The Daily Bible Readings for MONDAY, October 5, 2020

The Daily Readings

MONDAY, October 5, 2020

Psalm 119:49-56; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 1 Peter 2:4-10

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Isaiah 55:6

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut.

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 119:49-56

God’s commandments are my songs

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.

53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

Those that make God's promises their portion, may with humble boldness make them their plea. He that by his Spirit works faith in us, will work for us. The word of God speaks comfort in affliction. If through grace, it makes us holy, there is enough in it to make us easy, in all conditions. Let us be certain we have the Divine law for what we believe and then let not scoffers prevail upon us to decline from it. God's judgments of old comfort and encourage us, for he is still the same. Sin is horrible in the eyes of all that are sanctified. Ere long the believer will be absent from the body, and present with the Lord. In the meantime, the statutes of the Lord supply subjects for grateful praise. In the season of affliction, and in the silent hours of the night, he remembers the name of the Lord and is stirred up to keep the law. All who have made religion the first thing will own that they have been unspeakable gainers by it.

Deuteronomy 5:1-21

The commandments at Sinai

5:1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.

2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

4 The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,

5 (I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,

6 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.

8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.

13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:

14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

17 Thou shalt not kill.

18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

19 Neither shalt thou steal.

20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.

21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Moses demands attention. When we hear the word of God we must learn it; and what we have learned we must put in practice, for that is the end of hearing and learning; not to fill our heads with notions, or our mouths with talk, but to direct our affections and conduct. There is some variation here from Exodus 20 as between the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. It is more necessary that we tie ourselves to the things than to the words unalterably. The original reason for hallowing the sabbath, taken from God's resting from the work of creation on the seventh day, is not here mentioned. Though this ever remains in force, it is not the only reason. Here it is taken from Israel's deliverance out of Egypt; for that was typical of our redemption by Jesus Christ, in remembrance of which the Christian sabbath was to be observed. In the resurrection of Christ we were brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God, with a mighty hand, and an outstretched arm. How sweet is it to a soul truly distressed under the terrors of a broken law, to hear the mild and soul-reviving language of the gospel!

1 Peter 2:4-10

Christ the cornerstone

2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Christ is called a Stone, to teach his servants that he is their protection and security, the foundation on which they are built. He is precious in the excellence of his nature, the dignity of his office, and the glory of his services. All true believers are a holy priesthood; sacred to God, serviceable to others, endowed with heavenly gifts and graces. But the most spiritual sacrifices of the best in prayer and praise are not acceptable, except through Jesus Christ. Christ is the chief Corner-stone, that unites the whole number of believers into one everlasting temple, and bears the weight of the whole fabric. Elected, or chosen, for a foundation that is everlasting. Precious beyond compare, by all that can give worth. To be built on Christ means, to believe in him; but in this many deceive themselves, they consider not what it is, nor the necessity of it, to partake of the salvation he has wrought. Though the frame of the world was falling to pieces, that man who is built on this foundation may hear it without fear. He shall not be confounded. The believing soul makes haste to Christ, but it never finds cause to hasten from him. All true Christians are a chosen generation; they make one family, a people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle, and practice; which they could never be, if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. Their first state is a state of gross darkness, but they are called out of darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that they should show forth the praises of the Lord by their profession of his truth and their good conduct. How vast their obligations to Him who has made them his people, and has shown mercy to them! To be without this mercy is a woeful state, though a man has all worldly enjoyments. And there is nothing that so kindly works repentance, as of right thoughts of the mercy and love of God. Let us not dare to abuse and affront the free grace of God, if we mean to be saved by it; but let all who would be found among those who obtain mercy, walk as his people.

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, October 5, 2020
Psalm 119:49-56; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 1 Peter 2:4-10 (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for MONDAY, October 5, 2020

Prayer of the Day

MONDAY, October 5, 2020

He says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

— Isaiah 49:6 (NIV)

Mighty God, we thank you for sending your light into all the world to reveal that you are the Father of all, to show us that you are leading them to yourself, the good and the bad, those who are near to you and those who are far away. We thank you that through all this your name may be acknowledged and honored. We thank you that we may live from your hand and that everyone may see your work on earth and be filled with praise. May the light which you have sent to earth in Jesus Christ shine brightly for us and penetrate our hearts so that we open ourselves to it with joy, and worship the Savior. Bless us and give us your Spirit; without your Spirit, we can do nothing. May we receive help from you every day. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, October 5, 2020

Isaiah 55:6

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Read all of Isaiah 55

Listen to Isaiah 55

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Green Pastures

Green Pastures

The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

— Psalm 23:1-2

"I shall not want," our psalm proclaims. "I will lack nothing; I will have everything I need." That bold statement expresses our confidence in the Shepherd who cares for us. Still, that confidence we claim can fail very easily. In the face of trouble and need, we grow concerned. Just how far can we stretch our finances? We worry about paying bills, buying groceries, providing clothing for our families. Even if we are not concerned about those necessary things, the temptations of the world around us, the ever-hungry consumer culture in which we live, and our own selfish desires lead us to want quite a bit. We want—and think we need—more "stuff." We wish we had more money to buy more material possessions. We need much and want more.

When we become anxious about things we want and need, our Good Shepherd gently reminds us that we are not the only creatures in His green pastures. The Shepherd directs our attention to the birds and the lilies that share our pasture. Birds do not grow crops or worry about storing up food, yet God feeds them. Lilies don't weave cloth or even shop in department stores, yet the flowers' brilliant colors outshine even the rich, royal robes of King Solomon. God clothes the green pastures in bright grass that is alive one day and cut down and burned the next. God knows our needs (see Matthew 6:25-33). If He provides for the birds and grass and lilies, how much more will He care for the sheep for whom the Shepherd died?

God knew our greatest need. We were lost and wandering sheep, unable to save ourselves, unable to find the safety and comfort of His green pastures. God the Son was born among us to be our Shepherd and our Savior. The Shepherd came to be the perfect Lamb of sacrifice, to offer up His life for the sins of every lost sheep. On the first Easter morning, God "brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep" (Hebrews 13:20). Our sins are forgiven, and we have been brought by faith into the Shepherd's fold. He continues to seek and to save lost sheep and, rejoicing, brings them home to His green pastures and still waters. He satisfies our every need. For if God gave us His Son, "how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32b)

Anxious sheep would do well to pay attention to where they are and to whom they belong, and to stop seeking those imaginary, greener pastures. If we are to be concerned about something, the Shepherd reminds us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The Shepherd's precious sheep need only concern themselves with the green pastures provided for them and the paths of righteousness in which their Shepherd leads them. The Shepherd will take care of the rest.

Jesus, my Shepherd, teach me to be content in Your care. Amen.

Dr. Carol Geisler

Reflection Questions:

1. Are you anxious about your life and the future?

2. Does God still lead us to green pastures, to comfort us? What might that look like in our everyday life?

3. When have you longed for a green pasture that was imaginary, or less than you expected?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
When we become anxious about things we want and need, our Good Shepherd gently reminds us that we are not the only creatures in His green pastures.

Standing Strong Through the Storm — HOPE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

HOPE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

— Matthew 18:1-3

In the summer of 2011, Musalaha held an Israeli-Palestinian summer camp attended by seventy Palestinian and Israeli children from Christian families. A visitor shares poignant observations:

For me, after six months in the Land, this camp gave me real hope like nothing else I have experienced. There was hope in the Bible studies, in the competitions, in the craziness and laughter, and in the worship. There was hope as the children were creative with their crafts and reckless in their play. There was hope as they were just being girls and boys – having fun, making friends, getting a break from the pressures of their everyday environment…

When they arrived, many of the children found friends they had met at last year’s camp. A group of two Palestinian and three Israeli girls negotiated to be in the same room. Upon receiving permission, they pulled five bunks together to make one huge bed where they could sleep together…

At the camp, I realized that I wasn’t noticing who was Israeli and who was Palestinian. I saw my brothers and sisters from both sides of the conflict demonstrate a love of Christ and each other above their love of sticking with their side. Leaders cared for kids, loving, and instructing them regardless of where they came from. We were all there as believers in Jesus, and as should more often be the case, during camp no other identity really mattered.

One day after craft time, a Palestinian boy from the West Bank proudly pulled me aside to show me his pencil case. On it, he had painted an Israeli flag. I am not sure how his parents would feel about it, but it showed me how much more simple this situation is for the children. He loved his new friends and leaders and therefore had fond feelings about the place they are from…

As my coworker Tamara and I reflected on the camp, she said, “Innocence breaks down all this hatred that we have around us. You love the good things that you see on the other side. Like Jesus said, we should be little children.”

For them, the “enemy” will never be faceless, inhuman, or distant. For them, the situation will never be easy or black and white. That is good. With open eyes, they can help bring change. They are the hope.

RESPONSE: Today I will look at the problems of our world through child-like eyes and see the challenges as Jesus sees them.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, there is HOPE for even the greatest challenges of our troubled world.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
In the summer of 2011, Musalaha held an Israeli-Palestinian summer camp attended by seventy Palestinian and Israeli children from Christian families. A visitor shares poignant observations…

Women of the Bible — The Woman with the Issue of Blood

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Her character: So desperate for healing, she ignored the conventions of the day for the chance to touch Jesus.
Her sorrow: To have suffered a chronic illness that isolated her from others.
Her joy: That after long years of suffering, she finally found peace and freedom.
Key Scriptures: Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48

Her Story

The woman hovered at the edge of the crowd. Nobody watched as she melted into the throng of bodies—just one more bee entering the hive. Her shame faded, replaced by a rush of relief. No one had prevented her from joining in. No one had recoiled at her touch.

She pressed closer, but a noisy swarm of men still blocked her view. She could hear Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, raising his voice above the others, pleading with Jesus to come and heal his daughter before it was too late.

Suddenly the group in front of her shifted, parting like the waters of the Jordan before the children of promise. It was all she needed. Her arm darted through the opening, fingers brushing the hem of his garment. Instantly, she felt a warmth spread through her, flushing out the pain, clearing out the decay. Her skin prickled and shivered. She felt strong and able, like a young girl coming into her own—so glad and giddy, in fact, that her feet wanted to rush her away before she created a spectacle by laughing out loud at her quiet miracle.

But Jesus blocked her escape and silenced the crowd with a curious question: "Who touched me?"

"Who touched him? He must be joking!" voices murmured. "People are pushing and shoving just to get near him!"

Shaking now, the woman fell at his feet: "For twelve years, I have been hemorrhaging and have spent all my money on doctors but only grown worse. Today, I knew that if I could just touch your garment, I would be healed." But touching, she knew, meant spreading her defilement—even to the rabbi.

Twelve years of loneliness. Twelve years in which physicians had bled her of all her money. Her private affliction becoming a matter of public record. Every cup she handled, every chair she sat on could transmit defilement to others. Even though her impurity was considered a ritual matter rather than an ethical one, it had rendered her an outcast, making it impossible for her to live with a husband, bear a child, or enjoy the intimacy of friends and family. Surely the rabbi would censure her.

But instead of scolding and shaming her, Jesus praised her: "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

His words must have been like water breaching a dam, breaking through her isolation, and setting her free. He had addressed her not harshly, but tenderly—not as "woman" or "sinner," but rather as "daughter." She was no longer alone, but part of his family by virtue of her faith.

That day, countless men and women had brushed against Jesus, but only one had truly touched him. And instead of being defiled by contact with her, his own touch had proven the more contagious, rendering her pure and whole again.

Her Promise

God promises to heal us. That statement may seem to fly in the face of the many who have suffered from illness and disability for years on end, but we need to remember that our concept of healing is not necessarily the same as God's. For some, healing may not take place here on earth. True healing—the healing that will cure even those who don't suffer from any particular physical ailment here on earth—will take place not here but in heaven. There, God promises the ultimate healing from our sickness, our disabilities, our inclination to sin.

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 hovered at the edge of the crowd. Nobody watched as she melted into the throng of bodies—just one more bee entering the hive. Her shame faded, replaced by a rush of relief. No one had prevented her from joining in. No one had recoiled at her touch.

John Piper Devotional — Justice Will Be Done

Justice Will Be Done

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

— Romans 12:19

All of you have been wronged at one time or another. Most of you, probably, have been wronged seriously by someone who has never apologized or done anything sufficient to make it right.

And one of the deep hindrances to your letting that hurt and bitterness go is the conviction—the justified conviction—that justice should be done, that the fabric of the universe will unravel if people can just get away with horrible wrongs and deceive everyone.

That is one of the hindrances to forgiveness and letting grudges go. It’s not the only one. We have our own sin to deal with. But it is a real one.

We feel that just to let it go would be to admit that justice simply won’t be done. And we can’t do it.

So we hold on to anger, and play the story over and over again with the feelings: It shouldn’t have happened; it shouldn’t have happened; it was wrong; it was wrong. How can he be so happy now when I am so miserable? It is so wrong. It is so wrong!

This word in Romans 12:19 is given to you by God to lift that burden from you.

“Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” What does this mean for you?

Laying down the burden of anger, laying down the practice of nursing your hurt with feelings of being wronged—laying that down—does not mean there was no great wrong against you.

It does not mean there is no justice. It does not mean you will not be vindicated. It does not mean they just got away with it. No.

It means, when you lay down the burden of vengeance, God will pick it up.

This is not a subtle way of getting revenge. This is a way of giving vengeance to the one to whom it belongs.

It is taking a deep breath, perhaps for the first time in decades, and feeling like now at last you may be free to love.
All of you have been wronged at one time or another. Most of you, probably, have been wronged seriously by someone who has never apologized or done anything sufficient to make it right.

Un dia a la Vez - Thursday, October 1, 2020

Dios toca a tu puerta

He aquí, yo estoy a la puerta y llamo; si alguno oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré a él, y cenaré con él, y él conmigo.

— Apocalipsis 3:20, RV-60

Cuando analizamos la frase «Dios toca a la puerta», de inmediato pensamos en su significado según la Palabra y lo que representa: El toque del Señor a la puerta de nuestro corazón.

A pesar de que Dios es el único que nos conoce de manera profunda y sabe todas las cosas que cometemos, Él no toma represalias en nuestra contra. Por el contrario, toca a nuestra puerta a fin de darnos salvación y guiarnos si nos desviamos o andamos en malos caminos.

Siempre tenemos varias oportunidades de cambiar y de enderezar nuestros caminos. A decir verdad, nuestro Padre quiere las aprovechemos con su ayuda y que lo hagamos a tiempo, no cuando toquemos fondo o la situación sea preocupante en realidad.

Hoy es tu día. Así que renuncia a todo lo que te aleja de Dios. Además, pídele que te guíe para hacer su voluntad.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Cuando analizamos la frase «Dios toca a la puerta», de inmediato pensamos en su significado según la Palabra y lo que representa: El toque del Señor a la puerta de nuestro corazón.

Devocional CPTLN — Pastos verdes

Pastos verdes

El Señor es mi pastor; nada me falta. En campos de verdes pastos me hace descansar; me lleva a arroyos de aguas tranquilas.

— Salmo 23:1-2

"Nada me falta", proclama nuestro salmo. Nada me falta; tengo todo lo que necesito. Esta declaración audaz expresa nuestra confianza en el Pastor que nos cuida. Aun así, esa confianza puede fallar muy fácilmente. Nos preocupamos cuando tenemos problemas y necesidades. ¿Hasta dónde podemos estirar el dinero que ganamos? Nos preocupa no tener suficiente para pagar todas las cuentas, comprar alimentos y ropa para toda la familia. Incluso si no nos preocupan esas cosas necesarias, las tentaciones del mundo que nos rodea, la cultura consumista siempre hambrienta en la que vivimos y nuestros deseos egoístas, nos llevan a querer siempre más. Queremos, y creemos que necesitamos, más "cosas".

Cuando nos sentimos ansiosos por las cosas que queremos y necesitamos, nuestro Buen Pastor nos recuerda que no somos las únicas criaturas en sus pastos verdes. El Pastor dirige nuestra atención a los pájaros y los lirios que comparten nuestro pasto. Las aves no siembran, no cultivan y no se preocupan por almacenar comida, pero Dios las alimenta. Los lirios no fabrican telas, sin embargo sus colores eclipsan hasta las túnicas del rey Salomón. Dios viste los pastos con hierba brillante que está viva un día y cortada y quemada al siguiente. Dios conoce nuestras necesidades (ver Mateo 6:25-33). Si Él provee para las aves, la hierba y los lirios, ¿cuánto más cuidará de las ovejas por las que murió el Pastor?

Dios conocía nuestra mayor necesidad. Éramos ovejas perdidas y errantes, incapaces de salvarnos a nosotros mismos, incapaces de encontrar la seguridad y el consuelo de sus verdes pastos. Dios el Hijo nació entre nosotros para ser nuestro Pastor y Salvador. El Pastor fue el Cordero perfecto que sacrificó su vida por los pecados de todas las ovejas perdidas. En la primera mañana de Pascua, Dios "resucitó de los muertos a nuestro Señor Jesucristo, el gran Pastor de las ovejas" (Hebreos 13:20). Nuestros pecados son perdonados y hemos sido traídos por fe al redil del Pastor. Él continúa buscando y salvando a las ovejas perdidas y gozoso las lleva a casa a sus pastos verdes y aguas tranquilas. Él satisface todas nuestras necesidades. Porque si Dios nos dio a su Hijo, "¿cómo no nos dará también con él todas las cosas?" (Romanos 8:32b)

Las ovejas ansiosas harían bien en prestar atención a dónde están y a quién pertenecen, y dejar de buscar esos pastos imaginarios más verdes. Si debemos preocuparnos por algo, el Pastor nos recuerda que busquemos primero su reino y su justicia. Las preciosas ovejas del Pastor solo necesitan preocuparse por los verdes pastos que se les proporcionan y los caminos de justicia por los que su Pastor las conduce. El Pastor se encargará del resto.

ORACIÓN: Jesús, mi Pastor, enséñame a descansar en Tu cuidado. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Qué cosas te preocupan del futuro?

* ¿De qué manera te conduce Dios hoy a sus pastos verdes?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Cuando nos sentimos ansiosos por las cosas que queremos y necesitamos, nuestro Buen Pastor nos recuerda que no somos las únicas criaturas en sus pastos verdes.

Notre Pain Quotidien — Commencer par la fin

Commencer par la fin

Lisez : Philippiens 1.3-11
La Bible en un an : Ésaïe 26 – 27 ; Philippiens 2

Je suis persuadé que celui qui a commencé en vous cette bonne œuvre la rendra parfaite pour le jour de Jésus-Christ.

—  Philippiens 1.6

« Sais-tu ce que tu voudrais faire quand tu seras grand ? » On m’a souvent posé la question quand j’étais petit. Et ma réponse changeait continuellement. Un médecin. Un pompier. Un missionnaire. Un directeur de la louange. Un physicien – ou même MacGyver (un de mes personnages préférés de la télé) ! Aujourd’hui, père de quatre enfants, j’imagine à quel point ce doit être difficile pour eux de se faire continuellement poser la question. Il m’arrive parfois d’avoir envie de leur dire : « Je sais dans quoi tu serais très bon ! » Les parents voient parfois mieux dans leurs enfants que ce que ceux-ci peuvent voir en eux-mêmes.

Cette réalité fait écho à ce que Paul voyait chez les croyants de Philippes – ceux qu’il aimait et pour qui il priait (PH 1.3,4). Il pouvait voir la fin ; il savait ce qu’ils seraient devenus en définitive. La Bible nous procure une grande vision de la fin de l’histoire – la résurrection et le renouvellement de toutes choses (voir 1 CO 15 et AP 21). Elle nous dit toutefois aussi qui l’a écrite.

Au début d’une lettre qu’il a écrite en prison, Paul a rappelé ceci à l’Église de Philippes : « [Celui] qui a commencé en vous cette bonne œuvre la rendra parfaite pour le jour de Jésus-Christ » (PH 1.6). Cette œuvre, il l’achèvera. Le mot parfaite est particulièrement important – l’histoire ne prend pas fin tout simplement, car Dieu ne laisse rien inachevé.

Précieux Jésus, merci d’être aux commandes de mon histoire.Je te soumets ma vie. Aide-moi à te faire confiance.

Dieu nous dirige selon ses voies.

par Glenn Packiam

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Sais-tu ce que tu voudrais faire quand tu seras grand ?