The Daily Bible Readings for TUESDAY, August 25, 2020

The Daily Bible Readings

TUESDAY, August 25, 2020

Psalm 8; Exodus 2:11-15a; Romans 11:33-36

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today's Verse-of-the-Day: Psalm 119:165

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

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 2:11-15a

Moses defends one of his kin

2:11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

15a Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses.

Romans 11:33-36

The riches wisdom and knowledge of God

11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

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 TUESDAY, August 25, 2020
Psalm 8; Exodus 2:11-15a; Romans 11:33-36 (KJV)

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, August 25, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, August 25, 2020

Church father and “golden-mouthed” preacher John Chrysostom said this in the fourth century: “Our spirit should be quick to reach out toward God, not only when it is engaged in meditation; at other times also, when it is carrying out its duties, caring for the needy, performing works of charity, or giving generously in the service of others. Our spirit should long for God and call him to mind, so that these works may be seasoned with the salt of God’s love, and so make a pleasing offering to the Lord of the universe.”

God, help us to show kindness and unrivaled hospitality as the natural extension of our commitment to you. Use us to bring hope and comfort to the abandoned and forsaken corners of your creation. Amen.

LHM Daily Devotions — Discipline and Love

Discipline and Love

O LORD, You know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In Your forbearance take me not away; know that for Your sake I bear reproach. Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by Your Name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because Your hand was upon me, for You had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before Me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as My mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless."

— Jeremiah 15:15-21

There was a time when I could not feel God's presence, and I was tempted to imagine He wasn't paying attention. Then I committed a sin—never mind what, exactly!—and it was amazing just how quickly I felt that divine eye swivel and focus on me with all God's attention. Yikes! I was about to get disciplined, and it wasn't going to be fun.

But the odd thing was, there was a certain joy in that. I didn't enjoy the discipline—and yet the fact that God called me on my behavior meant that He cared enough to set me straight. I got what was coming to me—but I also got something else—new evidence that God loved me and cared about my well-being.

Something like that is happening to Jeremiah in today's reading. Jeremiah is hurt and angry, and he's spewing out complaints in every direction. The first thing he asks is for God to pay back his enemies, but to show mercy to Jeremiah himself. Oh dear! That's not very Christian, but it is human. He goes on to complain a great deal more, while God listens patiently.

Then Jeremiah goes too far at last. He turns on God Himself—"Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?"

At this point, God calls a halt. No more of this nonsense! Jeremiah is to repent immediately and speak the truth, not worthless stuff. It's a sharp and fatherly rebuke—and yet the whole thing is shot through with Gospel. "I will restore you ... they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the LORD." Even in the middle of discipline, God is expressing His love.

And that's the love God shows to each one of us through Jesus Christ our Savior. His death on the cross makes it plain that our sin is deadly serious. But it also shows that God Himself is willing to do whatever it takes to reconcile us to Himself and bring us back as His own dear children. He will even die by torture and rise from the dead to get us back again—to get you back again. You are His beloved, and nothing you could ever do will stop Him from loving you and wanting you home.

Dear Lord, thank You that You love me, even when You discipline me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Dr. Kari Vo

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you been properly disciplined?

2. What benefit did you get from it?

3. How does God's discipline show his love for you?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
When have you been properly disciplined?

Standing Strong Through the Storm — NO TURNING BACK

NO TURNING BACK

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

— Luke 9:62

One of the blessings of teaching Standing Strong Through the Storm (SSTS) is the opportunity to meet special people in ministry who, though unassuming at first glance, have experienced deep riches in relationship with Jesus. Such a person I met in a jungle camp seminar in central Sri Lanka.

His English name was Samuel and he was a seasoned church planter. From Samuel, I learned that church planting in a Buddhist country is no easier than anywhere else religious intolerance raises its head. I always thought Buddhism was a pacifist religion and philosophically it is. But try and plant a church in a dominant Buddhist community and you will see something different.

One day Samuel began to share with me about his ministry. He had been dedicated to the Buddhist temple as a young child by his mother just like his biblical namesake. As a young monk, he was impressed by the witness of a Christian youth who led him to faith in Christ. He left temple life and felt called to be a Christian church planter. With his wife and two small children, he moved to a new community and began to share Jesus. The villagers stoned his residence and when he would not desist, they burned it down.

He moved to another community and was attacked physically with severe wounds. In the next location, the villagers schemed against him and his family. They cut the main posts of his home and worship center. At night they tied rope to the posts and pulled them out while the family was asleep. He knew God was with him. Two large structural beams fell down parallel to where the children were sleeping and neither of them was touched.

He continued on and I finally interrupted with the question, “How many times did this happen and you had to move on?”

Samuel smiled and answered, “Thirteen times!”

Of course, in my western way of thinking, I asked, “How could you continue on and persevere through so many attacks?”

He replied, “It’s like the song we sang this morning at the SSTS seminar, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back!” And he quickly went on to say with a bigger smile, “Last month twenty-five people in my new community were baptized and I currently have another twenty-five in a baptismal preparation class.”

Jesus gives strength to carry on and not turn back.

RESPONSE: Today I resolve to not allow petty challenges dampen my commitment to follow Jesus.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for Samuel’s testimony of Your faithfulness. Help me never to turn back from following and serving You.

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

John Piper Devotional — When God’s Love Is Sweetest

When God’s Love Is Sweetest

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.

— Ephesians 5:25–26

If you only hope for unconditional love from God, your hope is great, but too small.

Unconditional love from God is not the sweetest experience of his love. The sweetest experience is when his love says: “I have made you so much like my Son that I delight to see you and be with you. You are a pleasure to me, because you are so radiant with my glory.”

This sweetest experience is conditional on our transformation into the kind of people whose emotions and choices and actions please God.

Unconditional love is the source and foundation of the human transformation that makes the sweetness of conditional love possible. If God did not love us unconditionally, he would not penetrate our unattractive lives, bring us to faith, unite us to Christ, give us his Spirit, and make us progressively like Jesus.

But when he unconditionally chooses us, and sends Christ to die for us, and regenerates us, he puts in motion an unstoppable process of transformation that makes us glorious. He gives us a splendor to match his favorite kind.

We see this in Ephesians 5:25–26. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [unconditional love], that he might sanctify her…and present the church to himself in splendor”—the condition in which he delights.

It is unspeakably wonderful that God would unconditionally set his favor on us while we are still unbelieving sinners. The ultimate reason this is wonderful is that this unconditional love brings us into the everlasting enjoyment of his glorious presence.

But the apex of that enjoyment is that we not only see his glory, but also reflect it. “The name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in him” (2 Thessalonians 1:12).
If you only hope for unconditional love from God, your hope is great, but too small.

Un dia a la Vez — El desorden y la suciedad (primera parte)

El desorden y la suciedad (primera parte)

Vístanse de amor, que es el vínculo perfecto. Todos los caminos del hombre son limpios en su propia opinión; pero Jehová pesa los espíritus.

— Proverbios 16:2, RV-60

El desorden y la suciedad son dos enemigos nuestros. ¡Qué importante es saber que el desorden y la suciedad son desagradables a la vista y a la vida y que también nos afecta en el campo espiritual! Nosotros podemos ser pobres o humildes, pero nada nos da derecho a ser desordenados y sucios.

El abandono personal y del hogar solo reflejan tu desinterés en la vida. En las Escrituras aprendemos que son los demonios los que viven en el desorden y la suciedad. Ese abandono te llevan a la depresión y te atan, de tal manera, que no puedes ver las bendiciones y las promesas que Dios tiene para ti.

Son muchas las promesas que tenemos, pero solo son para los valientes, para los que preparan su casa, ya sea que se trate de tu cuerpo o del techo bajo el que vives.

Dios es un Dios de orden y no puedes pedirle que reine de otra manera.

Limpia y ordena tu casa y tu vida, y verás la mano de Dios sobre ti.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
El desorden y la suciedad son dos enemigos nuestros.

Devocional CPTLN del 25 de agosto de 2020 — Disciplina y amor

Disciplina y amor

Señor, tú lo sabes. Tú bien sabes que por amor a ti soporto que me insulten. Acuérdate de mí, y ven a visitarme. ¡Véngame de mis enemigos! ¡No demores más tu enojo! Señor, Dios de los ejércitos, cuando hallé tus palabras, literalmente las devoré; tus palabras son el gozo y la alegría de mi corazón, porque tu nombre ha sido invocado sobre mí. Jamás me he sentado en compañía de gente burlona, ni me he sentido importante por causa de tu profecía; al contrario, me siento aparte, porque tú me has llenado de indignación. ¿Por qué mi dolor no tiene fin, ni mi desahuciada herida admite ser sanada? ¿Seguirás siendo para mí tan ilusorio como las aguas de un espejismo? Por eso, así ha dicho el Señor: «Si te vuelves a mí, yo te restauraré, y tú estarás delante de mí. Si entresacas lo precioso de lo vil, serás como mi boca. ¡Haz que ellos se vuelvan a ti, pero tú no te vuelvas a ellos! Entonces yo te pondré en este pueblo como un fuerte muro de bronce. Ellos pelearán contra ti, pero no te vencerán, porque yo estoy contigo. Yo te protegeré y te defenderé. Yo te libraré del poder de los malvados. ¡Yo te libraré del poder de los violentos!»

— Jeremías 15:15-21

Hubo un tiempo en que no podía sentir la presencia de Dios, y tuve la tentación de imaginar que no estaba prestando atención. Luego cometí un pecado (no importa qué), y fue increíble lo rápido que sentí ese ojo divino enfocarse en mí con toda su atención. ¡Ay! Estaba a punto de ser disciplinada, y no iba a ser divertido.

Pero lo extraño era que sentía cierta alegría. No disfruté la disciplina y, sin embargo, el hecho de que Dios me llamara la atención por mi comportamiento significaba que se preocupaba lo suficiente como para corregirme. Obtuve lo que me esperaba, pero también obtuve algo más: nuevas pruebas de que Dios me amaba y se preocupaba por mi bienestar.

Algo así le está sucediendo a Jeremías en la lectura de hoy. Jeremías está herido y enojado, por lo que se queja... y mucho. Lo primero que pide es que Dios pague a sus enemigos, pero que a él le muestre misericordia lo cual no es muy cristiano, pero sí muy humano. Y, mientras lo hace, Dios lo escucha pacientemente. Hasta que va demasiado lejos: "¿Por qué mi dolor no tiene fin, ni mi desahuciada herida admite ser sanada? ¿Seguirás siendo para mí tan ilusorio como las aguas de un espejismo?"

En este punto, Dios dice basta. ¡No más de esas tonterías! Jeremías debe arrepentirse de inmediato y decir la verdad, no cosas sin valor. Es una reprimenda aguda y paternal y, sin embargo, todo está lleno de buenas noticias. "... Yo te restauraré ... no te vencerán, porque yo estoy contigo. Yo te protegeré y te defenderé. Yo te libraré del poder de los malvados." Incluso en medio de la disciplina, Dios está expresando su amor.

Y ese es el amor que Dios nos muestra a cada uno de nosotros a través de Jesucristo, nuestro Salvador. Su muerte en la cruz deja en claro que nuestro pecado es muy grave. Pero también muestra que Dios está dispuesto a hacer lo que sea necesario para reconciliarnos con Él. Eres Su amado, y nada de lo que puedas hacer evitará que Él te ame y te quiera en casa.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, gracias porque me amas, incluso cuando me disciplinas. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

* Si has sido disciplinado correctamente, ¿qué beneficio obtuviste?

* ¿Cómo muestra la disciplina de Dios su amor por ti?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Si has sido disciplinado correctamente, ¿qué beneficio obtuviste?

Nuestro Pan Diario — Recompensa maravillosa

Recompensa maravillosa

La escritura de hoy: Salmo 119:17-24
La Biblia en un año: Salmo 119:1-88; 1 Corintios 7:20-40

Abre mis ojos, y miraré las maravillas de tu ley.

—  Salmo 119:18

Daniela, una maestra, siempre había sido lectora, pero un día, la lectura le dio literalmente un premio. Estaba planeando un viaje y revisaba su larga póliza de seguro de viaje, cuando en la página 7, descubrió una recompensa maravillosa. Como parte de un concurso «Leer paga», la compañía estaba dando 10.000 dólares a la primera persona que leyera hasta ese punto del contrato. También donaron miles de dólares a escuelas de la región de Daniela, para la alfabetización de niños. Ella dice: «Siempre he sido así de rara respecto a leer contratos. ¡Fui la más sorprendida de todos!».

El salmista quería que sus ojos se abrieran para mirar «las maravillas» de Dios (Salmo 119:18). Probablemente, entendía que Dios quería que lo conocieran, y por eso anhelaba estar más cerca de Él. Deseaba ver más quién es Dios, lo que Él ya había dado y cómo seguirlo más de cerca (vv. 24, 98). Escribió: «¡Oh, cuánto amo yo tu ley! Todo el día es ella mi meditación» (v. 97).

Nosotros también tenemos el privilegio de reflexionar sobre Dios, su carácter y sus provisiones; aprender de Él y acercarnos más. Dios anhela instruirnos, guiarnos y revelarnos quién es. Cuando lo buscamos, ¡nos recompensa con un mayor asombro ante su Persona y con el gozo de su presencia!

De:  Anne Cetas

Reflexiona y ora

Dios, cuánto amo tu Palabra. Es dulce a mi paladar; más dulce que la miel para mi boca.

Cuando lees la Biblia, ¿cómo se abren tu mente y tu corazón a Dios y sus caminos? ¿Qué te gustaría saber o experimentar más?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Daniela, una maestra, siempre había sido lectora, pero un día, la lectura le dio literalmente un premio.