The Daily Bible Readings for FRIDAY, November 6, 2020

 

The Daily Readings
FRIDAY, November 6, 2020
Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 8:30-35; Revelation 9:13-21
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Ephesians 1:9-10

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

We have no idea all that God wants to do in and through us. In our limited understanding, we have yet to imagine what is possible for us—the intimacy with the Lord, power, freedom, spiritual blessings, and peace that belongs to us when we become His children (Eph. 1). But God—who is perfect in His knowledge and wisdom—does. And His Holy Spirit, who indwells us from the moment of our salvation, reveals the depths of His purpose and plan to us through His Word when we seek Him.

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 78:1-7
The power of God

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Commentary
These are called dark and deep sayings because they are carefully to be looked into. The law of God was given with a particular charge to teach it diligently to their children, that the church may abide forever. Also, that the providences of God, both in mercy and in judgment, might encourage them to conform to the will of God. The works of God much strengthen our resolution to keep his commandments. Hypocrisy is the high road to apostasy; those that do not set their hearts right will not be steadfast with God. Many parents, by negligence and wickedness, become murderers of their children. Though they are bound to submit in all things lawful, young persons must not obey sinful orders or copy sinful examples.

Joshua 8:30-35
Joshua renews the covenant

8:30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal,

31 As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.

32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

Commentary
As soon as Joshua got to the mountains Ebal and Gerizim, without delay, and without caring for the unsettled state of Israel or their enemies, he confirmed the covenant of the Lord with his people, as appointed, Deuteronomy chapters 11 and 27. We must not think to defer covenanting with God till we are settled in the world, nor must any business put us from minding and pursuing the one thing needful. The way to prosper is to begin with God, Matthew 6:33. They built an altar and offered sacrifice to God, in token of their dedicating themselves to God, as living sacrifices to his honor, in and by a Mediator. By Christ's sacrifice of himself for us, we have peace with God. It is a great mercy to any people to have the law of God in writing, and it is fit that the written law should be in a known tongue, that it may be seen and read of all men.

Revelation 9:13-21
Unrepentant humankind persists in sin

9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Commentary
The sixth angel sounded, and here the power of the Turks seems the subject. Their time is limited. They not only slew in war but brought a poisonous and ruinous religion. The antichristian generation repented not under these dreadful judgments. From this sixth trumpet, learn that God can make one enemy of the church a scourge and a plague to another. The idolatry in the remains of the eastern church and elsewhere, and the sins of professed Christians, render this prophecy and its fulfillment more wonderful. And the attentive reader of Scripture and history, may find his faith and hope strengthened by events, which in other respects fill his heart with anguish and his eyes with tears, while he sees that men who escape these plagues, repent not of their evil works, but go on with idolatries, wickedness, and cruelty, till wrath comes upon them to the utmost.

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

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, November 6, 2020
Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 8:30-35; Revelation 9:13-21 (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for FRIDAY, November 6, 2020

 

Prayer of the Day
FRIDAY, November 6, 2020

On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

— Isaiah 25:7–8 (NIV)

Lord our God, your kingdom is coming. Your help reaches us. However much we must suffer, we look to you, for you have given us your promise. You have promised that all shall go well with us. You have promised that while still on earth your people may have strength to trust in you and wait for you in patience and joy. So lay your hands upon us, O Lord our God, and let your redeeming strength be revealed in us. You know all our needs. You see into each heart and know how to help, as you have promised. Bless us and help us, and may your name be honored among us. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, November 6, 2020

 

Ephesians 1:9-10

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

We have no idea all that God wants to do in and through us. In our limited understanding, we have yet to imagine what is possible for us—the intimacy with the Lord, power, freedom, spiritual blessings, and peace that belongs to us when we become His children (Eph. 1). But God—who is perfect in His knowledge and wisdom—does. And His Holy Spirit, who indwells us from the moment of our salvation, reveals the depths of His purpose and plan to us through His Word when we seek Him.

Read all of Ephesians 1

Listen to Ephesians 1

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Calling Us Home

 

Calling Us Home

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.

— 2 Corinthians 5:6-9

For me, the worst part of traveling is saying goodbye.

Visiting and being with members of our family and friends in faraway places is always a delight. There is the exhilaration of seeing loved ones after a long time away. There is the joyous moment of meeting, and the warmness that comes from reminiscing on old times. There are the fresh stories to be shared and all the questions we have. There are also the hopes and plans we share for the future. And all this, oftentimes, is exchanged around a table of good food and drink, which make it all the more nicer.

But before all this ever begins, one knows it will end, too. And even while we're together, enjoying our reunion, we know we will soon be parting, and the goodbyes must come. That's when a sadness settles in. And like a dark and gloomy cloud that shuts out the sun's rays, all the warmth and pleasure of the visit—though just experienced—quickly becomes another memory.

Fortunately, the sting felt from departing is partly relieved by work and the plain and ordinary business of carrying on with life. Our return home is often softened too with the hope of some future gathering where we can once again enjoy each other's company.

It seems to me that all this has its parallel in our relationship with our Lord, and our eventual home and haven—heaven. There are many things in our lives that can keep us distant in our relationship with God. When by reason of pride, bitterness, discontent, sorrow, or even pleasure, material success, or some other distraction, we disconnect from God, we become detached, alone, and unhappy. The deep communion we need with God is absent; our hearts ache, and we know it's time to go return to Him.

If you sense you've become distant from God and your relationship with Him is not what it should be, He is calling you to Himself. It is only when we walk the path with Him, made possible by Jesus, that we will know contentment is this world. He is the soothing balm our wounds require; He is the One who bridged the distance between us and the Father through His life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus know this. That's why He said to you and me, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

"At home with the Lord"—where we will never have to say goodbye.

Heavenly Father, leads us to where You are. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Jon Suel

Reflection Questions:

1. When is the last time you traveled somewhere and really didn't want to leave?

2. Walking by faith and not sight is hard to do. How do you keep your spiritual focus on God?

3. Does knowing that Jesus has prepared a place in heaven for believers comfort you?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
The worst part of traveling is saying goodbye.

Standing Strong Through the Storm — CHOOSING LOVE OVER HATE

 

CHOOSING LOVE OVER HATE

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

— Romans 12:14

At the early age of eleven, Sam was living a pious Muslim life in the southern Philippines. He prayed at mosques on Fridays and fasted during Ramadan. Sam was the only one of his siblings sent to school, where he excelled both in classroom and sports. He was everybody’s favorite, popular and well-loved.

But everything changed one afternoon. After school, Sam passed by his grandfather’s house, who happened to be a Christian. He saw a maroon book with ‘Kitab Injil’ (The Gospel) written on the cover. He opened it and started reading. “I was drawn to Jesus because his teachings were so different...Help the needy, obey and respect parents, do not be a false witness...they were not taught in Islam. Before that, I only knew to repay evil with evil.”

So Sam committed his life to follow Jesus and His teachings in the Bible. He was just a fifth grader then. Although he was the only Christian in his family, Sam’s parents and siblings respected his new faith. But outside his home, among his friends, it was a different story. “You’re a kafir (infidel)! You are not my friend anymore.”

It was very painful for Sam to be deserted by his friend. His classmates at grade school kept a good distance from him. Some mocked him, calling him kafir. There were times during classes when kids would throw their shoes at him. They bullied him by writing stuff on his uniform, filling his bag with sand, and even punching him.

One day, a friend-turned-enemy yelled at him. “You Christians are filthy! Christians are garbage!” Sam cried and ran home. There were times when he was tempted to fight back, but he remembered the words of Jesus to love the enemies, to bless and not curse. In his heart, he prayed for those who bullied him and repaid them with a kind smile instead.

Now seventeen, Sam has endured physical harassment, insults, and discrimination from friends and school mates for boldly telling them that he is a Christian.

After Sam joined the Open Doors’ discipleship program for MBB youths, he has become even bolder in seizing every opportunity to share his faith in Jesus. Sam knows that doing so might cost him his life someday.

“When I think of my friends, my heart breaks. I lost them, and though they turned out to be my enemies, I don’t hate them. Instead, I pray for them that one day they will meet my Lord Jesus and be changed.”

RESPONSE: Jesus wants me to not repay evil with evil but rather love, bless, and pray for those who are my enemies.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to live among those who oppose me with the character of Jesus and respond to them with love and not hate.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
At the early age of eleven, Sam was living a pious Muslim life in the southern Philippines. He prayed at mosques on Fridays and fasted during Ramadan. Sam was the only one of his siblings sent to school, where he excelled both in classroom and sports. He was everybody’s favorite, popular and well-loved.

Men of the Bible — Luke

 

Luke

His name means: “Light-Giving”

His work: He was a Gentile by birth, a physician by trade, and a journalist by calling.
His character: A humble man willing to be used rather than lauded.
His sorrow: An eyewitness to the sinfulness and jealousy of the religious elite in their support of the torture and execution of many faithful believers.
His triumph: The opportunity to chronicle the story of Jesus and the account of the founding of the church.
Key Scriptures: Luke 1-2; Acts 27

A Look at the Man

Luke may have been born in Antioch, just across the Mediterranean’s northeast corner from Paul’s birthplace in Tarsus. There is no record of how Luke was converted to Christianity, but it may have been through the witness of Nicolas, who, along with Stephen, was one of the seven deacons selected by the apostles to care for the Greek-speaking believers.

Luke accompanied Paul to the city of Troas during Paul’s second missionary journey. They were compatible traveling companions, so Luke joined Paul as often as he could, eventually becoming his full-time associate.

As a professional accustomed to disciplined study, Luke decided to undertake a massive assignment—writing an account of Jesus’ life and chronicling the church’s founding and early development. Two years of waiting for Paul’s trial in Rome gave him ample solitude to organize the documents and memories from his experiences and travels—then to document them in writing.

Before they voyaged to Rome, Luke had also accompanied Paul during his two-year imprisonment under the custody of the Roman governor in Caesarea. During that time, he had begun to organize his notes for his gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He probably traveled throughout the region to collect the material he would need to pen the gospel account during those years. An accomplished historian, Luke knew the value of personally interviewing eyewitnesses. He carefully organized his work to ensure accuracy.

Once Paul had been ordered to travel to Rome, Luke joined him on the harrowing voyage across the Great Sea. On their way, their ship was destroyed near the island of Malta. Everyone aboard narrowly escaped with their lives. So it was with a great deal of emotion that Luke began writing once they arrived in Rome.

Because Luke had personally visited many of the cities Paul had visited, he could collect detailed accounts of what happened as the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, and the message of Jesus spread throughout the known world. Visits with apostles and witnesses along the way gave Luke not only the information but also the inspiration to finish his task.

Luke soberly accepted his God-given assignment. He was fully aware that his account would be the only one penned by a non-Jew. Luke’s greatest desire was that the truth of the message would go beyond its provincial beginnings to touch the souls of those who had never seen or heard for themselves. He probably hoped to reach hundreds, maybe thousands. What he couldn’t have known was that these two documents—the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles—would be read and studied by millions for generations to come.

Reflect On: Psalm 95:1–7
Praise God: For his majesty.
Offer Thanks: For calling you to obedience and service.
Confess: Your eagerness for significance rather than your passion for submission.
Ask God: To give you a servant’s heart, to serve him with gratitude.

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.
There is no record of how Luke was converted to Christianity, but it may have been through the witness of Nicolas, who, along with Stephen, was one of the seven deacons selected by the apostles to care for the Greek-speaking believers.

John Piper Devotional — Love One Another Gladly

 

Love One Another Gladly

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

— Micah 6:8

No one has ever felt unloved because he was told that the attainment of his joy would make another person happy. I have never been accused of selfishness when justifying a kindness on the basis that it delights me. On the contrary, loving acts are genuine to the degree that they are not done begrudgingly.

And the good alternative to begrudgingly is not neutrally or dutifully, but gladly. The authentic heart of love “loves kindness” (Micah 6:8); it doesn’t just do kindness. Christian Hedonism forces this truth into consideration.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:2–4).

Read these sentences in reverse order and notice the logic. First, being born of God gives a power that conquers the world. This is given as the ground or basis (“For”) for the statement that the commandments of God are not burdensome.

So being born of God gives a power that conquers our worldly aversion to the will of God. Now his commandments are not “burdensome,” but are the desire and delight of our heart. This is the love of God: not just that we do his commandments, but also that they are not burdensome.

Then in verse 2, the evidence of the genuineness of our love for the children of God is said to be the love of God. What does this teach us about our love for the children of God?

Since love for God is doing his will gladly rather than with a sense of burden, and since love for God is the measure of the genuineness of our love for the children of God, therefore our love for the children of God must also be made gladly rather than begrudgingly.

Christian Hedonism stands squarely in the service of love, for it presses us on to glad obedience.
No one has ever felt unloved because he was told that the attainment of his joy would make another person happy.

Un dia a la Vez — El juicio a los demás

 

El juicio a los demás

¿Por qué te fijas en la astilla que tiene tu hermano en el ojo, y no le das importancia a la viga que está en el tuyo?

— Mateo 7:3

Quizá hoy sea el primer día que tomas este libro devocional en tus manos. Por eso quiero decirte que hace quince días estamos analizando los principios que nuestro Dios dejó para que tengamos una vida feliz. Este es un recorrido de veintiún días en los que estamos considerando todas las esferas que nos pueden afectar por la manera en que vivimos. Así que en oración le pedimos a Dios que nos dé entendimiento y que logremos obedecer su Palabra.

El juicio que hacemos de los demás dice mucho de nuestro carácter. No tenemos derecho a juzgar a nadie. Eso sí que es feo y es más común de lo que pensamos. Los cristianos especialmente somos ligeros para juzgar, pues somos rudos y duros con los demás.

Si alguno cae o falla, somos los primeros en hablar y evaluar.

¿Acaso olvidamos cómo hemos sido? ¿Es que no nos acordamos del fango del que nos sacó o nos rescató el Señor? Pidámosle a Dios que nos dé amor y misericordia por los demás.

Y que podamos tener en cuenta que nos medirán con la misma medida que medimos a otros.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Quizá hoy sea el primer día que tomas este libro devocional en tus manos. Por eso quiero decirte que hace quince días estamos analizando los principios que nuestro Dios dejó para que tengamos una vida feliz.

Devocional CPTLN — Llamándonos a casa

 

Llamándonos a casa

Así que siempre vivimos en plena confianza, aunque sabemos que mientras vivamos en este cuerpo no estamos en el hogar celestial con el Señor. Pues vivimos por lo que creemos y no por lo que vemos. Sí, estamos plenamente confiados, y preferiríamos estar fuera de este cuerpo terrenal porque entonces estaríamos en el hogar celestial con el Señor. Así que, ya sea que estemos aquí en este cuerpo o ausentes de este cuerpo, nuestro objetivo es agradarlo a él.

— 2 Corintios 5:6-9 NTV

Para mí, la peor parte de viajar es despedirse.

Visitar a familiares y amigos en lugares lejanos después de mucho tiempo de no verlos, siempre es un placer. El momento alegre del encuentro y el recordar los viejos tiempos llenan el corazón de calidez. Hay historias frescas para contar, preguntas para hacer y contestar, esperanzas y planes para compartir, y todo esto muchas veces se hace en torno a una mesa de comida, que lo hace aún más agradable.

Pero antes de que todo esto comience, uno sabe que también terminará. E incluso mientras estamos juntos, disfrutando del reencuentro, sabemos que pronto nos separaremos. Ahí es cuando la tristeza se instala y, como una nube oscura y lúgubre que oculta los rayos del sol, toda la calidez y el placer de la visita, aunque recién experimentada, rápidamente se convierte en otro recuerdo.

Afortunadamente, el dolor que se siente al partir se alivia en parte con el trabajo y la simple tarea de continuar con la vida. Nuestro regreso a casa a menudo también se suaviza con la esperanza de algún encuentro futuro en el que podamos disfrutar una vez más de la compañía del otro.

Todo esto tiene su paralelo en nuestra relación con nuestro Señor y nuestro eventual hogar y refugio: el cielo. Hay muchas cosas que pueden mantenernos distantes en nuestra relación con Dios: orgullo, amargura, descontento, tristeza o incluso placer o éxito material nos desconectan de Dios, nos volvemos desapegados, solos e infelices. La profunda comunión que necesitamos con Dios está ausente; nos duele el corazón, y sabemos que es hora de volver a Él.

Si sientes que te has distanciado de Dios, debes saber que Él te está llamando. Sólo cuando recorremos el camino con Él, hecho posible por Jesús, podemos sentirnos conformes en este mundo. Él es el bálsamo que requieren nuestras heridas; quien acortó la distancia entre nosotros y el Padre a través de su vida, muerte y resurrección.

Jesús sabe esto. Por eso nos dijo: "No se turbe su corazón. Ustedes creen en Dios; crean también en mí. En la casa de mi Padre hay muchos aposentos. Si así no fuera, ya les hubiera dicho. Así que voy a preparar lugar para ustedes. Y si me voy y les preparo lugar, vendré otra vez, y los llevaré conmigo, para que donde yo esté, también ustedes estén"(Juan 14:1-3). En casa con el Señor, donde nunca tendremos que despedirnos.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, llévanos donde tú estás. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Jon Suel

Para reflexionar:

* Es difícil caminar solo por fe. ¿Cómo mantienes tu mirada enfocada en Dios?

* ¿Te consuela saber que Jesús ha preparado un lugar en el cielo para los creyentes?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Para mí, la peor parte de viajar es despedirse.

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày — Vụ Mùa Ngọt Ngào Nhất

 

Vụ Mùa Ngọt Ngào Nhất

Đọc: Ê-sai 5:1-7 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Giê-rê-mi 37-39; Hê-bơ-rơ 3

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Ta là cây nho, các con là cành. Ai cứ ở trong Ta, và Ta trong người ấy thì sinh ra nhiều quả.

— Giăng 15:5

Khi mua nhà, chúng tôi được thừa hưởng một giàn nho. Vì mới làm vườn nên gia đình tôi dành khá nhiều thời gian để học tỉa cành, tưới nước và chăm sóc nó. Mùa thu hoạch đầu tiên đến, tôi ăn thử một quả nho và thất vọng với vị chua không hề dễ chịu.

Sự thất vọng mà tôi cảm nhận khi cẩn thận chăm sóc cho giàn nho chỉ để thu hoạch sự chua chát, làm vang vọng Ê-sai 5. Chúng ta thấy hình bóng về mối liên hệ của Đức Chúa Trời với dân Y-sơ-ra-ên. Chúa, với hình ảnh người nông dân, đã dọn sạch sườn đồi đầy đá sỏi, trồng vào đó những cây nho tốt tươi, xây tháp canh để bảo vệ, và đào hầm ép rượu để thưởng thức thành quả của Ngài (Ês. 5:1-2). Nhưng Ngài thất vọng nhận ra rằng vườn nho, tượng trưng cho dân Y-sơ-ra-ên, đã sinh ra những quả nho chua chát của ích kỷ, bất công và áp bức (c.7). Cuối cùng, Chúa buộc phải hủy diệt vườn nho, chỉ giữ lấy một phần còn sót của những cây nho mà một ngày kia sẽ cho ra vụ mùa bội thu.

Trong Phúc Âm Giăng, Chúa Jêsus nhắc lại minh họa về vườn nho, Ngài phán: “Ta là cây nho; các con là cành. Ai cứ ở trong Ta, và Ta trong người ấy thì sinh ra nhiều quả” (Gi.15:5). Trong hình ảnh tương đồng này, Chúa mô tả những tín hữu ở trong Ngài như những nhánh nho được liên kết với Ngài, là thân cây. Khi gắn kết với Chúa Jêsus qua việc nương cậy vào Thánh Linh Ngài trong sự cầu nguyện, chúng ta sẽ trực tiếp nhận lãnh nguồn dinh dưỡng thuộc linh sinh ra tình yêu, là bông trái ngọt lành nhất.

Việc luôn kết nối với Chúa Jêsus sản sinh tình yêu trong đời sống bạn như thế nào? Những phước hạnh khác của việc được gắn kết với Ngài là gì?

Lạy Chúa Jêsus, cảm ơn Ngài đã tạo ra bông trái tốt lành trong đời sống con khi con liên hiệp với Ngài. Xin sự sống của Chúa tuôn tràn qua con để tình yêu chan chứa hơn nữa trong đời sống con.

bởi Lisa M. Samra

Chú Giải

Ê-sai (tên ông có nghĩa là “Đức Giê-hô-va là sự cứu rỗi”) đã có một khởi đầu thú vị cho chức vụ tiên tri của mình. Trong Ê-sai 1-5, vị tiên tri thốt lên một loạt câu “khốn thay” đối với dân Y-sơ-ra-ên. Quyển Chú Thích Kiến Thức Kinh Thánh cho chúng ta biết ‘khốn thay’ là “thán từ nói về sự đau khổ hoặc về mối đe dọa khi đối diện với hiện tại hoặc tai họa sắp xảy đến”. Trong chương 6, sau khi vua Ô-xia băng hà, tiên tri Ê-sai được đưa đến trước ngai Đức Chúa Trời và cảnh tượng thật choáng ngợp đến nỗi lúc đó ông phải thốt lên câu ‘khốn thay’ cho chính mình. Ê-sai nói: “Khốn cho tôi! Tôi chết mất! Vì tôi là người có môi ô uế ở giữa một dân có môi ô uế, bởi mắt tôi đã thấy Vua, tức là Đức Giê-hô-va vạn quân!” (c.5) Khi nhìn thấy Chúa, Ê-sai ý thức sâu sắc về sự tội lỗi của chính mình, chứ không chỉ là sự suy bại của quốc gia.

Bill Crowder

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Vì mới làm vườn nên gia đình tôi dành khá nhiều thời gian để học tỉa cành, tưới nước và chăm sóc nó. Mùa thu hoạch đầu tiên đến, tôi ăn thử một quả nho và thất vọng với vị chua không hề dễ chịu.