Saturday, February 8, 2020

The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, February 9, 2020 — 5th Sunday after the Epiphany

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/revised-common-lectionary-complementary/2020/02/09?version=NIV
Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]; Psalm 112:1-9 [10]; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]; Matthew 5:13-20

The Sunday Lectionary Readings
SUNDAY, February 9, 2020 — 5th Sunday after the Epiphany
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Salty, Bright, and Good
Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]; Psalm 112:1-9 [10]; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]; Matthew 5:13-20

Opening Statement
You must shed light among your neighbors so that when they see the good you do, they may give praise to your heavenly Father.


Opening Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for the light that shone in Jesus, revealing unto us your holiness and our righteousness. We deplore this gap, yet we rejoice that you chased the darkness that kept it hidden from our eyes. By your light we are both encouraged and condemned. We are reassured to see your face turned in our direction, bidding us to come unto you. But we shudder at the sight of us turning our backs on you, resisting the light that could mirror your glory.

We thank you, O God, for leaving your light in the world even though we have not always heeded your summons to become the light of the world. Instead of illuminating your character, we have blurred it. You have commanded us to love you with all our being, but we have consigned our love to the pigeonhole of religion. You have commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but we have been too preoccupied with ourselves to find them. You have called us to be peacemakers, yet we have encouraged the arms makers with our fears and our fortunes. You have summoned us to be wall breakers, yet we have supported the wall makers with our silence and our sympathy. We have seen the light, but we have refused to walk in it.

Yet we long, O Lord, to keep your law and do your will. We ask forgiveness for our rebellion, not merely for the sake of the joy we have denied ourselves, but also for the joy we have denied others. Keep ever before us the needs of the world into which you sent Jesus and for whose sake he gave himself to the uttermost. Let us feel its pain as our own, seek its good as our own, and work for its transformation in the name and spirit of him who came into the world not to condemn but to redeem it.

We listen now, O God, for your word. Let its message illumine our minds that we may will as Jesus willed. Let its spirit quicken our hearts that we may love as Jesus loved. Let its power speed our steps that we may do as Jesus did. Amen.


The Collect
(Book of Common Prayers)
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Prayer of Confession
Creator - Restorer - Ruler: We are prone to point the finger at others and to pervert justice by exaggerated charges. We want the rich to feed the hungry, but not to share from our own provisions. We prefer charity in principle, but in practice evade our duty even to our own kin. Some of us live in half-empty houses while there are families crowded into rooms too small for them, if they have rooms at all. Forgive our failure to live up to the best we know and to let the oppressed go free even after you have freed us. Amen.


Declaration of Pardon
Friends, hear the Good News! Christ nailed to the cross attests the cost of God's love and forgiveness. Our faith is not built on human wisdom, but on the power of God. Believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.


Prayer of the Day
Lord God, with endless mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do, and give us the grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.


First Reading
The fast that God chooses
1  “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
     Raise your voice like a trumpet.
   Declare to my people their rebellion
     and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
2  For day after day they seek me out;
     they seem eager to know my ways,
   as if they were a nation that does what is right
     and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
   They ask me for just decisions
     and seem eager for God to come near them.
3  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
     ‘and you have not seen it?
   Why have we humbled ourselves,
     and you have not noticed?’

   “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
     and exploit all your workers.
4  Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
     and in striking each other with wicked fists.
   You cannot fast as you do today
     and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5  Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
     only a day for people to humble themselves?
   Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
     and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
   Is that what you call a fast,
     a day acceptable to the Lord?

6  “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
   to loose the chains of injustice
     and untie the cords of the yoke,
   to set the oppressed free
     and break every yoke?
7  Is it not to share your food with the hungry
     and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
   when you see the naked, to clothe them,
     and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8  Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
     and your healing will quickly appear;
   then your righteousness will go before you,
     and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9a Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
     you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

[9b “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
     with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
     and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
   then your light will rise in the darkness,
     and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you always;
     he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
     and will strengthen your frame.
   You will be like a well-watered garden,
     like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
     and will raise up the age-old foundations;
   you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
     Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.]


Light shines in the darkness
1  Praise the Lord.

   Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
     who find great delight in his commands.

2  Their children will be mighty in the land;
     the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3  Wealth and riches are in their houses,
     and their righteousness endures forever.
4  Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
     for those who are gracious and compassionate and
         righteous.
5  Good will come to those who are generous and lend
         freely,
     who conduct their affairs with justice.

6  Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
     they will be remembered forever.
7  They will have no fear of bad news;
     their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8  Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
     in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9  They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
     their righteousness endures forever;
     their horn will be lifted high in honor.

[10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
     they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
     the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.]


Second Reading
God’s wisdom revealed through the Spirit
2:1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

   “What no eye has seen,
     what no ear has heard,
   and what no human mind has conceived”—
     the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

[13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

   “Who has known the mind of the Lord
     so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.]


Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Jesus says, I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia. (John 8:12)


The Gospel
The teaching of Christ: salt and light
5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.


Here end the Lessons


Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message


We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.


Benediction
You have called us, O God, to embrace the mission of Jesus as our own. Our sight is not equal to this vision, and our strength is not equal to this task. But you, O Lord, are a merciful God. You give light to those who walk in darkness, and you grant strength to those who carry heavy loads. As we return to the workaday world, let us see your light before us and feel your strength within us. 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, February 9, 2020 — 5th Sunday after the Epiphany
Salty, Bright, and Good
Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]; Psalm 112:1-9 [10]; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]; Matthew 5:13-20

“Salt and Light”


Our Gospel message comes to us today from the 5th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 13th verse.

5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:13-20)

“Salt and Light”

There’s an old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” We all know that this is not true. Words have a powerful effect on our lives. Each of us seems to have something like a tape recorder in our brains that plays back all the cruddy stuff people have said about us. They told us we were stupid, a geek, fat, ugly, a scarecrow, a lightweight, a failure, along with scores of other derogatory descriptions. Sometimes they’ve said it so many times to us that we begin to believe it ourselves. It’s been estimated that it takes ten positive comments to counteract one negative comment for a child. The ratio actually goes up in the teen years to forty positive comments to counteract one negative comment and then falls back to 10:1 for adults.

Conversely, we also know the power of positive comments. Some of us have been blessed with a person who saw something in us—something good—and told us. They helped us catch a glimpse of what we were capable of, and our lives have been forever changed and blessed.

In this week’s lesson, we read about Jesus proclaiming to his followers that they were salt and light—positive images of change. When we read these words, we also realize that they are about us. Jesus is telling us that we are salt and light.

At first glance, “salt” and “light” may not seem to be much of a compliment. Salt is a necessity of life, however. Wars have been fought over salt, and some cultures have used it as currency. Light, too, is a necessity of life. Plants do not grow without light, and we do not function well in darkness.

The key to Jesus’ words is that he tells us that we ARE salt and light. Salt and light are not some statuses to be attained. They do not take hard work to achieve. They are not the keys to our salvation. Salt and light are simply what we are.

Being born from above and empowered by the Holy Spirit makes us salt and light. We are like the songbird who welcomes the morning sun. He is only doing what he was created to do. We are like a fruit tree that produces delicious fruit from water, soil, and sunshine because that is what it was created to do.

We are salt and light. What a compliment this is. What a great praise from our creator this is.

It is a temptation for us to try to be salt and light. Many times we end up looking like American Idol contestants. Someone has told them that they could sing (or didn’t have the heart to tell them that they couldn’t). They then audition for American Idol and make a fool of themselves in front of not only the three judges but also the viewing public.

Being salt and light is to understand that the Holy Spirit has indwelt us and is working through us.

Being salt and light is to understand and recognize our gifts and talents. We are salt and light as we live out our lives of faith in our personal context.

A man was salt and light to a friend who was going through difficult times. This man listened when his friend needed to talk. He occasionally called to inquire how things were going. He offered words of encouragement when needed, gave advice in rare circumstances, and prayed often. His friend’s difficult times, eventually ended, but his life was changed. The man’s salt and light had touched him with the love and grace of God.

A young woman was trying to make a difference, but the forcefulness of her personality alienated people and defeated her purpose. A good friend took her aside and helped her to realize what she was doing. With a little coaching, she was able to use her drive more positively. The young woman’s life changed dramatically, and she was able to achieve many of her goals.

Recently, Habitat for Humanity held a ceremony where they give the keys of the newly built house to the family. Seeing the smiles on the couple’s faces, and the faces of their children, everyone knew that the family had been touched with the salt and light of many volunteers.

It is important to note that, though, being salt and light does not involve hard work at trying to be something that we are not, salt and light always take place in the context of relationships. Church buildings are not salt and light, but rather the people who worship in them. Programs and ministries are not salt and light, but only the people who volunteer to use their talents and abilities.

In other passages of scripture, Jesus highlights the importance of relationships. He talks about making sure that our relationships are healthy and whole. In his teaching, he underscores the importance of confession, forgiveness, and love. Salt and light are difficult to share amid broken relationships, distrust, anger, and hatred. But love and trust are like a plowed field waiting to be planted.

You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. You are absolutely essential for life.

You have been blessed so that you can be a blessing to others.

Let us pray: There is no part of life you do not touch, O God, infusing your rich fragrance—gritty and real—getting in underneath the surface, drawing out and lifting up winding love around until defenses are lowered, barriers broken down and the power of your love reveals the beauty you intended for all your children.

May our actions draw attention to you, to the richness you bring to all life and the abundance you share, setting the scene for us to share too.

Help us to bring light into all the darkness of life, spreading hope for a better world, a world where justice is made real by your children living together in harmony. Help us to bring salt into the blandness of life, encouraging vitality and joy in living in a world that dares to hope for the future that you promise where all your children will know themselves loved and valued and treasured, created in your image, bringing you glory forever. Amen.

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Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Sermon contributed by Rev. Kevin Ruffcorn.
Jesus graciously proclaims that his followers are salt and light. They live out a new righteousness established by the cross and empowered by the Spirit.

The Daily Prayer for SUNDAY, February 9, 2020


The Daily Prayer
SUNDAY, February 9, 2020

Mississippi civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer said, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Lord, when we weary of the journey, strengthen us by your Spirit to imagine new heavens and a new earth. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, February 9, 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/verse-of-the-day/2020/02/09?version=NIV

2 Thessalonians 1:3
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
Read all of 2 Thessalonians 1

Listen to 2 Thessalonians 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 - Domingo 9 de febrero de 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/un-dia-vez/2020/02/09

El primer mandamiento con promesa

«Honra a tu padre y a tu madre—que es el primer mandamiento con promesa—para que te vaya bien y disfrutes de una larga vida en la tierra».

¿Sabías que Dios dejó Diez Mandamientos? No obstante, al único que le añadió una promesa fue en el que dijo lo siguiente: «Honra a tu padre y a tu madre, para que disfrutes de una larga vida en la tierra que te da el Señor tu Dios» (Éxodo 20:12).

Sé que los padres no son perfectos. Muchos han cometido graves errores con sus hijos por falta de información o porque les criaron de la misma manera.

Así que nosotros podemos crecer con un resentimiento muy profundo en el corazón, con un rechazo a ese papá que nos abandonó, que nos maltrató, que se emborrachó muchas veces y que golpeaba a nuestra madre. O hacia una madre que insultaba a su hijo o que nos castigaba sin compasión. De modo que esa ira va guardándose por años y, aunque dijéramos que el tiempo lo borra todo, no sucede lo mismo en este caso.

Dios nos recomienda que honremos a nuestros papás y eso significa perdonar y sanar esas heridas del pasado. Es no juzgar lo que hicieron y vivir solamente el principio, pues Dios se encarga de lo demás.

No quiero que pases un día más sin pedirle perdón a tu madre o a tu padre. Si ya no está en este mundo, aprendí una técnica de perdón que da buenos resultados en este caso y es escribirle una carta. Sabemos que no la leerá porque ya no está, pero el efecto es de muchísima sanidad para ti. Allí podrás colocar todas tus frustraciones, iras y resentimientos que necesitas entregar a fin de lograr vivir al pie de la letra este versículo.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Sabías que Dios dejó Diez Mandamientos? No obstante, al único que le añadió una promesa fue en el que dijo lo siguiente: …

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Sunday, February 9, 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/standing-strong-through-the-storm/2020/02/09
THE MEANING OF CRISIS

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Satan delights in causing “panic attacks” in a crisis situation. The Chinese have an interesting lesson in the two characters chosen for their word “crisis.” One character is danger and the other is opportunity. The inference is that in every crisis experience, both elements are present. So a crisis is a dangerous situation presenting an opportunity. When you focus on just the danger, you become paralyzed by fear. Focusing on the opportunity, however, enables you to fly with wings of faith. It is we, ourselves, who choose which of the two we will focus.

Similar reasons for our personal fears also keep us from being the voice of God in a fallen world on behalf of His church. There is a time for Christians to speak out forcefully against the injustices and sinfulness of our own society and culture. This is especially true in situations where we can help our brothers and sisters who suffer. But fear can keep us tongue-tied. As the church, we must learn to speak out and not be cowed by fear.

As mentioned before, Pastor Simeon Popov was a recognized authority figure among the evangelical Christians of Bulgaria. Although his church was officially registered, the police were constantly watching his activities because he didn't agree with the restrictions imposed by the authorities, in particular, those concerning evangelizing.

One day at a secret river baptism early in the morning, the group was all ready in their white gowns when Simeon saw some “shadows” moving behind the bushes. He realized immediately that they were agents of the secret police spying on them. One of them, who was awkwardly hidden, had a camera.

Without hesitating, Simeon called to him, “Hey, you. Come a bit closer!” The man sheepishly approached. “Since you have a camera, why don’t you take a picture of our group?” The police officer was so surprised that he just did it without asking questions. Then the ceremony of baptism took place as planned! A few days later, the secret police agent was even fair enough to give the photograph to Simeon who kept it and made copies.

Remember, when we are fearful, we can claim the promise of Scripture: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

RESPONSE: Today I will not walk in fear but in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

PRAYER: Pray for boldness for pastors today in countries where Satan tries to bind them with fear.

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 9, 2020 - Salvation unto Us Has Come

https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20200209

"Salvation unto Us Has Come"

Feb. 9, 2020

"Salvation unto us has come, By God's free grace and favor; Good works cannot avert our doom, They help and save us never. Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone, Who did for all the world atone; He is our one Redeemer.

"Faith clings to Jesus' cross alone, And rests in Him unceasing; And by its fruits true faith is known, With love and hope increasing. For faith alone can justify; Works serve our neighbor and supply, The proof that faith is living."

By now New Year's resolutions are being kept, whether sporadically or resolutely, or they have been abandoned. Through resolutions we seek to improve ourselves, our daily lives, or our relationships. Most resolutions, kept or not, begin with "I." "I will exercise more often." "I will be more patient this year."

We may also make well-intentioned promises concerning our spiritual lives: "I will go to church more often." "I will read the Bible every day." These are excellent resolutions, but try as we might, even our best, well-kept resolutions can never be sufficient to earn God's love and favor. Our relationship with God does not begin with our resolutions, but with His resolve. He chose us in Christ to be His own before there ever was a New Year, "before the foundation of the world" (see Ephesians 1:4). God's statements of resolve rightly begin with "I," because our salvation begins and finds its fulfillment in Him: "I will remember their sins no more." "I will have mercy." "I chose you." A right relationship with God begins with His "free grace and favor," that is, His undeserved favor for sinners.

Out of His gracious love, God sent His Son to be the world's Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ, "our one Redeemer," offered up His life as the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world. Calling us from death to life by the power of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit creates in our hearts the firm resolve of faith. And, as our hymn proclaims, it is a faith that "looks to Jesus Christ alone ... clings to Jesus' cross alone and rests in Him unceasing."

Faith in Jesus Christ, sustained in the power of the Spirit, ceaselessly looks to Jesus, clings to His cross and rests in Him—and serves others in His Name. The inward, invisible faith that is a gift of God's favor and resolve is made visible "by its fruits," that is, by its outward, visible works of love and service. Faith in Jesus our Redeemer places us into a right relationship with God as His precious sons and daughters. The good works that we do serve as outward proof of inward faith. In fact, even though the New Year's celebration is long past, a useful, daily resolution might be this: "I will, with the help of God, love my neighbor as myself!"

THE PRAYER: Jesus, Lord and Redeemer, as we cling to You by faith, help us by Your Spirit to make our faith known to the world through our words of witness and our acts of service. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
  1. Did you make any new year's resolution that you're still keeping? What was it?
  2. Do you struggle with the idea of being saved by God's grace alone? Do you wish you could do something to contribute to your salvation?
  3. How do your good and helpful works contribute to God's kingdom on earth?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Salvation Unto Us Has Come." Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Did you make any new year's resolution that you're still keeping? What was it?

Unser Täglich Brot - Wir sind Staub

https://unsertaeglichbrot.org/2020/02/09/wir-sind-staub/

Wir sind Staub

Lesung: Psalm 103,8-14 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: 3. Mose 6-7; Matthäus 25,1-30

Er denkt daran, dass wir nur Staub sind.Psalm 103,14

Der junge Mann war mit seiner Geduld am Ende. „Eis! Eis!“, schrie sein kleiner Sohn mitten im Einkaufszentrum. Die Leute drehten sich bereits nach ihm um. „Ja, gleich, aber zuerst müssen wir noch etwas für Mama besorgen“, versuchte er den Kleinen zu beruhigen. Aber nichts da. „Neiiin! Ich will Eis!“, erklang es. Und da kam sie schon um die Ecke: eine zierliche, gut gekleidete Frau, die Schuhe Ton in Ton mit der Handtasche. „Er hat gerade einen Anfall“, erklärte der Vater. Die Frau lächelte. „Mir scheint eher, der Anfall hat ihn“, erwiderte sie. „Du darfst nicht vergessen, wie klein er noch ist. Du musst Geduld mit ihm haben und in der Nähe bleiben.“ Die Situation war noch nicht geklärt. Aber Vater und Sohn konnten sich erst einmal beruhigen.

Die klugen Worte der Frau sind wie ein Echo auf Psalm 103. David schreibt dort vom Herrn, der „barmherzig und gnädig“ ist, „geduldig und voll großer Gnade“ (V. 8). Wie ein irdischer Vater sich „über seine Kinder zärtlich erbarmt“, erklärt er, „so erbarmt sich der Herr über alle, die ihn fürchten“ (V. 13). Gott, unser Vater, „weiß, dass wir vergänglich sind, er denkt daran, dass wir nur Staub sind“ (V. 14), wie klein und verletzlich wir sind.

Wir versagen oft und verzweifeln an dem, was die Welt uns bietet. Wie gut zu wissen, dass unser Vater Geduld mit uns hat, dass er da ist und uns liebt.
Wann hast du dich das letzte Mal so verzweifelt gefühlt wie ein kleines Kind? Wie hat Gott deiner Meinung nach darauf reagiert?
Danke, dass du ein geduldiger, immer naher Vater bist, der daran denkt, wer und was wir sind.


© 2020 Unser Täglich Brot
Der junge Mann war mit seiner Geduld am Ende. „Eis! Eis!“, schrie sein kleiner Sohn mitten im Einkaufszentrum.…