The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, July 27, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, July 27, 2020

Psalm 65:8-13; Genesis 30:25-36; James 3:13-18

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 65:8-13

Meadows clothed with flocks

8  The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
     where morning dawns, where evening fades,
     you call forth songs of joy.

9  You care for the land and water it;
     you enrich it abundantly.
   The streams of God are filled with water
     to provide the people with grain,
     for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
     you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
     and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
     the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
     and the valleys are mantled with grain;
     they shout for joy and sing.

Genesis 30:25-36

Jacob and Laban argue

30:25 After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland. 26 Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.”

27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” 28 He added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”

29 Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. 30 The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?”

31 “What shall I give you?” he asked.

“Don’t give me anything,” Jacob replied. “But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: 32 Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages. 33 And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen.”

34 “Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” 35 That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. 36 Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks.

James 3:13-18

Two kinds of wisdom

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

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, July 27, 2020
Psalm 65:8-13; Genesis 30:25-36; James 3:13-18

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, July 27, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, July 27, 2020

Egyptian monk Macarius said this in the fourth century: “There is no need at all to make long discourses; it is enough to stretch out one’s hands and say, ‘Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.’ And if the conflict grows fiercer say, ‘Lord, help!’ He knows very well what we need and he shows us his mercy.”

Holy One, so often we claim to see but prefer our blindness. Send us teachers and saints whose lives speak loudly of faith and perseverance to guide us when we unknowingly stray from wisdom’s course. Help us to find the Way, the Truth, and the Life in this world of shortcuts, deception, and death. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, July 27, 2020

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Read all of Hebrews 12

Listen to Hebrews 12

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 27 de julio de 2020

El rencor

Sean bondadosos y compasivos unos con otros, y perdónense mutuamente, así como Dios los perdonó a ustedes en Cristo.

— Efesios 4:32

El rencor es ese resentimiento que echa raíces en nuestro ser y que se manifiesta de manera tenaz contra alguien por alguna razón.

No pretendo decirte que no sea normal que sientas rencor cuando te han herido, te han maltratado y te han rechazado. En estos casos, es muy común que se despierte este sentimiento hacia la vida y hacia los demás.

Mi llamado es a que salgas de allí. Es decirte que ser una persona rencorosa no te lleva a ninguna parte porque nunca te vas a sentir libre para ser feliz.

Además, el rencor no te permite crecer como persona, pues siempre vas a sentir que algo no te deja avanzar.

Piensa que no hay nadie perfecto y que tú también podrías fallar en algún momento. Entonces, ¿cómo te sentirías si esa persona no te perdonara y te las cobrara por el resto de la vida?

Ah, y si vas a olvidar, es olvidar. Nada de decir «perdono, pero no olvido».

Vivamos el mejor ejemplo de todos, el de Jesús, quien perdona nuestras faltas y nunca más vuelve acordarse de ellas.

¡Anímate! Hazlo por tu bienestar espiritual.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
El rencor es ese resentimiento que echa raíces en nuestro ser y que se manifiesta de manera tenaz contra alguien por alguna razón.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, July 27, 2020

EXAMPLE OF JESUS

“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

— Luke 23:34a

On January 23, 1999, 58-year-old Australian Baptist missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death when the vehicle they were sleeping in was doused with gasoline and set on fire, allegedly by members of a Hindu fundamentalist group, in the Indian state of Orissa. Graham Staines had been working with leprosy patients for thirty-four years.

Hundreds of millions witnessed Gladys Staines, Graham Staines’ widow, forgive her family’s murderers in the name of the gospel on Indian television—a scene which moved many to tears “and may have achieved more for the gospel in India than many years of missionary work,” according to an Indian evangelist.

Describing her prompt forgiveness of the killers as a “spontaneous act,” Gladys Staines says, “it took away the bitterness” that otherwise would have remained in her heart. Since the incident, she has people coming to her door asking how they can become Christians.

The imagery she used was also powerful. “Let us burn hatred…and spread the flame of Christ’s love.”

Forgiveness is to be given even when it is not asked for. On the cross, forgiveness was one of the first words of Jesus. The soldiers doing the crucifying had not asked for forgiveness but Jesus realized their need for it.

Forgiveness can only be truly accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit. But when given, it communicates most powerfully the love of God. And we are called to be like God, to bear God’s family resemblance.

Forgiveness is a personal transaction that releases the one offended from the offense. The forgiveness required by the scriptures is more than detached or limited forgiveness, it is full and complete forgiveness in which there is a total cessation of negative feelings toward the offender and the relationship being restored has the possibility to grow.

RESPONSE: Today I will show Christ’s love by forgiving those who do not even ask for forgiveness.

PRAYER: Lord, may I be like You and through the power of Your Holy Spirit forgive completely those who bring offenses against me.

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, July 27, 2020

Huldah

Her name means: "Weasel"

Her character: Trusted by the king with a matter of great importance, she was a prophetess whose word ignited a significant religious reform.
Her sorrow: That God's people refused to respond to him with loving obedience, ignoring repeated warnings about the consequences of their unfaithfulness.
Her joy: As a prophetess, she was privileged to be a messenger of God.
Key Scriptures: 2 Kings 22:14-20; 2 Chronicles 34:22-33

Her Story

She pressed the leather scroll against her breast, as though cradling a living being. The high priest, Hilkiah, and several other men of Jerusalem stood before her. King Josiah wanted to know—would the words of the Book of the Law, which Hilkiah had just discovered in the temple, come to pass?

Holding the scroll by its wooden handles, she unrolled it carefully and began reading:

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength…. Fear the Lord your God, serve him only, and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 13-15).

"Cursed in the city and cursed in the country … sudden ruin because of what you have done … wasting disease … madness, blindness and confusion … an object of scorn and ridicule to all the nations … because you did not obey the Lord your God" (cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

Though her voice was steady, Huldah's throat felt sore from the effort of speaking such words aloud, terrible threats that made her eyes well over, warnings that spawned vision upon vision from the past. In her mind, she watched as Judah's kings Ahaz and Manasseh sacrificed their sons to pagan deities. She saw the smoke of incense rising before pagan idols in the temple. She looked on as prophets were murdered, as diviners and sorcerers were honored, as kings bowed down to the stars and the people followed suit, prostituting themselves to false gods and spurning the advances of the Almighty. She saw the children of Israel marching in chains from the land of milk and honey. Her face flushed as a burning sensation rushed through her body and searing words spilled from her lips:

"This is what the Lord says: 'I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.' Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord: 'Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'"

Huldah is one of only four women with an authentic prophetic ministry mentioned in the Old Testament (along with Miriam, Deborah, and Isaiah's wife). Though prophets like Jeremiah and Zephaniah were also active at the time, King Josiah consulted Huldah about the amazing discovery of the Book of the Law (material that probably forms the core of the book of Deuteronomy).

Beyond the brief scene imaginatively retold above, we know little of her story—only that God entrusted her with his word in a time of national crisis. A hundred years earlier, Judah had witnessed God's punishment of the northern kingdom. Faithless Israel had been led captive to Assyria, just as the prophets had warned. Huldah surely knew the sordid details. She could not have missed its frightening significance for Judah. She may also have endured part of Manasseh's fifty-five-year reign, the longest and worst of any king in Judah. Certainly, she would have been heartened by the recent reforms of King Josiah—his attempts to restore the temple though the people had all but forgotten God.

But her words of prophecy confirmed the king's fear. Judah was standing on a precipice. God was a jealous lover who blessed those who loved and obeyed him and cursed those who did not. Across the centuries, his slow anger was building to a fiery crescendo. Judah's infidelities had not gone unnoticed.

After Huldah's prophecy, Josiah led one of the greatest religious reforms in history, purging Judah and even parts of Israel of paganism. But the kings who followed him soon reversed course, leading the people astray once again. Thirty-five years after Huldah's prophecy, Judah was taken in chains to Babylon and all of its cities were destroyed.

The magnificent kingdom of David and Solomon had come to an end. But though every other nation captured by Assyria and Babylon ceased to exist, Israel still had a future. Chastened, it was never destroyed. Disciplined, it was never forsaken. All because God still loved his people.

The words of Isaiah, a prophet who preceded Huldah by a few decades, proclaimed a future day of restoration: "They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities…. Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance" (Isaiah 61:4, 7).

Judgment and mercy, law and grace, punishment, and salvation—these are the tensions that characterize the story of God's love affair with his people. Huldah was a woman who understood the paradox and who was not afraid to proclaim the truth, even to a king. Her words must have cost her, but she spoke them anyway. She cherished God's word in a time of spiritual crisis.

Her Promise

The story of Huldah and her words to the king illustrate the contrast between God's judgment and his mercy. He judges those who deserve his punishment, but he quickly forgives those who repent. In fact, he is eager to forgive, waiting only for us to come to him in repentance.

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.
Trusted by the king with a matter of great importance, she was a prophetess whose word ignited a significant religious reform.

LHM Daily Devotions - July 27, 2020 - "Steadfast Love"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Steadfast Love"

July 27, 2020

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever; to Him who alone does great wonders, for His steadfast love endures forever; to Him who by understanding made the heavens, for His steadfast love endures forever.

— Psalm 136:3-5

In our worship services, we often repeat responses such as "The Lord be with you ... And with your spirit." Some of the hymns we sing have refrains repeated at the end of each verse. It is apparent from Scripture that God's people have been responding to one another in this way in worship for a very long time. In our psalm, the same words of praise are repeated in every verse: "For His steadfast love endures forever."

The steadfast, enduring love of the Lord of lords is revealed in the great wonders that God alone can do. The psalm gives us a detailed list of many of those wonders. By His Word, the Lord created the heavens and the earth. He made the sun, moon, and stars. The psalm then continues by describing the wonders done by God in the history of Israel. He "struck down the firstborn of Egypt" and "brought Israel out" of slavery (Psalm 136:10-11). God divided the Red Sea so that Israel could cross, passing safely through on dry land. The Lord of lords overthrew Pharaoh and his armies. God led His people through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. God fought for His people, striking down enemy kings and giving the land to Israel as their heritage. He remembered and rescued His people. Why did the Lord of lords do these great wonders for Israel?

You know the answer: "For His steadfast love endures forever."

If we were to compose our own verses of praise and thanksgiving, what details would we include? For what events would we offer thanks to God? How has His steadfast, enduring love been revealed to us? In a wondrous mystery, the God of Israel, the Lord of lords, took on human flesh and was born among us to be our Savior. Jesus suffered and died on the cross, striking down sin, death, and Satan to set us free from slavery to sin. The crucified Savior rose up from death in triumph, and our crucified and risen Lord leads us through the "wilderness" of this earthly life. He cares for us and guides us with His love. He sustains us by His Word and nourishes us with His Holy Supper, forgiving and restoring us for the ongoing journey. When we come to the end of that journey, we have Jesus' sure and certain promise: "Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25b-26).

Why has He done all of this for us? You know the answer: "For His steadfast love endures forever."

Finally, when Jesus returns on the Last Day, He will raise us bodily from our graves as He was raised. God our Creator will make new heavens and a new earth and welcome us into His eternal presence. There before His throne we may offer up in praise the refrain we know so well: "For His steadfast love endures forever!"

THE PRAYER: Lord God, Your wonders are beyond counting. We praise You for the enduring, steadfast love revealed in Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you have a favorite author or two who writes about living a God-praising life?

2. Why is it significant that God's steadfast love endures forever?

3. Complete this sentence: "I experienced God's enduring love last week when I _______."

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 have a favorite author or two who writes about living a God-praising life?

Devocional CPTLN del 27 de julio de 2020 - Su misericordia

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Su misericordia

27 de Julio de 2020

Alabemos al Señor de señores; ¡su misericordia permanece para siempre! El Señor hace grandes maravillas. ¡Su misericordia permanece para siempre! El Señor creó los cielos con sabiduría. ¡Su misericordia permanece para siempre!

— Salmo 136:3-5

En nuestros servicios de adoración a menudo repetimos respuestas como: "El Señor sea contigo ... y con tu espíritu", mientras que algunos de los himnos que cantamos tienen estribillos que se repiten al final de cada verso. En el salmo para hoy, las mismas palabras de alabanza se repiten en cada versículo: "su misericordia permanece para siempre".

El amor firme y duradero del Señor de los señores se revela en las grandes maravillas que solo Dios puede hacer. El salmo nos da una lista detallada de muchas de esas maravillas. Con su Palabra, el Señor creó los cielos y la tierra e hizo el sol, la luna y las estrellas. Luego, el salmo continúa describiendo las maravillas hechas por Dios en la historia de Israel. "hirió de muerte a los primogénitos egipcios" y sacó de la esclavitud "de Egipto a los israelitas" (vs 10-11). Dios dividió el Mar Rojo para que Israel pudiera cruzar, pasando de manera segura por tierra firme. El Señor derrocó al Faraón y sus ejércitos. Dios guió a su pueblo a través del desierto en su camino hacia la tierra prometida. Dios luchó por su pueblo, derribando reyes enemigos y dando la tierra a Israel como su herencia. Se acordó y rescató a su pueblo. ¿Por qué hizo el Señor de señores estas grandes maravillas por Israel? "Porque su misericordia permanece para siempre."

Si tuviéramos que componer nuestros propios versos de alabanza y acción de gracias, ¿qué detalles incluiríamos? ¿Por qué cosas daríamos gracias a Dios? ¿Cómo se nos ha revelado su amor firme y duradero? En un maravilloso misterio, el Dios de Israel, el Señor de señores, tomó carne humana y nació entre nosotros para ser nuestro Salvador. Jesús sufrió y murió en la cruz derribando el pecado, la muerte y Satanás, para liberarnos de la esclavitud del pecado. El Salvador crucificado se levantó triunfante de la muerte y nos guía ahora por el "desierto" de esta vida terrenal. Él nos sostiene con su Palabra y nos nutre con su santa Cena, perdonándonos y restaurándonos. Cuando lleguemos al final de este viaje terrenal, tenemos la promesa segura de Jesús: "El que cree en mí, aunque esté muerto, vivirá. Y todo aquel que vive y cree en mí, no morirá eternamente" (Juan 11:25b-26). ¿Por qué ha hecho todo esto por nosotros? Porque "su misericordia permanece para siempre".

Finalmente, cuando Jesús regrese en el último día, nos resucitará corporalmente de nuestras tumbas. Dios nuestro Creador hará nuevos cielos y una nueva tierra y nos dará la bienvenida a Su presencia eterna. Allí, delante de su trono, podremos ofrecer en alabanza el estribillo que tan bien conocemos: "¡Su misericordia permanece para siempre!"

ORACIÓN: Señor Dios, tus maravillas son incontables. Te alabamos por el amor constante y duradero revelado en Jesús, nuestro Salvador. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Qué significa para tu vida que el amor de Dios permanece para siempre?

* Completa esta oración: "Experimenté el amor de Dios cuando _______".

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué significa para tu vida que el amor de Dios permanece para siempre?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Cultiver le monde de Dieu

Cultiver le monde de Dieu

Lisez : Genèse 1.26,27 ; 2.15
La Bible en un an : Psaumes 46 – 48 ; Actes 28

L’Éternel Dieu prit l’homme, et le plaça dans le jardin d’Éden pour le cultiver et pour le garder.

— Genèse 2.15

« Papa, pourquoi est-ce que tu dois aller travailler? » Ma fillette m’a posé cette question parce qu’elle voulait jouer avec moi. J’aurais préféré prendre congé et passer du temps avec elle, mais trop de choses au boulot requéraient mon attention. Il s’agit néanmoins d’une bonne question. Pourquoi travaillons-nous ? Est-ce simplement dans le but de pourvoir à notre subsistance et à celle de nos êtres chers ? Qu’en est-il du travail non rémunéré – pourquoi le faisons-nous ?

Genèse 2 nous indique que Dieu a placé le premier être humain dans le jardin « pour le cultiver et pour le garder (V. 15). Mon beau-père est fermier et il me dit souvent qu’il travaille dans ce domaine par pur amour pour la terre et le bétail. C’est merveilleux, mais des questions subsistent quant à ceux qui n’aiment pas leur travail. Pourquoi Dieu nous a-t-il placés dans un endroit particulier en nous confiant une tâche particulière ?

Genèse 1 nous en donne la réponse. Dieu nous a faits à son image afin que nous veillions sur le monde qu’il a créé (V. 26). Les histoires païennes expliquant le commencement du monde révèlent des « dieux » ayant créé les êtres humains pour s’en faire des esclaves. Le livre de la Genèse déclare que le seul vrai Dieu a fait les êtres humains pour s’en faire des représentants – qui garderont ce qu’il a lui-même créé. Puissions-nous refléter son ordre empreint de sagesse et d’amour dans ce monde. Le travail constitue un appel à cultiver le monde de Dieu pour sa gloire.

Dieu précieux, merci de nous faire l’honneur de nous joindre à ton œuvre dans le monde.

En tant qu’enfants de Dieu, nous devons prendre soin de la mer, de la terre et des animaux qui nous entourent.

par Glenn Packiam

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Pourquoi travaillons-nous ? Est-ce simplement dans le but de pourvoir à notre subsistance et à celle de nos êtres chers ? Qu’en est-il du travail non rémunéré – pourquoi le faisons-nous ?