The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2020

Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Isaiah 43:1-7; Matthew 15:32-39

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

(Semicontinuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 17:1-7, 15

I shall see your face

1  Hear me, Lord, my plea is just;
     listen to my cry.
   Hear my prayer—
     it does not rise from deceitful lips.
2  Let my vindication come from you;
     may your eyes see what is right.

3  Though you probe my heart,
     though you examine me at night and test me,
   you will find that I have planned no evil;
     my mouth has not transgressed.
4  Though people tried to bribe me,
     I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
5  My steps have held to your paths;
     my feet have not stumbled.

6  I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
     turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
7  Show me the wonders of your great love,
     you who save by your right hand
     those who take refuge in you from their foes.

15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
     when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Isaiah 43:1-7

God’s blessing prevails

1  But now, this is what the Lord says—
     he who created you, Jacob,
     he who formed you, Israel:
   “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
     I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2  When you pass through the waters,
     I will be with you;
   and when you pass through the rivers,
     they will not sweep over you.
   When you walk through the fire,
     you will not be burned;
     the flames will not set you ablaze.
3  For I am the Lord your God,
     the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
   I give Egypt for your ransom,
     Cush and Seba in your stead.
4  Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
     and because I love you,
   I will give people in exchange for you,
     nations in exchange for your life.
5  Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
     I will bring your children from the east
     and gather you from the west.
6  I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
     and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
   Bring my sons from afar
     and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7  everyone who is called by my name,
     whom I created for my glory,
     whom I formed and made.”

Matthew 15:32-39

Jesus feeds 4000

15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

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 WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2020
Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Isaiah 43:1-7; Matthew 15:32-39

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2020

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2020

In 1963, the United States, the USSR, and Great Britain signed a treaty banning nuclear testing in the atmosphere. President John F. Kennedy quoted Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev, saying they both hoped to avoid a nuclear war in which “the survivors would envy the dead.”

Twentieth-century priest and spiritual writer Henri Nouwen said, “That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.”

Dear Lord, remind us that no one is above reproach, and no one is beyond redemption. Help us to look into the eyes of people we find hard to like, and see your image. Assure us this day that your mercy triumphs over judgment. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2020

Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Read all of Psalm 119

Listen to Psalm 119

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 - Miércoles 05 de agosto de 2020

Oración por cambios radicales

Crea en mí, oh Dios, un corazón limpio, y renueva un espíritu recto dentro de mí.

— Salmo 51:10, RV-60

Señor, ¡cuántas veces te he prometido cambiar y cuántas veces te he fallado!

Dios mío, estoy arrepentido por no tomar decisiones radicales en mi vida. Sé que soy débil,

y aunque hago el esfuerzo por cambiar, termino haciendo lo que no quiero.

Reconozco que tú estás interesado en transformar mi vida porque tienes grandes cosas para mí. Jesús, ayúdame a cambiar y a entender tus propósitos en mi vida. Quiero ser un ejemplo para mi familia y dar testimonio de que eres un Padre bueno.

Señor, entrego en este día todas las cosas de mi vida que te entristecen y dispongo mi alma y mi corazón para un cambio radical.

En el nombre de Jesús oramos, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por cambios radicales

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, August 5, 2020

FOUR-STAGE PROCESS OF PERSECUTION

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

— Proverbs 31:8

Jesus’ basic communication theory in Matthew 12 is that people speak and act from the overflow of what is in their hearts. Jeremiah and others remind us that the heart can be exceedingly wicked. One of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s famous statements is “The line of good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”

Christian persecution within a country or state rarely happens suddenly or in isolation. It is most often a process. Some years ago Rev. Dr. Johan Candelin, who headed the World Evangelical Alliance’s (WEA) Religious Liberties Commission recognized this and devised a three-stage process of what happens leading up to persecution becoming entrenched in any society. He labeled the three stages of downward spiral as disinformation, discrimination, and persecution. Dr. Candelin later expanded it to a six-stage process with each of the three having a passive, then active, aspect.

Dr. Jim Cunningham and I included this process in the first edition of Standing Strong Through the Storm (SSTS) and in our seminars.

Some academicians and wordsmiths found it problematic to label the third stage with the same word as that of the process. So we began to wrestle with this issue from a sociological, historical, and biblical perspective. We found interesting academic parallels. For example, in 1996, Professor Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, proposed an excellent model of an eight-stage process of genocide. There are interesting similarities between this downward spiral and what psychologist John Gottman has labeled as the four most likely predictors of divorce.

When we accepted Jesus’ four verb definition of persecution in Luke 6:22, we then found four clear biblical steps in understanding the downward spiral in the process of persecution: opposition, disinformation, injustice, and mistreatment. We will look at these four steps forming the acronym ODIM individually over the next four days.

Why is this important to you and me? Just today I read again the poignant words of German theologian Martin Niemoller written after he had been imprisoned for eight years in concentration camps as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler:

First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

And then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

RESPONSE: Today I will speak out for the rights of those who have no voice to speak for themselves.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to be aware of the forces of evil that conspire against Your Kingdom.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions - August 5, 2020 - "The Power of Referral"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"The Power of Referral"

August 5, 2020

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For "everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News!" But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.

— Romans 10:9-17

Have you ever done something based on someone's referral? If you think about it, we get "plugs" from others in a lot of ways. They range from good places to eat, to that "straight-shooter" mechanic who does good work at a fair price, to the latest don't-miss-this feature on TV. The power of a friend's word to shape our thinking and influence our decision-making has great force.

In the ancient world, the power of the word was awesome, too. The sharing of information and ideas by word of mouth often took place long and repeatedly before anything was ever set down on a page of papyrus or some other surface. One's voice was the message-bearer—the vehicle for telling others about the best olive prices, the latest ruling from the local Roman governor, or best of all—who Jesus is.

It's no different today, is it? Sure, we can blast out our thoughts electronically, in all sorts of ways, using all kinds of media and devices, but there's nothing quite like having a good old-fashioned conversation—one on one, heart to heart, old school.

Having face-to-face conversations may be somewhat limited these days—with social distancing and all—but like the apostle Paul says above: "And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" With our mouths, we confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, and with these mouths we also proclaim Him to the world.

May our words refer others to Jesus, the One who died and rose again, so we might live forever.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let the truth of Your Word be in our hearts and on our lips. Like the Good News it is, reminds us to share it with others freely and often. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. What's the best referral you've ever received? Why?

2. Has there been someone who has presented Jesus to you that really connected with you? Who was that person?

3. Do you try to refer others to Jesus and the Good News of God's love?

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What's the best referral you've ever received? Why?

Devocional CPTLN del 05 de agosto de 2020 - El poder de las referencias

ALIMENTO DIARIO

El poder de las referencias

05 de Agosto de 2020

Si confiesas con tu boca que Jesús es el Señor, y crees en tu corazón que Dios lo levantó de los muertos, serás salvo.» Porque con el corazón se cree para alcanzar la justicia, pero con la boca se confiesa para alcanzar la salvación. Pues la Escritura dice: «Todo aquel que cree en él, no será defraudado.» Porque no hay diferencia entre el que es judío y el que no lo es, pues el mismo que es Señor de todos, es rico para con todos los que lo invocan, porque todo el que invoque el nombre del Señor será salvo. Ahora bien, ¿cómo invocarán a aquel en el cual no han creído? ¿Y cómo creerán en aquel de quien no han oído? ¿Y cómo oirán si no hay quien les predique? ¿Y cómo predicarán si no son enviados? Como está escrito: «¡Cuán hermosa es la llegada de los que anuncian la paz, de los que anuncian buenas nuevas!» Pero no todos obedecieron al evangelio; pues Isaías dice: «Señor, ¿quién ha creído a nuestro anuncio?» Así que la fe proviene del oír, y el oír proviene de la palabra de Dios.

— Romanos 10:9-17

¿Alguna vez has hecho algo basándote en la referencia de alguien? Recibimos más referencias de las que pensamos: buenos lugares para comer, el mecánico que hace un buen trabajo a un precio justo, la última serie que no se puede perder en la televisión, etc. La palabra de un amigo para influir nuestro pensamiento y decisiones tiene una gran fuerza.

En el mundo antiguo, el poder de la palabra también era asombroso. El intercambio de información e ideas de boca en boca tenía lugar repetidamente antes de que cualquier cosa se escribiera en un papiro. La voz era el instrumento portador del mensaje que informaba a otros sobre el mejor precio de las aceitunas, la última decisión del gobernador romano local o quién era Jesús.

Hoy no es diferente, ¿verdad? Claro, podemos expresar nuestros pensamientos electrónicamente de muchas maneras, pero no hay nada como tener una buena conversación a la antigua, de corazón a corazón. Tener conversaciones cara a cara puede ser algo limitado en estos días en que vivimos con distanciamiento social, pero como dice el apóstol Pablo: "¿Y cómo creerán en aquel de quien no han oído? ¿Y cómo oirán si no hay quien les predique?" Con nuestra boca, confesamos a Jesús como Señor y Salvador, y con la boca también lo proclamamos al mundo.

Que nuestras palabras refieran a otros a Jesús, quien murió y resucitó para que podamos vivir para siempre.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, permite que la verdad de tu Palabra esté en nuestros corazones y labios, y recuérdanos de compartir libremente y con frecuencia tus Buenas Nuevas con quienes nos rodean. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Cuál es la mejor referencia que has recibido? ¿Por qué?

* ¿Tratas de referir a otros a Jesús y las Buenas Nuevas del amor de Dios?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cuál es la mejor referencia que has recibido? ¿Por qué?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Mistérios difíceis

Mistérios difíceis

Escritura de hoje: Naum 1:1-7
Bíblia em um ano: Salmos 68–69; Romanos 8:1-21

O Senhor é lento para se irar, mas tem grande poder…

— Naum 1:3

Eu e minha amiga estávamos passeando e conversando sobre nosso amor pela Bíblia. Fiquei surpresa quando ela disse: “Ah, mas não gosto muito do Antigo Testamento. Toda aquela coisa pesada e vingança — quero Jesus!”

Podemos ecoar suas palavras quando lemos um livro como Naum, talvez ressaltando uma declaração como: “…o Senhor é Deus zeloso, cheio de vingança e ira…” (v.2). Ainda assim, o versículo seguinte nos enche de esperança: “O Senhor é lento para se irar, mas tem grande poder…” (v.3).

Quando mergulhamos mais profundamente na questão da ira de Deus, entendemos que quando Ele a exerce, com frequência está defendendo o Seu povo ou o Seu nome. Por causa do Seu amor transbordante, Ele busca justiça pelos erros cometidos e redenção aos que se voltaram contra Ele. Vemos isso não apenas no Antigo Testamento, quando Ele chama o Seu povo de volta para si, mas também no Novo, quando Ele envia o Seu Filho para ser o sacrifício por nossos pecados.

Podemos não entender os mistérios do caráter de Deus, mas podemos confiar que Ele não apenas exerce justiça, mas também é a fonte de todo amor. Não precisamos ter medo dele, pois “O Senhor é bom; é forte refúgio quando vem a aflição. Está perto dos que nele confiam” (v.7).

Por:  Amy Boucher Pye

Refletir & Orar

Deus Pai, tu és bom, amoroso e misericordioso. Ajuda-me a entender mais completamente alguns dos mistérios do Teu amor redentor hoje.

A justiça e a misericórdia de Deus se encontram na cruz.

© 2020 Ministérios Pão Diário
Eu e minha amiga estávamos passeando e conversando sobre nosso amor pela Bíblia. Fiquei surpresa quando ela disse: “Ah, mas não gosto muito do Antigo Testamento. Toda aquela coisa pesada e vingança — quero Jesus!”