The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, July 9, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, July 9, 2020

Psalm 119:105-112; Exodus 3:1-6; Romans 2:12-16

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
       a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
       that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much;
       preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
       and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
       I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
       but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
       they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
       to the very end.

Exodus 3:1-6

The God of Abraham Isaac Jacob

3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

Romans 2:12-16

God judges the secret thoughts

2:12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

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, July 9, 2020
Psalm 119:105-112; Exodus 3:1-6; Romans 2:12-16

The Daily Prayer for THURSDAY, July 9, 2020

The Daily Prayer

THURSDAY, July 9, 2020

On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled that the wall being built by the Israeli government in the contested Palestinian territories is illegal and should be taken down. This historic Holy Land continues to be some of the most troubled and segregated land in the world and has been called the site of “the most sophisticated apartheid system in the world.”

Second-century Christian thinker Athenagoras wrote, “Our life does not consist in making up beautiful phrases but in performing beautiful deeds.”

Lord God, we rejoice in your resurrection and in your promise to return. Help us live today as people who await the fulfillment of your kingdom. Bend our knees to the hard work of prayer, worship, repentance, and intercession. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, July 9, 2020

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Read all of Ephesians 3

Listen to Ephesians 3

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 09 julio 2020

Semana de pacto con Dios: El corazón

Por sobre todas las cosas cuida tu corazón, porque de él mana la 
vida.

— Proverbios 4:23

El corazón es el órgano más importante del cuerpo. Diría que es el motor para que tú y yo estemos vivos. Bombea sangre todo el día y trabaja de manera incansable. Aunque tiene sus funciones bien establecidas, a veces falla.

Antiguamente decía, al igual que muchos: «Hagamos lo que diga el corazón». Esto era como dejarse llevar por lo que dictara el corazón y vivir lo que nos ofreciera el mundo. Entonces, cuando empecé a conocer más de cerca al Señor y a leer su Palabra, descubrí que era todo lo contrario: No debo tomar decisiones porque lo dicte mi corazón y que no hay nada más engañoso que nuestro propio corazón. Dios quiere que busquemos sabiduría, pero no en sí del corazón, donde se mueven todas las emociones.

En varias ocasiones, el Manual de Instrucciones habla de no dejarse corromper, de no contaminarse, porque del corazón salen los malos pensamientos, los adulterios, las fornicaciones, los homicidios, solo por mencionar algunas cosas.

Por eso hoy es otra oportunidad para decirle a Dios que queremos cuidar nuestro corazón y deseamos hacer su voluntad.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Aunque tiene sus funciones bien establecidas, a veces falla.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, July 9, 2020

TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

— 1 Corinthians 9:25

A young Romanian Christian was called into the secret police for interrogation. He had dreaded this moment. Fear gripped him throughout and he was unable to give a categorical rejection to the police offers of good treatment and security if he would only inform on his fellow-believers. He did not accept the offer either, but his inability to reject it unquestioningly brought personal agony.

He could not sleep that night because of his fear and guilt. The next morning led by the Holy Spirit, an older Christian came to visit the family. He was unaware of the young man’s dilemma. Being a former prisoner for his faith, he was able to counsel the young man from Scripture about his situation. He built up the young man in fellowship, training him for the next ordeal.

It came the same afternoon when the youth was taken in for his second interrogation. The same thing happened and the young man was still upset by his answers. Again the older believer came to encourage him.

Three days of more interrogations passed. Eventually, the young man was able to reject the police offer completely. With no further hold on him, the police let him go. Counsel, prayer, and patient caring had brought him through and trained him in righteousness.

To maintain biblical integrity, let us consider training as a prescribed course in righteousness in which each individual is disciplined through practice to be obedient to God’s direction for mankind and able to withstand the schemes of the devil.

People who commit themselves for a cause have a right to expect training in the job for which they have been selected. In some of the trades, this is called “apprenticeship.” In medicine, it is known as “internship.” In the military, it is referred to as “basic training.” In scripture, it is referred to as “discipleship.” However, in our modern-day, training is often bypassed due to the pressures of time, need and a low value placed upon the office to be filled. This was not the case with Jesus in His selection and training of His disciples.

After calling His men to be with Him, he challenged them to commit themselves to follow after Him—to be “fishers of men.” Jesus then began to train them to become His kind of “fishers of men.”

RESPONSE: I want to be a trained disciple of Jesus Christ. I will submit to His guidance and discipline.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to realize and accept Your “training” process as I follow You today.

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, July 9, 2020

A Glorious Preview

Exodus 34:29–35

Recommended Reading: Matthew 17:1–8; 2 Corinthians 3:7–18; Revelation 21:22—22:6

The lights in the theater dim and a deep, mysterious voice booms ominously through the speakers. On the screen, a sequence of scenes quickly establishes the setting, introduces the main characters and teases about the plot. Of course, you’re watching a preview for Hollywood’s next blockbuster flick.

However, since the film’s producers want you to plop down the bucks to watch the entire movie, they give you only a sketchy outline to pique your interest. So the preview suggests a lot more than it shows.

If a theatrical preview exists in the Bible, the episode about Moses’ radiant face provides a great teaser. We catch a glimpse of God’s glory, but the preview suggests a lot more than it actually shows. Instead of a detailed description, we only read that God’s glory made Moses’ face shine. Still, the effect was so powerful that it triggered fear in the Israelites, so much so that Moses had to cover his face.

God provided another preview of his glory in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ and the new covenant he established. The apostle Paul connects these two previews: “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?” (2 Corinthians 3:7–8).

Amazingly, the full picture of God’s glory still lies ahead. Even more incredibly, we’re not just audience members watching a preview. God gives us a starring role! “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Are you ready for your close-up?

To Take Away

• Do you long for God’s glory more than anything else? In what ways does your life show this to be true?
• What qualities and actions in Jesus’ life revealed God’s glory? How can you obtain a greater thirst for a “close-up” of God’s glory?
• Pray that God will show you smaller evidences of his glory in your everyday life.

The lights in the theater dim and a deep, mysterious voice booms ominously through the speakers. On the screen, a sequence of scenes quickly establishes the setting, introduces the main characters and teases about the plot.

LHM Daily Devotions - July 9, 2020 - "Got Roots?"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Got Roots?"

July 9, 2020

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about Him, so that He got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And He told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as He sowed, some seeds ... fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ... As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, immediately he falls away."

— Matthew 13:1-4a, 5b-6, 20-21

Some years ago, my husband bought me a beautiful gardenia in a pot for Valentine's Day. The white flowers glowed. I was enchanted, but I was also afraid. How would I keep it alive? I learned as much as I could about caring for the plant, and I watered it faithfully. Still, my fears came true. The gardenia died, and I felt terribly guilty.

I decided to recycle the pot, so I went to lift the dead plant out. Then I got a big surprise! The plant had absolutely no roots. As far as I could tell, it never had had roots, at least in that pot. Someone had cut a flowering branch off a bigger bush and shoved it into the soil to make it appear like a normal plant. We had been cheated.

I was angry, but I was also relieved. It wasn't my fault the plant died! Without roots, nobody could save it. It could not take in water or the nutrients in the soil. It was doomed.

Jesus makes a similar point about people who hear the Gospel message. A lot of people will say they believe and seem very excited about their new faith. They may even throw themselves into things like church attendance and Bible study. But not all of these people stick. Some of them quickly vanish—and when you hear of them next, they have stopped being Christians. They had no root. Everything looked fine on the surface, but when trouble came or they had to deal with suffering, they were out.

How about you—have you got roots? When times of suffering come—and they will come—will you stick?

The problem with the plants in Jesus' story was that they didn't have enough soil. They couldn't develop any roots in an inch or two of dirt overlying solid rock. In the same way, a heart like a rock isn't going to be a place where the Gospel can grow deep roots.

But ground can be changed—with a huge amount of effort, it's true, but still. It is possible to break up rock or to remove it altogether. It is possible to break up stony hearts and to transform them into places where the Gospel can grow and thrive. No human being can do this, yet the Holy Spirit can.

If you are concerned, ask the Holy Spirit for help! He is the One who makes faith grow in our hearts, and He can deal with the conditions of your heart, no matter what they are. Let Him have His way with you. Then the good seed of the Gospel will grow in your life and produce thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold harvest for Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Lord Holy Spirit, work in my heart to make me good ground for the Gospel. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Did you ever plant a garden? What was easiest to grow, and why?

2. What was hardest to grow, and why?

3. In what area of your life would you like to ask God to help you grow better and be more fruitful?

This Daily Devotion was written Dr. Kari Vo. This Daily Devotion was written Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Did you ever plant a garden? What was easiest to grow, and why?

Devocional CPTLN del 09 de julio de 2020 - ¿Tienes raíces?

ALIMENTO DIARIO

¿Tienes raíces?

09 de Julio de 2020

Aquel día, Jesús salió de la casa y se sentó a la orilla del lago. Como mucha gente se le acercó, él se subió a una barca y se sentó, mientras que la gente se quedó en la playa. Entonces les habló por parábolas de muchas cosas. Les dijo: «El sembrador salió a sembrar. Al sembrar, una parte de las semillas cayó junto al camino, y vinieron las aves y se la comieron. Otra parte cayó entre las piedras, donde no había mucha tierra, y pronto brotó, porque la tierra no era profunda; pero en cuanto salió el sol, se quemó y se secó, porque no tenía raíz... El que oye la palabra es la semilla sembrada entre las piedras, que en ese momento la recibe con gozo, pero su gozo dura poco por tener poca raíz; al venir la aflicción o la persecución por causa de la palabra, se malogra.

— Mateo 13:1-6, 20-21

Hace algunos años, para el Día de San Valentín mi esposo me compró un hermoso jazmín en una maceta. Las flores blancas brillaban. Estaba encantada, pero también tenía miedo. ¿Cómo lo mantendría vivo? Aprendí todo lo que pude sobre el cuidado de la planta, y la regué fielmente. Pero incluso así, mis miedos se hicieron realidad: el jazmín se murió y me sentí terriblemente culpable.

Como quería conservar la maceta, fui a quitar la planta muerta. Entonces me encontré con una gran sorpresa: la planta no tenía ninguna raíz; es más, nunca había tenido raíces, al menos en esa maceta. Alguien había cortado una rama con flores de un arbusto más grande y la había metido en la tierra de tal manera que pareciera una planta normal. Habíamos sido engañados.

Estaba enojada, pero también estaba aliviada. ¡No había sido mi culpa que la planta se muriera! Sin raíces no podía vivir, pues no podía absorber agua ni los nutrientes del suelo. Estaba condenada.

Jesús dice algo similar con respecto a las personas que escuchan el mensaje del Evangelio. Muchos dicen que creen y parecen muy entusiasmados con su nueva fe, participando de las actividades de la iglesia y estudiando la Biblia. Pero no todos se quedan. Algunos de ellos desaparecen rápidamente y dejan de lado la fe. ¿Qué pasó? No tenían raíz. Todo lucía bien en la superficie, pero ni bien surgió un problema o tuvieron que enfrentar un sufrimiento, la dejaban de lado.

¿Y tú? ¿Tienes raíces? Cuando lleguen los momentos de sufrimiento, que por cierto llegarán, ¿te quedarás en la fe? El problema con las semillas en la historia de Jesús era que no tenían suficiente tierra para desarrollar raíces. De la misma manera, un corazón duro como una roca no será un lugar donde el Evangelio pueda enraizarse profundamente.

Pero no todo está perdido. Con esfuerzo, el terreno se puede cambiar. Es posible romper la roca o eliminarla por completo. Es posible romper corazones pedregosos y transformarlos en tierra fértil donde el Evangelio pueda crecer y prosperar. Ningún ser humano puede hacer esto, pero el Espíritu Santo sí puede hacerlo.

Pídele al Espíritu Santo que te ayude. Él es quien hace crecer la fe en nuestros corazones. Permítele obrar en ti, para que la buena semilla del Evangelio crezca en tu vida y produzca treinta, sesenta, o incluso cien veces la cosecha para Jesús.

ORACIÓN: Espíritu Santo, crea en mi corazón un terreno fértil para el Evangelio. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Alguna vez tuviste una huerta? ¿Qué fue más difícil de cultivar y por qué?

* ¿En qué área de tu vida te gustaría pedirle a Dios que te ayude a crecer y a ser más fructífero?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Alguna vez tuviste una huerta? ¿Qué fue más difícil de cultivar y por qué?

Хлеб наш насущный - Безумие новой жизни

Безумие новой жизни

Читать сейчас: 1 Коринфянам 1:20-31 | Библия за год: Иов 38-40; Деяния 16:1-21

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Слово о кресте для погибающих юродство есть, а для нас, спасаемых, – сила Божия.

— 1 Коринфянам 1:18

Некоторые вещи невозможно понять, пока не прочувствуешь. Во время первой беременности я прочла множество книг и выслушала десятки женских историй на тему схваток и родов. Но так и не смогла в достаточной мере представить, как это будет. То, что предстояло пережить, казалось невозможным!

Павел пишет в Первом послании к коринфянам, что рождение в Божье Царство, спасение, которое Бог дарует нам через Христа, тоже кажется непостижимым для тех, кто его не пережил. Для них выглядит «безумием» утверждение, что спасение приходит через крест – мучительную и унизительную смерть. Однако именно это «безумие» Павел проповедовал как средство спасения!

Никто и представить не мог ничего подобного. Одни считали, что спасение должно прийти через сильного политического деятеля или благодаря сверхъестественному вмешательству. Другие думали, что спасением для них станут их умственные или философские достижения (1 Кор. 1:22). Но Бог удивил всех. Он открыл путь спасения в таком виде, который имеет смысл только для тех, кто уверовал и пережил его на собственном опыте.

Бог взял нечто позорное – смерть на кресте – и сделал его основанием силы и мудрости. Он совершает невообразимое: избирает немощное и неразумное мира, чтобы посрамить мудрое (ст. 27).

И Его удивительные, непредсказуемые пути всегда самые лучшие.

Как Бог удивляет вас сегодня? Почему Божьи пути лучше ваших?

Боже, вместе с Исаией я повторяю, что как небо выше земли, так Твои пути выше путей моих и Твои мысли выше моих мыслей.

автор: Эми Петерсон

© 2020 Хлеб Наш Насущный
То, что предстояло пережить, казалось невозможным!