The Daily Bible Readings for TUESDAY, September 8, 2020

The Daily Readings

TUESDAY, September 8, 2020

Psalm 121; Exodus 12:29-42; Romans 13:1-7

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today's Verse-of-the-Day: Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Today's Readings:

Psalm 121

My help is from the Lord

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Exodus 12:29-42

Israel departs from Egypt

12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.

35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

36 And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

42 It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

Romans 13:1-7

Obeying authority

13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

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 Readings for TUESDAY, September 8, 2020
Psalm 121; Exodus 12:29-42; Romans 13:1-7 (KJV)

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, September 8, 2020

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Read all of Psalm 143

Listen to Psalm 143

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Living in Freedom

Living in Freedom

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him." So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died: 'Say to Joseph, "Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

— Genesis 50:15-21

Joseph's brothers were living in fear. They had betrayed Joseph and sold him as a slave, half a lifetime ago. Now they were living in Egypt as guests of Joseph, safe and secure—and yet they could not truly believe Joseph had forgiven them. Surely the day would come when he would pay them back!

Who knows how many years this went on? The brothers were trapped in a prison of their own making. Their own lives had been full of violence and revenge with precious little mercy. When they looked at Joseph, they saw their own reflections—and they fell into despair.

But Joseph didn't leave them there. When he finally understood their trouble, he comforted them. He reassured them that they were forgiven, and that Joseph would go on caring for them. The forgiveness was real—and permanent.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? It does to me. Sometimes I look at the evil I have done and I start worrying. Will God really forgive? Is He just waiting to catch me at the wrong moment and make me pay?

To all these fears, the Bible tells us no. Instead, "As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him" (Psalm 103:12-13). Because Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us on the cross, we are forgiven children of God. And to reassure us, He says at Communion, "Take, eat; this is My body ... Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:26b, 27b-28).

Lord, help my heart to rest in Your forgiveness. Amen.

Dr. Kari Vo

Reflection Questions:

1. When in your life did something seem too good to be true?

2. How do you make it clear to other people that you forgive them?

3. What reminds you that God really has forgiven you?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Joseph's brothers were living in fear. They had betrayed Joseph and sold him as a slave, half a lifetime ago.

Standing Strong Through the Storm — GRACE

GRACE

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

— John 1:16

We now consider the most important characteristic in the training of the disciple of Jesus Christ. That is the quality of living the Christian life with grace.

We use the word “grace” to describe many things in life:

· A well-coordinated athlete or dancer

· Good manners and being considerate of others

· Beautiful, well-chosen words

· Consideration and care of other people

· Various expressions of kindness and mercy

To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and can never earn it. Receiving God’s acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works. Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.

Also, grace is absolutely and totally free. You will never be asked to pay it back. You couldn’t even if you tried. Grace comes to us free and clear with no strings attached. It is the act of unmerited favor—most often to the down and out.

Christ came down from heaven and he reminds us that the greatest in the kingdom is the one who serves. The ladder of power reaches up, the ladder of grace reaches down.

Dr. Donald Barnhouse said it best: “Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace.”

Jesus never used the word itself. He just taught it and lived it. And it was written as a description of how He lived His life. The Apostle John describes Jesus’ glory as “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In a world of darkness and demands, rules and regulations, requirements and expectations demanded by the hypocritical religious leaders, Jesus came and ministered in a new and different way.

After commenting on His glory, John goes on to add, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16). John and the other disciples became marked men. His style became theirs. They absorbed his tolerance, acceptance, love, warmth and compassion so that it ultimately transformed their lives. They too lived their lives demonstrating grace!

Thus grace is Christianity’s best gift to the world. It’s a force stronger than vengeance, stronger than racism, stronger than hate.

RESPONSE: Today I desire to be a person like Jesus – full of grace and truth.

PRAYER: Pray that God would fill your life with the ability to live with the grace of our Lord Jesus.

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 — How to Repay God

How to Repay God

What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I shall pay my vows to the Lord.

— Psalm 116:12–14

What keeps the paying of vows free from the dangers of being treated like a debt payment is that the “payment” is, in reality, not an ordinary payment, but another act of receiving which magnifies the ongoing grace of God. It does not magnify our resourcefulness. We can see this in Psalm 116:12–14.

The psalmist’s answer to his own question, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits?” is, in essence, that he will go on receiving from the Lord so that the Lord’s inexhaustible goodness will be magnified.

First, lifting up the cup of salvation signifies taking the Lord’s satisfying salvation in hand and drinking it and expecting more. This is why I say that “paying” back to God in these contexts is not an ordinary payment. It is an act of receiving.

Second, this is also the meaning of the next phrase: “I shall call upon the name of the Lord.” What shall I render to God for graciously answering my call? Answer: I shall call again. I will render to God the praise and the tribute that he is never in need of me, but is always overflowing with benefits when I need him (which I always do).

Then the psalmist says, in the third place, “I will pay my vows to the Lord.” But how will they be paid? They will be paid by holding up the cup of salvation and by calling on the Lord. That is, they will be paid by faith in future grace.
What keeps the paying of vows free from the dangers of being treated like a debt payment?

Un dia a la Vez — Se crece con el dolor: Testimonio de sanidad (segunda parte)

Se crece con el dolor: Testimonio de sanidad

(segunda parte)

Señor mi Dios, te pedí ayuda y me sanaste. Tú, Señor, me sacaste del sepulcro; me hiciste revivir de entre los muertos.

— Salmo 30:2-3

¿Se crece con el dolor? No sé cuál será tu respuesta, pero podemos sacar muchas reflexiones con esta frase, que no es para nada rebuscada, pues se hace realidad en la vida de los que llevan una relación con Dios.

Me refiero a la relación con Dios porque es la única manera en que podemos conocer su corazón y entender muchas de las cosas que permite en nuestra vida. El dolor es una de ellas.

En este mes de septiembre te contaré, a petición popular, del mes más traumático y doloroso de mi vida. Sé que de esta dura experiencia Dios te dará la porción de lo que tú debes aplicar a tu hermosa vida. En mi caso, la aprendí a apreciar cuando estuve a punto de morir.

Toda estadía en un hospital es dolorosa por los continuos pinchazos y los sufrimientos al recuperarnos de una intervención quirúrgica. Mi operación fue muy complicada. Necesité mucha morfina por varios días porque los dolores eran inmensos.

Experimenté otro dolor, el dolor del alma, de no poder ver a mi princesa pequeña que en ese tiempo tenía un año y medio. Me dolía dejar mi trabajo, no poder pararme ni moverme, y mi hija de tan solo dieciocho años a cargo de la casa, las cuentas, las hermanas y su abuelita. Me dolía mucho que me vieran tan enferma y sufrieran, pues hemos sido muy amigas.

Sin embargo, el dolor y el tiempo fue pasando y poco a poco me levanté de una manera milagrosa. ¡Alabado sea Dios!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Se crece con el dolor? En este mes de septiembre te contaré, a petición popular, del mes más traumático y doloroso de mi vida.

Devocional CPTLN — Viviendo en libertad

Viviendo en libertad

Al ver los hermanos de José que su padre había muerto, dijeron: «Tal vez José nos odia, y ahora se vengará de todo el mal que le hicimos.» Entonces mandaron a decirle: «José, antes de que tu padre muriera, nos pidió que te dijéramos de su parte: "Te ruego que perdones la maldad y el pecado de tus hermanos, pues te trataron muy mal." Por lo tanto, te rogamos que perdones ahora la maldad de estos siervos del Dios de tu padre.» Y mientras ellos hablaban, José comenzó a llorar. Además, sus hermanos fueron y se arrodillaron delante de él, y le dijeron: «Aquí nos tienes. Somos tus siervos.» Pero José les respondió: «No tengan miedo. ¿Acaso estoy en lugar de Dios? Ustedes pensaron hacerme mal, pero Dios cambió todo para bien, para hacer lo que hoy vemos, que es darle vida a mucha gente. Así que no tengan miedo. Yo les daré de comer a ustedes y a sus hijos.» Y los consoló, pues les habló con mucho cariño.

— Génesis 50:15-21

Los hermanos de José vivían atemorizados. Muchos años atrás habían traicionado a José y lo habían vendido como esclavo. Ahora vivían a salvo y seguros en Egipto como huéspedes de José, pero aún no podían creer que José los hubiera perdonado. ¡Seguramente un día se iba a vengar de ellos!

Quién sabe cuántos años duró esto. Y así, vivieron atrapados en una prisión que ellos mismos construyeron. Sus vidas habían estado llenas de violencia y venganza con muy poca piedad. Por ello, cuando vieron a José, se desesperaron. Pero José no los dejó allí. Cuando comprendió lo que les sucedía los consoló, asegurándoles que estaban perdonados y que él cuidaría de ellos. El perdón fue real y permanente.

¿Algo de esto te suena familiar? A mí sí. A veces miro el mal que he hecho y empiezo a preocuparme. ¿Será que Dios me va a perdonar, o en algún momento me va a hacer pagar?

A todos estos miedos, la Biblia nos dice: "Tan lejos como está el oriente del occidente, alejó de nosotros nuestras rebeliones. El Señor se compadece de los que le honran con la misma compasión del padre por sus hijos" (Salmo 103:12-13). Gracias a que Jesús nos amó y se entregó a sí mismo por nosotros en la cruz, somos hijos perdonados de Dios. Y para tranquilizarnos, nos dice: "Tomen, coman; esto es mi cuerpo... Beban de él todos, porque esto es mi sangre del nuevo pacto, que es derramada por muchos para perdón de los pecados" (Mateo 26:26b, 27b-28).

ORACIÓN: Señor, ayúdame a descansar en tu perdón. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Cómo dejas en claro a otras personas que los has perdonado?

* ¿Qué te recuerda que Dios realmente te ha perdonado?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cómo dejas en claro a otras personas que los has perdonado?

Nuestro Pan Diario — Amar orando

Amar orando

La escritura de hoy: 2 Corintios 1:8-11
La Biblia en un año: Proverbios 3–5; 2 Corintios 1

… tuvimos […] sentencia de muerte, para que no confiásemos en nosotros mismos, sino en Dios que resucita a los muertos.

—  2 Corintios 1: 9

«¿La gente sigue orando por mí?».

Esta era una de las primeras preguntas que un misionero le hacía a su esposa cuando lo visitaba en la prisión. Lo habían acusado falsamente y estuvo preso dos años por su fe. A menudo, corría peligro por las condiciones de la cárcel, y creyentes en todo el mundo oraban fervientemente por él. Quería estar seguro de que lo siguieran haciendo, porque estaba convencido de que Dios usaba esas oraciones de manera poderosa.

Nuestras oraciones por los demás —en especial, por los perseguidos por su fe— son un regalo vital. Pablo lo dejó claro cuando les escribió a los creyentes corintios sobre las dificultades en su viaje misionero: «fuimos abrumados sobremanera […], de tal modo que aun perdimos la esperanza de conservar la vida» (2 Corintios 1:8). Pero luego dijo que Dios los había librado, y describió la herramienta que había usado para hacerlo: «en quien esperamos que aún nos librará, de tan gran muerte; cooperando también vosotros a favor nuestro con la oración» (vv. 10-11, énfasis añadido).

Por nuestras oraciones, Dios beneficia enormemente a sus hijos. Una de las mejores formas de amar a los demás es orando por ellos, para que Dios los ayude. Orar por otros es amarlos en el poder del Señor. Y no hay nadie que ame mejor que Él.

De:  James Banks

Reflexiona y ora

Dios, ¡ayúdame a orar fielmente por otros!

¿Cómo amas a los demás con tus oraciones? ¿De qué manera puedes motivar a orar por los perseguidos por su fe?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
«¿La gente sigue orando por mí?».