The Daily Bible Readings for MONDAY, August 24, 2020

The Daily Bible Readings

MONDAY, August 24, 2020

Psalm 8; Exodus 1:1-7; Romans 2:1-11

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today's Verse-of-the-Day: Psalm 116:1-2

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

Today's Readings:

Psalm 8

From the mouths of infants

1 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Exodus 1:1-7

Israel multiplies in Egypt

1:1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Romans 2:1-11

The righteous judgment of God

2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with 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, King James Version (KJV).

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, 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 Bible Readings for MONDAY, August 24, 2020
Psalm 8; Exodus 1:1-7; Romans 2:1-11 (KJV)

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, August 24, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, August 24, 2020

Dorotheus of Gaza, monk and abbot of the sixth century, penned these words: “Each one according to his means should take care to be at one with everyone else, for the more one is united to his neighbor, the more he is united with God.”

King of Kings, King David was not ashamed to call himself your servant. Open our eyes to discover the joy of serving others. Let us do small things with great love today. Amen.

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Level Ground

Level Ground

But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

— Psalm 26:11-12

At the time of this writing, churches are beginning to open after being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Assemblies, great and small, are permitted once again to gather as brothers and sisters in Christ to bless the Lord who redeemed them. Still, in worship or apart from it, many people may feel that they are not really standing on level ground. Everything seems to be shifting underfoot, from society-wide issues of global pandemic fears and political conflicts to trouble that strikes closer to home—loss of home and employment, family strife, or the illness of loved ones. We may make every personal effort to walk in integrity, as the Lord wants us to do, but we cannot find that level ground. With the psalmist, we plead, "Redeem me, and be gracious to me!"

Only one man has truly walked with integrity, the God-Man Jesus Christ. "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:22-23). The ground was not always level beneath our Lord's feet as He faced hatred, rejection, and unbelief. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus pleaded with His Father for redemption and grace, asking that the terrible of cup of suffering and death, the cup of God's wrath against sin, might be removed from Him.

Yet Jesus also asked that His Father's will would be done, and so it was. The ground shifted beneath the Savior's feet as He was betrayed and arrested, tried, and unjustly condemned to death. There was likely very little level ground at Golgotha where Jesus was nailed to the cross. Although He had walked through His entire life in innocence and integrity, Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. He was punished for our lack of integrity, our hatred and selfishness, pride, and jealousy—every sin of thought, word, and action. In our place, He drained the cup of God's wrath against sin.

Taken down from the cross, Jesus' body was laid in the tomb. On the third day, the first Easter morning, the ground shifted as never before. Jesus was raised bodily from death and His victory over death is our victory. The redemption for which we pray was accomplished. By God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven, the burden of guilt lifted. Because Jesus lives, we too have new life in His Name. United with Him in Baptism, we have been buried with Him and raised to walk—with integrity!—in newness of life.

At the foot of the cross, we find the level ground we seek, level ground that can be found nowhere else. We may not always be able to assemble with our fellow believers to worship, but one day we will stand before God's throne in the great assembly of all the redeemed to bless the Lord who saved us!

Lord Jesus, when the ground seems to shift beneath our feet, turn our hearts and minds to the promises of Your Word, and hold us securely in Your hand. Amen.

Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you normally manage difficult situations in your life?

2. How does God keep our feet on level ground?

3. Do you feel like your faith-walk lately has been one of integrity? Is it tougher now to be centered on God and His Word? Are you making any adjustments to keep your focus on Jesus?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
How do you normally manage difficult situations in your life?

Standing Strong Through the Storm — BE A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR TRIALS

BE A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR TRIALS

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

— 2 Thessalonians 1:4

The Apostle Paul praises the church in Thessalonica for their faith and love in the face of persecutions and trials. In essence, he is telling them that they are good stewards of their trials, not letting them impact their faith negatively.

I recently heard gospel singer Lynda Randall express this same thought of “being a good steward of the trials I face,” as she introduced her next solo “It is Well With My Soul.”

The lyrics of this hymn were written by Horatio Spafford, a lawyer of some prominence in Chicago. He and his wife Anna had one son and four daughters and were good friends of D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey for many years. Mr. Spafford’s children had come to Christ through the influence of Ira Sankey’s music. When the Spafford’s son died, the family went into deep mourning.

After two years of ministering to the homeless and needy people of Chicago, Mr. Spafford thought his family needed a vacation. D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey were in England holding evangelistic so Mr. Spafford decided to take his family to England, where they could vacation and also be a help to his friends Moody and Sankey.

He booked passage for his family on the ship SS Ville de Havre, but at the last minute was unable to go with his family due to business. He promised to follow them within a few weeks and they would all be reunited in England.

As the ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, it collided with the English ship Lochearn, and sank within 12 minutes. 226 lives were lost, including the four Spafford daughters. Mrs. Spafford was rescued from a floating piece of debris. When she arrived in Wales 10 days later she cabled a message to her husband, “Saved Alone...”

Mr. Spafford booked passage on the next ship heading to England. As the ship crossed the area where the SS Ville de Havre sank, taking his daughters to the ocean’s depths, Mr. Spafford felt the Holy Spirit fill him with a comforting peace. Leaving the ship’s railing he went into his cabin where he penned the hymn that has soothed so many souls who have been broken-hearted...and one which I often hear sung in the meetings of the persecuted church:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

RESPONSE: Today I will be a good steward of the trials I face…with faith, love and perseverance.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for Your faithfulness in all the trials I face. Help me not waste them.

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 — Gomer

Gomer

Her name means: "Completion"

Her character: Though a married woman, she carried on numerous love affairs, crediting her lovers for the gifts her husband had given her.
Her sorrow: To have become the symbol of spiritual adultery—a picture of Israel's unfaithfulness to God.
Her joy: That her husband continued to love her despite her unfaithfulness.
Key Scriptures: Hosea 1-3

Her Story

The man stood at the door, craning his neck and peering through the half-light. His limbs felt stiff and cold, despite the desert heat that still warmed the narrow street. Other than a stray dog curled in a knot against the wall of a neighboring house, he saw nothing. It was too late for a woman to be walking the streets alone. But, then, she wouldn't be alone, would she?

He didn't want to go inside yet, to listen to the absence of her chatter, to lie down on the empty bed. By noon tomorrow, the news of her betrayal would fill every gossip-hungry soul in town like swill in a pig's belly. Hosea, the man who would steer the nation with his prophecies, couldn't even control his own wife.

He felt grief and fury like a storm breaking inside him. He had meant to guard his heart; he had never intended to give himself so completely. His pain was the worse for loving her so well. For Gomer had squandered his gifts, mocked his tenderness, and allowed herself to be seduced by other lovers.

Hadn't God warned him and instructed him to "go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord"? He had named his children "Jezreel" (God Scatters), "Lo-Ruhamah" (Not Loved), and "Lo-Ammi" (Not My People). Each successive child measured the growing rift between husband and wife. Hosea wondered whether he had even fathered the last two.

The word of the Lord that had filled Hosea's mouth now troubled his soul, rushing back with appalling force. So this was how God felt about his own people—bitterly betrayed, cut to the heart, disgusted, outraged. His tender love, his every gift meant nothing to a people enamored with Canaanite gods. Israel's leading men were the worst whores of all—virtuosos when it came to playing the harlot, cheating the poor, and imploring idols to bless them with peace and riches.

But peace was elusive. Six kings had ruled the northern kingdom during a period of just twenty-five years. Four were murdered by their successors and one was captured in battle. All the while, Assyria perched like a vulture at its borders.

If only Israel would learn its lesson and turn back to the Lord before it was too late—if only Gomer would turn back. Hosea wanted to shout in her face, shake her awake to her sin. Enough of patience. Enough of tenderness. She had ignored his threats, shrugging them off like so many flies on a donkey. What choice had he now? He would strip and shame her, punishing her unfaithfulness.

In the midst of his bitter grief, he heard the voice of God, strong and clear: "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods."

So Hosea took back the wife he couldn't stop loving. And the word of the Lord transformed Lo-Ruhamah into Ruhamah (Loved) and Lo-Ammi into Ammi (My People).

The story of Gomer and Hosea portrays God's jealousy for his people. For the first time, a prophet dared to speak of God as husband and Israel as his bride. But this is a tangled love story, one in which God's heart is repeatedly broken. Despite his pleas, regardless of his threats, Israel would not turn back to him until after the northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria a few years later.

Still, the knit-together lives of Hosea and Gomer were a living reminder to the Israelites of both God's judgment and his love. Hosea's beautiful words still move us as we think about the church today, about our own unfaithfulness and God's forgiveness: "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

No longer Lo-Ruhamah, we are Ruhamah (Loved), and no longer Lo-Ammi but Ammi (My People). For our Maker has become our Husband, the one who hates our sin but loves us still.

Her Promise

A tempestuous marriage. A wife who will not remain faithful to the husband who loves her. A husband who not only remains faithful, but loving. Children whose paternity is in doubt. All these are the elements not of a soap opera but of a wonderful picture of God's love and faithfulness to his often unloving and unfaithful people. The promises portrayed in the life of Gomer apply not only to the people of Israel but to the people of today. God loves us and remains faithful to us. Even when we abandon him and turn away, he waits with arms open. He only asks our repentance and his blessings will again overflow.

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.
Though a married woman, she carried on numerous love affairs, crediting her lovers for the gifts her husband had given her.

John Piper Devotional — The Message of Creation

The Message of Creation

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

—Romans 1:22–23

It would be a great folly and a great tragedy if a man loved his wedding band more than he loved his bride. But that is what this passage says has happened.

Human beings have fallen in love with the echo of God’s excellency in creation and lost the ability to hear the incomparable, original shout of love.

The message of creation is this:

There is a great God of glory and power and generosity behind all this awesome universe; you belong to him; he is patient with you in sustaining your rebellious life; turn and bank your hope on him and delight yourself in him, not his handiwork.

Day pours forth the “speech” of that message to all who will listen in the day, speaking with blindingly bright sun and blue sky and clouds and untold shapes and colors of all things visible. Night pours forth the “knowledge” of the same message to all who will listen at night, speaking with great dark voids and summer moons and countless stars and strange sounds and cool breezes and northern lights (Psalm 19:1–2).

Day and night are saying one thing: God is glorious! God is glorious! God is glorious!
It would be a great folly and a great tragedy if a man loved his wedding band more than he loved his bride.

Un dia a la Vez — Un corazón agradecido

Un corazón agradecido

Vístanse de amor, que es el vínculo perfecto. Que gobierne en sus corazones la paz de Cristo, a la cual fueron llamados en un solo cuerpo. Y sean agradecidos.

— Colosenses 3:14-15

¿Cómo no vamos a tener un corazón agradecido por nuestras bendiciones cuando vemos gente tan linda viviendo en circunstancias tan pobres?

Sabemos que en nuestra ciudad de Miami también hay necesidades, pero nunca se comparan a lo que necesitan recibir en esta provincia del Perú o en otros lugares de América Latina.

En los días de estadía en el Callao vi una gran necesidad. Sus casas están desbaratadas por completo. A muchas hasta les falta parte del techo y están expuestas al frío y a la lluvia. La suciedad es tanta que a uno le cuesta trabajo creer que allí vivan seres humanos. Podemos visitarlos si quisiéramos más de una vez e igual se tomará su tiempo para ver cambios. Solo Dios puede hacer un milagro, como se lo hemos pedido.

Aprendamos a ser agradecidos. Disfrutemos lo que tenemos, ya sea poco o mucho. Reconozcamos que Dios es el que nos cuida y propongámonos a valorar nuestra vida con sus altibajos, pero confiados de que no estamos solos.

Hoy, tú puedes pedirle perdón a Jesús porque quizá seas una persona que ha renegado del tipo de vida que te ha tocado vivir. No se trata de que no puedas ser próspero. ¡Claro que puedes serlo! Sin embargo, nunca debes olvidar de dónde nos sacó Dios.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Cómo no vamos a tener un corazón agradecido por nuestras bendiciones cuando vemos gente tan linda viviendo en circunstancias tan pobres?

Devocional CPTLN — En terreno firme

En terreno firme

Yo, en cambio, me conduzco con integridad; ¡sálvame y ten compasión de mí! Plantado estoy en terreno firme y te bendigo, Señor, en las reuniones de tu pueblo.

— Salmo 26:11-12

Al momento de escribir esto, algunas iglesias están comenzando a abrir después de estar cerradas debido a la pandemia del Coronavirus. Una vez más se les permite reunirse como hermanos en Cristo para adorar al Señor que los redimió. Aun así, muchas personas pueden estar sintiendo que en realidad no están parados en terreno firme. Todo parece estar cambiando: desde los temores de la pandemia global y los conflictos políticos, hasta los problemas que nos tocan más de cerca, como la pérdida del hogar o el empleo, la enfermedad de los seres queridos, etc. Podemos hacer todo lo posible para caminar en integridad, como el Señor quiere que lo hagamos, pero no podemos encontrar ese terreno firme. Con el salmista suplicamos: "¡Sálvame y ten compasión de mí!"

Solo un hombre realmente ha caminado con integridad, el Dios-Hombre Jesucristo, quien "no cometió ningún pecado, ni hubo engaño en su boca. Cuando lo maldecían, no respondía con maldición; cuando sufría, no amenazaba, sino que remitía su causa al que juzga con justicia" (1 Pedro 2: 22-23). Nuestro Señor no siempre tuvo suelo firme bajo sus pies: se enfrentó al odio, al rechazo y la incredulidad. En la noche en que fue traicionado, Jesús le suplicó a su Padre redención y gracia, pidiéndole que le quitara la terrible copa del sufrimiento y la muerte, la copa de la ira de Dios contra el pecado.

Pero Jesús también pidió que se hiciera la voluntad de su Padre, y así fue. El suelo se movió bajo los pies del Salvador cuando fue traicionado y arrestado, juzgado e injustamente condenado a muerte. Probablemente había muy poca tierra firme en el Gólgota donde Jesús fue clavado en la cruz. Aunque había recorrido toda su vida en inocencia e integridad, Jesús llevó a la cruz nuestros pecados en su cuerpo. Allí fue castigado por nuestra falta de integridad, nuestro odio y egoísmo, orgullo y celos, todo pecado de pensamiento, palabra y acción. En nuestro lugar, Él drenó la copa de la ira de Dios contra el pecado.

Bajado de la cruz, el cuerpo de Jesús fue depositado en una tumba. Al tercer día, la primera mañana de Pascua, el suelo se sacudió como nunca antes: Jesús fue resucitado corporalmente de la muerte y su victoria sobre la muerte es nuestra victoria. La redención por la cual oramos se logró. Por la gracia de Dios, a través de la fe en Jesucristo, nuestros pecados son perdonados, la carga de la culpa levantada. Gracias a que Jesús vive, nosotros también tenemos una nueva vida en su Nombre. Unidos con él en el bautismo, hemos sido enterrados con él y nacidos de nuevo para caminar con integridad en la nueva vida.

Al pie de la cruz encontramos el terreno llano que buscamos y que no se puede encontrar en ningún otro lugar. Es posible que no siempre podamos reunirnos con nuestros hermanos en la fe para adorar, pero un día estaremos ante el trono de Dios en la gran asamblea de todos los redimidos para bendecir al Señor que nos salvó.

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, cuando la tierra parece moverse bajo nuestros pies, dirige nuestros corazones y mentes a las promesas de tu Palabra, y sostennos con seguridad en tu mano. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿De qué manera mantiene Dios tus pies en terreno llano?

* ¿Crees que tu caminar en fe está permeado de integridad, o necesitas hacer algún ajuste para mantenerte enfocado en Jesús?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿De qué manera mantiene Dios tus pies en terreno llano?

Notre Pain Quotidien — Comment en suis-je arrivé là ?

Comment en suis-je arrivé là ?

Lisez : Job 2.1-10
La Bible en un an : Psaume 119.1-88 ; 1 Corinthiens 7.20-40

Quoi ! nous recevons de Dieu le bien, et nous ne recevrions pas aussi le mal !

— Job 2.10

Tiffani s’est réveillée dans l’obscurité totale à bord d’un avion d’Air Canada. Sa ceinture encore bouclée, elle avait dormi tandis que les autres passagers en étaient descendus. Pourquoi personne ne l’avait réveillée ? Comment en était-elle arrivée là ? Elle s’est éclairci les idées en cherchant à se rappeler.

Cela vous est-il déjà arrivé ? Vous êtes trop jeune pour avoir cette maladie incurable. Votre dernière évaluation de rendement était excellente, alors pourquoi a-t-on supprimé votre poste ? Vous viviez les meilleures années de votre mariage. Maintenant, vous repartez à zéro, en tant que parent seul occupant un emploi à temps partiel.

Comment en suis-je arrivé là ? Il se peut que Job se le soit demandé, « [assis] sur la cendre » (JOB 2.8). Il avait perdu enfants, fortune et santé en un clin d’œil. Il n’aurait jamais deviné comment il s’était retrouvé en pareille situation ; il savait seulement qu’il devait se rappeler.

Job s’est remémoré son Créateur et toute sa bonté. Il a dit à sa femme : « Quoi ! nous recevons de Dieu le bien, et nous ne recevrions pas aussi le mal ! » (V. 10.) Job s’est souvenu qu’il pouvait compter sur la fidélité de ce Dieu bon. Il s’est donc plaint. Il a crié au ciel. Et il a vécu son deuil avec espoir : « Mais je sais que mon rédempteur est vivant » et : « [Après] que ma peau aura été détruite, moi-même je contemplerai Dieu » (19.25,26).

Père, tu ne t’étonnes pas de ce qui m’étonne. Tu as été bon par le passé, et tu le restes maintenant.

Le fait de savoir que Dieu est toujours là dans les bons moments nous aide à compter sur lui dans les mauvais.

par Eric Desaulniers

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Tiffani s’est réveillée dans l’obscurité totale à bord d’un avion d’Air Canada. Sa ceinture encore bouclée, elle avait dormi tandis que les autres passagers en étaient descendus. Pourquoi personne ne l’avait réveillée ? Comment en était-elle arrivée là ?