The Daily Bible Readings for FRIDAY, October 16, 2020

 

The Daily Readings
FRIDAY, October 16, 2020
Psalm 99; Exodus 31:1-11; 1 Peter 5:1-5
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking the Lord to make you pleasing to Him; in fact, He loves to teach you His ways. He tenderly molds your character so that you speak, think, and act in a way that honors Him (NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes).

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 those people. In everything, they 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 31:1-11
Artisans for the tent of meeting

31:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,

8 And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

9 And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,

10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,

11 And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

Commentary
The Israelites, who had been masons and bricklayers in Egypt, were not qualified for curious workmanship. Still, the Spirit who gave the apostles utterance in divers tongues miraculously gave Bezaleel and Aholiab the skill that was wanting. The honor which comes from God is always attended with a work to be done; to be employed for God is a high honor. Those whom God calls to any service, he will find or make fit for it. The Lord gives different gifts to different persons; let each mind his proper work, diligently remembering that whatever wisdom any one possesses, the Lord put it in the heart, to do his commandments.

1 Peter 5:1-5
Exemplary leadership

5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Commentary
The apostle Peter does not command but exhorts. He does not claim the power to rule over all pastors and churches. It was the peculiar honor of Peter and a few more, to be witnesses of Christ's sufferings; but it is the privilege of all true Christians to partake of the glory that shall be revealed. These poor, dispersed, suffering Christians, were the flock of God, redeemed to God by the great Shepherd, living in holy love and communion, according to the will of God. They are also dignified with God's heritage or clergy's title, his peculiar lot, chosen for his own people, enjoy his special favor, and do him special service. Christ is the chief Shepherd of the whole flock and heritage of God. And all faithful ministers will receive a crown of unfading glory, infinitely better and more honorable than all the authority, wealth, and pleasure of the world.

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 FRIDAY, October 16, 2020
Psalm 99; Exodus 31:1-11; 1 Peter 5:1-5 (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for FRIDAY, October 16, 2020

 

Prayer of the Day
SATURDAY, October 17, 2020

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.

— 1 Corinthians 1:4–5 (NIV)

Lord our God, we thank you that you are so near to us that we may feel and know we are your children, your children who are in your hands with all that belongs to our earthly life, all our needs and temptations, all our efforts and pain. We come together to thank you, and our thanksgiving wins a victory over everything that makes life difficult for us. In this thanksgiving the harshness, crookedness, and injustice on earth cannot harm us. Protect us with your light, which gives us wisdom for all situations and which lifts us above everything that is base and meaningless and must pass away. Amen.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, October 16, 2020

 

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Read all of Psalm 19

Listen to Psalm 19

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Come Join Us

 

Come Join Us

That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

When St. Paul wrote these sentences, few people cared about the Christian church. Most of them could not care about it because they had never heard of it. Those who did know apparently did not believe that much would ever come of it. Today the church is a vast fellowship of believers throughout the world. Yet, despite this apparent success, the debate goes on everywhere—inside the church and out—as to whether the Christian church makes any difference or even whether it possibly can or should make any difference.

All the world has a stake in what the church does as it carries God's mission forward. Even as God sent His Son into the world, so He sends His church, His "ambassadors for Christ," into the world, too. In politics, a nation's ambassador is always on foreign soil, serving on temporary assignment. They must have the capacity to identify with and be sympathetic to the people they live among. They must be able to clearly communicate the message and intention of whomever has sent them into service.

As ambassadors for Christ, we come as brothers and sisters in search of brothers and sisters who are lost and need our help. We communicate God's eternal love to them (see Ephesians 1:3-10), reminding them that because of what Jesus has done on the cross, forgiveness is available to all: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

We of the church come to the rest of the world as Christ came to men and women in His time. We seek nothing but to live as spokespersons for God. We carry His message forward, and we do so by His authority (see Matthew 28:19-20). We are prepared to share the truth of God's love in word and deed. It is our hope our daily lives and actions point to the Savior who gave His all for us.

If we fail as ambassadors, forgive us for falling short as Christ's representatives. But if in our words and deeds you sense something of the love that God has for you, then thank Him for this gift. If by God working through us you come to know and love Him, then join us as ambassadors to others—sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with a world and making a difference by your witness.

Heavenly Father, thank You for making us ambassadors in the service of Your Son. Amen.

Taken from the message, "The Church as God's Ambassador to the World" by Rev. Dr. Oliver R. Harms

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you consider yourself an ambassador for Christ? If so, how does that figure into your day-to-day life?

2. How has God reconciled the world to Himself through Jesus?

3. How does God use people today to make His appeal to others?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
When St. Paul wrote these sentences, few people cared about the Christian church.

Standing Strong Through the Storm — LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

 

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

— Galatians 5:13-14

The scriptures teach that God is committed to one primary objective in the lives of all His people, conforming us to the image of His Son. What is the “image of His Son?” It is found in the words of Jesus, Himself, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

It makes sense then to say that God desires the same for us. After bringing us into His family through faith in His Son, the Lord sets His sights on building into us the same qualities that made Jesus distinct—a servant’s heart and a giving spirit. It’s so easy to lose sight of our primary calling as Christians. Even those who lead must do so with an attitude of genuine humility and an authentic desire to help others.

The best-known symbols of Christianity are the cross, the ichthus (fish symbol), and the dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The least known—yet most appropriate for the Christian—is the towel and basin symbol. The towel Jesus used when in humility and service, he washed and wiped his disciples’ dirty feet. Jesus instructed his disciples after washing their feet that they were to wash one another’s feet.

J. Dudley Woodbury tells a poignant true story that occurred in Peshawar, Pakistan’s dismal refugee camps. The fighting between the Mujahideen in post-Soviet Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban resulted in thousands of refugees flooding into the camps near the border. Most of the children in the camps ran around barefoot in both the intense heat and intense cold.

A Christian organization brought in hundreds of sandals for the children but decided not just to distribute them but also to care for their feet. So they utilized as many Christian volunteers as possible who washed the children’s filthy feet, put medication on their sores, and prayed for them silently as they gave out the sandals.

As he tells the story, some months later, a Muslim primary school teacher in the camp asked her students who the best Muslims were. One little girl raised her hand and responded, “The kafirs.” (unbelievers).

After the teacher recovered from cardiac arrest, she asked, “Why?” The little girl said, “The Mujahedeen killed my father, but the kafirs washed my feet!”

Missions to the Muslims, he concludes, will be affected less by the flames of 9/11, or even the flames that started the Arab Spring, than by the inner flames that are ignited if we so follow our Lord.[1]

RESPONSE: Today, I will look for ways to serve others in genuine humility as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, help me love as You did, serve others as You did and give of myself as You did!

1. J. Dudley Woodberry, “Muslim Missions: Then & Now,” Christianity Today (September 2011), p. 36.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
The scriptures teach that God is committed to one primary objective in the lives of all His people, conforming us to the image of His Son.

Men of the Bible — James and John

 

James and John

John’s name means: “Yahweh Has Been Gracious.” James’ name, a form of “Jacob,” means “He Grasps the Heel” (figuratively, “He Deceives”)

Their work: James and his younger brother John were career fishermen working in their father’s business on the Sea of Galilee.
Their character: James was quiet and analytical; John was verbal and open. Both of these hardworking men were profoundly changed when they met Jesus. Not only did they follow him, but they were brought into his inner circle along with Peter, their friend and business associate.
Their sorrow: Following Jesus cost them everything. They left their family business, their familiar surroundings, their friends, and even their families to walk with the Savior.
Their triumph: What may have started as a pure adventure—following the Teacher—ended in a revolution that changed the world.
Key Scriptures: Matthew 4:18-22; 16:13-17:9

A Look at the Men

Life was good for Zebedee. He owned a prosperous fishing enterprise, and he and his wife, Salome, had two sons who were partners with him in the business.

Although it must have been a blow to their fishing company when James and John left their nets to follow Jesus, there is no evidence that Zebedee and Salome resisted their sons’ decision. “After all,” they may have said to each other, “think how good this will be for the boys to be seen with the Teacher. Maybe it will even be good for business.”

For their part, James and John would never look back. They lived with the Savior. They walked hundreds of miles with him and saw him perform awesome miracles, all the while wondering who he was. Whenever commoners and Pharisees asked him, he sidestepped their questions. Why doesn’t he just go ahead and declare his messiahship? the disciples wondered.

And then, after two years of being with Jesus, Zebedee and Salome’s sons went to the mountain with their friend Peter and saw the light. These men caught a glimpse of the glory of God. And like Moses and Isaiah before them, they were completely dumbfounded. This was the Messiah. They no longer doubted.

From that moment forward, Jesus had a special relationship with James, John, and Peter. He put them in his inner circle as his closest associates. When James and John reported this to Zebedee and Salome, they must have been proud. But Salome took a step beyond good sense when she went to Jesus with an ill-advised request. “One day, when you come into power,” she said to the Savior, thinking he would one day be an earthly king, “could you give my sons the highest rank in the land? So lofty would be their positions that one would sit to the right of your throne, and one would sit to the left.”

This request wasn’t just coming from a doting mother. She and her sons had discussed it, for when Jesus said, “You don’t have any idea what you’re asking,” the answer was in the plural. “Yes, we do!” they answered.

When the other disciples heard about James’s and John’s request, they were outraged—probably because they had wanted these positions of prominence for themselves!

And then, in one short moment, history’s most profound lesson in leadership was delivered. Jesus’ words must have seared the disciples’ hearts. “Heathen leaders take their power and cram it down the throats of their subjects,” he told them. “But you’re not to do this.”

James’s and John’s faces must have flushed. Jesus was talking to all twelve of the disciples, but these two brothers really felt the sting of his words. Sideward glances from the others made it worse.

“Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” Jesus’ words transfixed James and John, but he wasn’t quite finished. “I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve,” Jesus said. Then he added, “And to give my life as a ransom for many.”

Following Jesus’ resurrection, James, John, and five other disciples were back on the sea late at night. They fished all night but caught nothing. As the morning sun peeked over the horizon, they saw a man standing on the shore. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat,” he hollered to them. When they did, they couldn’t pull the net in because it was so full of fish. “It’s Jesus,” John said, recognizing the cadence of his voice and the power of his words. “It’s Jesus!”

Once on shore, the disciples and Jesus had breakfast together. His final words after the meal, although directed at Peter, were surely for each of the seven disciples who were there. They are words for us as well. “You want to lead?” Jesus asked. “Then feed my sheep.”

Reflect On: Matthew 4:18–20
Praise God: For God’s glory.
Offer Thanks: For the life-changing power of God’s presence and holiness.
Confess: Any unwillingness to risk it all to be Jesus’ disciple—any temptation to treat Jesus like your buddy or your example rather than the glorified and perfect Son of the living God.
Ask God: To challenge you to acknowledge his presence more frequently. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, listen to his voice saying to you, “Follow me.”

Today’s reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book’s title must be included when sharing the above content on social media.
Life was good for Zebedee. He owned a prosperous fishing enterprise, and he and his wife, Salome, had two sons who were partners with him in the business.

John Piper Devotional — Fear and Hope in God’s Jealousy

 

Fear and Hope in God’s Jealousy

The LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

— Exodus 34:14

God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name and responds with terrible wrath against those whose hearts should belong to him but go after other things.

For example, in Ezekiel 16:38–40, he says to faithless Israel,

I will judge you as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. And I will give you into the hand of your lovers, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber…they shall strip you of your clothes and take your fair jewels, and leave you naked and bare. They shall bring up a host against you and cut you to pieces with swords.God’s jealousy is a great threat to those who play the harlot and sell their heart to the world and make a cuckold out of God. But his jealousy is a great comfort to those who keep their covenant vows and become strangers and exiles in the world.

I urge you to listen to this warning. The jealousy of God for your undivided love and devotion will always have the last say. Whatever lures your affections away from God with deceptive attraction will come back to strip you bare and cut you in pieces.

It is a horrifying thing to use your God-given life to commit adultery against the Almighty.

But for those of you who have been truly united to Christ and who keep your vows to forsake all others and cleave only to him and live for his honor—for you, the jealousy of God is a great comfort and a great hope.

Since God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name, anything and anybody who threatens his faithful wife’s good will be opposed with divine omnipotence.

God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name and responds with terrible wrath against those whose hearts should belong to him but go after other things.

Un dia a la Vez — Acércate a Él

 

Acércate a Él

Acérquense a Dios, y él se acercará a ustedes. ¡Pecadores, límpiense las manos! ¡Ustedes los inconstantes, purifiquen su corazón!

— Santiago 4:8

Cada día recibo correos electrónicos donde los oyentes me expresan que quieren un cambio en sus vidas y desean buscar a Dios para encontrar respuesta a sus necesidades. Yo le agradezco a Dios por ese privilegio de servirles de inspiración a fin de que pueda hablarles de lo que me cambió la vida.

Mi vida es Jesús y tal vez parezca que soy religiosa o fanática, pero nada de eso es verdad. He vivido la vida con Cristo y sin Él. Así que con toda certeza puedo dar testimonio de cómo Dios me alcanzó, me rescató y me perdonó.

Al cambiar mi vida, también les pude dar un mejor ejemplo a mis princesas, que son mi vida.

Te lo digo con todo mi corazón: ¡Vale la pena acercarse a Él! Cuando lo hacemos, le permitimos que obre en nuestra vida, que haga suyos nuestros problemas y que nos dé una salida para cada uno de ellos.

Dios te ama y te dice: «Ven, no te resistas. No sigas tratando de vivir la vida a tu manera. Ven, porque deseo bendecir tu vida, cambiarla y darte lo que tengo preparado para ti».

Acercarte al Padre es como volver a tu origen. Es volver a su manto, a su protección, donde estarás seguro, tranquilo y en paz. Deja el orgullo y búscale con un corazón arrepentido y dispuesto a dejarte llevar al taller del Maestro. En ese taller, Él pulirá tu vida, limará tus partes ásperas y te colocará a altas temperaturas. Entonces, después de salir de allí, saldrás nuevo y hermoso.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Cada día recibo correos electrónicos donde los oyentes me expresan que quieren un cambio en sus vidas y desean buscar a Dios para encontrar respuesta a sus necesidades.

Devocional CPTLN — Únete a nosotros

 

Únete a nosotros

Esto quiere decir que, en Cristo, Dios estaba reconciliando al mundo consigo mismo, sin tomarles en cuenta sus pecados, y que a nosotros nos encargó el mensaje de la reconciliación. Así que somos embajadores en nombre de Cristo, y como si Dios les rogara a ustedes por medio de nosotros, en nombre de Cristo les rogamos: «Reconcíliense con Dios».

— 2 Corintios 5:19-20

Cuando San Pablo escribió esto, pocas personas se preocupaban por la iglesia cristiana. A la mayoría no les importaba porque nunca habían oído hablar de ella y quienes la conocían, no creían que fuera a prosperar. Hoy la iglesia es una gran comunidad de creyentes en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, y a pesar de este aparente éxito, el debate continúa, tanto dentro como fuera de ella, sobre si la iglesia cristiana hace alguna diferencia en el mundo, o incluso si podría o debería hacer alguna diferencia.

Todo el mundo tiene interés en lo que hace la iglesia mientras lleva adelante la misión de Dios. Así como Dios envió a su Hijo al mundo, también envía a su iglesia, los "embajadores de Cristo" al mundo. En la vida real, el embajador de una nación siempre está en suelo extranjero y cumple una función temporal. Debe ser comprensivo con las personas entre las que vive, y debe ser capaz de comunicar claramente el mensaje y la intención de quien lo ha puesto en servicio.

Como embajadores de Cristo, venimos en busca de hermanos y hermanas que están perdidos y necesitan nuestra ayuda. A ellos les hablamos del amor eterno de Dios (ver Efesios 1:3-10) recordándoles que, gracias a lo que Jesús hizo en la cruz, el perdón está a su disposición: "Si confesamos nuestros pecados, Él es fiel y justo para perdonar nuestros pecados y para limpiarnos de toda maldad" (1 Juan 1:9).

Vamos al resto del mundo como Cristo fue a los hombres y mujeres en su tiempo. No buscamos nada más que vivir como portavoces de Dios. Llevamos adelante su mensaje y lo hacemos con su autoridad (ver Mateo 28:19-20). Estamos preparados para compartir la verdad del amor de Dios en palabras y hechos, y esperamos que nuestra vida y acciones muestren al Salvador que lo dio todo por nosotros.

Si fracasamos como embajadores, pedimos perdón por no ser buenos representantes de Cristo. Pero si en nuestras palabras y acciones sientes algo del amor que Dios te tiene, agradécele por ese regalo. Y si gracias a Dios obrando a través de nosotros llegas a conocerlo y amarlo, únete a nosotros como embajadores ante los demás, compartiendo las Buenas Nuevas de Jesucristo con el mundo y haciendo una diferencia con tu testimonio.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, gracias por hacernos embajadores al servicio de tu Hijo. Amén.

"La Iglesia como embajadora de Dios en el mundo", por el Rev. Dr. Oliver R. Harms

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Te consideras embajador de Cristo? Si es así, ¿cómo influye esto en tu vida diaria?

* ¿Cómo nos usa Dios hoy llegar a quienes aún no lo conocen?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Cuando San Pablo escribió esto, pocas personas se preocupaban por la iglesia cristiana.

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày — Chậm Mà Chắc

 

Chậm Mà Chắc

Đọc: Ma-thi-ơ 13:31–35 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Ê-sai 47–49; I Tê-sa-lô-ni-ca 4

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Hạt ấy nhỏ nhất trong tất cả các hạt giống, nhưng khi mọc lên thì lại lớn nhất trong các loại rau, và trở thành cây.

— Ma-thi-ơ 13:32

Tôi tình cờ gặp người bạn cũ, anh nói với tôi về dự định của mình, nhưng tôi thú thật điều đó dường như khó tin. Tuy nhiên, trong vòng vài tháng sau, ban nhạc của anh có mặt ở khắp mọi nơi – từ việc đứng đầu bảng xếp hạng đĩa đơn trên radio đến việc có ca khúc nổi tiếng trong các quảng cáo TV. Anh ấy nổi tiếng nhanh chóng.

Chúng ta có thể bị ám ảnh bởi sự chú ý và thành công – những điều lớn lao và ấn tượng, nhanh chóng và vụt sáng. Nhưng ẩn dụ về hạt cải và men so sánh vương quốc Chúa (sự trị vì của Chúa trên đất) với những điều nhỏ bé, ẩn giấu và dường như không đáng kể, tiến triển chậm rãi từng bước một.

Vương quốc đó giống như Vua của nó. Sứ mạng của Đấng Christ lên đến đỉnh điểm trong cuộc đời Ngài, như hạt giống bị chôn vùi trong lòng đất; như men bị trộn lẫn vào bột. Nhưng Ngài đã sống lại. Giống như cây xuyên qua mặt đất, như bánh mì khi được nung nóng. Chúa Jêsus đã sống lại.

Chúng ta được mời gọi để sống theo cách của Ngài, bền bỉ và thấm nhuần, để chống lại sự cám dỗ tự giải quyết vấn đề, để nắm lấy sức mạnh và biện hộ cho cách chúng ta cư xử trong cuộc đời bằng các kết quả tạo ra. Kết quả – “trở thành cây đến nỗi chim trời đến làm tổ trên cành nó” (c.32) và bánh mì dành cho bữa tiệc – là công việc của Đấng Christ, không phải của chúng ta.

Điều nhỏ nhặt và có vẻ không đáng kể nào mà bạn sẽ làm để khích lệ hoặc chúc phước cho người khác trong đời bạn? Trong lĩnh vực nào bạn cần quay lưng khỏi sự so sánh với người khác hay khỏi hình ảnh sai lệch về tầm quan trọng và sự thành công?

Lạy Chúa Jêsus, cảm ơn Ngài đã thường xuyên hành động bằng những cách khiêm tốn, kín giấu và dường như không đáng kể. Xin giúp con tin rằng Ngài đang hành động ngay cả khi con không nhìn thấy Ngài. Xin ban ân điển để con tiếp tục tiến bước và trung tín suốt chặng đường dài.

bởi Glenn Packiam

Chú Giải

Việc Ma-thi-ơ sử dụng lời tiên tri Cựu Ước thường gây tò mò, và đó là trường hợp trong Ma-thi-ơ 13:35. Sau khi Chúa Jêsus nói về các ẩn dụ, Ma-thi-ơ khẳng định rằng cách dạy dỗ này làm ứng nghiệm lời tiên tri. Tuy nhiên, câu trích dẫn của ông không phải đến từ một trong những tiên tri nổi tiếng của dân Y-sơ-ra-ên mà đến từ tác giả thi thiên A-sáp, người hướng dẫn thờ phượng trong Thi Thiên 78:2. Điều này có lẽ đã khiến những độc giả Do Thái ở thế kỷ đầu tiên bất ngờ, nhưng chúng ta thì không. Theo ý nghĩa nào đó, cả Cựu Ước đều nói về Chúa Jêsus bằng cách này hay cách khác. Khi đồng hành với hai môn đồ trên đường Em-ma-út vào ngày phục sinh, Chúa Jêsus đã giải thích cho họ về “những lời chỉ về Ngài trong cả Kinh Thánh” bắt đầu từ Môi-se và các Tiên tri (Lu-ca 24:27).

Bill Crowder

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