Sunday, December 16, 2018

The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, December 17, 2018


The Daily Lectionary
MONDAY, December 17, 2018
(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Isaiah 11:1-9
The Peaceful Kingdom
1   A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
      and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2   The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
      the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
      the spirit of counsel and might,
      the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3   His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
      or decide by what his ears hear;
4   but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
      and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
    he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
      and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5   Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
      and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

6   The wolf shall live with the lamb,
      the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
    the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
      and a little child shall lead them.
7   The cow and the bear shall graze,
      their young shall lie down together;
      and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8   The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
      and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9   They will not hurt or destroy
      on all my holy mountain;
    for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
      as the waters cover the sea.

Numbers 16:1-19
Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
16:1 Now Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of Reuben—took 2 two hundred fifty Israelite men, leaders of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men, and they confronted Moses. 3 They assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone too far! All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. So why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” 4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will make known who is his, and who is holy, and who will be allowed to approach him; the one whom he will choose he will allow to approach him. 6 Do this: take censers, Korah and all your company, 7 and tomorrow put fire in them, and lay incense on them before the Lord; and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. You Levites have gone too far!” 8 Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you Levites! 9 Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to allow you to approach him in order to perform the duties of the Lord’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation and serve them? 10 He has allowed you to approach him, and all your brother Levites with you; yet you seek the priesthood as well! 11 Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against the Lord. What is Aaron that you rail against him?”

12 Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come! 13 Is it too little that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also lord it over us? 14 It is clear you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come!”

15 Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, “Pay no attention to their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed any one of them.” 16 And Moses said to Korah, “As for you and all your company, be present tomorrow before the Lord, you and they and Aaron; 17 and let each one of you take his censer, and put incense on it, and each one of you present his censer before the Lord, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.” 18 So each man took his censer, and they put fire in the censers and laid incense on them, and they stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 Then Korah assembled the whole congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the Lord appeared to the whole congregation.

Hebrews 13:7-17
13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. 10 We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. 13 Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.

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 New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2018 was Year B. 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 on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The Morning Prayer for MONDAY, December 17, 2018


Monday morning prayer

Lord,

Sometimes, Monday can be a hard day. Dreaded on Sunday and fled from on a Friday. Yet why Lord as Monday could be the beginning of a work adventure, the new challenge of a week filled with potential? So I pray you would help me to embrace this day.

Let it be a new day and a wonder day. Help me to see not the clouds but the sunrise, not the rain but the ripples of falling drops. Show me the joy of the embrace with loved ones, not the tensions and troubles. Monday need not be the grudge day to be endured but the fun day to be embraced.

This day, help me to turn my eyes towards your Kingdom, of love, hope and new beginnings.
Amen

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, December 17, 2018


Matthew 1:20-21 (NIV) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Read all of Matthew 1

Listen to Matthew 1

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 - Cuando me siento caer al abismo


Cuando me siento caer al abismo

Todos los días del afligido son difíciles; mas el de corazón contento tiene un banquete continuo.

En cada uno de nosotros hay diversos estados de ánimo, así que en momentos críticos de nuestra vida se van a manifestar de manera diferente. No todos somos propensos a tener las mismas actitudes ante las experiencias que nos toca vivir.

He escuchado que la depresión es muy dura de soportar y, aunque es un mal tan común hoy en día, lo ideal es aprender a combatirla. A pesar de eso, he comprobado que todo, absolutamente todo, en la vida es pasajero. No hay nada que dure para siempre.

Cuando sabemos y creemos que tenemos un Dios, no podemos pensar que las pruebas no tienen solución. Sería como limitarlo para cambiar las circunstancias. Sería como decirle: «Mi problema es mayor que tu poder y definitivamente me quedo así. No puedo hacer otra cosa».

¿Te imaginas como se sentirá Él?

Mi invitación para ti este día es para que salgas de ese estado con la ayuda de Dios. Si crees y confías en Él, debes dar ese paso de fe. ¡Créele a Dios!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
No hay nada que dure para siempre.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - WHAT’S YOUR STRUGGLE?


WHAT’S YOUR STRUGGLE?

They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
~ Psalm 73:4 (NIV)

Our Open Doors colleague, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, shares the following insight from his teaching, “Why I Need to Encounter the Persecuted Church.”

I’m often questioned about the main difference between a persecuted Christian and a western Christian. My answer has not changed in twenty years. In the persecuted church, Christians realize they are in trouble, and go to God about it. In the western Church, Christians forget they are in a fight, and even if they do remember, never manage to find the time to go to God about it.
Persecuted Christians know they are in a fight. Every day they struggle. Not being conscious of a daily struggle may be sure sign that one is losing the battle of life. The ancient Psalmist looked at the rich elite of Israel and said, “they have no struggles.” They should have struggles if they wish to please God. But so many Christians in the world today seem surprised at the language of struggle today.

What struggles do the persecuted awaken us to? There is, first of all, the struggle we are always in. Everyone that visits persecuted communities comes away with a renewed appreciation of the spiritual battle we are always engaged in.

Secondly, there is the struggle we must awaken to. A persecuted Christian in Palestine said, “When you become a real Christian, you get reawakened to the fact that ‘the whole world lies in the hands of the evil one,’ and this reflects in your own culture.” She added, “What your culture worships, you have to struggle against.” In her case, it was a worship of extremist terrorists, who risked everything to kill Israelis. In standing out against that, she struggled to communicate to her neighbors who thought she was being “unpatriotic.”

We have to face up the same question. What is our culture worshiping? Is it, as Francis Schaeffer once said, “the god of personal peace and affluence,” where we don’t mind what goes on in the world so long as our space and prosperity is not affected?

Finally, there is the struggle we must create. Brother Andrew tells the story of meeting Pastor Haik of Iran, who said to him in 1993, “Andrew, when they kill me, it will be for speaking, not for being silent.” Haik was killed in 1994. If he had stayed silent about the treatment of his Christian friend, Mehdi Dibaj, Haik would be alive. But he chose to enter, even create, the conflict. The fact is we can avoid struggle if we want. Each of us has to make a choice to speak up, defy the powers-that-be, and bring a struggle into being. Otherwise Satan wins.

Persecuted Christians are always in a fight. They struggle all the time, against their own sins, against idolatries in their own societies, and against the orchestration of the evil one who is out to take our worship away from God. Yet these struggles should mark our own lives and churches as surely as the devil does not live exclusively in China or Columbia. This world is the place of struggle. What’s your struggle? The persecuted force us to ask. Everyone ought to have one!

RESPONSE: Today I will affirm and engage in the struggles I face in standing strong against the enemy.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the struggles the persecuted awaken in me. Help me not avoid them.

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 - Lydia


Lydia

Her name signifies that she was a woman of Lydia, a region in Asia Minor

Her character: A Gentile adherent of Judaism, she was a successful businesswoman who sold a type of cloth prized for its purple color. As head of her household, she may have been either widowed or single. So strong was her faith that her entire household followed her example and was baptized. She extended hospitality to Paul and his companions, even after their imprisonment.
Her sorrow: To see Paul and Silas beaten and thrown into prison for the sake of the gospel she had embraced.
Her joy: That God's Spirit directed Paul and his companions to Macedonia, enabling her and others at Philippi to hear the gospel for the first time.
Key Scriptures: Acts 16:6-40

Her Story

The wind rustled the branches overhead until they became a swaying canopy whose shadow danced across the circle of women bowed in prayer. It didn't matter that Philippi had too few Jews to support a synagogue; the river's edge had become their place of worship, a green sanctuary where they gathered each Sabbath to pray.

Lydia listened as a stranger from Tarsus invoked the familiar words of the Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Such prayers were like a gust of wind, fanning her longing. A Gentile who had come to Philippi from Asia Minor, Lydia was a prominent businesswoman who sold fine cloth to those who could afford it. Though not a Jew, she wanted to know this God powerful enough to part the sea yet tender enough to yearn for the love of his people.

Paul did not stop with the traditional Shema; instead, he spoke of a God whose Son, Jesus, had been murdered for love. This Jesus had risen from the grave after suffering the most agonizing death imaginable. He was Messiah, the merciful and holy One who had come to save God's people.

The women sat quietly as Paul told the story. Even the branches overhead had stopped their noisy rustling. But in the stillness Lydia felt a strong wind rushing through her. Tears rolled down her cheeks even though she felt like singing. Afterward, she and her household were baptized in the Gangites River, near Philippi. Lydia insisted that Paul and Silas (and probably Timothy and Luke) accept her hospitality. Her home may have become the very center of the church in Philippi.

Philippi seemed an unlikely place to plant the gospel. It had been named for Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, who had been attracted to the region by gold-bearing mountains to the north of the city. Now a prosperous Roman colony located on the main highway linking the eastern provinces to Rome, its citizens included large numbers of retired Roman soldiers. Despite its size, however, Philippi hadn't even enough Jews to provide the requisite quorum of ten reliable males to form a synagogue—and it had always been Paul's habit to preach first in the synagogue. Even so, Philippi did have its group of praying Jewish and Gentile women.

Interestingly, Paul had not planned to visit Philippi but had been on his way to Asia when he felt constrained by the Holy Spirit to turn aside. Soon afterward, he had a vision in which a man of Macedonia begged him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Days later, he found himself on the riverbank, preaching to the women who had gathered there for prayer.

Shortly after Lydia's conversion, she heard news that her houseguests, Paul and Silas, had been whipped and thrown into prison. Paul's crime had been to drive an evil spirit from a slave girl who had been harassing them. Upset at the loss of profits from her fortune-telling, the girl's owners dragged Paul and Silas before the city magistrates, claiming, "These men are Jews and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."

That night, with their feet in stocks, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God while the other prisoners listened. About midnight an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison so violently that the doors flew open and the chains of the prisoners fell off. As a result, the jailer and his whole household were converted. After he was released, Paul returned to Lydia's home for a short while.

When Lydia said good-bye to the apostle and his companions as they continued on their missionary journey, she may have remembered the words of his accusers: "These men are throwing our city into an uproar." Indeed, God had thrown the entire region into an uproar from which it would never recover.

Lydia has the distinction of being Paul's first convert in Europe and the first member of the church at Philippi, a community that later became a source of great consolation to the apostle when he was imprisoned. Perhaps her prayers, joined with those of the other women gathered at the riverbank, helped prepare the way for the gospel to be planted in Europe.

Her Promise

Lydia's life reveals a God who longs for relationship with his people. Lydia's openness to the truths Paul preached was not her own doing; God saw her hunger for him, and he met her deepest need—her need for him. He is still touching hearts today. The longings you feel for intimacy with him, the emptiness you experience when you've tried everything else and still hunger, the burning need you have for wholeness—these can only be satisfied when you start with the Alpha and end with the Omega, Jesus Christ, your beginning and your end.

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 was a successful businesswoman who sold a type of cloth prized for its purple color.

Girlfriends in God - I’m Tired


I’m Tired

Truth for Today

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
~ Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

I’m tired.

Tired of waking up each morning to face more trials – more noise – more chaos.

I’m tired of trying to “fix” people and circumstances.

I’m tired of dealing with angry people everywhere I turn.

I’m tired of senseless violence and the horrendous loss of life at the hands of broken people.

I’m tired of the incessant dealing with physical pain and constantly battling the darkness of depression.

I’m tired of Satan attacking my husband, my children, and my grandchildren!

What I want to do is quit. I want to give up. I want to take my computer and my cell phone and toss them in a garbage dump, cutting off my connections to so many people in the world I have carefully built. The world has gone crazy and I don’t want to deal with it anymore. I just want some peace!

And then I remember.

Christmas is just around the corner … and that’s what Christmas is all about - peace. We have somehow managed to lose sight of that stunning truth. We have allowed our priorities to be blown to smithereens! Frantic shopping trips, insane decorating, incessant gift wrapping, never-ending baking, attending parties we don’t really want to attend, spending money we don’t really have … and I want to quit!

I want to get back to the message of Christmas - the simple but eternal truth that Jesus came to earth as a baby – fully God and wholly-man. He experienced everything I have experienced and so much more. That’s why He came. To heal the broken lambs like me. To bind up the wounds inflicted by a world gone crazy. To initiate and define the very meaning of love, spelling it out in a language we can understand.

Take hold of this truth! God asked His only Son, Jesus, to exchange Heaven for Earth, to surrender His mind-blowing throne for a dirty manger, to relinquish perfection for gross imperfection, to love the unlovable. And Jesus said “Yes.”

God knows. Heaven is not in a panic nor is it surprised by the state of this world or the condition of my heart. Jesus Christ knows how tired I am. He knows I am ready to quit. And His love for me has not changed one bit!

God’s love for me does not depend on what I do or don’t do. If I never did another thing in Kingdom work, His love for me would not change. No one can take my place in My Father’s heart. And when I remember that … everything changes.

It was Christmas Eve and the family was preparing to attend the special service of their local church. Everyone was going except Dad, who was an honest man, a man who could not seem to wrap his logical mind around the story of God come to earth as a baby in a manger. He didn’t want to be a hypocrite, pretending to worship a Savior he wasn’t sure even existed, so he stayed home, built a fire to dispel the bitter cold of that winter night, and began to read the paper, waiting for his family’s return.

Hearing a knock at the window, he turned to see a tiny bird trying to reach the warmth of the fire. The man opened the window, but the bird refused to come in. Grabbing his coat, the man went out to the barn and opened the barn doors wide – but still, the bird refused to come in. The man thought, “If only I could be a bird, for just one minute, I could lead the bird to safety.” At that moment, he heard the church bells ring and finally understood why Jesus came to earth as a man - to become one of us so He could lead us to eternal safety.

The very heart of Christmas is Emanuel, God with us – with me – and with you. It celebrates the sufficiency of Christ that replaces our insufficiency. Christmas is not a date on a calendar. Christmas is a way of living that celebrates the presence of God in the simple, ordinary happenings of daily life.

So, this year, let’s refuse to quit! Let’s put on our warrior boots and stand firm in our faith. Let’s celebrate Christmas with passion and purpose!

How?

Through the smile we give the harried stranger or the patience we choose in the crowd of impatient shoppers - the love that prompts the secret gift or the heart that constantly celebrates His birth through every sparkling light, every beautifully wrapped gift, each special meal, every card, phone call, and visit. God is with us – if we choose to make room for Him.

Let’s Pray

Father, You know my weary heart. Forgive me for whining and complaining to You about so many things! Right now, I choose to make room in my life for You to work. Fill me with Your power and strength. Help me stand in faith and share You with fresh authority. And may this Christmas be exactly what You want it to be in my life.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Stop! Take a breath! And determine right now to truly celebrate Christmas this year in a way that replenishes you and honors God. What one step do you need to take in order to make that happen? Do it!

More from the Girlfriends

Do you need help controlling your anger? Check out my new Bible Study, You Make Me Angry. Perfect for personal study as well as small groups. Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through E-mail, Twitter, Instagram, Shopify, or on Facebook.


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Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
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What I want to do is quit.

LHM Daily Devotions - THEY MEANT WELL

https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20181217

"THEY MEANT WELL"

Dec. 17, 2018

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.
~ Luke 1:57-62 (ESV)

"They meant well." Aren't those ominous words. We only say people "meant well" when it's clear they've made a mistake.

When Elizabeth had her baby, her relatives and neighbors came to the circumcision ceremony, prepared to celebrate. And that's what they did. Everything was going great until they got to the baby's name. "Zechariah Jr., right?" And in the middle of this, Elizabeth's answer drops like a stone: "Yeah, actually, it's John."

"What!?" They protest. And then they go over Elizabeth's head to ask her husband, as if they thought Elizabeth had shut him out of the decision in the first place!

Meaning well isn't enough. We need someone who not only means well, but does well—someone who loves us and finds a way to put that love into effective, loving action. And that's exactly what God sent to us: our Savior Jesus. His love shines out in everything He does for us—whether that is teaching us, rebuking us, comforting us, or showing kindness to us. Truly, He is the one who "has done all things well" (Mark 7:37).

With Jesus, there are no blunders—no mistakes—no "I didn't mean it that way" and "You're too sensitive" and "Can't we just forget about that time?" We know that Jesus is nothing but goodness and love and health and holiness; if there is a problem between us, it's obvious who needs to correct course. And yet He never holds those problems against us—never rejects us out of hurt feelings—never refuses to be reconciled with us, to accept us, to bring us home. Our friends and relatives love us. Our Savior laid down His own life for us—and then rose again to share His everlasting life with us forever. How wonderful He is!

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You that You always forgive and take me back again when I have failed to do well—or even to mean well. Thank You for saving me. Amen.

The Coming King REFLECTION QUESTIONS!
  • When was the last time you got your feelings hurt by someone who meant well?
  • When was it you who meant well, but didn't manage to carry it out well?
  • When you have to deal with people who mean well but hurt you anyway, how do you find the strength to treat them with the love of Jesus?

Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
When was the last time you got your feelings hurt by someone who meant well?

Devocional del CPTLN de 17 de Diciembre de 2018 - Tenían buenas intenciones


ALIMENTO DIARIO

Tenían buenas intenciones

17 de Diciembre de 2018

Cuando se cumplió el tiempo, Elisabet dio a luz un hijo. Y cuando sus vecinos y parientes supieron que Dios le había mostrado su gran misericordia, se alegraron con ella. Al octavo día fueron para circuncidar al niño, y querían ponerle el nombre de su padre, Zacarías. Pero su madre dijo: «No, va a llamarse Juan.» Le preguntaron: «¿Por qué? ¡No hay nadie en tu familia que se llame así!» Luego le preguntaron a su padre, por señas, qué nombre quería ponerle.
~ Lucas 1:57-62 (RVC)

"Tenían buenas intenciones". ¿No son siniestras esas palabras? Sólo las decimos cuando se cometió un error.

Cuando Elisabet dio a luz, todos estaban muy felices: era evidente que amaban a Elisabet y a Zacarías. Así es que fueron a la ceremonia de circuncisión, prontos para celebrar. Todo iba bien hasta que llegaron al nombre del bebé. "Zacarías, ¿no?", casi se puede escuchar decir a los parientes. Pero la respuesta de Elisabet cae como balde de agua fría: "Va a llamarse Juan". ¿Qué? "Ese no es un nombre familiar", protestan. Y pasan por encima de Elisabet para preguntarle a su marido, ¡como si Elisabet lo hubiera excluido de la decisión!

Las buenas intenciones no son suficientes. Fue por ello que Dios nos envió a su hijo Jesús para que fuera nuestro Salvador. Su amor brilla en todo lo que hace por nosotros. Él es quien: "Todo lo hace bien" (Marcos 7:37). Con Jesús no hay equivocaciones. Él es bondad, amor, salud y santidad; si hay un problema entre nosotros, es obvio quién necesita corregir el curso. Jesús nunca nos rechaza por sentimientos heridos, nunca se niega a reconciliarse con nosotros, a aceptarnos, a traernos a casa.

Nuestro Salvador entregó su vida por nosotros y luego resucitó para compartir su vida eterna con nosotros para siempre. ¡Qué maravilloso es Él!

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, gracias por tu perdón constante y por mantenerme junto a ti. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:
  • ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que alguien que tenía buenas intenciones te hirió?
  • ¿Cómo hiciste para encontrar la fuerza para tratar a esa persona con el amor de Jesús?

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que alguien que tenía buenas intenciones te hirió?

Notre Pain Quotidien - De la honte à l’honneur


De la honte à l’honneur

Lisez : Luc 1.18-25
La Bible en un an : Amos 7 – 9 ; Apocalypse 8

C’est la grâce que le Seigneur m’a faite, quand il a jeté les yeux sur moi pour ôter mon opprobre parmi les hommes. V. 25

Voilà venu le temps de l’année où les familles se réunissent pour célébrer. Certains d’entre nous redoutent cependant de rencontrer des proches « préoccupés » dont les questions risquent de donner à ceux qui sont encore célibataires ou sans enfant le sentiment d’avoir quelque chose qui cloche.

Imaginez un peu la situation d’Élisabeth, qui n’avait toujours pas enfanté après de nombreuses années de vie conjugale. Dans sa culture, on percevait ce fait comme un signe de la désapprobation de Dieu (voir 1 S 1.5,6) et peut-être honteux. Ainsi, même si Élisabeth avait vécu dans la piété (LU 1.6), ses voisins et ses proches ont pu la soupçonner du contraire.

Or, Élisabeth et son mari ont continué de servir le Seigneur avec fidélité. Puis, dans leurs vieux jours, un miracle s’est produit. Dieu a exaucé les prières d’Élisabeth (V. 13). Il se plaît à user de sa faveur envers nous (V. 25). Et bien qu’il semble tarder, il intervient toujours au bon moment et sa sagesse est toujours parfaite. Dieu réservait un cadeau particulier à Élisabeth et à son mari : un enfant qui allait devenir le précurseur du Messie (ÉS 40.3-5).

Avez-vous l’impression de ne pas être à la hauteur parce qu’il semble vous manquer quelque chose – un diplôme universitaire, un conjoint, un enfant, une maison ? Continuez de vivre fidèlement pour lui et attendez patiemment de le voir à l’œuvre et de connaître son plan, comme Élisabeth l’a fait. Quelle que soit notre situation, Dieu agit en nous et par nous. Il connaît notre cœur. Il entend nos prières.

Vivez pour lui avec fidélité et attendez avec patience qu’il agisse.


© 2018 Ministères NPQ
Voilà venu le temps de l’année où les familles se réunissent pour célébrer. Certains d’entre nous redoutent cependant de rencontrer des proches « préoccupés » dont les questions risquent de donner à ceux qui sont encore célibataires ou sans enfant le sentiment d’avoir quelque chose qui cloche.