Monday, February 3, 2020

The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, February 4, 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/revised-common-lectionary-complementary/2020/02/04?version=NIV
Psalm 37:1-17; Ruth 2:1-16; James 5:1-6

The Daily Lectionary
TUESDAY, February 4, 2020
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

God will bless the righteous
1  Do not fret because of those who are evil
     or be envious of those who do wrong;
2  for like the grass they will soon wither,
     like green plants they will soon die away.

3  Trust in the Lord and do good;
     dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4  Take delight in the Lord,
     and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5  Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him and he will do this:
6  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
     your vindication like the noonday sun.

7  Be still before the Lord
     and wait patiently for him;
   do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
     when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
     do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9  For those who are evil will be destroyed,
     but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
     though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
     and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
     and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
     for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
     and bend the bow
   to bring down the poor and needy,
     to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
     and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
     than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
     but the Lord upholds the righteous.

Ruth one of the hungry
2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.

2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”

Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!”

“The Lord bless you!” they answered.

5 Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?”

6 The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”

8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”

11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”

14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”

When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

A warning to the ungenerous
5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing 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 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, February 4, 2020
Psalm 37:1-17; Ruth 2:1-16; James 5:1-6

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, February 4, 2020


The Daily Prayer
TUESDAY, February 4, 2020

Rosa Parks was born February 4, 1913. When she was forty-two, Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama, to a white passenger, which at the time, the law required of African-Americans. She was arrested for her act of civil disobedience and worked with others from the NAACP to start the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The resulting integration of city buses in Montgomery ignited the civil rights movement in the United States and inspired nonviolent movements for social change around the world.

Rosa Parks commented, “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”

Lord, we have only to look at your life to know that reconciliation always costs something. Whether we are old or young, strong or weary, rich or poor, supply us with the conviction that reconciliation is always worth the price. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, February 4, 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/verse-of-the-day/2020/02/04?version=NIV

Psalm 18:1-2
I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
  my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Read all of Psalm 18

Listen to Psalm 18

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 - Martes 4 de febrero de 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/un-dia-vez/2020/02/04

Oración por mi carácter

Pero yo, Señor, en ti confío, y digo: «Tú eres mi Dios». Mi vida entera está en tus manos.

Querido Jesús: Reconozco que muchas veces no he sido un buen ejemplo para mi familia y mucho menos para las personas que me rodean. Sé que muchas veces mis actitudes no han dado buen testimonio de tu nombre.

Te suplico que me ayudes a retener mi boca y no hablar cosas de las cuales me pueda arrepentir.

Aunque sé que te amo, mi Dios, reconozco que he usado tu nombre en vano y he dudado de tu poder, de tu amor y de tu misericordia.

Te pido perdón con todo mi corazón.

Quiero que formes el carácter de tu Hijo en mí y que yo pueda, Señor, ser un instrumento tuyo en esta tierra.

Guíame para que mi vida llegue a ser ejemplo y tú puedas reinar siempre en mí.

Aléjame, Padre, de personas que no aportan nada bueno a mi vida y, por favor, no me sueltes de tu mano. Te necesito, mi Señor.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Querido Jesús: Reconozco que muchas veces no he sido un buen ejemplo para mi familia y mucho menos para las personas que me rodean.…

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, February 4, 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/standing-strong-through-the-storm/2020/02/04
SHUN FEAR AND COURAGEOUSLY PRESS ON

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

One of the major tactics of Satan is to use difficult situations to create fear in us and thus immobilize our witness. For example, during the 9/11 attack in the USA, Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry were being held in a prison in Afghanistan. In an interview with Christianity Today magazine on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, Heather Mercer said, “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about it. God sent me to prison to set me free. I don’t think I realized how much fear I actually had in my life until I had to confront some of my deepest, darkest fears. When I first set out to go to Afghanistan, I knew it might cost me my life to reach Muslims with the love of Jesus. Then I had this opportunity to face that fear of, ‘What would I do if someone tried to kill me for sharing the gospel?’ God made Himself known in such a profound way that now, what do I have to fear?”[1]

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), Wycliffe’s Sue Ambrose was out for a walk on February 4th, 2009. She was talking to the Lord about people, issues and life. As she continued her walk, she read memory verses from three Gospels that say, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

The slapping sound of bare feet running on packed earth causes her to turn around to see a crazed PNG man charge her with a large machete-like knife raised murderously above his head. After a quick altercation and feeling as though she was dying, Sue was rushed to the medical clinic where friends and co-workers were shocked to see her in such grave condition: many abrasions; a damaged hand; a puncture wound near the sternum just below the diaphragm and lungs; and the knife still stuck fast in her hip.

Sue was remarkably calm through the process and felt no pain. Once stabilized, she was transferred to medical facilities in Australia. While in hospital, God gave Sue a clear vision of an angel, “A big warrior kind of guy that was eight or ten feet tall with his sword raised, saying, ‘No, that is enough! I am not going to let you kill her.’” Sue says, “That really opened my eyes to the whole spiritual realm; that this man was part of Satan’s attacks on us, on the training center and on the work of SIL.”

Two and a half weeks after being air-lifted out of the country, Sue returned to her ministry in PNG. The Wycliffe magazine, Word Alive reported: That seemingly simple act proves to be a strong counterstrike to the enemy—a living sermon calling others to shun fear and courageously press on in their respective callings. “I don’t think that I ever considered not going back,” says Sue. “God has given us the strength to return and it has spoken volumes to people.” Sue models an attitude that we all must grasp, the article concluded. Let fear not rule![2]

RESPONSE: Today I will not allow the enemy to use the tactic of fear against me.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the wonderful examples of fearlessness shown by Your people today.

1. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/septemberweb-only/heather-mercer-interview.html
2. Craig Pulsifer, “Let Fear Not Rule,” Word Alive (Wycliffe Bible Translators, Fall 2011), pp. 33-37.

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

LHM Daily Devotions February 4, 2020 - Who Are We Kidding?

https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20200204

"Who Are We Kidding?"

Feb. 4, 2020

"'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness."

Have you ever done something and not really had your heart in it? It's hard keeping up the façade. So, we force a smile and press on—hoping we've made a good show of it to please the other person. But we're really eager to remove the mask hiding our insincerity.

It appears people have been acting like this for a long time. Ancient Israel was no stranger to the idea of keeping up appearances. In fact, they went to great lengths to put on outward displays of obedience to God, even stating their case (which they assumed should be obvious to Him). No matter. Their heart wasn't into it, and they insulted God's knowledge by thinking He wouldn't see through their bogus charade (verses 6-9).

Jesus, too, rebuked false worship when He blasted the scribes and the Pharisees for their outward show and their hardness of hearts. Citing Isaiah, He said, "'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men" (see Mark 7:1-13).

The sad thing is, this is our nature, too. This is our cursed pride. Near-sighted and deaf to others' needs, we maintain the sham, deceiving ourselves and more than happy to do it.

But Christ has taken all of this to the cross—the pretense, the self-love, the glory-seeking, the game-playing, and false modesty. He's made an end of our sin, once and for all, through His shed blood, death, and glorious resurrection.

In its place, He extends to us a new life of loving God and showing compassion to others.

This life can be yours, too.

THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, "take our lives and let them be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee." In Your Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
  1. Can you recall the last time you did something for somebody that you really preferred not to do?
  2. Why does there seem to be such an emphasis on issues of performing social justice in the Bible?
  3. How important is it for us to be concerned about social issues?

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Can you recall the last time you did something for somebody that you really preferred not to do?

CPTLN devocional del 04 de febrero de 2020 - ¿A quién queremos engañar?


ALIMENTO DIARIO

¿A quién queremos engañar?

04 de Febrero de 2020

"¿Qué sentido tiene que ayunemos, si no nos haces caso? ¿Para qué afligir nuestro cuerpo, si tú no te das por enterado?" Pero resulta que cuando ayunan sólo buscan su propia satisfacción, ¡y mientras tanto oprimen a todos sus trabajadores! Sólo ayunan para estar peleando y discutiendo, y para dar de puñetazos impunemente. Si quieren que su voz sea escuchada en lo alto, no ayunen como hoy día lo hacen. ¿Acaso lo que yo quiero como ayuno es que un día alguien aflija su cuerpo, que incline la cabeza como un junco, y que se acueste sobre el cilicio y la ceniza? ¿A eso le llaman ayuno, y día agradable al Señor? Más bien, el ayuno que yo quiero es que se desaten las ataduras de la impiedad, que se suelten las cargas de la opresión, que se ponga en libertad a los oprimidos, ¡y que se rompa todo yugo! Ayunar es que compartas tu pan con quien tiene hambre, que recibas en tu casa a los pobres vagabundos, que cubras al que veas desnudo, ¡y que no le des la espalda a tu hermano! Si actúas así, entonces tu luz brillará como el alba, y muy pronto tus heridas sanarán; la justicia será tu vanguardia, y la gloria del Señor será tu retaguardia. Entonces clamarás, y el Señor te responderá; lo invocarás, y él te dirá: "Aquí estoy. Si quitas de tu medio el yugo, el dedo amenazador, y el lenguaje hueco".

¿Alguna vez has hecho algo sin hacerlo de corazón? Es difícil mantener la fachada, pero forzamos una sonrisa y seguimos adelante con la esperanza de haber podido complacer a la otra persona. Sin embargo, estamos realmente ansiosos por quitarnos la máscara que oculta nuestra falta de sinceridad.

Parece que los seres humanos han estado actuando así durante mucho tiempo. El antiguo Israel no era ajeno a la idea de "mantener las apariencias". De hecho, hicieron todo lo posible para hacer exhibiciones externas de obediencia a Dios, incluso defendiendo sus acciones. Pero su corazón no estaba puesto en eso, e insultaron la omnisciencia de Dios al pensar que Él no vería a través de su farsa falsa (versículos 6-9).

Jesús también reprendió la adoración falsa cuando criticó a los escribas y fariseos por su espectáculo externo y la dureza de sus corazones. Citando a Isaías, dijo: "Este pueblo me honra con sus labios, pero su corazón está lejos de mí; no tiene sentido que me honren, si sus enseñanzas son mandamientos humanos. Porque ustedes dejan de lado el mandamiento de Dios, y se aferran a la tradición de los hombres" (ver Marcos 7:1-13).

Lo triste es que así es nuestra naturaleza también. Este es nuestro orgullo maldito. Miopes y sordos a las necesidades de los demás mantenemos la farsa, nos engañamos a nosotros mismos y estamos más que felices de hacerlo.

Pero Cristo ha llevado todo esto a la cruz: la pretensión, el amor propio, la búsqueda de la gloria, el juego y la falsa modestia. Él puso fin a nuestro pecado, de una vez por todas, a través de Su sangre derramada, de su muerte y de su gloriosa resurrección.

Él nos ofrece una nueva vida de amor a Dios y compasión hacia los demás. Esta vida también puede ser tuya.

ORACIÓN: Querido Jesús, ayúdanos a consagrar nuestra vida a Ti. En tu nombre. Amén.

Esta devoción diaria fue escrita por Paul Schreiber.

Para reflexionar:
  1. ¿Puedes recordar la última vez que hiciste algo por alguien que no querías hacer?
  2. ¿Cuán importante es para ti el ocuparte de los problemas sociales?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Puedes recordar la última vez que hiciste algo por alguien que no querías hacer?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Amor a la medida de Dios

https://nuestropandiario.org/2020/02/04/amor-a-la-medida-de-dios

Amor a la medida de Dios

La escritura de hoy: Mateo 5:43-48
La Biblia en un año: Éxodo 34–35; Mateo 22:23-46

Porque si amáis a los que os aman, ¿qué recompensa tendréis?…

Una vez, visité un barrio pobre de Santo Domingo, en República Dominicana. Las casas eran de chapa, con cables de electricidad colgando por encima. Tuve el privilegio de entrevistar familias y escuchar cómo ayudaban las iglesias a combatir el desempleo, el uso de drogas y la delincuencia.

En un callejón, subí por una escalera destartalada a un pequeño cuarto para hablar con una madre y su hijo; pero al instante, alguien subió corriendo y dijo: «Debemos irnos ya». Al parecer, el líder de una pandilla estaba reuniendo a una turba para emboscarnos.

Fuimos a otro barrio, pero no tuvimos problema. Más tarde, supimos que mientras visitaba las casas, un líder de otra pandilla estaba afuera protegiéndonos. Resultó ser que su hija recibía comida y educación en una iglesia. Como los creyentes la ayudaban, él nos defendía.

En Mateo 5:43-45, Jesús presentó un estándar de amor incomparable; un amor que no solo recibe a los «dignos», sino también a los que no lo merecen, y que se extiende a otras familias y amigos que no pueden o no querrán retribuirnos ese amor (vv. 46-47). Es un amor a la medida de Dios (v. 48), que bendice a todos.

Como los creyentes en Santo Domingo practican este amor, los barrios están empezando a cambiar. Esto sucede cuando se aplica amor como el de Dios.

De:  Sheridan Voysey

Reflexiona y ora
Señor, que pueda volcar tu amor, aunque no me retribuyan el favor.
¿Qué diferencia hay entre el amor humano y el piadoso? ¿A quién puedes ayudar hoy que no pueda retribuírtelo?

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Las casas eran de chapa, con cables de electricidad colgando por encima.