The Daily Bible Readings for THURSDAY, October 15, 2020

 

The Daily Readings
THURSDAY, October 15, 2020
Psalm 99; Exodus 33:7-11; 3 John 9-12
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

2 Samuel 7:22

Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 99
Proclaim God’s greatness

1 The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

2 The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.

3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.

7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.

8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.

Commentary
Verses 1-5 — God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. The inhabitants of the earth have cause to tremble, but the Redeemer still waits to be gracious. Let all who hear, take warning, and seek his mercy. The more we humble ourselves before God, the more we exalt him; and let us be thus reverent, for he is holy.

Verses 6-9 — The happiness of Israel is made out by referring to the most useful governors of that people. They in every thing made God's word and law their rule, knowing that they could not else expect that their prayers should be answered. They all wonderfully prevailed with God in prayer; miracles were wrought at their request. They pleaded for the people, and obtained answers of peace. Our Prophet and High Priest, of infinitely greater dignity than Moses, Aaron, or Samuel, has received and declared to us the will of the Father. Let us not only exalt the Lord with our lips, but give him the throne in our heart; and while we worship him upon his mercy-seat, let us never forget that he is holy.

Exodus 33:7-11
The tent of meeting

33:7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Commentary
Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp. This seems to have been a temporary building, set up for worship, and at which he judged disputes among the people. The people looked after him; they were very desirous to be at peace with God, and concerned to know what would come to pass. The cloudy pillar which had withdrawn from the camp when it was polluted with idolatry, now returned. If our hearts go forth toward God to meet him, he will graciously come to meet us.

3 John 9-12
Imitate what is good

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

Commentary
Both the heart and mouth must be watched. The temper and spirit of Diotrephes was full of pride and ambition. It is bad not to do good ourselves; but it is worse to hinder those who would do good. Those cautions and counsels are most likely to be accepted, which are seasoned with love. Follow that which is good, for he that doeth good, as delighting therein, is born of God. Evil-workers vainly pretend or boast acquaintance with God. Let us not follow that which is proud, selfish, and of bad design, though the example may be given by persons of rank and power; but let us be followers of God, and walk in love, after the example of our Lord.

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 THURSDAY, October 15, 2020
Psalm 99; Exodus 33:7-11; 3 John 9-12 (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for THURSDAY, October 15, 2020

 

Prayer of the Day
THURSDAY, October 15, 2020

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

— Matthew 9:12–13 (NIV)

Dear Father in heaven, we come into your presence as imperfect, sinful children, who do many foolish  things and who are involved in much that is evil and corrupt. We come to you, Father, knowing that your fatherly love is with us through all eternity. Be gracious to us and free us from all the harm and injury we are bound to suffer in this earthly life. May the grace your kingdom brings on earth finally blot out the sins of all people, so that as your children they may rejoice because you have helped them. May your name be praised among all people. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, October 15, 2020

 

2 Samuel 7:22

Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Read all of 2 Samuel 7

Listen to 2 Samuel 7

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Not Ours to Keep

 

Not Ours to Keep

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Him (Jesus) in His words. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and You do not care about anyone's opinion, for You are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put Me to the test, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin for the tax." And they brought Him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard it, they marveled. And they left Him and went away.

— Matthew 22:15-22

You've probably noticed that life is full of tricky questions. Do I eat the cupcake my granddaughter made for me, or do I stick to my diet? Do I glide through the intersection as the light changes from yellow to red, or do I stop? Or 2020's favorite: do I wear a face mask in response to COVID-19, or just wing it, assuming I (and everyone else) will be all right?

Here Jesus is given His own sticky question, courtesy of the Pharisees' disciples and some crony Herodians (Greek culture-loving Jews)—both fierce opponents of Jesus. They asked Him, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" With a "No," Jesus might look like a rebel, scorning Roman rule and ready to fight the occupying power. With a "Yes," He might look submissive, yielding to Rome's tyrannical might to keep the peace.

Yes, life is full of difficult questions.

Jesus then, fully aware of their aim to test Him, takes a coin and asks them a question: "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" It was the face of Caesar. If they were looking to Jesus to get out of their tax obligation, they were misguided. He told them not only to pay the tax, but that the rest of what they possessed wasn't theirs to keep either. "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Any Jewish scholar in the first century knew what that meant: the coin might have Caesar's face on it, but the emperor, the nation, and the world itself belonged to God (see Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 24:1; Job 41:11). No matter how tight was Rome's grip on the Jews was, they were God's chosen people, set aside from long ago. "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2).

This is where the believer's true joy lies—in knowing we are God's, along with all we possess. Redeemed by the Father through Jesus' blood, we yield our lives to Him in faith, trusting His grace to supply us with everything we need.

Heavenly Father, remind us that we, and all we have, are Yours to keep. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Paul Schreiber

Reflection Questions:

1. What tricky question have you faced recently?

2. Why were the Pharisees always trying to ensnare Jesus in some word game or question about the Law?

3. How do you give to God the things that are God's? Are some things more difficult to turn over to Him than others?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
You've probably noticed that life is full of tricky questions. Do I eat the cupcake my granddaughter made for me, or do I stick to my diet? Do I glide through the intersection as the light changes from yellow to red, or do I stop? Or 2020's favorite: do I wear a face mask in response to COVID-19, or just wing it, assuming I (and everyone else) will be all right?

Standing Strong Through the Storm — REJOICE IN PERSECUTION

 

REJOICE IN PERSECUTION

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…

— John 1:10-12

The most recent edition of the famous prayer manual, Operation World, was published in November 2010 and was quick to highlight as a global trend, “…The rise in levels of persecution—especially for Christians.” The editors of the Operation World explained why:

“The end of the European colonial era, the end of Christianity’s status as state religion in most of the West and the resurgence of religious sentiments globally, especially fundamentalism, all mean that Christians generally no longer operate from a position of power or privilege. Christians are subject to persecution in much of the world. Evangelicals are subject to even more due to their proselytism and commitment to the uniqueness of Christ. The presence of persecution and hardship in the life of the Church appears to be normative in Scripture; contexts where persecution does not exist at all should be as much a cause for concern as places where it is intense.”

Open Doors’ Dr. Ron Boyd-MacMillan concludes:

In the end, the rise of persecution is paradoxically for Christians something to protest and to celebrate, for as a Beijing house church pastor says, “The church is always persecuted when it does something right…it shows Christ to a world that rejects him.” Persecution is the continual replaying of John chapter one verses ten and eleven: “[Jesus] came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, but even they rejected him.” And so in the challenging words of a Palestinian pastor, “Every Christian must rejoice to be persecuted, and fight for Christ to be recognized in the midst of suffering, for suffering is the gift by which we see our need of Him who came for us and loves us.”

RESPONSE: As Christians, persecution is not something to avoid but to celebrate.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to rejoice when persecution comes my way—whether mild, medium or hot! And help me to fight for Christ to be recognized in the midst of the suffering.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
The most recent edition of the famous prayer manual, Operation World, was published in November 2010 and was quick to highlight as a global trend, “…The rise in levels of persecution—especially for Christians.” The editors of the Operation World explained why:

Men's Devotional Bible — Asa: Not by Strength

 

Asa: Not by Strength

1 Kings 15:9–24; 2 Chronicles 14—16

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

— 2 Chronicles 14:2

It is an honor to interview a good king when there have been so many bad ones.

“Good” is a relative term among men and kings. The Lord is good. Even the best of men are weak and foolish.

What one thing have you learned during your long reign?

I have learned this: “It is not by strength that one prevails.” I might have learned it much sooner, because Hannah, the mother of Samuel, spoke these words long ago. But it is only now that I begin to see Hannah’s wisdom near the end of my days. Even so, I have not learned it completely.

Will you give us an example of what you mean?

You have heard of my fortified cities and my army of half a million men. Then Zerah the Cushite came against me with an army twice that size. My only prayer was that the Lord would help the powerless against the mighty. My army prevailed, but not by its own might.

Why do you say you have not learned this completely?

Four years ago, the king of Israel meant to invade our land. Instead of relying on the Lord, I sent silver and gold to Ben-Hadad in Damascus, who attacked Israel from the rear. Thus we fought off the invasion, but at the same time, we were plunged into further war.

You spoke of relying on God rather than on personal strength. But what about the endless wars in your people’s history?

Not endless. Our prophets could tell you more about this than I can. For now, our people must survive. In days to come, however, a king will rise from David’s royal house. He will—well, I cannot tell you what he will do, exactly. But his kingdom will bring peace and justice. Then these hideous wars will end.

What one thing do you most want to tell our readers?

Rely upon the Lord. I have not always done so, and I am the worse for it.

Forgive me for not walking with you through the garden to the gate. You see the problem I have with my feet. Even as an old man, I remain foolish. I have sought physicians, but I have sought the Lord too late!

Back to the Future

• In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own strength?
• How would you respond to someone who asked you, “What does it mean to rely on the strength of the Lord?”
• What practical steps can you take to become more dependent on the Lord’s strength?

Read Asa’s Story:

The detail is found in 1 Kings 15:9–24; 2 Chronicles 14—16. Also, Read Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1–10.
It is an honor to interview a good king when there have been so many bad ones.

John Piper Devotional — Plan for Prayer

 

God’s Final, Decisive Word

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…

— Hebrews 1:1–2

The last days begin with the coming of the Son into the world. We have been living in the last days since the days of Christ—that is, the last days of history as we know it before the final and full establishment of the kingdom of God.

The writer of Hebrews’ point is this: The Word that God spoke by his Son is the decisive Word. It will not be followed in this age by any greater word or replacement word. This is the Word of God—the person of Jesus, the teaching of Jesus, and the work of Jesus.

When I complain that I don’t hear the Word of God when I feel a desire to hear God’s voice and get frustrated that he does not speak in ways that I may crave, what am I really saying? Am I really saying that I have exhausted this final decisive Word revealed to me so thoroughly in the New Testament? Have I really exhausted this Word? Has it become so much a part of me that it has shaped my very being and given me life and guidance?

Or have I treated it lightly—skimmed it like a newspaper, dipped in like a taste-tester—and then decided I wanted something different, something more? This is what I fear I am guilty of more than I wish to admit.

God is calling us to hear his final, decisive Word—to meditate on it and study it and memorize it and linger over it and soak in it until it saturates us to the center of our being.
The last days begin with the coming of the Son into the world.

Un dia a la Vez — Las cosas fluyen de Dios

 

Las cosas fluyen de Dios

Que el Señor, Dios de Israel, bajo cuyas alas has venido a refugiarte, te lo pague con creces.

— Rut 2:12

Amigos, ¡qué hermoso e importante es que Dios se involucre en nuestra vida! Aunque no lo veamos, Él se preocupa de nuestras cosas y le interesa favorecernos, guiarnos y ayudarnos.

De seguro has vivido situaciones en las que crees que Dios está en el asunto. Entonces, las cosas no se dan como esperabas y todo cambia de repente. Así que te sientes triste, derrotado y desconsolado. Lo que es peor, muchas veces ponemos nuestra confianza en nosotros mismos o en otra persona y nos frustramos.

Algo que he aplicado para mi propia tranquilidad es que todo lo que anhele y lo que quiera emprender debe llevar el sello de respaldo de mi Jesús. He comprobado que cuando las cosas son de Dios, fluyen con facilidad y se abren puertas. Es más, hay respaldo y bendición en medio de lo que hacemos.

Esto también se ajusta a nuestra vida espiritual, emocional y laboral. Por eso debemos entender que cuando las cosas se hacen realidad, son de Dios y serán duraderas. Las cosas de Dios son eternas…

Todo lo que emprendas y todas las decisiones que tengas que tomar ponlas en manos del Señor.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Amigos, ¡qué hermoso e importante es que Dios se involucre en nuestra vida! Aunque no lo veamos, Él se preocupa de nuestras cosas y le interesa favorecernos, guiarnos y ayudarnos.

Devocional CPTLN — No es para que lo guardemos

 

No es para que lo guardemos

Entonces los fariseos se fueron para pensar en cómo atrapar a Jesús en sus propias palabras. Enviaron a sus discípulos, junto con los herodianos, a decirle: «Maestro, sabemos que eres amante de la verdad, y que enseñas con verdad el camino de Dios; sabemos también que no permites que nadie influya en ti ni te dejas llevar por las apariencias humanas. Por tanto, dinos tu parecer. ¿Es lícito pagar tributo al César, o no?» Pero Jesús, que conocía la malicia de ellos, les dijo: «¡Hipócritas! ¿Por qué me tienden trampas? Muéstrenme la moneda del tributo.» Y ellos le mostraron un denario. Entonces él les preguntó: «¿De quién es esta imagen, y esta inscripción?» Le respondieron: «Del César.» Y él les dijo: «Pues bien, den al César lo que es del César, y a Dios lo que es de Dios.» Al oír esto, se quedaron asombrados y se alejaron de él.

— Mateo 22:15-22

La vida está llena de preguntas difíciles. ¿Como el bizcocho que me preparó mi nieta o sigo la dieta? ¿Cruzo la intersección con el semáforo en amarillo o me detengo? O el favorito de 2020: ¿uso una mascarilla por el COVID-19, o asumo todos vamos a estar bien?

En este texto a Jesús le hacen una pregunta difícil, cortesía de los discípulos de los fariseos y de algunos herodianos (judíos amantes de la cultura griega), ambos feroces oponentes de Jesús: "¿Es lícito pagar tributo al César, o no?" Con un "No", Jesús podría parecer un rebelde, despreciando el gobierno romano y listo para luchar contra el poder ocupante. Con un "Sí", podría parecer sumiso, cediendo al poder tiránico de Roma para mantener la paz. Sí, la vida está llena de preguntas difíciles.

Entonces Jesús, plenamente consciente de la prueba, toma una moneda y, mostrándoles el rostro de César, les pregunta: "¿De quién es esta imagen y esta inscripción?" Si buscaban a Jesús para liberarse de sus obligaciones tributarias, estaban equivocados: les dijo que no solo pagaran el impuesto, sino que el resto de lo que poseían tampoco era de ellos. "Pues bien, den al César lo que es del César, y a Dios lo que es de Dios".

Cualquier erudito judío del primer siglo sabía lo que eso significaba: la moneda podía tener la cara de César en ella, pero el emperador, la nación y el mundo mismo pertenecían a Dios (ver Deuteronomio 10:14; Salmo 24:1; Job 41:11). No importa cuán fuerte era el control de Roma sobre los judíos, ellos eran el pueblo elegido por Dios, apartado desde hacía mucho tiempo. "Tú eres un pueblo santo, y perteneces al Señor tu Dios. De entre todos los pueblos de la tierra, el Señor te ha escogido para que seas un pueblo único, un pueblo suyo" (Deuteronomio 14:2).

Aquí es donde reside el verdadero gozo del creyente: saber que somos de Dios. Redimidos por el Padre a través de la sangre de Jesús, entregamos nuestras vidas a Él con fe, confiando en Su gracia para suplirnos con todo lo que necesitamos.

ORACIÓN: Padre Celestial, recuérdanos que todo lo que somos y tenemos te lo debemos a ti. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Qué pregunta difícil has tenido que responder recientemente?

* ¿Cómo le das a Dios las cosas que son de Dios? ¿Son algunas cosas más difíciles de entregarle que otras?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
La vida está llena de preguntas difíciles. ¿Como el bizcocho que me preparó mi nieta o sigo la dieta? ¿Cruzo la intersección con el semáforo en amarillo o me detengo? O el favorito de 2020: ¿uso una mascarilla por el COVID-19, o asumo todos vamos a estar bien?

Хлеб наш насущный — Проповедовать или пахать?

 

Проповедовать или пахать?

Читать сейчас: Ефесянам 4:4-16 | Библия за год: Исаии 45-46; Галатам 3

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Из [Христа] все тело, составляемое и соединяемое посредством всяких взаимно скрепляющих связей, при действии в свою меру каждого члена, получает приращение для созидания самого себя в любви.

— Ефесянам 4:16

Согласно семейному преданию двое братьев, Билли и Мелвин, однажды увидели аэроплан, который, исполняя замысловатые фигуры, оставлял на небосводе большие буквы. Мальчики внимательно смотрели, пока наконец не прочитали: «ИП». Оба решили, что увиденное имеет особое значение для них. Один подумал, что это значит «Иди проповедуй». Другой прочитал буквы так: «Иди пахать». Впоследствии один из мальчиков, Билли Грэм, посвятил себя проповеди Евангелия и стал легендой благовестия. Его брат Мелвин многие годы верно трудился на семейной ферме.

Если Бог действительно призвал Билли проповедовать, а Мелвина пахать, а судя по всему, так и было, то они оба прославили Бога своим трудом. Хотя Билли стал всемирно известным проповедником, его успех вовсе не значит, что послушание брата призванию пахать было менее важным.

Некоторых Бог определяет на полную занятость в служении (Еф. 4:11-12), но это не означает, что те, которые ходят на светскую работу, занимаются чем-то неважным. В любом случае, как сказал Павел, каждый член действует «в свою меру» (ст. 16). Мы прославляем Иисуса Христа, верно используя дары, которые Он нам дал. И неважно, идем мы проповедовать или пахать, мы можем послужить Ему как в церкви, так и на работе.

Как вы можете использовать Божьи дары, чтобы прославить Его в своей профессии? Как вы можете поддержать своих знакомых?

Помоги мне сегодня, Боже, послужить Тебе там, где Ты меня поместил. Помоги мне видеть, что мои слова, дела и трудовая этика могут влиять на людей, с которыми я работаю.

автор: Дэвид Брэнон

© 2020 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Согласно семейному преданию двое братьев, Билли и Мелвин, однажды увидели аэроплан, который, исполняя замысловатые фигуры, оставлял на небосводе большие буквы. Мальчики внимательно смотрели, пока наконец не прочитали: «ИП».