The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, June 22, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, June 22, 2020

Psalm 6; Micah 7:1-7; Revelation 2:1-7

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 6

Prayer for deliverance

1  Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
     or discipline me in your wrath.
2  Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
     heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3  My soul is in deep anguish.
     How long, Lord, how long?

4  Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
     save me because of your unfailing love.
5  Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
     Who praises you from the grave?

6  I am worn out from my groaning.

   All night long I flood my bed with weeping
     and drench my couch with tears.
7  My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
     they fail because of all my foes.

8  Away from me, all you who do evil,
     for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9  The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
     the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
     they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Micah 7:1-7

The corruption of the people

1  What misery is mine!
   I am like one who gathers summer fruit
     at the gleaning of the vineyard;
   there is no cluster of grapes to eat,
     none of the early figs that I crave.
2  The faithful have been swept from the land;
     not one upright person remains.
   Everyone lies in wait to shed blood;
     they hunt each other with nets.
3  Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
     the ruler demands gifts,
   the judge accepts bribes,
     the powerful dictate what they desire—
     they all conspire together.
4  The best of them is like a brier,
     the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
   The day God visits you has come,
     the day your watchmen sound the alarm.
     Now is the time of your confusion.
5  Do not trust a neighbor;
     put no confidence in a friend.
   Even with the woman who lies in your embrace
     guard the words of your lips.
6  For a son dishonors his father,
     a daughter rises up against her mother,
   a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
     a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

7  But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
     I wait for God my Savior;
     my God will hear me.

Revelation 2:1-7

Remember from what you have fallen

2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

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, June 22, 2020
Psalm 6; Micah 7:1-7; Revelation 2:1-7

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, June 22, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, June 22, 2020

Catherine of Genoa said, “All goodness is a participation in God and his love for his creatures.”

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens; your faithfulness stretches to the sky. Lift us by the power of your Holy Spirit to participate in your goodness and bear witness to your loving-kindness in every move we make today. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, June 22, 2020

Psalm 121:7-8

The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Read all of Psalm 121

Listen to Psalm 121

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 22 de junio de 2020

Oración por una vida sencilla

No hagan nada por egoísmo o vanidad; más bien, con humildad consideren a los demás como superiores a ustedes mismos.

— Filipenses 2:3 (NVI)

Señor, al cerrar hoy esta semana de trabajo de muchas luchas para unos y de celebraciones para otros, queremos agradecerte por dejarnos las instrucciones de vida en el Manual de Instrucciones, la Biblia.

Gracias porque allí podemos aprender las cosas que esperas de nosotros y nos permites ver los beneficios que tendremos cuando somos obedientes a tu Palabra.

Gracias, mi Señor, porque con tu ayuda pondremos en práctica el mayor ejemplo de humildad que nos dejó tu Hijo Jesucristo.

Quita de cada uno de nosotros toda prepotencia. Quita toda altivez. Quita todo orgullo que nos impide que veamos a nuestro hermano como a nosotros mismos.

Cambia los corazones de piedra por corazones de carne. Que seamos sensibles ante las necesidades de los demás. También, pon en cada uno tanto el querer como el hacer.

En el nombre de Jesús oramos, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por una vida sencilla

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, June 22, 2020

THE HOLY SPIRIT

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

— Luke 11:13 (NIV)

Imagine the Christian movement in your country suddenly cut off from all those who are now its leaders! In the period of confusion that immediately follows a takeover, some small groups of Christians may be able to move to a different locality and become underground churches, but they must leave their “institutional forms” behind.

But who would lead such groups? Who would provide leadership for “house” churches and “family” churches? God, through the Holy Spirit, would raise up and equip leaders for His church in such circumstances, as He always had in the past. The members of a home fellowship must be prepared to accept the leadership of the Spirit and of those through whom He chooses to minister.

When regular lay Christians actually begin to understand that they can pray directly to the Lord, when they can take a passage of Scripture, written or memorized, and understand it under the direction of the Holy Spirit, they are then on the road to surviving victoriously in whatever set of hostile circumstances that may come along. One exciting discovery will lead to another. These Christians will begin to let the Holy Spirit use them to touch the lives of others and minister to their needs. No authority on earth can destroy this kind of spiritual church!

In China, a Christian woman was in charge of security at a coal mine. The woman suddenly felt the Holy Spirit urging her to pull the alarm lever, even though there was no apparent reason to do so. Although everything seemed quiet and normal, she obeyed the prompting within her. The whole mine was evacuated as a result of the alarm sounding, but when all the men had assembled on the surface, it seemed as if a huge mistake had been made. Just moments later the ground beneath their feet shook and a large section of the mine collapsed from the earthquake.

Because of this sister’s sensitivity and willingness to obey God’s Holy Spirit, everyone’s life had been saved. Additionally, however, 400 of the miners surrendered their lives to Christ after recognizing that God had miraculously saved them from death.[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will thank God for the gift of His Holy Spirit.

PRAYER: Lord, use me today through Your Spirit to touch the lives of others and minister to their needs.

1. Patterson, p. 193.

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, June 22, 2020

The Queen of Sheba

Her character: Though a pagan queen like Jezebel, she prized wisdom above power. She appears to have been intellectually gifted, with a good head for business and diplomacy.
Her joy: That her quest for wisdom was rewarded beyond her expectations.
Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 10:1-13; Matthew 12:42

Her Story

Sheba was a fragrant land, famous for its perfumes and spices. Located on the southwestern tip of Arabia, bordering the Red Sea, it traded precious commodities like gold, frankincense, and myrrh to kingdoms in Africa, India, and the Mediterranean. Little wonder that passing caravans brought news of the wide world to Sheba's queen.

Lately, the queen had heard marvelous stories of Solomon, the son of Bathsheba and David, now Israel's third king. At his birth, a prophet had named him "Beloved of the Lord." Some said he was the wisest man alive.

The queen smiled as she recalled the tale of the two prostitutes. Both had claimed to be the mother to the same infant. How could the king possibly know who was telling the truth and who a lie? But Solomon merely ordered the baby cut in half, to be divided equally between the two women. He knew the real mother would relinquish her rights rather than let her child perish. Indeed, the king's cleverness had quickly revealed the truth, reuniting the heartbroken mother and her child.

The queen had also heard of the fabulous temple and palace Solomon had built in Jerusalem. Such a ruler, she realized, would have little trouble controlling the international trade routes crisscrossing his kingdom.

Though Jerusalem lay fifteen hundred miles to the north, the queen was determined to see for herself whether Solomon measured up to even half the tales told of him. Hoping to establish a trade agreement with Israel, she assembled a caravan of camels and loaded them with precious spices, gems, and four and a half tons of gold. Her entrance into Jerusalem would have created an unforgettable spectacle, adding to Solomon's growing fame.

Day after day, the queen pounded Solomon with hard questions. But nothing was too difficult for the king to explain. Overawed, the queen exclaimed: "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth, you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."

Then the queen gave Solomon all the gold and spices she had brought with her, perhaps foreshadowing the Magi's gift of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child nearly a thousand years later. In fact, Jesus himself referred to the Queen of Sheba when he replied to the Pharisees who had demanded from him a miraculous sign: "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" (Matthew 12:42).

Though ruler of a pagan nation, the Queen of Sheba was so drawn to the wisdom of God that she made an arduous and dangerous journey, traveling three thousand miles round-trip in order to meet the world's wisest man.

Her Promise

The Queen of Sheba was a wealthy and influential ruler whose nation dominated commercial trading in the Middle East at that time. She must have had a certain measure of wisdom, or at least intelligence, to rule such a country. Still, she had questions, many of them, and she sought out the region's famed King Solomon, depending on his wisdom for answers. Solomon didn't disappoint her; she went away satisfied.

Do you have any questions that need answers? Questions about yourself? About things that have happened in your life? About the will of God? About God's love for you? If you do, go to the source of all wisdom, God himself, for answers. When you diligently seek him, he doesn't always give clear answers, but he will give peace. And you will go away satisfied. He promises.

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.
She prized wisdom above power.

LHM Daily Devotions June 22, 2020 - "According to His Promise"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"According to His Promise"

June 22, 2020

Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your Law. Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to Your promise!

— Psalm 119:153-154 (ESV)

"Look on my afflictions," we pray with the psalmist, and most of us could easily come up with a lengthy list, including illness, grief, financial concerns, loss of employment, and problems with relationships. It is, unfortunately, an ever-changing list. We are left struggling and searching for answers. We plead with God in prayer, begging for His deliverance. And all of us are burdened, as the psalmist was, with the greatest and most terrible afflictions of sin and death. Against those deadly afflictions, we are helpless to save ourselves.

So in prayer, we beg, "Deliver me ... Plead my cause and redeem me!" And God our Savior, who hears and responds before we even call on Him, has already answered our prayer. He has delivered and redeemed us and He ceaselessly pleads our cause. Christ Jesus our Lord took on our human flesh, becoming one of us to deliver us from sin and death: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery" (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Jesus was unjustly condemned to die on the cross; there was no one to protest that He was innocent. No one stepped forward to plead His cause. No one delivered Him. Abandoned to the agony of the cross, Jesus bore our sin and guilt, our afflictions, in His own body, and suffered the penalty of death to save us. "With His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5b). Our prayer was answered before we spoke it. God, in Christ, looked on our afflictions and delivered us from sin, death, and the devil. Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead, now ceaselessly, eternally, pleads our cause as our Advocate before the Father (1 John 2:1).

We pray, "Give me life according to Your promise," and that, too, has been accomplished. Jesus made that promise—and kept it: "Because I live, you also will live" (John 14:19b). Joined to Christ in Baptism, we have been buried with Him and raised to new life. Finally, on the Last Day, we will be raised from death, our bodies transformed and glorified. We will be given eternal life, all according to the promise of our God and Savior. We will live in His presence for all eternity, forever delivered from every affliction. God will wipe away every tear from our eyes and "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4b).

Until that great day, we will still suffer through earthly troubles, and we will plead with God to deliver us from our afflictions. He will hear and answer our prayers, for beside us stands our Advocate, who said, "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b). That is His promise to us.

THE PRAYER: God and Savior, hear and answer our prayers and deliver us from every evil of body and soul. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you spend much time thinking about God's Law? Why or why not?

2. Our prayers are often hoping that God will do something to improve our situation. Do you offer Him prayers of thanks, even when things aren't quite what you'd like?

3. Do you think about matters beyond the grave much? Why or why not?

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).
Do you spend much time thinking about God's Law? Why or why not?

Devocional CPTLN del 22 de junio de 2020 - De acuerdo a Su promesa

ALIMENTO DIARIO

De acuerdo a Su promesa

22 de Junio de 2020

Mira mi aflicción, y ven a salvarme, pues no me he olvidado de tu ley. ¡Defiéndeme, y ponme a salvo! ¡Dame vida con tu palabra!

— Salmo 119:153-154 (RVC)

"Mira mi aflicción", rezamos con el salmista, y la mayoría de nosotros podríamos fácilmente incluir una larga lista que incluye enfermedades, penas, preocupaciones financieras, pérdida de empleo y problemas con nuestros seres queridos. Una lista que está cambiando constantemente. Luchamos y buscamos respuestas. Le suplicamos a Dios en oración que nos libere. Nos sentimos agobiados, así como el salmista, bajo el peso de las aflicciones del pecado y la muerte, de las cuales somos incapaces de salvarnos a nosotros mismos.

Entonces, en oración suplicamos: "¡Defiéndeme, y ponme a salvo!" Y Dios nuestro Salvador, que escucha y responde incluso antes de que lo invoquemos, ya ha respondido nuestra oración. Él nos ha liberado y salvado y nos defiende sin cesar. Cristo Jesús, nuestro Señor, se convirtió en uno de nosotros para librarnos del pecado y la muerte: "Así como los hijos eran de carne y hueso, también él era de carne y hueso, para que por medio de la muerte destruyera al que tenía el dominio sobre la muerte, es decir, al diablo, y de esa manera librara a todos los que, por temor a la muerte, toda su vida habían estado sometidos a esclavitud" (Hebreos 2:14-15).

Jesús fue injustamente condenado a morir en la cruz. Nadie protestó diciendo que era inocente. Nadie dio un paso adelante para defender su causa. Nadie lo liberó. Abandonado a la agonía de la cruz, Jesús cargó con nuestro pecado y culpa, nuestras aflicciones, en su propio cuerpo, y sufrió la pena de muerte para salvarnos. "... por su llaga seremos sanados" (Isaías 53:5b). Nuestra oración fue contestada antes que la dijéramos. Dios vio nuestras aflicciones y nos libró del pecado, la muerte y el diablo. Jesús, crucificado y resucitado de la muerte, es ahora nuestro Abogado ante el Padre (1 Juan 2:1).

Oramos: "Dame vida según tu Palabra", y eso también se ha cumplido. Jesús nos dice: "Porque yo vivo, ustedes también vivirán" (Juan 14:19b). Unidos a Cristo en el bautismo, hemos sido enterrados con él y resucitados a una nueva vida. En el último día seremos resucitados de la muerte, nuestros cuerpos serán transformados y glorificados y se nos dará vida eterna, todo de acuerdo con la promesa de nuestro Dios y Salvador. Entonces viviremos en su presencia por toda la eternidad, liberados para siempre de toda aflicción. Dios enjugará cada lágrima de nuestros ojos y "y ya no habrá muerte, ni más llanto, ni lamento ni dolor; porque las primeras cosas habrán dejado de existir" (Apocalipsis 21:4b).

Hasta que llegue ese gran día aún sufriremos por problemas terrenales y le suplicaremos a Dios que nos libere de nuestras aflicciones. Y Él escuchará y contestará nuestras oraciones, porque a nuestro lado está nuestro Abogado, quien dijo: "yo estaré con ustedes todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo" (Mateo 28:20b). Esa es su promesa para nosotros.

ORACIÓN: Señor Dios y Salvador, escucha y contesta nuestras oraciones y líbranos de todo mal del cuerpo y del alma. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* Nuestras oraciones a menudo esperan que Dios haga algo para mejorar nuestra situación. ¿Le ofreces oraciones de agradecimiento, incluso cuando las cosas no son exactamente como te gustaría?

* ¿Qué significa para ti que Jesucristo sea tu abogado?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Nuestras oraciones a menudo esperan que Dios haga algo para mejorar nuestra situación.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Des yeux éternels

Des yeux éternels

Lisez : 2 Corinthiens 4.7-18
La Bible en un an : Esther 9 – 10 ; Actes 7.1-21

[Nous] regardons, non point aux choses visibles, mais à celles qui sont invisibles.

— 2 Corinthiens 4.18

Des yeux éternels, voilà ce que mon amie Madeline demande à Dieu pour ses enfants et ses petits-enfants. Sa famille a traversé une période tumultueuse qui s’est terminée par la mort de sa fille. Durant ce terrible deuil, Madeline priait pour que ses proches – accablés par les souffrances du monde – aient la vue de moins en moins courte et qu’ils voient de plus en plus loin – étant remplis d’espoir en notre Dieu bienveillant.

L’apôtre Paul et ses compagnons d’œuvre ont beaucoup souffert aux mains de persécuteurs et même de croyants qui cherchaient à les discréditer. Ils ont gardé malgré tout les yeux fixés sur l’éternité. Paul a courageusement reconnu que « nous regardons, non point aux choses visibles, mais à celles qui sont invisibles ; car les choses visibles sont passagères, et les invisibles sont éternelles » (2 CO 4.18).

Même s’ils faisaient l’œuvre de Dieu, ils regardaient la réalité en face : ils étaient « pressés de toute manière », « dans la détresse », « persécutés » et « abattus » (V. 8,9). Dieu n’aurait-il pas dû les délivrer de ces difficultés ? Résistant à la déception, Paul a étayé son espoir d’« un poids éternel de gloire » qui surpasse nos afflictions éphémères (V. 17). Il savait que Dieu œuvrait en lui et il était certain que « celui qui a ressuscité le Seigneur Jésus nous ressuscitera aussi avec Jésus » (V. 14).

Lorsque notre monde semble vaciller, puissions-nous tourner le regard vers Dieu – le Rocher éternel qui ne sera jamais détruit.

Je lève les yeux vers toi, aujourd’hui, mon Dieu. Donne-moi un aperçu de la sécurité que j’ai en toi.

Si nous gardons les yeux fixés sur l’éternité, nous pourrons relever avec succès les plus grands défis.

par Estera Pirosca Escobar

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Des yeux éternels, voilà ce que mon amie Madeline demande à Dieu pour ses enfants et ses petits-enfants.