Sunday, March 31, 2019

The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, April 1, 2019

The Rejoicing in Heaven

The Daily Lectionary
MONDAY, April 1, 2019
(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 53
Denunciation of Godlessness
To the leader: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
1  Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
     They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts;
     there is no one who does good.

2  God looks down from heaven on humankind
     to see if there are any who are wise,
     who seek after God.

3  They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse;
     there is no one who does good,
     no, not one.

4  Have they no knowledge, those evildoers,
     who eat up my people as they eat bread,
     and do not call upon God?

5  There they shall be in great terror,
     in terror such as has not been.
   For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly;
     they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them.

6  O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
     When God restores the fortunes of his people,
     Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

Leviticus 23:26-41
The Day of Atonement
23:26 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 27 Now, the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you: you shall deny yourselves and present the Lord’s offering by fire; 28 and you shall do no work during that entire day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God. 29 For anyone who does not practice self-denial during that entire day shall be cut off from the people. 30 And anyone who does any work during that entire day, such a one I will destroy from the midst of the people. 31 You shall do no work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your settlements. 32 It shall be to you a sabbath of complete rest, and you shall deny yourselves; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening you shall keep your sabbath.

The Festival of Booths
33 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 34 Speak to the people of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month, and lasting seven days, there shall be the festival of booths to the Lord. 35 The first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations. 36 Seven days you shall present the Lord’s offerings by fire; on the eighth day you shall observe a holy convocation and present the Lord’s offerings by fire; it is a solemn assembly; you shall not work at your occupations.

37 These are the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you shall celebrate as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord offerings by fire—burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day— 38 apart from the sabbaths of the Lord, and apart from your gifts, and apart from all your votive offerings, and apart from all your freewill offerings, which you give to the Lord.

39 Now, the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall keep the festival of the Lord, lasting seven days; a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day. 40 On the first day you shall take the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a festival to the Lord seven days in the year; you shall keep it in the seventh month as a statute forever throughout your generations.

Revelation 19:1-8
The Rejoicing in Heaven
19:1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

   “Hallelujah!
   Salvation and glory and power to our God,
2    for his judgments are true and just;
   he has judged the great whore
     who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
   and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

3 Once more they said,

   “Hallelujah!
   The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.”

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying,

   “Amen. Hallelujah!”

5 And from the throne came a voice saying,

   “Praise our God,
     all you his servants,
   and all who fear him,
     small and great.”

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,

   “Hallelujah!
   For the Lord our God
     the Almighty reigns.
7  Let us rejoice and exult
     and give him the glory,
   for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
     and his bride has made herself ready;
8  to her it has been granted to be clothed
     with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

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
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying ...

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, April 1, 2019


Psalm 14:1 (NIV) The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Read all of Psalm 14

Listen to Psalm 14

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 - La pildorita contra el estrés


La pildorita contra el estrés

Aun los jóvenes se cansan, se fatigan [...] pero los que confían en el Señor renovarán sus fuerzas.

Muchas veces a lo largo de tu vida, sin importar la edad que tengas, te sentirás con la sensación de que ya no puedes más con las cosas que estás viviendo. Incluso, ni siquiera te motivará la búsqueda de Dios.

Has intentado de todo para hallar la paz y la solución a tus problemas, y ya te has dado cuenta que las pastillas para la depresión no dan resultado. Que las visitas al que se supone que conoce tu futuro ya te desilusionó porque al fin comprendes que te han quitado tu dinero, pues nadie conoce tu futuro sino solo Dios.

Hoy te digo que Dios es el único que basta. Él es el que saca del hoyo tu vida. El que te viste con ropas nuevas y el Dios de las oportunidades.

Hace unos meses escuché una vez más que un joven de veintiún años se había quitado la vida porque no pudo soportar la muerte de su novia. Entró en depresión y, pasado un tiempo, se quitó la vida. ¡Qué dolor para la familia!

Ni tú, ni él, ni ninguno de nosotros se puede aferrar a la vida de otras personas, incluyendo las de nuestras parejas e hijos, nuestros pastores o líderes. No debemos convertir esos seres especiales en la razón para vivir. Es idolatría y Dios la detesta. Debes entender hoy que no puedes poner tu vida y tu confianza en el hombre porque lo más seguro es que te va a fallar.

Dios es el que te ayudará en todas tus necesidades y te dará nuevos comienzos.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Muchas veces a lo largo de tu vida, sin importar la edad que tengas, te sentirás con la sensación de que ya no puedes más con las cosas que estás viviendo. Incluso, ni siquiera te motivará la búsqueda de Dios.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - COMMISSIONING ASPECT OF COMMITMENT


COMMISSIONING ASPECT OF COMMITMENT

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
~ Luke 9:23 (NIV)

The personal and trusting relationship between God and His followers now leads the believer to the commissioning aspect of commitment—a task that is characteristic of being His true followers—“and follow me.” This commitment is not to a task but to a person. To be a follower of Jesus is to be a disciple of Jesus. A disciple is one who follows the teaching of another; one who is like another; one who models after another.

What is the task to which he has called us? The task is none other than the words of what we call “The Great Commission”:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)
The Christian’s task is nothing short of being a servant of Jesus Christ proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ and helping others become followers of Jesus. Our primary responsibility is neither overthrowing governments nor opposing ideologies but a proactive one of making disciples of all nations.

In the course of our obedience to God’s authority, we may come in conflict with the existing government. We have been called to be good citizens and history has proven that Christians are generally law-abiding and hard working. But when conflicts come, the Christian is ready to choose his commitment to Christ over his or her commitment to local authorities (Acts 4:19–20).

RESPONSE: Today I complete my commitment to follow Jesus in sharing His love with others.

PRAYER: As a true disciple, I give myself, Lord, to the task of world evangelization starting where You place me today.

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

Girlfriends in God - Generosity is a Privilege


Generosity is a Privilege

Today’s Truth

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
~ Proverbs 22:9 (NKJV)

Friend to Friend

It was a generous act that got my attention.

After I was done speaking at a conference, a teenage boy asked to speak with me at my book table.  “I know this may be strange,” he said.  “But I’d like to buy books for the next ten people at your table.”

He handed me $100.  I couldn’t believe that someone wanted to be so generous, and I couldn’t believe it was a 17-year-old boy!  The host church wasn’t in an affluent part of town and I later learned that boy did not come from a rich family.

I praised his generosity and motioned for him to stay close, so he could overhear my next conversation.  A kind looking woman in her fifties handed me a small stack of books to purchase.  I had the privilege of saying, “An anonymous donor has already bought those books for you.  Today, they are free!”

You should have seen the smile on her face and tears in her eyes.  It was almost as touching as the look on that young man’s face as he saw the joy generated by his sacrificial act.

He, the generous giver, was blessed!  Today’s truth says that “He who has generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.”  How does one have a generous eye?  I believe it’s about looking around to notice the needs of others and to respond.  The opposite would be a selfish, me-centered eye.  Now that kind of eye is the one we’re born with and the kind social media breeds.  We need to cultivate a generous eye by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There was a saying posted at the host church, “Generosity is a privilege.”

It’s not a duty, burden, problem, or something to be avoided at all costs.  It’s a privilege to give money in an offering, pay for someone’s meal, serve children by volunteering, or buy books for someone else.  The Bible tells us what our attitude should be when giving in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

When you give generously to others, you are partnering with God in the profound work of ministry.  You are putting a spotlight on the abundant good works of God in our lives.  You may be generous with your money, and you can also be generous in these areas: 

Your time.  Spend unhurried time with your family members and best friends.  Be generous with your minutes with people and miserly with your screen time.  Take time out to volunteer for service projects, drive the van, or sit with a hurting friend.

Your talents.  Maybe you have the heart of a coach or teacher.  You can volunteer to tutor kids or coach basketball.  Do you sing or play an instrument?  Get involved in your church, join a band, or minister at your local nursing home.  Are you great with numbers?  You might offer to help out a non-profit with their accounting.

Your words.  Be lavish in your praise and encouraging words.  In Acts 20:2 (NIV) it says that Paul “traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece.”

Let’s be known for our generous acts and our generous eyes.  Generosity truly is a privilege and a blessing to everyone involved.

Let’s Pray

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your ultimate generosity in loving me. Change my heart from a selfish heart to a giving heart. May I speak words of encouragement to the people around me. Help me to give cheerfully of my money, time, and talents.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Do you usually give money grudgingly or cheerfully?

Think about your schedule this week. What is one generous thing you can do for someone?

More from the Girlfriends

How can you encourage children to be generous? Arlene’s book Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World (co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman) will show you how to teach children gratitude and generosity. It’s the opposite of today’s entitlement spirit.

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

https://girlfriendsingod.com/events/
I couldn’t believe that someone wanted to be so generous, and I couldn’t believe it was a 17-year-old boy!

LHM Daily Devotions - WHAT SHALL I DO?

https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20190401

"WHAT SHALL I DO?"

Apr. 1, 2019

Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"
~ Matthew 27:22 (ESV)

"What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" That was the problem facing Pilate that whole Good Friday. Shall I set Him free, seeing He is an innocent man? Shall I send Him off to Herod, and get Him out of my jurisdiction so I don't have to deal with His case? Shall I hand Him over to the doubtful mercies of the crowd, in the hope that His old popularity will save Him? Shall I scourge Him to work up the sympathy vote? What shall I do with Jesus?

Pilate knew a political hot potato when he saw one. His career was already in trouble before Jesus arrived on his doorstep—Pilate's old mentor Sejanus had fallen from power, and anyone associated with him was at risk. The last thing Pilate needed was for the Jewish leaders to send bad reports of him to Rome.

But Pilate wasn't comfortable just condemning the innocent Jesus either. Some of the reason might have been a drive for justice. Some of it might have been an understandable desire to annoy the Jewish religious leaders, who had been a longstanding thorn in Pilate's side. But much of it seemed to be due to how Jesus handled Himself—how He spoke and what He said. It bothered Pilate. When the leaders said, "He claims to be the Son of God," Pilate was half-inclined to believe it. There was something very unusual about Jesus!

We all know what Pilate decided in the end. But what about us? What will we do with Jesus, this Man who claims to be the Son of God? We face this question every day, as we live our lives in a world hostile to Jesus, making choices in what we say and think and do.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith in Him who laid down His life for our sake. May He give us the joy of following Jesus faithfully and sharing His story with others.

THE PRAYER: Father, strengthen our faith and trust in Jesus our Savior, and let all our decisions, let all our words, let all our thoughts be made according to Your will. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
  • What do you do when you're trying to avoid making a decision?
  • What other "options" besides trusting in Jesus have you had in your life? These might be other faiths, or just other ways of trying to cope with the world.
  • If you're willing, share about the last time you had to choose between Jesus and an easier way out of a hard situation.

Lenten 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).
What do you do when you're trying to avoid making a decision?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 01 de Abril de 2019 -


ALIMENTO DIARIO

¿Qué debo hacer entonces?

01 de Abril de 2019

Pilato les preguntó: «¿Qué debo hacer entonces con Jesús, al que llaman el Cristo?»
~ Mateo 27:22a (RVC)

"¿Qué debo hacer entonces con Jesús, al que llaman el Cristo?" Ese fue el problema que enfrentó Pilato el Viernes Santo. ¿Lo libero porque es inocente? ¿Se lo envío a Herodes y así lo saco de mi jurisdicción? ¿Debo dejarlo a la misericordia dudosa de la multitud con la esperanza de que su antigua popularidad lo salve? ¿Lo azoto para ganar unos votos de simpatía? ¿Qué debo hacer con Jesús?

Pilato sabía cuando tenía un asunto difícil entre manos. Su carrera ya estaba en problemas antes de que Jesús llegara a su puerta: su viejo mentor había caído del poder, por lo que cualquier persona relacionada con él estaba en riesgo. Lo último que necesitaba era que los líderes judíos enviaran malos informes de él a Roma.

Pero tampoco se sentía cómodo condenando a Jesús. Quizás por un deseo de hacer justicia, quizás por molestar a los líderes religiosos judíos que habían sido un aguijón constante en su vida. Pero, más que nada, se debía a la manera en que Jesús se había comportado, la forma en que había hablado y lo que había dicho. A Pilato le molestaba. Cuando los líderes dijeron: "Dice ser el Hijo de Dios", Pilato estaba inclinado a creerlo. ¡Jesús tenía algo diferente!

Todos sabemos lo que Pilato terminó haciendo. Pero ¿y nosotros? ¿Qué vamos a hacer con Jesús, ese hombre que dice ser el Hijo de Dios? Esta pregunta la enfrentamos cada día que vivimos en este mundo hostil a Jesús y en el cual debemos tomar decisiones sobre lo que decimos, pensamos y hacemos.

Que el Espíritu Santo fortalezca nuestra fe en Aquel que dio su vida por nosotros, y que nos llene de gozo al seguir fielmente a Jesús y compartir su historia con otros.

ORACIÓN: Padre, fortalece nuestra fe y confianza en Jesús nuestro Salvador, y haz que todas nuestras obras estén de acuerdo con tu voluntad. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:
  • ¿Qué otras "opciones", además de confiar en Jesús, has tenido en tu vida?
  • Comparte una vez que tuviste que elegir entre Jesús y una forma más fácil de salir de una situación difícil.

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué otras "opciones", además de confiar en Jesús, has tenido en tu vida?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Des bénédictions empruntées

https://www.ministeresnpq.org/2019/04/01/des-benedictions-empruntees/


Des bénédictions empruntées

La Bible en un an : Juges 13 – 15 ; Luc 6.27-49

À l’Éternel la terre et ce qu’elle renferme. Psaume 24.1

Alors que nous inclinions la tête avant le repas, mon ami Jeff a prié ainsi : « Père, merci de nous permettre de respirer ton air et de manger ta nourriture. » Jeff venait de vivre une douloureuse perte d’emploi, si bien que cette expression de sa confiance en Dieu et de sa reconnaissance envers celui à qui tout appartient m’a profondément ému et m’a donné à réfléchir : Est-ce que je comprends véritablement que même les choses les plus élémentaires de mon quotidien sont la propriété de Dieu et qu’il me laisse les utiliser ?

En recevant les offrandes du peuple d’Israël destinées à la construction du Temple de Jérusalem, le roi David a fait cette prière : « Car qui suis-je et qui est mon peuple, pour que nous puissions te faire volontairement ces offrandes ? Tout vient de toi, et nous recevons de ta main ce que nous t’offrons. […] Éternel, notre Dieu, c’est de ta main que viennent toutes ces richesses » (1 CH 29.14,16).

La Bible nous dit même que « c’est lui qui [nous donne] la force pour les acquérir » (DE 8.18). Le fait de savoir que tout ce que nous possédons nous est prêté nous encourage à délaisser les choses de ce monde afin d’ouvrir librement nos mains et notre cœur par gratitude pour les bontés que nous recevons chaque jour.

Comme Dieu est généreux et bienveillant au point de livrer son Fils « pour nous tous » (RO 8.32), montrons-nous reconnaissants pour ses bénédictions, petites et grandes.

Tout ce que nous possédons est la propriété de Dieu.


© 2019 Ministères NPQ
Alors que nous inclinions la tête avant le repas, mon ami Jeff a prié ainsi : « Père, merci de nous permettre de respirer ton air et de manger ta nourriture. »