The Daily Bible Readings for MONDAY, September 28, 2020

The Daily Readings

MONDAY, September 28, 2020

Psalm 42; Exodus 18:1-12; Philippians 1:3-14

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The non-Christian is governed in thought and life by an unrenewed, worldly heart. Such persons are not yet transformed by the Holy Spirit and are not equipped to receive appreciatively truth that comes from the Spirit. They need the new birth.

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 42

Hope in God the rock

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Verses 1-5 — The psalmist looked to the Lord as his chief good, and set his heart upon him accordingly; casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm. A gracious soul can take little satisfaction in God's courts if it does not meet with God himself there. Living souls never can take up their rest anywhere short of a living God. To appear before the Lord is the desire of the upright, as it is the dread of the hypocrite. Nothing is more grievous to a gracious soul than what is intended to shake its confidence in the Lord. It was not the remembrance of the pleasures of his court that afflicted David, but the remembrance of the free access he formerly had to God's house, and his pleasure in attending there. Those that commune much with their own hearts, will often have to hide them. When the soul rests on itself, it sinks; if it catches hold on the power and promise of God, the head is kept above the billows. And what is our support under present woes but this, that we shall have comfort in Him? We have great cause to mourn for sin, but being cast down springs from unbelief and a rebellious will; we should therefore strive and pray against it.

Verses 6-11 — The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of our mercies. David saw troubles coming from God's wrath, and that discouraged him. But if one trouble follows hard after another, if all seem to combine for our ruin, let us remember they are all appointed and overruled by the Lord. David regards the Divine favor as the fountain of all the good he looked for. In the Saviour's name let us hope and pray. One word from him will calm every storm, and turn midnight darkness into the light of noon, the bitterest complaints into joyful praises. Our believing expectation of mercy must quicken our prayers for it. At length, is faith came off conqueror, by encouraging him to trust in the name of the Lord and to stay himself upon his God. He adds, And my God; this thought enabled him to triumph over all his griefs and fears. Let us never think that the God of our life, and the Rock of our salvation, has forgotten us if we have made his mercy, truth, and power, our refuge. Thus the psalmist strove against his despondency: at last, his faith and hope obtained the victory. Let us learn to check all unbelieving doubts and fears. Apply the promise first to ourselves, and then plead it to God.

Exodus 18:1-12

Moses reunited with family

18:1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;

2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

Verses 1-6 — Jethro came to rejoice with Moses in the happiness of Israel, and to bring his wife and children to him. Moses must have his family with him, that while he ruled the church of God, he might set a good example in family government, 1 Timothy 3:5.

Verses 7-12 — Conversation concerning God's wondrous works is good, and edifies. Jethro not only rejoiced in the honor done to his son-in-law but in all the goodness done to Israel. Standers-by were more affected with the favors God had shown to Israel than many were who received them. Jethro gave the glory to Israel's God. Whatever we have the joy of, God must have the praise. They joined in a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Mutual friendship is sanctified by joint worship. It is very good for relations and friends to join in the spiritual sacrifice of prayer and praise, as those that meet in Christ. This was a temperate feast; they did eat bread, manna. Jethro must see and taste that bread from heaven, and though a gentile, is welcome: the gentiles are welcomed to Christ the Bread of life.

Philippians 1:3-14

Paul prays for the Philippians

1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

This is a deeply affectionate letter from Paul to his friends in Philippi, who were his partners in the work of the gospel. He longed to be with them (v. 8). In the letter, Paul expressed his hopes that the Philippian believers would be able to discern right and wrong (vv. 9–10). He also hoped that their lives would bear good fruit (v. 11). Obviously, he was a good friend.

Consider the quality of your friendships. Do you demonstrate the same love and care that Paul showed? Do you pray for them as Paul prayed? In these increasingly impersonal times, true and authentic friendships are sorely needed. Ask God to enable you to be a good friend, as defined by biblical examples. Perhaps study the life of Jesus and how He related to His friends. And remember that Jesus calls you His friend (John 15:15).

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).

Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.

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 MONDAY, September 28, 2020
Psalm 42; Exodus 18:1-12; Philippians 1:3-14 (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for MONDAY, September 28, 2020

Prayer of the Day

MONDAY, September 28, 2020

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

— Psalm 107:1–3 (NIV)

Lord our God and our Father, we thank you for all the blessings you have brought into our lives and for everything we still hope to receive from your goodness. We thank you that through your Spirit you will work more and more in us and in all people, so that we are not held back by any human considerations but can go toward a higher goal. Keep us in your care. In all our special concerns may each of us experience your comfort and help, so that we may rejoice with the praise of your name always in our hearts. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, September 28, 2020

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 2

Listen to 1 Corinthians 2

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — The True Vine

The True Vine

Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that Your right hand planted, and for the son whom You made strong for Yourself .... But let Your hand be on the man of Your right hand, the son of man whom You have made strong for Yourself! Then we shall not turn back from You; give us life, and we will call upon Your Name!

— Psalm 80:14-15, 17-18

The psalmist writes, "You brought a vine out of Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it" (Psalm 80:8). God set His people free from slavery in Egypt and planted them, His chosen vine, in the Promised Land. This vine of Israel was the son God called out of Egypt (see Hosea 11:1). God planted them to be a people made strong to worship and serve Him, to be a light for the nations. Yet the vine became rebellious and turned away from the Lord who had saved them, refusing to produce the fruit of faith that God sought from His vineyard. The Lord allowed His vineyard to be overrun by enemies, its walls torn down. The psalmist is pleading with God to have mercy on the suffering vine of Israel: "Have regard for this vine, the stock that Your right hand planted, and for the son whom You made strong for Yourself."

In speaking of the vine of Israel planted so long ago, our psalm foretells another vine planted on earth. This descendant of the vine of Israel is the Son of God, made strong for God's own purpose. Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, said of Himself, "I am the true Vine" (John 15:1a). This true Vine, this Son, would become the Man of God's right hand, but before Jesus was exalted to that high position, the true Vine had to die in order to give life to its branches.

As the vineyard of Israel was once broken and trampled, Jesus, the Son of Man, was put to death at the hands of His enemies. The Son made strong was beaten and mocked and nailed to a cross. But even then the Son was strong enough to bear the weight of the world's sin, strong enough to suffer in helpless weakness, enduring the penalty of death that we deserved. But God had regard for this Vine, the obedient, perfect Son He had made strong for Himself. The true Vine was raised to life on the first Easter morning, and after 40 days the risen Son ascended in triumph, exalted to reign at God's right hand.

Jesus, the exalted Son of Man, the true Vine, rose from death to give us life, both now and forever. In Baptism, we are united to Him, buried and raised with Him. Through faith in His Name, we bear the fruit of love and good works, bringing glory to the Father and demonstrating to the world that we are disciples of Jesus, branches of the true Vine.

Lord God, look on us with mercy and forgive our sins. As branches of Jesus, the true Vine, help us to grow strong in faith and active in love. Amen.

Dr. Carol Geisler

Reflection Questions:

1. Why does the Old Testament refer to ancient Israel as a vine? Does using illustrations of vine, vineyard, and fruit create helpful word-pictures for you?

2. How would Israel remain strong with God's hand upon them?

3. Is there someone in your life who has strengthened you by his or her steady presence, someone aside from your wife or husband?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Why does the Old Testament refer to ancient Israel as a vine?

Standing Strong Through the Storm — NORTH KOREA TESTIMONY (PART 2)

NORTH KOREA TESTIMONY

(PART 2)

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

— Romans 8:17

At the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town in October 2010, North Korean Gyeong Ju Son shared her moving life story. Here is the conclusion.

While staying at the Korean Consulate in Beijing, waiting to go to South Korea, her life was dramatically and irrevocably changed when Jesus came to her in a dream. She says:

“He had tears in His eyes. He walked towards me and asked ‘Gyeong Ju, how much longer are you going to keep me waiting? Walk with me. Yes, you have lost your earthly father, but I am your heavenly Father and whatever has happened to you, was because I love you.’”

Praying to God for the very first time, she gave Him her heart, soul, mind, and strength, asking that she would be used at His will. A deep love for the lost people of North Korea and the need to bring the love of Jesus to them has subsequently become her life purpose. She continues:

“I look back over my short life and I see God’s hand everywhere. Six years in North Korea, eleven in China, and now in South Korea. Everything I suffered; all the sadness and grief, all that I have experienced and learned; I want to give it all to God and use my life for His Kingdom. In this way, I also hope to bring honor to my father.”

Now a student, the intention of this young and vibrant follower of Christ is to go to university to study political science and diplomacy, and then work for the rights of the voiceless in North Korea. She concluded:

“Brothers and sisters here in this place, I humbly ask you to pray that the same light of God’s grace and mercy that reached my father and my mother and now me, will one day soon dawn upon the people of North Korea, my people!”

RESPONSE: Today I will continue to believe that God takes terrible situations and turns them into good.

PRAYER: Lord, we pray that you will call many youths like Gyeong Ju to minister among the needy people of North Korea.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
At the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town in October 2010, North Korean Gyeong Ju Son shared her moving life story. Here is the conclusion.

Women of the Bible — The Woman Who Lived a Sinful Life

The Woman Who Lived a Sinful Life

Her character: She was a notorious sinner, possibly a prostitute or adulteress. Rather than trying to defend what was indefensible in her life, she admitted her sin and made a spectacle of herself in a passionate display of love and gratitude.
Her sorrow: That she had offended God so grievously.
Her joy: That Jesus forgave her sins and commended her for her great faith and love.
Key Scriptures: Luke 7:36-50

Her Story

The woman felt as though the world had unraveled in a moment's time. Doors had opened, walls had crumbled, thoughts of the future no longer frightened but thrilled her. She felt clean and whole, innocent as a girl still living in her father's house. Her heart was a wild confusion of sorrow and joy as she followed the rabbi through the doorway.

Ignoring the stares of the men, she walked over to the place where Jesus was reclining at a table. In her hands, she held an alabaster jar of perfume. Her body trembled as she approached. She hardly knew what she was doing as she covered his feet with her kisses and then anointed them with the precious perfume, wiping his feet with her hair. How else could she express her heart to the man who had loved her so well?

Like any good Pharisee, Simon loved the law, measuring his days by the steady rhythm of the regulations by which he lived. They were a fence safeguarding his purity, protecting his sense of settled security. How good of the holy God to provide a map for the righteous, a way of life to set him apart from ordinary Jews—like the woman who had just walked through the door, hoping to glean a few scraps from his table.

Simon was surprised that a sinful woman, even a hungry one, would enter his house. But his surprise grew as he noticed she was not eating but weeping so profusely that her tears were spilling onto the feet of one of his guests. Everything about the scene repelled him, offending his sense of order—a notorious harlot kissing the man's feet, wiping them with her hair, and then pouring perfume over them. It was an astonishing performance.

Even more astonishing was the fact that his guest seemed to enjoy the attention. "If this man were a prophet," Simon thought, "he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." All of his questions about Jesus were put to rest by the scene he had just witnessed. His ordered way of looking at the world was safe enough, bolstered by the judgment he had just made.

As though he had overheard Simon's secret thoughts, Jesus turned and spoke to him. "Simon, I have something to tell you.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Though this woman was a notorious sinner, she recognized her great need for grace. Repentance turned her world on its head, opening up an entirely new view of things. Simon, by contrast, was a religious man who, no doubt, had done his best to live a respectable life. His sin was tucked away, hidden even from himself. His habit of judging others had formed a fence around his one-dimensional view of the universe, shielding his neat and orderly life from the unpredictable power of grace.

But Simon and the woman both owed a debt they could not possibly repay. Though Simon's sin was less obvious, it was more dangerous. He was like a man who was following a map he was certain would lead to heaven—but when heaven came down and walked into his house, he didn't even know it. The woman, on the other hand, realized just how lost she had been. Forgiven much, she loved much. She found heaven at the feet of Jesus.

Her Promise

Let's be honest. Many of us would respond to this sinful woman just as the Pharisee did. It's so easy to look more with judgment than love at people whose lives have been devastated by sin. But Jesus looked at her and at Simon and saw the same thing: their need for forgiveness. And he gave it freely. We don't know what Simon's response to Jesus was, but the woman's response is evident in her tears and kisses.

This story isn't included in Scripture just so we can see the forgiveness given to one sinful woman; it's included so we can know that no matter how sinful, how broken, how entrenched in error we might be, forgiveness is available if only we seek it in faith—he's promised.

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.
The woman felt as though the world had unraveled in a moment's time. Doors had opened, walls had crumbled, thoughts of the future no longer frightened but thrilled her.

John Piper Devotional — Our Good Is His Glory

Our Good Is His Glory

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

— Matthew 6:6

One common objection to Christian Hedonism is that it puts the interests of man above the glory of God—that it puts my happiness above God’s honor. But Christian Hedonism most emphatically does not do this.

To be sure, we Christian Hedonists endeavor to pursue our interest and our happiness with all our might. We endorse the resolution of the young Jonathan Edwards: “Resolved: To endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.”

But we have learned from the Bible (and from Edwards!) that God’s interest is to magnify the fullness of his glory by spilling over in mercy to us.

Therefore, the pursuit of our interest and our happiness is never above God’s, but always in God’s. The most precious truth in the Bible is that God’s greatest interest is to glorify the wealth of his grace by making sinners happy in him—in him!

When we humble ourselves like little children and put on no airs of self-sufficiency, but run happily into the joy of our Father’s embrace, the glory of his grace is magnified and the longing of our soul is satisfied. Our interest and his glory are one.

Therefore, Christian Hedonists do not put their happiness above God’s glory when they pursue happiness in him.
One common objection to Christian Hedonism is that it puts the interests of man above the glory of God.

Un dia a la Vez — Estancamiento general

Estancamiento general

Ensancha el sitio de tu tienda, y las cortinas de tus habitaciones sean extendidas; no seas escasa; alarga tus cuerdas, y refuerza tus estacas.

— Isaías 54:2, RV-60

¿Estás viviendo una etapa en la cual te hayas estancado? ¿Te parece que no te encuentras en ninguna parte y a veces sientes que se te une el cielo con la tierra? ¿Que te agobian los problemas familiares o la falta de trabajo? ¿Que tratas de servir en la iglesia pero como que tampoco te llena?

Quiero decirte que es válido sentirte de esa manera. Lo que no es válido es quedarse en esa condición.

Siempre he visto que nuestra vida está llena de ciclos que deben cerrarse. Así que le debemos dar oportunidad a Dios para tener nuevos comienzos cuando no cerramos esos círculos de relaciones inconclusas o proyectos que empezaron, pero que nunca terminaron. Hasta en el servicio a Dios tenemos ciclos y eso nos lleva a nuevas etapas.

Dios muchas veces permite que nos sintamos así, porque quiere sacarnos de nuestra zona de comodidad y llevarnos a otras experiencias. La pregunta que cabe es la siguiente: ¿Qué pasa si nos provoca estas molestias? Lo más probable es que nos quedemos quietos y no tomemos ninguna decisión de crecer.

Por lo tanto, realiza cambios radicales que vayan de la mano de nuestro Dios y verás que tendrás la garantía de una vida llena de éxito.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Estás viviendo una etapa en la cual te hayas estancado?

Devocional CPTLN — La vid verdadera

La vid verdadera

Dios de los ejércitos, ¡vuélvete a nosotros! Desde el cielo dígnate mirarnos, y reconsidera; ¡ven y ayuda a esta viña! ¡Es la viña que plantaste con tu diestra! ¡Es el renuevo que sembraste para ti!... Pero posa tu mano sobre tu hombre elegido, sobre el hombre al que has dado tu poder. Así no nos apartaremos de ti. Tú nos darás vida, y nosotros invocaremos tu nombre.

— Salmo 80:14-15, 17-18

El salmista escribe: "Desde Egipto trajiste una vid; expulsaste a las naciones, y la plantaste" (Salmo 80:8). Dios liberó a su pueblo de la esclavitud en Egipto y lo plantó, su vid escogida, en la tierra prometida. Esta vid de Israel fue el hijo que Dios llamó de Egipto (ver Oseas 11:1). Los plantó para que fueran un pueblo fortalecido para adorarlo y servirlo, para ser una luz para las naciones. Sin embargo, la vid se rebeló y se apartó del Señor que los había salvado, negándose a producir el fruto de la fe que Dios buscaba en su viña. El Señor permitió que su viña fuera invadida por enemigos, sus muros derribados. El salmista suplica a Dios que tenga misericordia de la vid sufrida de Israel: "Desde el cielo dígnate mirarnos, y reconsidera; ¡ven y ayuda a esta viña! ¡Es la viña que plantaste con tu diestra!".

Al hablar de la vid de Israel plantada hace tanto tiempo, nuestro salmo predice otra vid plantada en la tierra. Este descendiente de la vid de Israel es el Hijo de Dios, fortalecido para el propio propósito de Dios. Jesús, Hijo de Dios e Hijo del Hombre, dijo de sí mismo: "Yo soy la Vid verdadera" (Juan 15:1a). Esta Vid verdadera, este Hijo, se convertiría en la diestra del Varón de Dios, pero antes de que Jesús fuera exaltado a esa alta posición, la Vid verdadera tuvo que morir para dar vida a sus ramas.

Así como la viña de Israel fue quebrada y pisoteada una vez, Jesús, el Hijo del Hombre, fue ejecutado a manos de sus enemigos. El Hijo fue golpeado, burlado y clavado en una cruz. Pero incluso entonces el Hijo fue lo suficientemente fuerte para soportar el peso del pecado del mundo, lo suficientemente fuerte como para sufrir en una debilidad indefensa, soportando la pena de muerte que merecíamos. Pero Dios tenía consideración por esta Vid, el Hijo perfecto y obediente que Él había fortalecido para sí mismo. La Vid verdadera resucitó en la primera mañana de Pascua, y después de 40 días ascendió triunfalmente, exaltado para reinar a la diestra de Dios.

Jesús, el exaltado Hijo del Hombre, la Vid verdadera, resucitó de la muerte para darnos vida ahora y para siempre. En el bautismo estamos unidos a él, sepultados y resucitados con él. Mediante la fe en su Nombre damos el fruto del amor y las buenas obras, trayendo gloria al Padre y demostrando al mundo que somos discípulos de Jesús, pámpanos de la Vid verdadera.

ORACIÓN: Señor Dios, míranos con misericordia y perdona nuestros pecados. Como pámpanos de Jesús, la Vid verdadera, ayúdanos a crecer fuertes en la fe y activos en el amor. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Por qué el Antiguo Testamento se refiere al antiguo Israel como una vid? ¿Te resultan útiles las imágenes que crea el uso de ilustraciones de viñas, viñedos y frutas?

* ¿Hay alguien en tu vida que te haya fortalecido con su presencia constante?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Por qué el Antiguo Testamento se refiere al antiguo Israel como una vid?

Notre Pain Quotidien — Jamais assez

Jamais assez

Lisez : Ecclésiaste 1.1-11
La Bible en un an : Ésaïe 7 – 8 ; Éphésiens 2

[L’œil] ne se rassasie pas de voir.

— Ecclésiaste 1.8

Franc Borman a commandé la première mission spatiale à faire le tour de la Lune. Ce voyage, qui a pris quatre jours aller-retour, ne l’a pas impressionné, car il a souffert du mal de l’air et de vomissements. Il a dit que l’apesanteur était géniale – mais pendant trente secondes. Puis il s’y est habitué. Vue de près, la Lune lui a semblé terne et recouverte de cratères. L’équipage a photographié ce grand désert gris et a fini par s’en lasser.

Frank est allé là où personne n’était allé auparavant. Et cela ne lui a pas suffi. S’il s’est lassé aussi rapidement d’une expérience hors de ce monde, peut-être devrions-nous réduire nos attentes par rapport à ce monde. L’ecclésiaste a indiqué qu’aucune expérience terrestre ne procure la joie ultime. « [L’œil] ne se rassasie pas de voir, et l’oreille ne se lasse pas d’entendre » (1.8). Il se peut que nous vivions des moments d’extase, mais celle-ci ne tarde jamais à s’émousser et nous voilà déjà à la recherche du prochain frisson.

Frank a vécu un instant exaltant lorsqu’il a vu la Terre sortir des ténèbres derrière la Lune. Comme une bille marbrée, bleue et blanche, notre monde scintillait dans la lumière du soleil. De même, notre joie la plus vraie nous vient du Fils qui irradie sur nous. Jésus est notre vie, la source ultime de sens, d’amour et de beauté. Notre satisfaction la plus profonde nous vient de l’extérieur de notre monde. Notre problème ? Nous aurons beau nous rendre jusqu’à la Lune, nous ne serons toujours pas assez loin.

Jésus, fais briller sur moi la lumière de ton amour.

Notre plus grande joie réside en Jésus-Christ.

par Mike Wittmer

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Frank est allé là où personne n’était allé auparavant. Et cela ne lui a pas suffi.