Monday, June 29, 2020

The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/revised-common-lectionary-complementary/2020/06/30?version=NIV

The Daily Lectionary
TUESDAY, June 30, 2020
Psalm 119:161-168; 1 Kings 21:17-29; 1 John 4:1-6
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Loving God’s law
161 Rulers persecute me without cause,
       but my heart trembles at your word.
162 I rejoice in your promise
       like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and detest falsehood
       but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
       for your righteous laws.
165 Great peace have those who love your law,
       and nothing can make them stumble.
166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,
       and I follow your commands.
167 I obey your statutes,
       for I love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,
       for all my ways are known to you.

Elijah confronts Ahab
21:17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”

“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’

23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’

24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”

25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

Testing the spirits
4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

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, June 30, 2020
Psalm 119:161-168; 1 Kings 21:17-29; 1 John 4:1-6

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/common-prayer-liturgy-for-ordinary-radicals/shane-claiborne/9780310326199/pd/326199
The Daily Prayer
TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

Jeanne Jugan has written, “Go and find Jesus when your patience and strength give out and you feel alone and helpless. He is waiting for you. Say to him, ‘Jesus, you know exactly what is going on. You are all I have, and you know all. Come to my help.’ And then go and don’t worry about how you are going to manage. That you have told God about it is enough. He has a good memory.”

Thank you, Lord, that you remember the lilies when we cannot remember our own best interests. Open our eyes to wonder in awe at your greatness, that we might learn to see how all things are possible with you, Maker of heaven and earth. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, June 30, 2020

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/verse-of-the-day/2020/06/30?version=NIV

Zechariah 14:9
The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.
Read all of Zechariah 14

Listen to Zechariah 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 - Martes 30 de junio de 2020

https://classic.biblegateway.com/devotionals/un-dia-vez/2020/06/30
Secretos para triunfar

Gracias a Dios que en Cristo siempre nos lleva triunfantes y, por medio de nosotros, esparce por todas partes la fragancia de su conocimiento.

Creo que este es un pensamiento que alguna vez todos hemos tenido: ser alguien, triunfar y que nos vaya bien. Y eso es lo que quiere Dios. Es más, Él quiere que prosperemos.

Sin embargo, ¿cuáles serían algunos secretos para triunfar? Quizá lo que te diga hoy sea lo que hay en mi corazón también. Sin embargo, en ocasiones y por diferentes razones, no lo ponemos en práctica. Quizá se deba a que no creemos en nosotros mismos o que les damos prioridad a otras cosas o personas. En mi caso, a veces pienso más en el beneficio de los demás que en hacer cosas para mis hijas, dejando mis sueños para el final.

Por ejemplo, yo quería hacer este libro, pero a la verdad no sabía por dónde empezar. Incluso, a menudo pensaba que no iba a ser capaz de escribir un libro. ¿A qué hora podría hacerlo? Aunque ya varias personas me habían sugerido que lo hiciera, siempre lo postergaba. Lo lindo de todo esto es que Dios ya tiene determinado lo que seremos y haremos, y nos da la pauta para seguirla. Así que seamos obedientes y emprendamos las cosas que Dios ponga en nuestros corazones de modo que logremos el verdadero triunfo.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Creo que este es un pensamiento que alguna vez todos hemos tenido: ser alguien, triunfar y que nos vaya bien.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, June 30, 2020

https://classic.biblegateway.com/devotionals/standing-strong-through-the-storm/2020/06/30
MYSTERY

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ…

Human beings always want to know “why?” and “why not now?” But it’s precisely because we are human we cannot know. That’s why mystery is so important to understand. The entire book of Job is all about the “why” of suffering and in the end God invites Job to see a bigger picture than even his suffering.

Creation is a mistake if all you see is your suffering. But if you lift your eyes wider and let your gaze roam over the whole universe with God, you can also see that creation has even more beauty and grace.

So we are to value mystery because it enables us to feel God’s love…love that was fully revealed in Christ.

Sometimes we get to see “why?” and “why not now?” (one of the good aspects of growing older). Often we don’t because we are the players of life in the universe, not the playwright.

Christine Mallouhi in her excellent book, Waging Peace on Islam, makes this significant conclusion:

The victorious and triumphant Christian life does not conjure up pictures of suffering and death and feelings of abandonment. But this was all part of God's victory in Christ. If this was the path the Master trod why should it be any different for the servants? Jesus cried out "why?" and "where are you?" to God when circumstances were crushing him. God is always greater than our understanding of him and there will always be mystery about him that causes us to fall down in awe and worship. This mystery, which we want to tidily categorise, keeps causing struggles in our life. Every time we get God tidied up like a ball of rubber bands, another end bursts out and the struggle begins over again, until we learn to live in faith with untidy ends. If everything is clear then faith is irrelevant. We are not called to solve the mystery, but enter it.[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will value mystery because it enables me to feel God’s love.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that though the world around us if full of suffering, it is more full of beauty and grace. Help me to trust You and value mystery.

1. Christine Mallouhi, Waging Peace on Islam (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2000), p.52.

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 June 30, 2020 - "Not What You'd Expect"

https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20200630

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Not What You'd Expect"

June 30, 2020

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and He shall speak peace to the nations; His rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Zechariah is one of those Old Testament books that packs a big message. Most likely written during the time of Israel's deportation to Babylon in the sixth century B.C., Zechariah's words gave the Jewish exiles a message of hope and encouragement. Though times were tough for them, there were brighter days ahead. Their king was coming. Sometime distant, Israel would experience the reign of a king greater than David and Solomon.

And how would Israel know this?

Because He will come to them "mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." How else does a King arrive who will "speak peace to the nations," whose reign will extend from "sea to sea"?

You could almost excuse Israel for not knowing, except for the fact that they had been told of this King's arrival—more than 400 years earlier! Fortunately, this detail wasn't lost on Gospel writers Luke (Luke 19:28-40) or Matthew: "This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 'Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden'" (Matthew 21:4-5).

How it must have been for those faithful Jews who went to the temple, earnestly tuned in for clues from God concerning the coming Messiah. Surely, there were those who witnessed Jesus' Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem who knew what was going on, who knew God had come to visit His people. They were saying among themselves, "There He is! There's the One we've been waiting for—God's Anointed Ruler, our promised Messiah!"

Finally, the Hope of Israel had arrived—forecasted by Zechariah centuries before. His entry into Jerusalem was marked—not by the pomp and circumstance of a Roman chariot—but by the slow gait of a donkey. And on it was a Man marked for death, headed in a few short hours to a rough wooden cross.

God surely works in mysterious ways, doesn't He? The Lord and Ruler of the Universe coming to us on "a colt, the foal of a donkey." Quite the irony.

Quite the Savior.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Your plan of redemption is a marvel to behold. Give us faith to trust in You all the days ahead. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1. How are your powers of observation? Are you intuitive to people and circumstances?

2. Why do you think God waits so long sometimes between promise and fulfillment?

3. The Lord of the universe rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Are there life lessons to take from that simple fact?
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).
How are your powers of observation? Are you intuitive to people and circumstances?

Devocional CPTLN del 30 de junio de 2020 - No era lo que esperaban


ALIMENTO DIARIO

No era lo que esperaban

30 de Junio de 2020

«¡Llénate de alegría, hija de Sión! ¡Da voces de júbilo, hija de Jerusalén! Mira que tu rey viene a ti, justo, y salvador y humilde, y montado sobre un asno, sobre un pollino, hijo de asna. Yo destruiré los carros de guerra de Efraín y los briosos caballos de Jerusalén, y los arcos de guerra serán hechos pedazos. Tu rey anunciará la paz a las naciones, y su señorío se extenderá de mar a mar, y del río Éufrates a los límites de la tierra. »También tú serás salvada por la sangre de tu pacto, y yo sacaré a tus presos de esa cisterna sin agua. ¡Vuelvan, pues, a la fortaleza, prisioneros de esperanza! En este preciso día yo les hago saber que les devolveré el doble de lo que perdieron.

El libro de Zacarías contiene un gran mensaje. Probablemente escrito durante el tiempo de la deportación de Israel a Babilonia en el siglo VI a. C., las palabras de Zacarías dieron a los exiliados judíos un mensaje de esperanza y aliento: aunque los tiempos eran difíciles, les esperaban días más brillantes; su rey estaba cerca. Israel iba a experimentar el reinado de un rey mayor que David y Salomón.

Pero, ¿cómo sabría esto Israel? Porque ese rey llegaría a ellos "montado sobre un asno, sobre un pollino, hijo de asna". ¿De qué otra forma llega un rey que "anunciará paz a las naciones" y cuyo reinado se extenderá de "mar a mar"?

Casi podríamos disculpar a Israel por no saberlo, excepto que ya les habían informado de la llegada de ese rey, ¡más de 400 años antes! Afortunadamente, este detalle no se perdió en los escritores de los evangelios de Lucas (Lucas 19:28-40) y Mateo: "Esto sucedió para que se cumpliera lo dicho por el profeta: 5 «Digan a la hija de Sión: Tu Rey viene a ti, manso y sentado sobre una burra, sobre un burrito, hijo de animal de carga» (Mateo 21:4-5).

Cómo habrá sido para aquellos judíos fieles que fueron al templo, atentos a las pistas de Dios sobre el Mesías venidero. Seguramente, algunos de los que presenciaron el viaje de Jesús a Jerusalén el Domingo de Ramos sabían lo que estaba sucediendo; sabían que Dios había llegado a estar con su pueblo. Por eso es que decían entre ellos: "¡Ahí está! ¡Ahí está el que hemos estado esperando: el Ungido de Dios, nuestro Mesías prometido!"

Finalmente había llegado la esperanza de Israel profetizada por Zacarías siglos antes. Su entrada en Jerusalén estuvo marcada no por la pompa de un carro romano, sino por la lenta marcha de un burro. Y en él había un Hombre a quien en pocos días le espera una áspera cruz de madera.

Dios trabaja de maneras misteriosas, ¿no es cierto? El Señor del Universo vino a nosotros " montado sobre un asno, sobre un pollino, hijo de asna". ¡Qué ironía!

¡Qué Salvador!

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, tu plan de redención es una maravilla incomprensible. Danos fe para confiar en ti todos los días de nuestra vida. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Paul Schreiber

Para reflexionar:
* ¿Por qué crees que a veces Dios espera tanto tiempo en cumplir una promesa?

* El Señor del universo entró en Jerusalén montado en un burro. ¿Qué lección de vida puedes sacar de este simple hecho?
© Copyright 2020 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Por qué crees que a veces Dios espera tanto tiempo en cumplir una promesa?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Navegar los rápidos de la vida

https://nuestropandiario.org/2020/06/30/navegar-los-rapidos-de-la-vida

Navegar los rápidos de la vida

La escritura de hoy: Salmo 32:5-11
La Biblia en un año: Job 17–19; Hechos 10:1-23

Te haré entender, y te enseñaré el camino en que debes andar; sobre ti fijaré mis ojos.
 — Salmo 32:8

«¡Todos los de la derecha, remen tres veces con fuerza hacia adelante!», gritó nuestro guía en los rápidos. Los de la izquierda mantuvieron hundidos los remos, alejando así el bote de un gran remolino. Durante horas, habíamos aprendido sobre la importancia de escuchar las instrucciones de nuestro guía. Su voz firme permitió que seis personas con poca experiencia en rafting trabajaran juntas para seguir el curso más seguro río abajo.

La vida también tiene sus rápidos, ¿no? En un momento, la navegación es tranquila; y luego, de repente, estamos remando como locos para evitar los inesperados remolinos. Esos momentos de tensión nos hacen tomar conciencia de que necesitamos un guía experimentado; una voz confiable que nos ayude a navegar en tiempos turbulentos.

En el Salmo 32, Dios promete ser esa voz: «Te haré entender, y te enseñaré el camino en que debes andar» (v. 8). Un poco antes, vemos que confesar nuestros pecados (v. 5) y buscar al Señor en oración (v. 6) también son parte de escucharlo. Me consuela la promesa del Señor: «Sobre ti fijaré mis ojos» (v. 8); una guía que fluye de su amor. Al final, el salmista concluye: «al que espera en el Señor, le rodea la misericordia» (v. 10). Confiemos en su promesa de guiarnos en los pasajes rocosos de la vida.

De:  Adam R. Holz

Reflexiona y ora
Padre, que pueda escucharte mientras me guías.
¿Qué circunstancias de tu vida sientes como aguas rápidas? ¿De qué manera puedes buscar la guía de Dios para saber cómo reaccionar

© 2020 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
«¡Todos los de la derecha, remen tres veces con fuerza hacia adelante!», gritó nuestro guía en los rápidos.