned the sea into dry land" (Psalm 66:6a). God brought them out of the wilderness into the land He had promised to them, "to a place of abundance."

There is another instance of suffering in which the purpose has been revealed to us. God, for the sake of our salvation, gave His Son over to the suffering of the cross. Jesus was caught in a net of betrayal and lies. He bore the crushing burden of our sins. His enemies and "the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53b) for a time overcame Him. He endured the fiery pain of the cross, suffering on our behalf the penalty of death. Though Israel had often been unfaithful in times of testing, Jesus remained faithful and obedient to His Father in life and death. God raised His Son from death and exalted Him "to a place of abundance" at His right hand as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus has revealed to us that trouble and trials will come our way: "In the world you will have tribulation." The purpose of that tribulation, the reasons for our suffering, may not be made known to us. But we can trust the conquering power and promise of our crucified and risen Lord, who tells us, "But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). He endured all that the world threw at Him—rejection, hatred, betrayal, grief, loss, pain, and death itself—and by His resurrection overcame it all. He will walk with us through suffering and trial and, according to His will and perfect timing, bring us to a place of abundance in His presence forever.

THE PRAYER: Jesus, be our help and our hope in every trial. Strengthen us with the promises of Your Word. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you been tested in your life? How so?

2. Can you name areas in your life where you feel tested or challenged on a regular basis?

3. When unexpected difficulties arise, what is your typical first reaction? Is this reaction helpful or constructive? Do you wish you would respond differently?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Have you been tested in your life? How so?

Devocional CPTLN del 11 de mayo de 2020 - Somos probados

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Somos probados

11 de Mayo de 2020

Tú, Dios nuestro, nos has puesto a prueba; nos has refinado como se refina la plata. Pero nos dejaste caer en la trampa; ¡impusiste sobre nosotros una pesada carga! Caballos y jinetes han pasado sobre nosotros; hemos pasado por el fuego y por el agua, pero al final nos has llevado a la abundancia.

— Salmo 66:10-12, RVC

¿Por qué permite Dios el sufrimiento? La pregunta es a menudo un obstáculo para los incrédulos y un desconcierto para los creyentes. Al enterarse del asesinato de peregrinos galileanos y de dieciocho personas muertas tras la caída de una torre, Jesús no respondió a la pregunta que pudo haber estado en la mente de sus oyentes (y también en la nuestra): "¿Por qué ellos?" El propósito de esas muertes seguía siendo desconocido. Sin embargo, Jesús advirtió sobre un desastre mayor y eterno. Quienes habían muerto no eran peores pecadores que otros, dijo, "Y si ustedes no se arrepienten, también morirán como ellos" (Lucas 13:5b).

Los propósitos de Dios a menudo están ocultos. "Las cosas secretas pertenecen al Señor nuestro Dios, pero las reveladas son para nosotros" (Deuteronomio 29:29a). Nuestro salmo nos revela una historia de sufrimiento, ya que describe la tristeza y el dolor soportados por el pueblo de Israel. Habían soportado la "carga aplastante" de la esclavitud y el poder implacable de los enemigos que los oprimían. Pero Dios no abandonó a su pueblo sufriente. Al contrario, los liberó de la esclavitud y los condujo por el desierto durante cuarenta años para probarlos y así saber qué había en sus corazones (Deuteronomio 8:2). Los israelitas pasaron por el agua cuando Dios "convirtió el mar en tierra seca" (Salmo 66:6a). Dios los sacó del desierto a la tierra que les había prometido, "a un lugar de abundancia".

Hay otra instancia de sufrimiento en la cual el propósito nos ha sido revelado. Dios, por el bien de nuestra salvación, entregó a su Hijo al sufrimiento de la cruz. Jesús fue atrapado en una red de traición y mentiras. Él llevó la carga aplastante de nuestros pecados. Sus enemigos y "el poder de las tinieblas" (Lucas 22:53b) por un tiempo lo vencieron. Soportó el ardiente dolor de la cruz, sufriendo en lugar nuestro la pena de muerte. Aunque Israel a menudo había sido infiel en tiempos de prueba, Jesús permaneció fiel y obediente a su Padre en la vida y en la muerte. Dios levantó a su Hijo de la muerte y lo exaltó a un lugar de abundancia a su diestra como Rey de reyes y Señor de señores.

Jesús nos ha advertido que vamos a tener problemas y pruebas: "En el mundo tendrás aflicción". El propósito de esa aflicción, las razones de nuestro sufrimiento, pueden no ser conocidas por nosotros. Pero podemos confiar en el poder de conquista y la promesa de nuestro Señor crucificado y resucitado, quien nos dice: "Pero confíen, yo he vencido al mundo" (Juan 16:33). Él soportó todo lo que el mundo le arrojó: rechazo, odio, traición, dolor, pérdida, dolor y la muerte misma, y con su resurrección lo superó todo. Él caminará con nosotros a través del sufrimiento y la prueba y, de acuerdo con su voluntad y tiempo perfecto, nos llevará a un lugar de abundancia en su presencia para siempre.

ORACIÓN: Jesús, sé nuestra ayuda y esperanza en cada prueba y fortalécenos con las promesas de tu Palabra. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿En qué áreas de tu vida te sientes probado o desafiado regularmente?

* Cuando surgen dificultades inesperadas, ¿cuál es tu primera reacción? ¿Es esa reacción útil o constructiva? ¿Quisieras reaccionar de manera diferente?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿En qué áreas de tu vida te sientes probado o desafiado regularmente?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Les petits nous enseignent

Les petits nous enseignent

Lisez : Matthieu 21.8-17
La Bible en un an : 2 Rois 15 – 16 ; Jean 3.1-18

Tu as tiré des louanges de la bouche des enfants et de ceux qui sont à la mamelle.

—  Matthieu 21.16

Tandis qu’un ami et moi entrions en voiture dans un des bidonvilles de Nairobi, au Kenya, la pauvreté que nous y avons vue nous a profondément bouleversés. Dans ce même contexte, différentes émotions nous ont envahis – comme de fraîches eaux – à la vue de jeunes enfants qui couraient en s’écriant « Mchungaji, Mchungaji ! » (ce qui signifie « pasteur » en swahili). C’est ainsi, avec beaucoup de joie, que ces tout-petits ont accueilli leur leader spirituel, qui était avec nous dans la voiture. Ils saluaient avec tendresse celui qui s’intéressait à eux et qui prenait soin d’eux.

Quand Jésus est arrivé à Jérusalem à dos d’âne, des enfants enjoués comptaient parmi ceux qui célébraient son arrivée : « Hosanna au Fils de David ! Béni soit celui qui vient au nom du Seigneur ! » (MT 21.9,15.) Il reste que les louanges offertes à Jésus n’étaient pas les seules à se faire entendre. On imagine aussi les marchands que Jésus a chassés du Temple (V.12,13). De plus, les chefs religieux qui avaient été les témoins de la bonté de Jésus en action en « furent indignés » (V. 14,15). Ils ont mêlé leurs cris de désapprobation aux louanges des enfants (V. 16) et, ce faisant, ils ont trahi la pauvreté de leur cœur.

Nous pouvons prendre exemple sur la foi des enfants de Dieu de tous âges et de tous lieux qui reconnaissent en Jésus le Sauveur du monde. Il entend nos louanges et nos cris, et il s’intéresse à nous et nous secourt lorsque nous venons à lui avec la foi d’un enfant.

Jésus, aide-moi à te voir tel que tu es : mon Sauveur et mon Seigneur.

Si nous avons la foi d’un enfant, nous croirons en Dieu sans douter de quoi que ce soit.

par Arthur Jackson

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Tandis qu’un ami et moi entrions en voiture dans un des bidonvilles de Nairobi, au Kenya, la pauvreté que nous y avons vue nous a profondément bouleversés.