The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, June 5, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, June 5, 2020

Psalm 8; Job 38:12-21; 2 Timothy 1:12b-14

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 8

How exalted is your name

1  Lord, our Lord,
     how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory
     in the heavens.
2  Through the praise of children and infants
     you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
     to silence the foe and the avenger.
3  When I consider your heavens,
     the work of your fingers,
   the moon and the stars,
     which you have set in place,
4  what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
     human beings that you care for them?

5  You have made them a little lower than the angels
     and crowned them with glory and honor.
6  You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
     you put everything under their feet:
7  all flocks and herds,
     and the animals of the wild,
8  the birds in the sky,
     and the fish in the sea,
     all that swim the paths of the seas.

9  Lord, our Lord,
     how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Job 38:12-21

Creation story from Job

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
     or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
     and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
     its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
     and their upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
     or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
     Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
     Tell me, if you know all this.

19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
     And where does darkness reside?
20 Can you take them to their places?
     Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
     You have lived so many years!

2 Timothy 1:12b-14

The treasure of the triune God

1:12b Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in 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 FRIDAY, June 5, 2020
Psalm 8; Job 38:12-21; 2 Timothy 1:12b-14

The Daily Prayer for FRIDAY, June 5, 2020

The Daily Prayer

FRIDAY, June 5, 2020

In 1967, the Six-Day War erupted and lasted from June 5 to June 11. Israel fought neighboring nations Egypt, UAR, Jordan, and Syria in this historic war that has framed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. At the war’s end, Israel had seized the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The status of these territories and the resulting refugee crisis continue to be central concerns in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising issues of fairness, entitlement, theology, and international law.

Twentieth-century spiritual writer Henri Nouwen prayed, “Dear Lord, I will remain restless, tense and dissatisfied until I can be totally at peace in your house. There is no certainty that my life will be any easier in the years ahead, or that my heart will be any calmer. But there is the certainty that you are waiting for me and will welcome me home when I have persevered in my long journey to your house.”

Lord, meet us wherever goods are held in common for love and justice, wherever bread is broken for worship and praise, and wherever life witnesses to repentance and reconciliation. Amen.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, June 5, 2020

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 5

Listen to 1 Thessalonians 5

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 05 de junio de 2020

Espera el tiempo de Dios

Con todo mi corazón te he buscado; no me dejes desviarme de tus mandamientos.

— Salmo 119:10 (RV-60)

Esta semana aprendimos que debemos estar siempre preparados en lo espiritual a fin de poder afrontar las situaciones que se nos presentan en el diario vivir. Aprendimos sobre algunos de los errores que podemos cometer por alejarnos de Dios. Además, hablamos de tener muy presente con qué tipo de persona nos relacionamos, no solo en el ámbito de la amistad, sino también en los negocios, en los ministerios a los que nos asociamos y en quiénes llevamos a casa. En fin, necesitamos mucha sabiduría de nuestro Dios porque estos errores son muy frecuentes.

Ayer aprendimos que todo tiene su tiempo. Esto lo aplicamos al matrimonio, un paso tan importante y que muchos jóvenes dan sin siquiera estar seguros de amar a la otra persona. Es más, a veces se adelantan a lo que Dios les tiene o se dejan llevar por algunas personas que de manera irresponsable profetizan que serán marido y mujer. Entonces, cuando esas parejas se casan bajo tal presión ministerial, sus matrimonios no duran ni un suspiro. De ahí que cada vez veamos más jovencitas en las iglesias embarazadas y solas. ¡Niñas teniendo niños!

Que Dios nos ayude a ser buenos consejeros, líderes responsables, iglesias con doctrinas sanas y que las amistades con las que nos relacionemos sean sanas y adecuadas para los nuestros.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Necesitamos mucha sabiduría de nuestro Dios porque estos errores son muy frecuentes.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Friday, June 5, 2020

THE BIBLE

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

— 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)

Daniel, a Chinese brother from Singapore, sat in the chair still shaking his head in unbelief. He had just returned from his first extensive visit to the People’s Republic of China. Now in the freedom of his home city, he was trying to assimilate and communicate all the impressions and messages he had received.

“How would you summarize what you learned on your visit, Daniel?” I asked him. He continued to shake his head and smile. Finally, he began to speak.

“Probably by my visit to one particular house church,” he slowly replied. “It numbers several hundred believers who have had a lot of persecution over the past years. I asked them how they had been victorious and even grown in numbers during such terrible experiences. They quickly replied, telling me three things,” he continued. “First, obedience to the Word of God; second, communication with God, that is prayer. And third, love for the brothers and sisters.”

This group memorized one chapter of the Bible every week. They began doing this because of a lack of Bibles but continued doing so after they realized the blessing it brought to their lives.

The Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself and His desire for a relationship with people. It is more than just a revelation of God’s character. It is also a revelation of His intricate plan for the world. We could never have understood our great God if He had not chosen to reveal Himself.

His greatest revelation of Himself was when He came to live among us in a human body and was known as Jesus Christ. But even our knowledge of that revelation depends upon His written Word, the Bible.

Satan has conducted a massive propaganda campaign in the last century in an attempt to discredit the Bible. He would love to see Christians lose faith in the Word of God. In spite of his efforts, however, no one has ever been able to disprove its reliability. It remains the only absolute truth known to humankind.

The Bible is our God-given basis for faith, doctrine, and practice. Many times Christians have knowingly departed from its teachings and suffered because of doing so. Many times when Christians depart from the Word, it is because they do not know or understand it.

The church can only be true to the revealed Word of God when its people know what it teaches. The study of God’s Word is an essential part of the Christian life. When Christians doubt, ignore or fail to understand the teachings of scripture and depart from its principles, they lose their spiritual power.

RESPONSE: Today I will recommit to the daily study and application of God’s Word, the Bible.

PRAYER: Pray for believers in many parts of the world who still yearn for a copy of the Bible.

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, June 5, 2020

Absalom

His name means: "Father Is Peace"

His work: David's third son, Absalom, was a brilliant military and political strategist.
His character: Absalom's remarkable assets of good looks and diplomacy became great liabilities, leading to his untimely death.
His sorrow: When Absalom's sister was raped by his oldest half brother, Absalom began a life of anger, rebellion, and revenge.
His triumph: For a time, Absalom was successful in gathering support against his father's reign.
Key Scriptures: 2 Samuel 13-15

A Look at the Man

Absalom was a very special young man. Brimming with gifts and natural abilities, he was a natural-born leader. People were drawn toward him.

But Absalom was also a vicious conniver. Throughout his life, his bitter heart became a cauldron of hatred and death.

Growing up in the palace of the king of Israel may not have been as delightful as some in the kingdom may have envisioned. Absalom's father's sinfulness and the confusion of living in a home with David's multiple wives and a houseful of half-siblings would likely have created untold chaos. Imagine this...

Absalom had a sister, Tamar, by his mother, Maacah. His half brother and David's oldest son, Amnon, was in love with her and tried to seduce her. Because she resisted, he set a trap for her. Pretending to be sick, Amnon asked David to order Tamar to tend to her half brother, which he did. But when Tamar brought food to Amnon, he pled with her to sleep with him. When she resisted, he raped her.

When word came to Absalom that his sister had been violated, he hated Amnon but said nothing to him. For two years Absalom seethed, plotting his revenge against his half brother. When the trap was set, Absalom had Amnon murdered.

Absalom did not see his father for three years. And instead of seeking out Absalom and confronting him with his treachery, David "longed to go to Absalom." What Absalom needed was a father who loved him enough to deal strictly with his violence. What Absalom got was a tentative father who was unwilling to jeopardize his son's affection. And what David got in exchange for his fear was a son who hated him for his powerlessness—a son who secretly resolved to overthrow him.

Suffering from the guilt of his own sinfulness, David was unwilling to hand Absalom any semblance of justice. For three years Absalom plotted his father's demise. And like an unsheltered man unwilling to acknowledge a gathering storm, David refused to see the dark clouds in his son's eyes.

Absalom was a man overflowing with potential. If only he had channeled those talents wisely! If only his father had helped him. But because he had neither the self-control nor the parental control to reign in his resentment and acrimony, Absalom died violently.

And David was forced to spend the rest of his life dealing with the agonizing "if onlys." If only I had not sinned with Bathsheba, bringing all of this treachery to my family. If only I had loved my children enough to discipline them.

When the Cushite reported to David that Absalom was dead, he was shaken. "O my son Absalom! My son Absalom!"

The tragic story of Absalom ends with one final "if only" from the king. "If only I had died instead of you," David wailed uncontrollably. "O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Reflect On: 2 Samuel 15:1–12
Praise God: For acting with both justice and mercy.
Offer Thanks: For the ways God has disciplined you.
Confess: Any tendency to blame others for problems and difficulties you have brought on yourself.
Ask God: To treat you not as your sins deserve but according to his mercy.

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.
Absalom was a natural-born leader.

LHM Daily Devotions June 5, 2020 - "No New Medicine"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"No New Medicine"

June 5, 2020

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

— 1 John 1:7 (ESV)

The records of any church more than one hundred years old will tell you that influenza can be a nasty beast.

If you are a member of such a church, I encourage you to take a quick look at its official records. Beginning with the year 1910, look at the section marked "Deaths." Without sitting by your side, I can tell you what you will find. In 1910, people died from all kinds of diseases and accidents. The same was true in 1911, 1912, and 1913. But when you reach the year 1918, things change. In the Deaths column, you will see one word written over and over again. That word is "influenza." In 1918, the world was brought low by an influenza strain of catastrophic potency: the H1N1 virus. It impacted some 300 to 500 million people and left behind a death toll of somewhere between 30 to 60 million people worldwide.

Scientists say killing strains of the flu like that of 1918 don't happen often, but when they do happen, "Brother, watch out!" Watching out is exactly what the world was doing in 2007 when the "bird-flu," the H5N1 virus, began to rear its ugly head. If that strain of influenza virus began to spread like pandemic flu do, big trouble was on the horizon. It could have been 1918 all over again.

This likely explains why so many people were pleased backed in 2007 when researchers said there was hope. They believed it was possible to stockpile bird-flu antibodies. If they were right, and the stockpiling worked, millions of lives might be saved.

Of course, this begs the question: "Where would we get bird-flu antibodies?" Science once again provided the answer. We can get those antibodies from the blood of people who caught the illness and survived. In short, others may live because of the blood of someone who has defeated death.

The idea of being saved by someone else's blood isn't a new idea. God said the same thing when He inspired the apostle John to write, "the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." St. Paul agreed when he wrote, "In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

Because of Jesus' shed blood on Calvary's cross, we too can be washed of our sins. We are saved by the death-defeating, life-giving blood of Jesus—a spiritual cure promised and delivered by God Himself.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks that I have been washed of my sin by Your holy precious blood. In Your Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does the blood of Jesus cleanse anyone from sin?

2. What does walking in the light look like for you?

3. How do you stay mindful each day of Jesus' blood sacrifice for you? Does it impact your thinking in any kind of deep and consistent way?

This Daily Devotion was written by a contributing writer for Lutheran Hour Ministries. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
How does the blood of Jesus cleanse anyone from sin?

Devocional CPTLN del 05 de junio de 2020 - No hay medicina nueva

ALIMENTO DIARIO

No hay medicina nueva

05 de Junio de 2020

Pero si vivimos en la luz, así como él está en la luz, tenemos comunión unos con otros, y la sangre de Jesús, su Hijo, nos limpia de todo pecado.

— 1 Juan 1:7 (RVC)

Los registros de cualquier iglesia de más de cien años muestran que la gripe puede ser una bestia desagradable.

En 1910 murieron personas de todo tipo de enfermedades y accidentes. Lo mismo ocurrió en 1911, 1912 y 1913. Pero en el año 1918, las cosas cambian... debido a la "influenza". En 1918, el mundo se vio afectado por una cepa de influenza de potencia catastrófica. El virus H1N1 afectó a entre 300 y 500 millones de personas y dejó una cifra de muertos de entre 30 y 60 millones de personas.

Los científicos dicen que cepas de gripe como la de 1918 no ocurre con frecuencia, pero cuando sucede, ¡a cuidarse! Y cuidarse es exactamente lo que el mundo estaba haciendo en 2007 cuando la "gripe aviar", el H5N1, apareció. Si esa cepa del virus de la influenza llegaba a extenderse como lo hace la gripe, habría grandes problemas en el horizonte. Podría haber sido 1918 de nuevo.

Esto probablemente explica por qué tanta gente estaba contenta en 2007, cuando los investigadores dijeron que había esperanza. Creían que era posible acumular anticuerpos contra la gripe aviar. Si tenían razón, y el almacenamiento funcionaba, se podrían salvar millones de vidas.

Por supuesto, esto plantea la pregunta: "¿Dónde obtener anticuerpos contra la gripe aviar?" La ciencia una vez más proporcionó la respuesta. Podemos obtener esos anticuerpos de la sangre de las personas que contrajeron la enfermedad y sobrevivieron. En resumen, otros pueden vivir gracias a la sangre de alguien que ha vencido a la muerte.

La idea de ser salvado por la sangre de otra persona no es una idea nueva. Dios dijo lo mismo cuando inspiró al apóstol Juan a escribir: "la sangre de Jesús su Hijo nos limpia de todo pecado". San Pablo estuvo de acuerdo cuando escribió: "En él (Jesús) tenemos la redención por medio de su sangre, el perdón de los pecados según las riquezas de su gracia" (Efesios 1:7).

Gracias a la sangre derramada por Jesús en la cruz del Calvario, nosotros también somos lavados de nuestros pecados. Somos salvos por la sangre de Jesús que destruye la muerte y da vida, una cura espiritual prometida y entregada por Dios mismo.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor Jesús, te doy gracias porque tu santa sangre me ha lavado de mi pecado. En tu nombre. Amén.

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Cómo limpia del pecado la sangre de Jesús?

* ¿De qué manera el sacrificio de Jesús por ti afecta tu vida de cada día?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cómo limpia del pecado la sangre de Jesús?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Sự Cám Dỗ Có Ích

Sự Cám Dỗ Có Ích

Đọc: Gia-cơ 1:2–5, 12–21 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: II Sử Ký 23–24; Giăng 15

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Hãy lấy lòng nhu mì tiếp nhận lời đã trồng trong anh em, là lời có thể cứu chuộc linh hồn anh em.

— Gia-cơ 1:21

Trong cuốn sách kinh điển được yêu mến mang tên Bước Theo Đấng Cứu Thế, tu sĩ Thomas a Kempis ở thế kỷ thứ 15 đã đưa ra một góc nhìn khá bất ngờ về sự cám dỗ. Thay vì tập trung vào nỗi đau và những khó khăn mà cám dỗ đưa đến, ông viết: “[cám dỗ] thường hữu ích vì chúng khiến chúng ta khiêm nhường, chúng có thể thanh tẩy và dạy dỗ chúng ta”. Kempis giải thích: “Bí quyết để chiến thắng là sự khiêm nhường và kiên nhẫn thật sự, nhờ đó chúng ta có thể đánh bại kẻ thù”.

Khiêm nhường và kiên nhẫn. Bước đường theo Chúa của tôi sẽ thay đổi rất nhiều nếu đó là cách tôi phản ứng với cám dỗ! Thường thì tôi phản ứng bằng sự xấu hổ, thất vọng, và hành động cách nóng vội để thoát khỏi sự tranh chiến.

Nhưng chúng ta học được từ Gia-cơ chương 1 rằng cám dỗ và thử thách mà chúng ta đối diện chẳng đến cách vô ích hay chỉ là mối đe dọa chúng ta phải chịu đựng. Mặc dù đầu hàng cám dỗ có thể đem đến sự đau đớn và hủy hoại (c.13-15), nhưng khi chúng ta đến với Chúa với tấm lòng khiêm nhường tìm kiếm sự khôn ngoan và ân điển của Ngài, chúng ta hiểu rằng Ngài “ban cho mọi người cách rộng rãi, không lời phiền trách” (c.5). Nhờ quyền năng của Ngài trong chúng ta, những thử thách và sự tranh chiến khi chúng ta chống cự tội lỗi sẽ sinh ra lòng kiên nhẫn, “để [chúng ta] được trưởng thành, hoàn hảo, không thiếu sót điều gì” (c.4).

Khi tin cậy Chúa Jêsus, chúng ta chẳng còn lý do gì để sống trong sợ hãi. Là con cái yêu dấu của Đức Chúa Trời, chúng ta có được sự bình an khi được yên nghỉ trong cánh tay yêu thương của Ngài ngay cả khi đối diện với thử thách.

Thái độ khiêm nhường và kiên nhẫn có thể thay đổi cách bạn đối diện với cám dỗ và thử thách trong hiện tại ra sao? Thái độ đó giải phóng bạn như thế nào?

Chúa Jêsus ơi, thật đáng buồn khi con nhận ra mình thường đối mặt với tội lỗi bằng sức riêng – như thể tự mình con là đủ, con chẳng cần Ngài. Cảm tạ Chúa vì tình yêu và lòng kiên nhẫn vô tận Ngài dành cho con.

bởi Monica Brands

Chú Giải

Gia-cơ mở đầu bức thư gởi cho những tín hữu bối rối và phiền muộn bằng lời thúc giục họ cầu xin sự khôn ngoan để sống cuộc đời theo Chúa (1:5; 19-22). Nhưng làm thế nào họ nhận biết được sự giúp đỡ thiên thượng đó? Sau khi thảo luận ngắn gọn một loạt những thách thức khó khăn liên quan đến mối quan hệ, Gia-cơ mô tả sự khôn ngoan dựa trên sự khiêm nhường thay vì tự xem mình là trung tâm (3:13-16). Sự khôn ngoan từ Chúa là yêu chuộng hòa bình, ân cần, sẵn lòng lắng nghe, đầy lòng thương xót và bông trái tốt lành, không chút thành kiến hay giả dối (c.17).

Mart DeHaan

© 2020 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Bước đường theo Chúa của tôi sẽ thay đổi rất nhiều nếu đó là cách tôi phản ứng với cám dỗ!