The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, August 11, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, August 11, 2020

Psalm 28; Genesis 39:1-23; Romans 9:14-29

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

(Semicontinuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 28

God hears my pleadings

1  To you, Lord, I call;
     you are my Rock,
     do not turn a deaf ear to me.
   For if you remain silent,
     I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2  Hear my cry for mercy
     as I call to you for help,
   as I lift up my hands
     toward your Most Holy Place.

3  Do not drag me away with the wicked,
     with those who do evil,
   who speak cordially with their neighbors
     but harbor malice in their hearts.
4  Repay them for their deeds
     and for their evil work;
   repay them for what their hands have done
     and bring back on them what they deserve.

5  Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
     and what his hands have done,
   he will tear them down
     and never build them up again.

6  Praise be to the Lord,
     for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7  The Lord is my strength and my shield;
     my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
   My heart leaps for joy,
     and with my song I praise him.

8  The Lord is the strength of his people,
     a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9  Save your people and bless your inheritance;
     be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph in Potiphar’s employ

39:1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Romans 9:14-29

God’s wrath God’s mercy

9:14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,

   “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
     and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:

   “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
     and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”

26 and,

   “In the very place where it was said to them,
     ‘You are not my people,’
     there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

   “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
     only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out
     his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:

   “Unless the Lord Almighty
     had left us descendants,
   we would have become like Sodom,
     we would have been like Gomorrah.”

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 TUESDAY, August 11, 2020
Psalm 28; Genesis 39:1-23; Romans 9:14-29

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, August 11, 2020

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, August 11, 2020

Clare of Assisi (1194 — 1255)

Clare Offreduccio was born into Italian nobility in 1194. She ran away from home at the age of eighteen after hearing St. Francis preach on the streets of Assisi. She chose to wed Christ instead of the man her parents wanted her to marry. With Francis’ help, she founded the Franciscan monastic community of the Order of Poor Ladies (The Poor Clares) at San Damiano. Clare became abbess of the order in 1216 and led the sisters in their commitment to poverty and manual labor. Her own mother and sisters later joined the order. As abbess, she fought hard to resist any papal orders that the Poor Clares establish a rule of life. She is often depicted holding a monstrance, symbolizing her use of the blessed sacrament to defend her convent from invaders.

When the pope offered to absolve Clare from her rigorous vow of poverty, she answered, “Absolve me from my sins, Holy Father, but not from my wish to follow Christ.”

Lord, help us to be faithful, even when we face our own fears. Remind us that we are your children, even when we feel inadequate. We know that you have overcome giants and crosses and all things evil. Help our unbelief. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, August 11, 2020

Psalm 119:14

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

Read all of Psalm 119

Listen to Psalm 119

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

Daily Devotions - August 11, 2020 - "No Longer an Outsider"

Daily Devotions

"No Longer an Outsider"

August 11, 2020

Thus says the LORD…"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

— Isaiah 56:1a, 6-8

It's not easy being a second-class citizen. Everything around you reminds you that you don't belong. There are places you can't go, things you can't do. Worst of all, people treat you poorly. A lot of you know this from your own life experience.

The God-fearers of the Bible are an example of second-class citizens. A "God-fearer" was a person who worshipped the God of Israel, but didn't follow the full Jewish law. They were considered half-converts, not full, and so there were limits on what they could do and where they could go. In Jesus' day, for instance, they could go to the temple in Jerusalem, but only to the extreme outermost Court of the Gentiles. That left them far away from the altar itself, and from a lot of areas where teaching, praying, music, and offering went on. Imagine how that must have felt!

But in our reading for today, God makes it clear that this situation will not last forever. He has no intention of having second-class citizens in his kingdom: "These I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer…for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

Notice what God says—"I will make them joyful in My house of prayer." In other words, they aren't just going to join the rest of the believers in the inner courts; they are going to go all the way in, to the very temple itself! God is making them welcome in His own presence—and along with them, everybody of any background who loves and trusts and serves Him as their God.

This is what Jesus has done for us—all of us, everyone who loves and trusts Him as our Savior. As Paul says, "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us…(He did this to) reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:13-14, 16b-18).

Now you can draw near to God in comfort and peace, knowing that you are fully welcome regardless of your background or past. Jesus has called you near. He has given His own life to make you a citizen of God's kingdom, a dearly loved child of the Father. And He has risen from the dead that you may live with Him forever and with all the rest of God's people, in love and peace at last.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, please bring that true, complete peace and fellowship to us soon. Amen.

Kari Vo

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you felt like a second-class citizen?

2. When have you seen others treated that way?

3. How can God work through you to build real relationships of love and respect with people you would normally be separated from?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved.
When have you felt like a second-class citizen?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, August 11, 2020

SOLUTION TO PERSECUTION

“I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

— Esther 4:16b

Today we have the second in the series from a house church pastor’s sermon in China:

How is suffering overcome? Or if you like, what is the solution to persecution? A church father answered this way; “Pray as if everything depends on God. Work as if God were going to do his work through you.” So when resisting persecution, we do everything humanly possible to lessen it. But then we also beseech God to put a stop to it. In the two comes deliverance.

You can see both sides involved here. On the human level, we see two characteristics coming to the fore especially—courage and cunning. Esther is the one who displays courage, by taking her life in her hands to enter the king’s presence without an appointment. She says, “If I perish, I perish.” What a brave woman! She’s also the one who displays cunning, hatching a plan to entrap Haman. She throws a banquet, reveals her racial identity, and then exposes Haman as the man who wants to kill her.

Would it have worked? Who knows? Perhaps not. Haman did have great clout with the king as a trusted advisor, and Esther was merely a queen, and queens—as made clear here—are easily replaceable.

But it did work out, thanks to God. And this is the other side. We pray and pray that God will intervene. There is so much that is beyond our control. Our planning, our cunning, our bravery, is never enough. We need God’s help. So the Jews have a time of weeping and repentance (Esther 4:1-3), and then God intervenes in an astonishing way.

An old pastor used to say to me, “I find that coincidences stop happening when I stop praying.” The resolution of the book of Esther hinges on a massive coincidence, namely, that at the precise moment Haman expects to kill Mordecai, the king decides to honor Mordecai. Both men reach each situation independently. Take the king, for instance.

• The king just happens to have a sleepless night before Haman will pitch his plan.

• He just happens to read the annals to get to sleep, and just happens to find the part that tells of a good deed of Mordecai.

He just happens to decide to honor Mordecai the following morning at the very moment Haman comes into the room.

• He just happens to select the first person who walks into his room at that time to carry out his plan.

• That person is Haman, who just happens to be ready to ask for the head of Mordecai.

And through a misunderstanding, the king decides to put Haman to death, as he thinks Haman is molesting Esther when in fact he’s only pleading. The point is, all this is outside human control. It’s God’s doing. But He worked within Esther’s plan. And so the plan to persecute the Jews is foiled.

RESPONSE: Today I acknowledge that there are no coincidences, just God-incidences!

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to be faithful and see evidences of Your control over my circumstances.

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

Un dia a la Vez - Martes 11 de agosto de 2020

La limpieza del templo de Dios

¿Quién puede subir al monte del Señor? ¿Quién puede estar en su lugar santo? Solo el de manos limpias y corazón puro.

— Salmo 24:3-4

El concepto de la limpieza no es necesariamente verte con una escoba, una mopa o cualquier otro utensilio de aseo. La limpieza también tiene que ver con nuestro cuerpo cuando Jesús viene a nuestro corazón al aceptarlo como el Salvador de nuestras vidas.

El Manual de Instrucciones nos enseña que nosotros somos el templo del Espíritu Santo. La pregunta es la siguiente: ¿Cómo está ese templo? ¿Está lleno de corrupción, de pecado, de mentira, de hábitos que desagradan a Dios?

La limpieza de la casa de Dios, o el templo del Espíritu, a veces no es cosa de un día. Quizá tengamos cosas tan arraigadas que nos resulten difíciles de sacar. Sin embargo, con la ayuda de Dios, claro que es posible.

Cuando estamos agradecidos por lo que Él nos ha dado, como la salvación y la vida eterna, tenemos que poner de nuestra parte.

Hoy examinemos y saquemos lo que de seguro oscurece el templo del Espíritu y la posterior llegada de Dios a nuestra casa.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
El concepto de la limpieza no es necesariamente verte con una escoba, una mopa o cualquier otro utensilio de aseo.

Devocional CPTLN del 11 de agosto de 2020 - Ya no más extraño

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Ya no más extraño

11 de Agosto de 2020

[El Señor ha dicho:] A los hijos de los extranjeros que me sigan y me sirvan, y que amen mi nombre y sean mis siervos; y a todos los que observen el día de reposo y no lo profanen, y se aferren a mi pacto, yo los llevaré a mi santo monte, para que se alegren en mi casa de oración. Sus holocaustos y sus sacrificios serán bien recibidos sobre mi altar, porque mi casa será llamada casa de oración para todos los pueblos. Todavía habré de reunir con ustedes a otros que estoy por reunir.

— Isaías 56:6-8

No es fácil ser un ciudadano de segunda clase: todo a tu alrededor te recuerda que no perteneces. Hay lugares a los que no puedes ir, cosas que no puedes hacer. Lo peor de todo: la gente te trata mal. Muchos de ustedes saben esto por su propia experiencia de vida.

En la Biblia, quienes temían a Dios son un ejemplo de ciudadanos de segunda clase. Eran las personas que adoraban al Dios de Israel, pero no seguían la ley judía completamente. Eran considerados "medio" convertidos, por lo que había límites en lo que podían hacer y hacia dónde podían ir. En tiempos de Jesús, por ejemplo, podían ir al templo en Jerusalén, pero solo hasta el patio exterior de los gentiles, que estaba lejos del altar y de muchas áreas donde la enseñanza, la oración, la música y la ofrenda se llevaban a cabo. ¡Imagina cómo se deben haber sentido!

Pero en nuestra lectura de hoy, Dios deja en claro que esta situación no durará para siempre. Él no tiene intención de tener ciudadanos de segunda clase en su reino: "... los llevaré a mi santo monte, para que se alegren en mi casa de oración ... porque mi casa será llamada casa de oración para todos los pueblos".

Notemos lo que Dios dice: "... para que se alegren en mi casa de oración". En otras palabras, no solo se unirán al resto de los creyentes en los atrios internos, sino que ¡van a entrar hasta el mismo templo! Dios les está dando la bienvenida en su propia presencia y, junto con ellos, a todos aquellos que lo aman, confían y le sirven como su Dios, más allá de cuál sea su origen.

Esto es lo que Jesús ha hecho por nosotros, todos los que lo amamos y confiamos en Él como nuestro Salvador. Como dice Pablo: "Pero ahora, en Cristo Jesús, ustedes, que en otro tiempo estaban lejos, han sido acercados por la sangre de Cristo. Porque él es nuestra paz. De dos pueblos hizo uno solo, al derribar la pared intermedia de separación... y para reconciliar con Dios a los dos en un solo cuerpo mediante la cruz, sobre la cual puso fin a las enemistades. Él vino y a ustedes, que estaban lejos, les anunció las buenas nuevas de paz, lo mismo que a los que estaban cerca. Por medio de él, unos y otros tenemos acceso al Padre en un mismo Espíritu" (Efesios 2:13-14, 16-18).

Ahora puedes acercarte a Dios en paz, sabiendo que eres completamente bienvenido sin importar tu pasado. Jesús te ha llamado y te ha dado su propia vida para hacerte ciudadano del reino de Dios, hijo amado del Padre. Y ha resucitado de entre los muertos para que puedas vivir con Él y con todo el resto del pueblo de Dios para siempre, en amor y paz.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, mantennos firmes en tu paz verdadera y completa. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Has sido tratado como ciudadano de segunda clase o has visto a otros ser tratados de esa manera?

* ¿Cómo puede Dios usarte para construir relaciones basadas en amor y respeto con personas de las que normalmente estarías separado?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Has sido tratado como ciudadano de segunda clase o has visto a otros ser tratados de esa manera?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Nombres puestos por Dios

Nombres puestos por Dios

La escritura de hoy: Rut 1:19-22
La Biblia en un año: Salmos 81–83; Romanos 11:19-36

… No me llaméis Noemí, sino llamadme Mara; porque en grande amargura me ha puesto el Todopoderoso.

—  Rut 1:20

Torbellino. Batichica. Chispita. Estos son algunos de los apodos que les ponen a consejeros en el campamento al que vamos con mi familia todos los años. Creados por sus compañeros, suelen derivar de incidentes divertidos, hábitos cómicos o entretenimientos favoritos.

Los apodos no se limitan a los campamentos; también los encontramos en la Biblia. Por ejemplo, Jesús llama a Jacobo y Juan «Hijos del trueno» (Marcos 3:17). Es raro encontrar que alguien se ponga a sí mismo un apodo, pero esto sucedió cuando una mujer llamada Noemí le pidió a la gente que la llamara «Mara», que significa «amarga» (Rut 1:20), porque su esposo y sus dos hijos habían muerto. Sentía que Dios le había amargado la vida (v. 21).

No obstante, ese nuevo nombre no se mantuvo porque esas pérdidas no fueron el final de la historia. En medio de su dolor, Dios la bendijo con una nuera amorosa, Rut, la cual con el tiempo se volvió a casar, tuvo un hijo y le dio a Noemí una nueva familia.

Aunque a veces nos apodemos con nombres amargos, como «fracasado» o «despreciado», por los errores que cometimos o las dificultades que experimentamos, estos no son el final de la historia, porque podemos reemplazarlos con la designación que Dios nos ha dado al formar parte de su familia: «amada» (Romanos 9:25).

De:  Administrador del sitio

Reflexiona y ora

Padre, gracias por llamarme «tu hijo».

Piensa en un apodo que te hayan puesto. ¿Qué te gusta de él o no? ¿Cómo cambia tu perspectiva al ser llamado hijo de Dios?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Creados por sus compañeros, suelen derivar de incidentes divertidos, hábitos cómicos o entretenimientos favoritos.

The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, August 10, 2020

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, August 10, 2020

Psalm 28; Genesis 37:29-36; 2 Peter 2:4-10

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

(Semicontinuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 28

God hears my pleadings

1  To you, Lord, I call;
     you are my Rock,
     do not turn a deaf ear to me.
   For if you remain silent,
     I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2  Hear my cry for mercy
     as I call to you for help,
   as I lift up my hands
     toward your Most Holy Place.

3  Do not drag me away with the wicked,
     with those who do evil,
   who speak cordially with their neighbors
     but harbor malice in their hearts.
4  Repay them for their deeds
     and for their evil work;
   repay them for what their hands have done
     and bring back on them what they deserve.

5  Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
     and what his hands have done,
   he will tear them down
     and never build them up again.

6  Praise be to the Lord,
     for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7  The Lord is my strength and my shield;
     my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
   My heart leaps for joy,
     and with my song I praise him.

8  The Lord is the strength of his people,
     a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9  Save your people and bless your inheritance;
     be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Genesis 37:29-36

Jacob mourns Joseph’s loss

37:29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”

31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.

2 Peter 2:4-10

God judges and rescues

2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;

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, August 10, 2020
Psalm 28; Genesis 37:29-36; 2 Peter 2:4-10

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, August 10, 2020

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, August 10, 2020

Listen to these words of Starets Zosima in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov: “At some thoughts one stands perplexed, above all at the sight of human sin, and wonders whether to combat it by force or by humble love. Always decide ‘I will combat it by humble love.’ If you resolve on that once and for all, you can conquer the whole world. Loving humility is a terrible force: it is the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it.”

God of love and Prince of Peace, give us courage in the face of trouble. Walk with us and give us a power that is not like that of chariots or armies. Arm us with grace. Make our tongues sharp with truth. Walk with us amid the principalities and powers of this dark world. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, August 10, 2020

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Read all of Psalm 46

Listen to Psalm 46

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

Daily Devotions - August 10, 2020 - "His Shining Face"

Daily Devotions

"His Shining Face"

August 10, 2020

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

— Psalm 67:1-2

What does it mean to have God's face shine on us? We might imagine the look on the faces of family members as they welcome loved ones who arrive back home, after a long absence. Their love and joy would be evident, shining on their faces, seen in the glance of everyone present. God's shining face is part of the blessing He commanded the priests to use for the people of Israel: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them" (Numbers 6:24-27). In the light of God's shining face, the people would be blessed and marked with God's Name as His holy people.

To have God's face shine upon you means that He is looking towards you and looking on you with favor. Scripture speaks of those who do not enjoy the blessing of God's shining face, enduring instead His terrible wrath: "The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth" (Psalm 34:16). The prayer in our psalm—that God would be gracious to us, bless us, and make His face shine on us—has already been answered for us, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Even though we did not deserve His love and blessing, God was gracious to us, sending us the gift of His Son to be our Savior. In Christ we know just what it means to have God's face shine upon us.

The favor of God is seen as Jesus fulfilled the purpose for which He had come. "When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). As the appointed time of His death was approaching, Jesus turned His face toward the cross. With resolute steps, He walked on to Jerusalem. There He would take onto Himself the burden of the world's sin. The face of God shines on us because on that dark day outside of Jerusalem, the face of God turned away from His suffering Son.

Our psalm asks God to bless us and make His face shine on us. Why? We ask His blessing so that His way "may be known on earth" and His saving power known "among all nations." When God's shining face is turned toward us, we reflect His glory. "They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed" (Psalm 34:5). We reflect God's blessing in acts of love and service. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we proclaim the Good News of God's shining face in Jesus to a world lost in darkness. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

THE PRAYER: Almighty God, we live in the shining light of Your love and mercy. Help us by Your Spirit to reflect that light to others. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. What do think the face of God looks like?

2. Can you give some examples of God graciousness to you in your life?

3. How can we reflect God's glory to others by the way we live?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved.
What do think the face of God looks like?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, August 10, 2020

THE SOURCE OF PERSECUTION

Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

— Esther 3:8

Today we feature the first in a series from a house church pastor’s sermon in China:

The Bible is written to persecuted communities, and we must learn from each community the peculiar blessings and dangers of persecution. I would like to draw your attention to some lessons from the persecuted community in the time of Esther.

Esther was Queen of Persia sometime after 483 BC. She was a beautiful woman with a secret—no one except her adopted father knew it. It was her racial origin. She was a Jew.

There came a great persecution. In Esther 3:8, we read that the king of Persia’s advisor says he should not tolerate a certain group of people. The king agrees and issues a decree calling for the extermination of all Jews.

The Jews are devastated, including Esther. How they got into this situation, how they get out of it, and what happened afterward all reveal great truths about suffering churches—of which we are one.

Where does persecution come from? What is its source? The text shows us clearly. Persecution is the result of pride. Pride on the part of the persecutor.

Haman is the culprit. He is humiliated because a Jew called Mordecai refuses to bow low enough to him. We are not given the reason why Mordecai would deliver such a calculated snub, but it makes Haman see red. Instead of just trying to get rid of Mordecai, though, he has to project his personal humiliation into something grand. He won’t admit it’s all just a personal grudge but concocts an elaborate plan to get rid of all Jews because they are in breach of the king’s laws.

His plan is a good one. The Jews are different, he says. True. They are so different, they are not good citizens, he adds. False, but the king is right to be suspicious of any group that seems to have other loyalties than just to him. It’s the same in China. Our government persecutes us because we are different. We are honest, separate, and we have greater loyalties than just to the state. That makes us an object of suspicion.

But the root of it all is pride. The cause of the persecution was simply that Haman was angry. I have read that in Russia, the terrible persecutions that were visited upon the churches there came from the fact that Lenin’s brother was shot by the Tsar’s forces, and what galled him, in particular, was that a Russian Orthodox priest blessed the proceedings. He carried his personal hatred with him…It’s a pride matter. It always is. The source of suffering is always found in human pride.

RESPONSE: Today I will check my pride at the door and realize that God is still in control!

PRAYER: Pray that prideful leaders will humble themselves to acknowledge the God of the universe.

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, August 10, 2020

The Woman of Proverbs 31

Her character: She represents the fulfillment of a life lived in wisdom.
Her joy: To be praised by her husband and children as a woman who surpasses all others.
Key Scriptures: Proverbs 31:10-31

Her Story

Proverbs brims with less-than-glowing descriptions of women. There are wayward wives, prostitutes, women with smoother-than-oil lips, strange women, loud women, defiant women, wives who are like a continual drip on a rainy day or decay in their husbands' bones, women whose feet never stay home, brazen-faced women, and even a woman so repulsive she is likened to a gold ring in a pig's snout!

Any woman reading Proverbs may be tempted to conclude that its authors tended to blame women for weaknesses actually rooted in the male psyche, especially when it comes to sexual sin. But to balance things out there are also some odious descriptions of men, including scoundrels, villains, chattering fools, and sluggards. And Proverbs actually opens and closes with positive portrayals of women: first as wisdom personified and then as a woman who can do no wrong.

Just who was this woman on a pedestal described in Proverbs 31? Was she, as many think, the ideal wife and mother? In traditional Jewish homes, husbands and children recited the poem in Proverbs 31 at the Sabbath table. Written as an acrostic, each line begins with a Hebrew letter in alphabetical sequence, making it easy to memorize. The poem describes a wealthy, aristocratic woman with a large household to direct. She was hardworking, enterprising, capable, strong, wise, skilled, generous, thoughtful of others, dignified, God-fearing, serene—a tremendous credit to her husband. She arose while it was still dark to feed her family. She looked at a field, considered its merits, and purchased it. She wove cloth and made linen garments, which she then sold. "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all' " (verses 28-29).

The description of the woman in Proverbs 31 offers a refreshing contrast to other ancient depictions of women, which tend to portray them in more frivolous and decorative terms, emphasizing only their charm or beauty. Still, the perfect woman of Proverbs 31 hasn't always been a friend to ordinary women. In fact, she has sometimes been rubbed into the faces of lesser women by critical husbands and preachers unable to resist the temptation. What woman could ever measure up to her? And is a woman's worth to be measured only by what she can accomplish in the domestic sphere? Or is the woman in Proverbs 31 a symbol of all the contributions a woman could make within the culture of her day? Regardless of how you answer these questions, there is more to her story than simply being the ideal wife and mother.

Before we can discover more about her true identity, it is worth posing a broader question: Are there really all that many women running around in the pages of Proverbs? Perhaps, in fact, there are only two main women in Proverbs: the wise woman and the woman of folly (as some have called her). The latter encompasses the adulteress and her many wicked counterparts; the former encompasses wisdom in the abstract and wisdom made concrete in the woman of Proverbs 31.

In Proverbs 3:13-16, a young man is instructed: "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor." Here is wisdom in the abstract, personified as a woman.

Proverbs 31 echoes this praise: "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies…. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard" (verses 10, 12-16). Here is a concrete example of what wisdom looks like in a person's life.

By contrast, the man who welcomes the brazen-faced woman, the prostitute, the adulteress is nothing but a fool. He has fallen prey to the woman of folly, who offers deceitful pleasures that will lead to his death.

From beginning to end, Proverbs is a practical handbook for leading a life based on wisdom. In the end, there are only two choices for both men and women: to embrace wisdom or to love folly. The woman of Proverbs 31 may well be meant to inspire both men and women with a picture of what a virtuous life, male or female, is capable of producing: shelter for others, serenity, honor, prosperity, generosity, confidence about the future—true blessedness. Who wouldn't want to be like such a woman? Who wouldn't sing her praises?

Her Promise

Many women find Proverbs 31 discouraging. Don't let that happen to you. Remember, this very capable woman is ultimately praised not so much for all she accomplishes as for one thing: She fears the Lord. The woman who is worthy of praise is not necessarily the one who does all her own sewing or is a great cook or is a natural beauty—the woman who gets the praise is the woman who fears the Lord. That's the target to aim for. Not outward beauty. Not a perfectly decorated home. Not even more intellectual knowledge or business acumen. Instead, aim for a bold, all-consuming love for God. Then you too will be worthy of praise.

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 represents the fulfillment of a life lived in wisdom.

Un dia a la Vez - Lunes 10 de agosto de 2020

Oración por la pérdida de un hijo

El Señor está cerca de los quebrantados de corazón, y salva a los de espíritu abatido.

— Salmo 34:18

Señor Jesús, hoy vengo ante ti intercediendo por todas las madres que han perdido un hijo, ya sea durante el embarazo o en alguna otra circunstancia.

Sé que tú, como Padre, puedes comprender la inmensidad del dolor porque también entregaste a tu Hijo Jesucristo a una muerte terrible en la cruz.

Señor, consuela, fortalece y levanta a cada hija tuya que esté atravesando este dolor.

Sabemos que eres perfecto, y aunque no entendamos por qué permites estas pruebas en nuestras vidas, descansamos en ti.

Ayúdalas, mi Dios, y permite que los padres que sufren también puedan recibir consolación. Levanta y sana estos matrimonios y permite que tú seas su esperanza.

Gracias, Señor, por las pruebas. A pesar de que no las entendemos, sabemos que tienen propósitos eternos en ti.

Te amo, Señor, y te entregamos nuestras vidas.

En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Señor Jesús, hoy vengo ante ti intercediendo por todas las madres que han perdido un hijo, ya sea durante el embarazo o en alguna otra circunstancia.…

Devocional CPTLN del 10 de agosto de 2020 - Su rostro resplandeciente

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Su rostro resplandeciente

10 de Agosto de 2020

Dios mío, ¡ten misericordia de nosotros, y bendícenos! ¡Haz resplandecer su rostro sobre nosotros! ¡Que sea reconocido en la tierra tu camino, y en todas las naciones tu salvación!

— Salmo 67:1-2

¿Qué significa que el rostro de Dios resplandece sobre nosotros? Podemos imaginar la mirada en los rostros de las personas cuando dan la bienvenida a sus seres queridos que llegan a casa después de una larga ausencia. Su amor y alegría son evidentes. El rostro resplandeciente de Dios es parte de la bendición que ordenó a los sacerdotes que usaran para el pueblo de Israel: " Que el Señor te bendiga, y te cuide! ¡Que el Señor haga resplandecer su rostro sobre ti, y tenga de ti misericordia! ¡Que el Señor alce su rostro sobre ti, y ponga en ti paz! »De esta manera invocarán ellos mi nombre sobre los hijos de Israel, y yo los bendeciré" (Números 6:24-27). A la luz del rostro resplandeciente de Dios, las personas serían bendecidas y marcadas con el Nombre de Dios como Su pueblo santo.

Que el rostro de Dios resplandezca sobre ti significa que Él te está mirando con favor. Las Escrituras hablan de aquellos que no disfrutan de la bendición del rostro resplandeciente de Dios, soportando en cambio su terrible ira: "el rostro del Señor está contra los que hacen el mal, para borrar de la tierra su memoria" (Salmo 34:16). La oración en nuestro salmo pidiendo que Dios sea misericordioso con nosotros, nos bendiga y haga que su rostro resplandezca sobre nosotros, ya ha sido respondida en Cristo Jesús, nuestro Señor. Aunque no merecíamos su amor y bendición, Dios fue amable con nosotros y nos envió el regalo de su Hijo para ser nuestro Salvador. En Cristo sabemos exactamente lo que significa que el rostro de Dios brille sobre nosotros.

El favor de Dios se ve cuando Jesús cumplió el propósito para el que había venido. "Se acercaba el tiempo en que Jesús había de ser recibido arriba, así que resolvió con firmeza dirigirse a Jerusalén" (Lucas 9:51). Cuando se acercaba el tiempo señalado de su muerte, Jesús volvió su rostro hacia la cruz. Con pasos decididos caminó hacia Jerusalén, donde tomaría sobre sí la carga del pecado del mundo. El rostro de Dios brilla sobre nosotros porque en ese día oscuro, fuera de Jerusalén, el rostro de Dios se apartó de Su Hijo sufriente.

Nuestro salmo le pide a Dios que nos bendiga y haga que Su rostro resplandezca sobre nosotros. ¿Por qué? Le pedimos su bendición para que su camino "sea conocido en la tierra" y su poder salvador sea conocido "entre todas las naciones". Cuando el rostro resplandeciente de Dios se vuelve hacia nosotros, reflejamos su gloria. "Los que a él acuden irradian alegría; no tienen por qué esconder su rostro" (Salmo 34:5). Reflejamos la bendición de Dios en actos de amor y servicio. Con el poder del Espíritu Santo, proclamamos la Buena Noticia del rostro resplandeciente de Dios en Jesús a un mundo perdido en la oscuridad. "Porque Dios, que mandó que de las tinieblas surgiera la luz, es quien brilló en nuestros corazones para que se revelara el conocimiento de la gloria de Dios en el rostro de Jesucristo" (2 Corintios 4:6).

ORACIÓN: Dios Todopoderoso, vivimos en la luz resplandeciente de tu amor y misericordia. Ayúdanos por Tu Espíritu a reflejar esa luz a los demás. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

Para reflexionar:

* ¿Puedes dar algún ejemplo de la gracia de Dios en tu vida?

* ¿Cómo puedes reflejar la gloria de Dios a los demás a través de tu vida?

© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Puedes dar algún ejemplo de la gracia de Dios en tu vida?

Notre Pain Quotidien - L’incertitude de l’attente

L’incertitude de l’attente

Lisez : 1 Pierre 2.4-10
La Bible en un an : Psaumes 81 – 83 ; Romains 11.19-36

[Vous] êtes une race élue, un sacerdoce royal, une nation sainte, un peuple acquis, afin que vous annonciez les vertus de celui qui vous a appelés des ténèbres à son admirable lumière.

— 1 Pierre 2.9

Un article paru en mai 1970 renfermait l’une des premières utilisations de l’idiome « sur la bulle ». Faisant allusion à un état d’incertitude, on l’a utilisé pour décrire la recrue de la course automobile Steve Krisiloff. On a confirmé que, même s’il avait inscrit le temps le moins bon de tous ceux qui s’étaient qualifiés à l’Indianapolis 500, ce temps lui permettait tout de même de participer à la course.

Il peut nous arriver parfois de douter d’avoir ce qu’il faut pour compétitionner ou achever la course de la vie. Le cas échéant, il importe de nous rappeler qu’en Jésus nous ne sommes jamais dans l’incertitude. Notre place dans son royaume est assurée (JN 14.3). Il a choisi de faire de Jésus la « pierre angulaire » sur laquelle notre vie s’édifie, et il nous a choisis comme « pierres vivantes » remplies de l’Esprit de Dieu et capables de composer le peuple que Dieu s’est choisi (1 PI 2.5,6).

Lorsque nous espérons en Christ et le suivons, notre avenir est assuré (V. 6). Il est écrit : « [Vous] êtes une race élue, un sacerdoce royal, une nation sainte, un peuple acquis, afin que vous annonciez les vertus de celui qui vous a appelés des ténèbres à son admirable lumière » (V. 9).

Dieu le Père, rappelle-moi de mettre mon espoir et ma confiance en toi seul lorsque je doute.

En venant à Christ, nous pouvons avoir l’assurance qu’il ne nous abandonnera jamais et que rien ne pourra nous séparer de son amour.

par Ruth O'Reilly Smith

© 2020 Ministères NPQ
Un article paru en mai 1970 renfermait l’une des premières utilisations de l’idiome « sur la bulle ». Faisant allusion à un état d’incertitude, on l’a utilisé pour décrire la recrue de la course automobile Steve Krisiloff.

The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, August 9, 2020 — 10th Sunday After Pentecost

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, August 9, 2020 — 10th Sunday After Pentecost

(Ordinary 19, Proper 14)

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

The Word is Near You

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b;

Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33

Opening Statement

Today's readings offer the familiar stories of Joseph and his amazing multicolored coat, and Peter walking on the water. Faithfulness in tough times is a common thread joining these two passages, as is the secondary theme of fear (Matthew 14:30). Joseph, betrayed by jealous brothers and sold into slavery, rose to become Pharaoh's right-hand man, saved all of Egypt from famine, and facilitated reunion with his family. Peter literally learns a lesson at the hands of Jesus when he begins to sink while walking on the water. How do disciples of Christ stay faithful to God and to each other when the going gets rough?

Opening Prayer

(adapted from Matthew 14)

God of mysterious ways, you take our fears and turn them into triumphs. You remind us that you are always with us and that we do not need to fear the wind and waves of life. Encourage us to step out of the boat; to come across these difficulties to your redeeming and transforming love. Give us courage and strength, joy and peace for all the times ahead. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

(adapted from Matthew 14)

Lord, please forgive our weakness and our lack of trust in you. We are like the disciples who, in the midst of fears and storms, could only tremble and wonder about the threatening events. Even when Jesus called to the disciples, they shook with fear. But Jesus offered words of encouragement. Impulsive Peter asked Jesus to call to him and bid him come out of the boat. Jesus complied and Peter stepped over the edge onto the waves—but fear claimed him again and he began to sink. Many of us can identify with that moment when we let go of our faith and clutch onto our fears. Help us to place our trust totally in you and your call to us. You will guide and lift us to safety—that is the promise you have given to us and we believe it. When our faith slips, scoop us up and bring us peace. Be patient with us, for we are flawed and yet loved by you. Give us strong hearts and willing spirits to be your disciples. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Keep your focus on Jesus. He is your Savior and your Guide. He will never fail you. Rejoice, dear friends, you are called precious by our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Joseph sold by his brothers

37:1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b

Remembering Joseph

1  Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
     make known among the nations what he has done.
2  Sing to him, sing praise to him;
     tell of all his wonderful acts.
3  Glory in his holy name;
     let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4  Look to the Lord and his strength;
     seek his face always.

5  Remember the wonders he has done,
     his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6  you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
     his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

16 He called down famine on the land
     and destroyed all their supplies of food;
17 and he sent a man before them—
     Joseph, sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with shackles,
     his neck was put in irons,
19 till what he foretold came to pass,
     till the word of the Lord proved him true.
20 The king sent and released him,
     the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household,
     ruler over all he possessed,
22 to instruct his princes as he pleased
     and teach his elders wisdom.

45b Praise the Lord.

Second Reading

Romans 10:5-15

The word of faith

10:5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

The Gospel

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus walking on the sea

14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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

You have been embraced by the love of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and blessed by Jesus to go into this world to offer healing and hope. Go in peace. 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 for SUNDAY, August 9, 2020
The Word is Near You
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33