The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, July 6, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, July 6, 2020

Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 27:30-46; Romans 1:18-25

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Song of love

8  Listen! My beloved!
     Look! Here he comes,
   leaping across the mountains,
     bounding over the hills.
9  My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
     Look! There he stands behind our wall,
   gazing through the windows,
     peering through the lattice.
10 My beloved spoke and said to me,
     “Arise, my darling,
     my beautiful one, come with me.
11 See! The winter is past;
     the rains are over and gone.
12 Flowers appear on the earth;
     the season of singing has come,
   the cooing of doves
     is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
     the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
   Arise, come, my darling;
     my beautiful one, come with me.”

Genesis 27:30-46

Esau blessed; Jacob escapes Esau

27:30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”

32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.”

33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!”

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!”

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.

39 His father Isaac answered him,

   “Your dwelling will be
     away from the earth’s richness,
     away from the dew of heaven above.
40 You will live by the sword
     and you will serve your brother.
   But when you grow restless,
     you will throw his yoke
     from off your neck.”

41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”

Romans 1:18-25

The guilt of humankind

1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Daily Lectionary is 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 Lectionary for MONDAY, July 6, 2020
Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 27:30-46; Romans 1:18-25

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, July 6, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, July 6, 2020

Jan Hus (1372—1415)

Jan Hus was born in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). He helped launch a vigorous reform of the church in a particularly difficult time in our history known as the Great Schism. Amid highly politicized divisions of God’s people, Hus pursued a mystical and evangelical approach, insisting that Christ alone is head of the church. To partisans on both sides, his views seemed idealistic at best, and at worst a dreamy anarchism or heresy. Hus maintained a creative loyalty to the church while challenging its pathologies. He was burned at the stake during the Council of Constance in 1415, and his death helped give birth to the Moravian Church. As he died, he said this: “It is better to die well than to live wickedly.… Truth conquers all things.”

Mother Teresa once said, “Our vocation is to belong to Jesus so completely that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. What you and I must do is nothing less than putting our love for Christ into practice. The important thing is not how much we accomplish, but how much love we put into our deeds every day. That is the measure of our love for God.”

Lord, we are bound to you by grace, grafted into your kingdom by love. Since the beginning of time you have found ways to be present with us, your children. Teach us to embody your loving presence in all that we do this day. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, July 6, 2020

Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Read all of Matthew 24

Listen to Matthew 24

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Lunes 06 de julio de 2020

Semana de pacto con Dios: Camino de santidad

Dignos de confianza son, Señor, tus estatutos; ¡la santidad es para siempre el adorno de tu casa!

— Salmo 93:5

Uno de los cantantes cristianos más reconocidos es Jesús Adrián Romero. Tiene canciones muy especiales, pero hay una es particular que nos invita a cuidar nuestra boca, los ojos, las manos y guardarlos como una ofrenda a Dios en un acto de santidad.

Con esto, no me refiero a que no puedas hacer nada porque todo sea pecado, sino a que nos guardemos para no caer más fácil de lo que caemos en la tentación. Además, que le pidamos al Señor que nos ayude a hacer compromisos que lograremos con la ayuda y el favor de Dios.

Sabemos que cada uno de nosotros tiene diferentes debilidades que muchas veces nos han metido en aprietos y que han sido grandes luchas. Cuando estamos alejados de Dios, o no le conocemos, la vida en santidad no nos preocupa y ni siquiera pensamos en las consecuencias. Sin embargo, tú debes saber que cuando tomaste la decisión de recibir a Jesús en tu corazón, las cosas que haces sí tienen consecuencias y no quedan solo atrás y ya.

Por eso, Dios dejó establecido mandamientos a fin de que los cumplamos. De no ser así, recuerda que tendremos una responsabilidad por nuestros actos.

Con esta reflexión pretendo invitarte a que te guardes y aprendas a identificar esas piedras que te están haciendo tropezar. Esta semana haremos decisiones trascendentales para la vida y sabrás que serán de mucha bendición.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Uno de los cantantes cristianos más reconocidos es Jesús Adrián Romero.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, July 6, 2020

THE WORD OF GOD IS LIFE

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

— Isaiah 40:8

Amir, a young Algerian man, was temporarily staying in an apartment of a friend while recovering from depression. His friend had moved out leaving only a few items behind, but unbeknownst to him, he had left behind his most prized possession, God’s Word!

“While I was cleaning the apartment, I found a New Testament,” Amir says. “This New Testament changed my life. I found the Lord Jesus Christ by reading the book.” In the following months leading into years, he kept reading the Bible. Slowly, his depression lifted and the recovery and healing began to transform his life.

Amir continues, “One day I was watching Christian satellite TV and I saw the phone number of another Christian in Algeria. I immediately contacted that person and soon afterward we met, which was great. This brother in Christ brought me into contact with a small group of believers, which I am attending regularly now. Praise to God for His healing and mercy. And thanks to the one who forgot his New Testament in the apartment.”

Meanwhile, Brother Gideon is in prison in Eritrea with a group of other believers because of their faith. He says, “The government representatives came up with a new idea to ask us to stop our faith and sign an agreement that we will not read the Bible. We will not pray and not have a meeting of more than two people. If we comply with that, we will sign and they will release us from the prison. But I told them I will not. Because of the Holy Spirit’s assurance in me I was ready to face anything…I said ‘No, Christ is my life. As Paul said in the book of Ephesians that for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’

“They beat every part of my body…until I almost died. I was thinking of Jesus. What an honor for me to share his affiliation. I remember I said to myself inside, ‘Lord, please forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing to me, but I give you my soul to rest in your hand.’

“They took us to the prison again. After three months we had a Bible smuggled in without their knowledge. We tore the pages out of different Bible books and we distributed those to different cells.

“We chose four believers to take responsibility to do distribution of the parts of the Bible. I was one of those four chosen believers and it was my responsibility to coordinate all these things. Because there is no paper in the prison cells, I was using toilet paper to write verses of the Bible and send them to others. When the government agents searched our cell, they found all those verses I sent to the sisters. They asked ‘Who sent those papers, those verses?’ When they found it was me, they put me under severe torture for months. There was no part of my body without pain.

“One of the persecutors asked me a question. ‘Why you are paying so big a price? Why don’t you renounce your faith and live a peaceful life?’ I replied, ‘To me, the Word of God is life!’”

RESPONSE: Today I will honor and prize God’s Word and build my life upon its everlasting promises.

PRAYER: Pray for those in prisons around the world who pay a huge price for loving God’s Word.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

Women of the Bible - Monday, July 6, 2020

The Widow of Zarephath

Her character: A Phoenician woman, she showed extraordinary hospitality to one of God's prophets, providing a safe harbor for him during a period of famine.
Her sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son.
Her joy: To experience repeated miracles of God's provision.
Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 17:8-24; Luke 4:25-26

Her Story

Her arms were spindly and rough, like the dry twigs she had gathered for kindling. Her body shook as she stood over the fire, greedily sipping and sucking the steam from the pan, as though the smell of frying bread could fill her belly and soothe her fears. She had lived her life a stone's throw from the Mediterranean, at Zarephath, seven miles south of Sidon, in a territory ruled by Jezebel's father. She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked.

Tears escaped her eyes, try as she might to blink them back. How hard it was to suffer her fears alone, to wake in the night with no one to warm her, no one to whisper sweet lies about tomorrow. If only her husband were alive to squeeze a harvest from the fields. But he had died before the drought, leaving her with a small son, a house, and little else. Every night she hoped for rain, but every morning she woke to a brilliant sky.

Though she starved herself to feed her child, his distended belly accused her. His need condemned her. She had failed in the most basic ways a mother could, unable to protect, nurture, and provide. These days she stood with shoulders hunched as though to hide her breasts. Today she had scraped the last bit of flour from the barrel and poured the last drop of oil from the jug. She began to prepare for a final supper for herself and her child.

But then a stranger had called to her: "Woman, would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"

Graciously, she had gone to fetch it, only to have him call after her, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."

Is the man mad? she wondered. He might as well ask me to snap my fingers and produce a cow to feast on.

She turned on her heel and replied, "As surely as the Lord your God lives, I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die."

But the man had persisted. "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.'"

Instead of cursing the stranger for his callousness, as we might expect, the woman did exactly as he had requested, feeding him the food she had reserved for herself and her son.

The woman from Zarephath wasn't a Jew, but a Phoenician. She had no idea that the stranger was Elijah, a prophet who had the gall to inform King Ahab that God was withholding rain to punish Israel's idolatry. She would have been astonished to learn that this same God had instructed Elijah to "go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food."

The widow of Zarephath had felt utterly alone, not knowing God had his eye on her. Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had.

After that, every time she dipped her hand into the flour, every time she poured oil from the jug, the widow saw another miracle unfold, another sign of favor, additional evidence of God's provision. Just as Elijah had promised, the supply of flour and oil lasted day after day, month after month, never failing until at last the rains came and revived the land.

How like God to construct a parable of grace during a time of judgment, to display his mercy and power in the midst of weakness and need. The widow's faith saved not only her son and herself but actually provided a refuge for Elijah, who may have wondered why God chose such flimsy protection—a destitute woman who lived in the territory of his worst enemy, Jezebel.

Later, the widow's faith would again be tested when her young son died. But she would also be the first woman to witness God's power to raise the dead, which he did in response to Elijah's repeated prayers on behalf of her child. As a woman who endured extreme difficulties, her story reveals God's power to provide what we need the most—a commodity of the heart called faith.

Her Promise

God doesn't ignore the needs of those who cannot help themselves. He doesn't urge them to pick themselves up and get going when they have no resources to do so. He doesn't pat them on the back and say he's sorry life is so tough. Instead, he sometimes intervenes by miraculous understatement, in this case by making sure that a little bit of oil and flour—just enough for a small loaf—didn't run out.

An unexpected check comes just when you need it. Another mother gives you her kids' outgrown clothing so you can clothe your own children. God uses something or someone to change your husband's heart just when you thought he didn't love you anymore. Our God is still a miraculous provider, granting what we need sometimes in the most unexpected ways.

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.
She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked.

LHM Daily Devotions - July 6, 2020 - "Satisfied"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Satisfied"

July 6, 2020

O You who hear prayer, to You shall all flesh come. When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple!

— Psalm 65:2-4

"When iniquities prevail." We know what that is like. We might be tempted first to look at the world around us, seeing iniquity in every direction, in all of those other people. But then, with more honesty, we look at the iniquity in our own lives. We may feel overwhelmed by sin and shame. We think our guilt is too great and we cannot be forgiven. We may try to relieve the burden of sin for ourselves and remove that great weight of iniquity, or at least forget about it, maybe even through drugs or alcohol. We may even embrace the burden and continue in willful sin. We may seek help from those who ultimately prove to be false teachers, the ones who promise, "'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14b).

True peace is found only through the forgiveness of sins, and the only true help when sin prevails is the only One who hears our prayers. Christ our Lord atoned for our transgressions. Those two words, transgress and atone, describe the trap of sin in which we find ourselves and what was done to set us free. Transgress, similar to another word for sin, trespass, means to step across a line. With His holy commands, God has drawn a line in the sand, a line we must not cross. Yet in rebellion against His will, from Adam and Eve, who ate the fruit forbidden to them, to our own daily choices, we step across that line. We do what we should not do and fail to do the good that God commands. As Adam and Eve once fled from God's presence, our transgressions multiply and separate us from God. "Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God" (Isaiah 59:2a).

Only the One to whom we pray could save us. Jesus came to atone for our transgressions. The word atone expresses its own meaning; it is one word created out of two: at one. Jesus came to atone for our sins, to reconcile us to God, to make us at one with Him. Our Savior never once transgressed, never once crossed that line of God's holy commands. Then the innocent Son of God took the burden of our iniquities onto Himself and carried them to the cross. There He took the penalty of death in our place. Through Jesus, God reconciled us to Himself, "making peace by the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20b).

"Blessed is the one You choose and bring near." We have been called by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, the Good News of all that Christ Jesus has done for us. God has crossed the line that separated us from Himself and brought us near. The burden of sin is lifted as we repent and leave our sins at the foot of the cross. Our iniquities have been swallowed up forever in the empty tomb of that first Easter morning, and we are satisfied.

THE PRAYER: Lord God, You have heard our prayers and forgiven our transgressions. In Jesus' Name, accept our grateful praise. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does knowing your sins are forgiven by God bring you peace?

2. Is going to God's house, your church, an important activity for you?

3. Do you have particular sins you need to be "on guard" against?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
How does knowing your sins are forgiven by God bring you peace?

Devocional CPTLN del 06 de julio de 2020 - Satisfechos

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Satisfechos

06 de Julio de 2020

... tú escuchas nuestras oraciones. A ti acude todo el género humano. Nuestras malas acciones nos dominan, pero tú perdonas nuestras rebeliones. ¡Cuán dichoso es aquel a quien tú escoges y lo llevas a vivir en tus atrios! Nosotros quedamos plenamente satisfechos con las bondades de tu casa, con las bendiciones de tu santo templo.

— Salmo 65:2-4

"Nuestras malas acciones nos dominan." Sabemos cómo es eso. Quizás nos sintamos tentados a mirar las malas acciones de las personas que nos rodean. Pero si somos honestos, las vemos en nuestra vida. Quizás nos sintamos abrumados por el pecado y la vergüenza, creyendo que nuestra culpa es tan grande que no puede ser perdonada. Quizás tratemos de aliviar la carga del pecado por nosotros mismos en un esfuerzo por eliminar o al menos olvidar su gran peso, tal vez incluso a través de drogas o alcohol. O quizás nos aferramos a esa carga y continuamos viviendo en pecado. Quizás buscamos ayuda en quienes al final resultan ser maestros falsos que prometen, "paz, paz", cuando no hay paz (Jeremías 6:14b).

Es que la verdadera paz solo se encuentra cuando nuestros pecados son perdonados, y la ayuda verdadera cuando prevalece el pecado solo la recibimos del Aquel que escucha nuestras oraciones. Cristo, nuestro Señor, expió nuestras transgresiones. Esas dos palabras, transgredir y expiar, describen la trampa del pecado en la que nos encontramos y lo que se hizo para liberarnos. Transgredir significa cruzar una línea. Con sus mandamientos Dios ha dibujado una línea que no debemos cruzar. Sin embargo, ya desde Adán y Eva, que comieron el fruto que Dios les había prohibido, hasta nuestras elecciones diarias, cruzamos esa línea en rebelión contra su voluntad. Hacemos lo que no debemos hacer y no hacemos el bien que Dios manda. De la misma manera en que Adán y Eva huyeron de la presencia de Dios, nuestras transgresiones se multiplican y nos separan de Dios. "Son las iniquidades de ustedes las que han creado una división entre ustedes y su Dios" (Isaías 59:2a).

Solo Aquel a quien rezamos puede salvarnos. Jesús vino para expiar nuestros pecados, para reconciliarnos con Dios, para hacernos uno con Él. Nuestro Salvador nunca transgredió, nunca cruzó esa línea marcada por los mandamientos de Dios. El inocente Hijo de Dios tomó la carga de nuestras iniquidades sobre Sí mismo y las llevó a la cruz. Allí sufrió la pena de muerte en nuestro lugar. A través de Jesús, Dios nos reconcilió consigo mismo "haciendo la paz mediante la sangre de su cruz" (Colosenses 1:20b).

"¡Cuán dichoso es aquel a quien tú escoges y lo llevas a vivir en tus atrios!". El Espíritu Santo nos ha llamado a través del Evangelio, la Buena Nueva de todo lo que Cristo Jesús ha hecho por nosotros. Dios ha cruzado la línea que nos separaba de sí mismo y nos ha acercado. La culpa del pecado desaparece cuando nos arrepentimos y dejamos nuestros pecados al pie de la cruz. Nuestras iniquidades se han enterrado para siempre en la tumba vacía de esa primera mañana de Pascua, y por ello estamos satisfechos.

ORACIÓN: Señor Dios, gracias por escuchar nuestras oraciones y perdonar nuestras transgresiones. En el nombre de Jesús, acepta nuestra agradecida alabanza. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿De qué manera te trae paz el saber que Dios te perdona tus pecados?

* ¿Tienes algún pecado en particular del cual debes cuidarte?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿De qué manera te trae paz el saber que Dios te perdona tus pecados?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Un arbre verdoyant

Un arbre verdoyant

Lisez : Proverbes 11.24-30
La Bible en un an : Job 34 – 35 ; Actes 15.1-21

Celui qui se confie dans ses richesses tombera, mais les justes verdiront comme le feuillage.

— Proverbes 11.28

Je suis collectionneur dans l’âme. Enfant, je collectionnais les timbres. Les cartes de baseball. Les bandes dessinées. Maintenant que je suis parent, je vois ce même intérêt chez mes enfants. Je me demande parfois : As-tu vraiment besoin d’un autre ours en peluche ? 

Bien entendu, ce n’est pas une question de besoin. C’est plutôt l’attrait de la nouveauté. Ou encore parfois la tentation de posséder quelque chose de vieux, de rare. Peu importe ce qui captive notre imagination, nous sommes enclins à croire que, si seulement nous l’avions, notre vie serait meilleure. Nous serions heureux. Satisfaits.

Sauf que ces choses ne nous contentent jamais. Pourquoi ? Parce que Dieu nous a créés de manière à ce que nous soyons remplis de lui, et non en possession des choses qui, selon notre monde, satisferont nos désirs.

Cette tension n’a rien de nouveau. Les Proverbes mettent en contraste deux modes de vie : celui consacré à poursuivre les richesses et celui ancré dans l’amour pour Dieu et la générosité. Dans The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrase ainsi Proverbes 11.28 : « La vie consacrée aux choses est morte, une souche ; la vie façonnée selon Dieu est un arbre verdoyant. »

Quelle image ! Une vie épanouie et fructueuse ou une vie vide et stérile. Pour le monde l’abondance matérielle équivaut à « la belle vie ». Par contraste, Dieu nous invite à nous enraciner en lui, à goûter sa bonté et à porter du fruit. Ainsi, il transformera notre cœur et nos désirs du tout au tout.

Père, merci pour tes dons généreux. Aide-moi à mettre ma confiance en toi plutôt que dans les chose du monde.

Ne nous concentrons pas sur les biens matériels, mais plutôt sur ce que Dieu seul peut nous procurer.

par Adam R. Holz

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
As-tu vraiment besoin d’un autre ours en peluche ?

The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, July 5, 2020 — 5th Sunday After Pentecost

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, July 5, 2020 — 5th Sunday After Pentecost

[Ordinary 14, Proper 9]

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Come to Me!

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Opening Statement

Emerging from each of these vivid texts is the power of discovery. The faithful servant stumbles across Providence's plan as he helps Isaac and Rebekah discover one another (Genesis 24). Yahweh's works exist to "make known to all people" the splendor of God's kingdom (Psalm 145:12). The Apostle discovers that regardless of intention, evil is never far away (Romans 7:21). Finally, Our Lord Jesus invites us to discover a secret—what has been hidden from the wise intelligentsia is given to those who would come to him (Matthew 11:25b, 28).

Opening Prayer

(adapted from Genesis 24, Romans 7)

Like an oasis in the desert, worship satisfies our sin-besieged souls. Today, help us find the good in this life by delighting in your presence, and help us find the hope you have placed in our innermost selves. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful and loving God, we are so grateful for your redeeming love for each one of us. We confess that there have been times of doubt in our spirits. We confess that when the times of difficulties are upon us, we don’t always believe that you will take our burdens. We feel we have to always be in control, trying to demand the desired outcome. Help us to place our trust in you. Remind us that you surround us continually with your care, you never just let us go to drift aimlessly about. Open our hearts and spirits again to your healing powers. For we pray these things in the name of Jesus, the one who will take our burdens and give us peace. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hear the good news, dear friends! Jesus releases us from our burdens. Place your whole trust in his love. Amen.

The Collect

(from the Book of Common Prayers)

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

You are great, O God, and greatly to be praised. You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Grant that we may believe in you, call upon you, know you, and serve you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67

Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah

24:34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’

42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,” 44 and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’

45 “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also.

47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’

“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’

“Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”

 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,” she said.

59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

   “Our sister, may you increase
     to thousands upon thousands;
   may your offspring possess
     the cities of their enemies.”

61 Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.

66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Psalm 45:10-17

God has anointed you

10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
     Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
     honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,
     people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
     her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
     her virgin companions follow her—
     those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,
     they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
     you will make them princes throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
     therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

Second Reading

Romans 7:15-25a

The struggle within the self

7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25a Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Gospel Acclamation

(Matt. 11:25)

Alleluia.

Blessed are you, Lord of heav’n and earth; You have revealed these things to little children.

Alleluia.

The Gospel

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

The yoke of discipleship

11:16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
     and you did not dance;
   we sang a dirge,
     and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Here end the Readings

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostles’ Creed

• I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

• I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

• I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Holy Communion

A nondenominational serving of bread and wine

Many churches around the world are working hard to adapt to online worship, and one challenge is how our members can celebrate communion from home. Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present.

Benediction

Weary travelers, go now in peace with the love of Christ in your hearts. You are released from your burdens! Go with joy to serve God. Amen.

Rest in Me

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Daily Lectionary for SUNDAY, July 5, 2020 — 5th Sunday After Pentecost
Come to Me!
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

“Come to Me!”

Today, our gospel message comes to us from the 11th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 28th verse.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Father, You sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them, we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us worship you, one God in three persons, And reveal yourself in the depths of our being, by proclaiming and living our faith in you. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

“Come to Me!”

Consider WHO is asking us to come, HOW LONG it will take, WHERE he is taking us, WHAT he is asking us to do, and WHY?

Jesus wants EVERYONE to be saved, but in this text, He doesn’t seem to want EVERYONE to come. He only wants certain kinds of people—the WEARY and BURDENED. He doesn’t ask the rich or the wealthy or the energetic or the happy-go-lucky. He exclusively asks only for the weary and burdened: the two go together—it’s an invitation to people who are weary because of carrying a burden.

It’s a neat thing that Jesus doesn’t limit it to a particular type of burden or weariness. It can be any kind. You can be weary of working so hard at your job. You can be weary of being sick. You can be weary of living because every part of your body aches. You can be weary because you are sick and tired of arguing with your spouse, parents, or children. You can be weary of everyone asking you for help. ANYONE who is weary is told to come. You can be weary of having everyone attacking you for one thing or another.

A woman at the well in Samaria who had led a very promiscuous life—she was in and out of relationships. She would be the last one you would think would settle down and want to come to Jesus. Yet when Jesus spoke to her, He saw that she was tired of her broken relationships. She was almost ready for rest, but she didn’t realize it. So He spoke to her about her lifestyle and welcomed her to come to Him.

Why doesn’t He ask for the healthy and the energetic and the successful? It isn’t that He doesn’t want them, it’s just that they don’t want what he has to offer anyway. They don’t want to rest. It reminded me of when my children were younger. When you said the word “nap” they treated it as torture! They would run and hide. When daughter was born, I tried to bargain with her. I’ll read this one book, and then it’s time to sleep—no complaining! “Ok! Yes, yes,” she would say. But then when I finished the book, she would howl and howl. I soon realized that I couldn’t reason with her at bedtime. I just had to force her to lie down.

Who are those who don’t want to come to Jesus? Those who don’t think they need a nap—those who are too busy to rest. Everything is going well for them. They’re healthy. They’re successful. Their business is going well. Their children are successful. They are happy in life and active—very active. They have work to do. They have places to visit. It isn’t really that Jesus doesn’t want them—He just knows that they don’t want to come to Him. They would consider it boring and a waste of time. Which kind of a sinner are you? Are you someone who realizes that you need rest? Or are you someone that doesn’t have time for rest?

If we are supposed to come to Jesus, it would probably be good to define and know where He is. Some might say, “God is in nature! He’s in the trees! Jesus is in my heart!” Those things can all be true, to a point. Kind of like when you remember someone who has gone when you hear a song or go to a place where you used to hang out. Memories flow of the times you used to have together. But it’s not quite the same either as when you were actually with the person at the time. Jesus is more than a memory. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) He claims to actually be where we speak of Him and proclaim His name. This is why we speak His words and sing songs of Him in worship. Jesus especially comes to us in the Lord’s Supper, where he says, “Take and eat, this is my body. Take and drink, this blood is the new covenant in my name.” There’s something special here, something sacred about meeting together and singing God’s Word into each other’s hearts and receiving His sacrament together. There’s something sacred, God says, about when our babies are baptized into Christ to receive His Holy Spirit. Jesus is where His word and sacraments are, as Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter 4.

Here’s another neat thing about it—that He tells us to come when He knows we need rest. If someone came as your invited guest and laid around and slept and asked you to massage their shoulders, you might be a bit angry. If they just made a mess and didn’t offer to clean anything up, you might say, “I’m not inviting THEM any more.” But here we come to church messy with sin. We come worn out from complicated relationships and needy for love and attention, and Jesus TELLS us to come. If your spouse breaks his leg or your grandparents want to move in with you, you realize it might take a lot of work that you don’t have the time or energy to do. You’d rather pay the money to have them go into rehab or a long term facility than come to your house. But Jesus doesn’t do that. He KNEW how much work we would cause Him. He knows how much TIME it would take to take care of us. Yet He tells us to COME to Him anyway. He wants us to come, for one purpose—to give us REST. This is the whole reason He went through all of the work of coming into our world and dying on the cross in the first place. He died on the cross to give us a comfortable bed of love and forgiveness to rest in.

If you came here worn out from a relationship that was giving you stress and anger and fighting, you would find someone who doesn’t yell at you and just command you to knock it off. He knows how worthless you feel. But here in His blood and His cross, He just says, “Be forgiven. Be loved. I consider you of great worth in my sight. I look at you as holy and precious as my baptized child. You don’t have to match up to a standard to get this forgiveness. If you’re tired, just lay here.” If you’ve been working your tail off to get your bills paid, here you find that Jesus already paid your bill when He said, “It is finished” from the cross. You don’t owe God one dime for your salvation. Your salvation isn’t based on how much money you give in the offering plate. If you come in here tired because your body is worn out and you can’t sleep well and can’t move very well, just take a seat. He gives you a beautiful room with a window to the skies—pointing you forward to heaven and the resurrection from the dead. Someday you’ll be able to run and jump and see and hear as you’ve never done before. Why? Because He lives, you too will live through faith in Him. That’s it. Here Jesus feeds you with a beautiful meal that is meant to refresh your soul. He bathes you in a beautiful bath that washes your sins away. He does all of this to give you rest!

Maybe you already know you’re forgiven. Perhaps you’re good with that. Perhaps you think the church thing is a bit boring—because you want to be active with your faith. You want to make a difference in the world. You want to go and do stuff too! I can respect that. I don’t like sitting around much either. But if you listen to the rest of this text, you’ll see that as Christians, we don’t just sit around in this world waiting for Jesus to come. When Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples were just standing there and staring into the sky. So the angels came and basically said, “Quit standing here looking at the sky! He’ll come again—don’t worry—you won’t miss Him!” So they left from there. They went on with their lives. When Abraham was called to faith, he didn’t just sit there! He was called to go to Canaan and settle his family there. Peter wasn’t reinstated just to keep fishing on the Sea of Galilee. He had places to go and people to bring the Gospel too. He was imprisoned and persecuted, and throughout the process, all of these forefathers in the faith still could rest in Jesus.

Listen to what Jesus says. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Think about what a yoke is used for. It binds an animal to a plow to break the ground, and it also binds one animal to another, to make the plow move easier under the power of two animals. When we are rested in His grace and mercy, it doesn’t make us lazy. It binds us to Jesus with His mercy and forgiveness, which gives us the energy to live. We don’t want to give up on life. We find reasons and strength to live!

I just recently read a book called Escape from Camp 14. It was an incredible story about a young man named Shin who escaped from a prison camp that he was born in, in Northern Korea. He was taught from little on to confess his sins to the teachers so they could be beaten in front of the class. He was also taught the honor of working in the fields and being loyal to the state. If anyone broke the rules, he was rewarded for snitching on them. One girl was beaten to death by her teacher for having six grains of corn in her pocket. One day, he overheard his mother and brother talking about escaping from North Korea, so he told on them and then had to witness them being put to death in front of him. He thought he would be rewarded for telling on them. Instead, he was strung up by his hands and feet and put over hot coals, because the officials didn’t know that he had snitched on his parents. Afterward, he was put in a cell with terrible blisters on his back with an older man he just called “Uncle.” It was a terrible system of sin and work and death. Hopeless in every sense!

Here’s where the story gets very interesting! Amid this prison cell, with no light, Uncle nursed Shin back to health. He spoke to him of the beauties of the outside world that Shin had never been to before, and in doing so opened up a whole different world to Shin that he never knew existed. Amid the deepest darkness of a cell, by caring for his wounds and speaking to him, Uncle gave Shin a reason to live! Shin was never the same. He wasn’t content with living in North Korea after that. That prison cell helped to save him. There’s so much more to the story, but Shin eventually escaped from North Korea and is now living in America. With the help of missionaries, he’s been brought to faith in Christ, and he is telling his story.

Doesn’t a similar thing happen to us as Christians? If we try to live life without being yoked to Jesus, the weight is too much to bear. Sooner or later, life wears us out, no matter how bull-headed we are. But Jesus puts the yoke of the law and failure around His neck. He bears the burden of sin. He then yokes us to Himself so that HE can carry that burden of sin, death, and hell. He then takes the reins and leads the way through life. He doesn’t drive us with a bullwhip. He doesn’t yell at us. He is gentle and humble in heart. Whatever struggles we have in life are “easy” and “light” when we know that He bore the payment for our sins. Whatever evils we face in the world, it is easier knowing that Jesus is leading us and giving us strength throughout. It is so much better knowing that this life is not all that life is about. It makes us want to live again, knowing that through faith in Jesus, we go to heaven when we die.

It’s an interesting thing when you try to put a toddler down for a nap. They kick and whine and moan, but if you stick with it and lie down with them, they’ll finally give up. When their head finally hits the pillow, they usually fall asleep pretty quickly. They wake up refreshed, and they are ready to go! They aren’t grumpy anymore. Nobody has to tie me down to take a nap anymore. I’ve grown to appreciate what beautiful things they are. They are gifts from God.

Jesus hasn’t invited us here to torture us but to bless us with rest. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” In a sense, that’s why we come here every Sunday, to take a nap with Jesus. Not to just sleepwalk through life, but to find the energy to live! I remember a mother and daughter who visited a church service in Topeka years ago. You could read from the daughter’s body language that just sitting there for one hour was like pulling teeth. She couldn’t wait to get out at the end, and the service didn’t even last one hour. The pastor had preached as good of a sermon as possible, and he thought to himself, “Was it really that bad?” It saddened him. He felt sorry for her. She needed rest, but she didn’t want to rest. How about you? We’ve encouraged all of you here on this Sunday for one reason—to give you Jesus and give you rest! I hope that after you receive the body and blood and sing the Word to each other, that you found a God who made you feel welcome and forgiven in Jesus. I hope you felt refreshed to know that Jesus wants you to be here and help you relax in his arms. I hope you want to come again soon. Welcome Home.

Let us pray: Lord of the seasons and of all life, we come to you this day with so many cares and concerns on our lives. We have planned for the summer months as times of relaxation and refreshment. We need to take some time to stop the frantic running around, to focus on your healing love, to let go of all those demands that weigh us down. Heal and restore us, O Lord. Help us be the church in times of leisure as well as in times of work and stress. As we have brought our cares to you in our prayers, let us bring our lives to your healing mercies. Strengthen and heal us, Lord. Get us gently ready for all the joyful opportunities that stretch before us. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Seeking God?

Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ

Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Sermon contributed by Joel Pankow.
Jesus says, “Come to Me.” Who does he say it to, and why?

The Daily Prayer for SUNDAY, July 5, 2020

The Daily Prayer

SUNDAY, July 5, 2020

Hear this proverb often quoted by John Perkins, pioneer of Christian community development: 

Go to the people, Live among them, Learn from them, Love them. Start with what they know, Build on what they have: But of the best leaders, When their task is done, The people will remark, “We have done it ourselves.”

Lord God, grant us grace to be faithful witnesses to those we encounter today. May we share your love in a way that sparks others to catch your fire. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, July 5, 2020

Isaiah 12:4

In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Read all of Isaiah 12

Listen to Isaiah 12

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Domingo 05 de julio de 2020

Pide sabiduría en vez de paciencia

Dichoso el que halla sabiduría, el que adquiere inteligencia. Porque ella es de más provecho que la plata y rinde más ganancias que el oro.

— Proverbios 3:13-14

¡Ay, dame paciencia, Señor! Esta frase la utilizamos todos en momentos cuando no podemos más. Y tiene sentido decirla, pero lleva implícita una petición que quizá desconozcas y te sorprendas cuando te la explique.

La paciencia solo se desarrolla con dificultades y pruebas. Si le dices a Dios: «Señor, dame paciencia», le pides que te mande una prueba de manera que aprendas a desarrollar la paciencia. ¿Y a quién le gustan las pruebas y las dificultades? ¡A nadie!

Esto lo aprendí con un pastor y me dije que nunca más le pediría algo así a Dios. Más bien le pido que me dé la sabiduría que me ayude a pasar la situación que esté viviendo.

Así que es más valioso ser sabio que paciente.

Aprende a esperar en el tiempo de Dios. Él nunca falla y siempre llega a tiempo.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Esta frase la utilizamos todos en momentos cuando no podemos más.