Friday, October 16, 2020

The Daily Bible Readings for SATURDAY, October 17, 2020

 

The Daily Readings
SATURDAY, October 17, 2020
Psalm 99; Exodus 39:32-43; Matthew 14:1-12
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)


Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Psalm 25:14-15

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

If you long to understand why certain things happen, spend time with the Lord in prayer. He promises to “tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jer. 33:3). This means He will give you insight into His will for your life, teach you His principles, and give you spiritual discernment about how He is moving in your situation (NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes).

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 99
Proclaim God’s greatness

1 The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

2 The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.

3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.

7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.

8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.
Commentary
Verses 1-5 — God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. The inhabitants of the earth have cause to tremble, but the Redeemer still waits to be gracious. Let all who hear, take warning, and seek his mercy. The more we humble ourselves before God, the more we exalt him; and let us be thus reverent, for he is holy.

Verses 6-9 — The happiness of Israel is made out by referring to the most useful governors of those people. In everything, they made God's word and law their rule, knowing that they could not else expect that their prayers should be answered. They all wonderfully prevailed with God in prayer; miracles were wrought at their request. They pleaded for the people and obtained answers of peace. Our Prophet and High Priest, of infinitely greater dignity than Moses, Aaron, or Samuel, has received and declared to us the will of the Father. Let us not only exalt the Lord with our lips but give him the throne in our heart; and while we worship him upon his mercy-seat, let us never forget that he is holy.


Exodus 39:32-43
The tabernacle completed
39:32 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.

33 And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,

34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,

35 The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,

36 The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread,

37 The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,

38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,

39 The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,

40 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,

41 The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office.

42 According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.

43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
Commentary

The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. As the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his dear Son; in Christ dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Colossians 2:9. The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian. In the soul of every true follower of the Savior, the Father dwells, the object of his worship, and the author of his blessings. The tabernacle also typified the church of the Redeemer. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ. The tabernacle was a type and emblem of the heavenly temple, Revelation 21:3. What, then, will be the splendor of His appearance, when the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshipers shall see him as he is!


Matthew 14:1-12
King Herod’s misuse of power

14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Commentary

The terror and reproach of conscience, which Herod, like other daring offenders, could not shake off, are proofs and warnings of a future judgment, and future misery to them. But there may be the terror of convictions, where there is not the truth of conversion. When men pretend to favor the gospel, yet live in evil, we must not favor their self-delusion but must deliver our consciences as John did. The world may call this rudeness and blind zeal. False professors, or timid Christians, may censure it as want of civility; but the most powerful enemies can go no further than the Lord sees good to permit. Herod feared that the putting of John to death might raise a rebellion among the people, which it did not, but he never feared it might stir up his own conscience against him, which it did. Men fear being hanged for what they do not fear being damned for. And times of carnal mirth and jollity are convenient times for carrying on bad designs against God's people. Herod would profusely reward a worthless dance, while imprisonment and death were the recompenses of the man of God who sought the salvation of his soul. But there was real malice to John beneath his consent, or else Herod would have found ways to get clear of his promise. When the under shepherds are smitten, the sheep need not be scattered while they have the Great Shepherd to go to. And it is better to be drawn to Christ by want and loss, than not to come to him at all.


The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).

Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, 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 Readings for SATURDAY, October 17, 2020
Psalm 99; Exodus 39:32-43; Matthew 14:1-12 (KJV)

Prayer of the Day for SATURDAY, October 17, 2020

 

Prayer of the Day
SATURDAY, October 17, 2020


The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 

Romans 13:12 (NIV)


Father in heaven, we thank you for giving us light. We thank you for the great hope for a day whose light is not of our making, whose source is in you, a day to come that can touch our lives already today. Keep our hearts steadfast, free of all human wavering. May we always hold to the love you have given through your grace, and may we find joy in your love, which is full of light and understanding. Amen.

Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, October 17, 2020

 

Psalm 25:14-15

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Read all of Psalm 25

Listen to Psalm 25


The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — No Match for the Almighty

 

No Match for the Almighty


(Jeremiah said) "You are stronger than I, and You have prevailed."

Jeremiah 20:7


This confession, so modern and meaningful in its application, is 2,500 years old. It's an admission wrung from the lips of Jeremiah after a bitter conflict with God. Because the prophet's service to his Lord had brought opposition and locked him in the public stocks, Jeremiah would free himself from God, lead his own life, and defy heaven. Yet almost in the same breath he is overcome by the conviction of his defeat, and unable to quench the "consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29b) of God's Word within him. He exclaims, "You are stronger than I, and You have prevailed."

For the heart that trusts in Christ this confession, "You are stronger than I," becomes the battle-cry of faith. Beholding the Savior's love, we realize that God's compassion is greater even than His power, His mercy stronger than His justice; we know—and what a priceless confidence this is!—that "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20b).

This is the great Gospel, the first chapter of which was written at Bethlehem. No simple word of pardon would suffice to return men to God. There had to be an overpowering, eternal proof of our Father's compassion. No man, not even the most exalted; no angelic beings in their holiness and majesty, could meet the demands of God's justice. God gave His only begotten Son and sent Him from the riches of heaven to the poverty of earth.

No pardon that could leave any doubt or uncertainty in our hearts would suffice. No ransom that left anything to man, that had to be earned or completed by human effort, could answer the pleading heart of a sin-cursed world. So in His never-to-be-fathomed mercy and in that endless love that goes out for every wayward, stubborn, selfish child of man Christ did everything.

Do not let the fears and sorrows of life keep Christ out, as though God, who "will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4b), had His eyes closed to your problems and anxieties, as though He, the Ever-living, were dead and you had to fight your own battles! Instead, come before God and say, "Heavenly Father, 'You are stronger than I' with my frail and faulty intellect. Help me to find the way through life! Show me the brightness in the gloom that surrounds me! Give me Your truth against the multiplied falsehoods of men!"

When we thus lose the proud sense of our own importance as Jesus gains the ascendancy in our lives; when we behold Him and confess with the prophet John who announced His coming, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30), then these words, "You are stronger than I, and You have prevailed," will become the song of triumph which, pray God, you and I and all others in the fellowship of faith may sing at the Savior's future coming.

Heavenly Father, may Your mercy and peace prevail over our lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier

Reflection Questions:

1. What comes to mind when you think of God's mercy being stronger than His justice?

2. How did God overcome Jeremiah's resistance and downfallen spirit?

3. What do you do to increase your awareness and sensitivity to spiritual matters?
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
This confession, so modern and meaningful in its application, is 2,500 years old.

Standing Strong Through the Storm — VALUE DOUBTS AND MYSTERY

 

VALUE DOUBTS AND MYSTERY

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13


This is a scripture passage that many use in discipling new believers. The New International Version of the Bible footnotes this verse with the reminder that in the Greek language, the word “temptation” or “tempted” can also mean “trial” or “testing.” It is a characteristic of the human condition that we often doubt God and feel badly about them. But the story of Job in the Old Testament reveals that we should value our doubts because they bring God close.

Co-worker Ron Boyd-MacMillan tells the story of a missionary to Tibet at the time of the Communist takeover in China. He was imprisoned on the charge of being a counter-revolutionary. Every day for three years, he thought he was going to be executed—a strain that ultimately broke him.

Daily he was taken outside and made to kneel down. They put a hood over his head and stated they were going to execute him. Then when he thought he was a goner, they pulled off the hood and laughed at his fear.

He was deprived of sleep and light, often placed in cells with hundreds of screaming people, demanded to renounce his Christian faith—all tactics of psychological torture. He said, “All I had were doubts: whether God was with me; whether God still loved me; even if was truly a Christian since I was so broken…I was raised never to question God and that doubt was a sin.”

One day wanting to die, he finally prayed and said, “Lord, I have to talk about my doubts to you. I’m sorry it’s all I have to talk about. But I just want to be in touch with you again.”

That night he felt a warm breath in the dungeon, a comforting sweet breath. And he said, “I learned that nothing must keep me from talking to God. I knew from that breath that He even wants to know about my doubts.

Then he was taken to another cell, which had a window, and he saw the beauty of a colorful sunset. He wept. It was a picture God had drawn in majestic colors with the black ring of mountains in the distance looking like a crown of thorns. He commented, “The colorful sunset told me Jesus is still in charge…The world may be full of human suffering, but it is more full of God’s beauty and grace. That got me through. I took my doubts to God and realized His beauty. The next time they took me to a mock execution, I knelt and thanked God for the sunset I had seen. My sunset from my God! And when they took off the hood, they saw no more fear—only a man at peace ready to die and meet his God.

RESPONSE: Today, I will talk to God even about my doubts, trusting Him to help me sense His loving presence.

PRAYER: Thank You, God, that we can value doubt, and we can value mystery, assured that You still love us and care for us.


Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
This is a scripture passage that many use in discipling new believers.

The NIV Couples Devotional — Don’t-Mean-It Sins

 

Don’t-Mean-It Sins

Leviticus 4:27–35

If any member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, when they realize their guilt and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering for the sin they committed a female goat without defect.

Everyone roared with laughter at Maggie’s story about Brad’s klutziness in fixing the car. Brad was mortified.

Thad had been paying bills online, and then, without ever really planning to, he found himself deep in pornography. Melanie walked in and found him viewing images he had no business seeing.

Arthur and Gabriela thought they were just getting together with some friends from church, but then they found themselves caught up in an angry coup to get rid of the pastor. Six months later, the church was in shambles, and Arthur and Gabriela wondered how they let themselves get involved in the mess.

Sometimes we sin without meaning to. We aim for righteousness, honor, and wisdom, but we miss by a mile. Leviticus 4:2 introduces a Hebrew word for sin that means “to miss the mark.” George R. Knight, professor of church history at Andrews University Theological Seminary (Berrien Springs, Michigan), explains, “You have missed, not because you are wicked, but because you are stupid, silly, careless, inattentive, perhaps lazy, or more probably because you do not possess the proper aim in life.”

Add to that Hebrew word for sin the word “unintentionally,” and it suggests someone wandering away like a silly sheep or someone who isn’t thinking. We sometimes feel we ought to be given a break if we didn’t really mean to sin. But the Bible doesn’t cut us any slack. Whether we mean it or not, sin damages our relationship with God and with others. Anyone who is married knows that unintentional hurts, such as teasing about someone’s weaknesses or being chronically late or missing a birthday, can do a lot of harm.

Leviticus 4 shows that God takes unintentional sins seriously. Forgiveness is available, but it doesn’t come cheap. No quick, “Oops, sorry. Guess I wasn’t thinking.” Specific instructions were given in Leviticus 4 for how different groups were to deal with these kinds of sins. While the details differed a little from one group to another, the basic corrective steps were the same for each situation: bring an offering, then have it sacrificed to atone for the sin.

Today, we who confess Jesus Christ as Savior are grateful that we don’t have to go through the Old Testament’s laborious and gruesome atonement rituals. Still, as we read through Leviticus’s requirements, we realize how the sacrificial system illustrates sin’s seriousness. These sin sacrifices did not overdramatize the sinner’s situation; instead, they underdramatized it. The blood of animals could never pay for sin, whether unintentional or not. God mercifully accepted such sacrifices until his plan could be carried out to give his one and only Son, Jesus, as the complete sacrifice for sin.

Sin is terrible—even when it’s unintentional. Praise God that Christ’s death provides forgiveness for us and that his indwelling Spirit gives us the strength to aim straight at godliness.

Lee Eclov


Let’s Talk
  • What unintentional sins have we committed that proved our aim was way off?
  • What happens when we do not take such sins as seriously as God does?
  • As we read Leviticus 4:27–35, let’s imagine doing each corrective step. What would it feel like? How would we be affected?
Everyone roared with laughter at Maggie’s story about Brad’s klutziness in fixing the car. Brad was mortified.

John Piper Devotional — The Purpose of Prosperity

 

The Purpose of Prosperity

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

There are three levels of how to live with things: (1) you can steal to get; (2) or you can work to get; (3) or you can work to get in order to give.

Too many professing Christians live on level two. Almost all the forces of our culture urge them to live on level two. But the Bible pushes us relentlessly to level three. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Why does God bless us with abundance? So we can have enough to live on, and then use the rest for all manner of good works that alleviate spiritual and physical misery. Enough for us; abundance for others.

The issue is not how much a person makes. Big industry and big salaries are a fact of our times, and they are not necessarily evil. The evil is in being deceived into thinking a six-digit salary must be accompanied by a six-digit lifestyle.

God has made us to be conduits of his grace. The danger is in thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn’t. Copper will do. Copper can carry unbelievable riches to others.

There are three levels of how to live with things: (1) you can steal to get; (2) or you can work to get; (3) or you can work to get in order to give.

Un dia a la Vez — Influye con amor

 

Influye con amor

Alégrense y llénense de júbilo, porque les espera una gran recompensa en el cielo.

Nosotros no estamos en este mundo para impresionar a nadie, mucho menos para impresionar a Dios. Estamos en este mundo con un propósito específico. ¡Qué bueno sería que cada uno lo pueda encontrar como es debido!

Durante varios años, sobre todo en la adolescencia, es común preguntarse: «¿Qué hago en este mundo? ¿Por qué estoy aquí?». Yo también me hice esas preguntas y nunca hubo respuestas, al menos una que me convenciera. No fue hasta que conocí de Jesús que pude entender mi propósito y trato de cumplirlo al pie de la letra.

Hace unos cuatro años surgió un deseo en un sinnúmero de personas por conocer el propósito de Dios para sus vidas. Entonces, cuando apareció el libro Una vida con propósito, de Rick Warren, muchos lo entendieron. Este libro enseguida rompió los récords de venta y, aún hoy, sigue siendo uno de los más vendidos. ¡Qué cantidad de testimonios llegó a mis oídos! La gente me decía, y me sigue diciendo, que ese libro transformó su vida.

Gracias le doy a Dios por libros como ese que llevan la verdad clara y directa que transforman vidas. Quizá tú aún no lo has leído y estás en esa búsqueda, pues te lo recomiendo.

Tú y yo también debemos llevarle la Palabra a toda criatura de modo que encuentre el verdadero propósito para su vida. Por lo tanto, proclamemos su mensaje con el amor y la misericordia que solo encontramos en Dios.

¿Qué estás haciendo para influir en otros? Recuerda que tu premio no está en la tierra, sino en el cielo.


Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Nosotros no estamos en este mundo para impresionar a nadie, mucho menos para impresionar a Dios. Estamos en este mundo con un propósito específico.

Хліб Наш Насущній — Серце співака

 

Серце співака


Читати: Псалом 94:1-7 | Біблія за рік: Ісаї 50–52 ; 1 Солунян 5

Завантажити MP3


Ходіть, заспіваймо Господеві, покликуймо радісно скелі спасіння нашого.

Псалом 94:1

Суботнього ранку о 6:33 на нижньому поверсі почулася пісня хвали. Я думав, що всі, крім мене, ще сплять, проте голос моєї найменшої дочки підтвердив хибність моїх припущень. Вона ще не зовсім прокинулася, але вже співала.

Моя найменша дочка – співачка. Насправді вона не може не співати. Вона співає, коли тільки просинається. Коли іде до школи. Коли лягає спати. Вона народилася з піснею в серці, і найчастіше вона співає про Господа Ісуса Христа. Її хвала Богу може звучати будь-коли і будь-де.

Я люблю простоту, відданість і щирість голосу дочки. Її безпосередні і радісні пісні нагадують біблійні заклики хвалити Бога. В Псалмі 94 сказано: “Ходіть, заспіваймо Господеві, покликуймо радісно скелі спасіння нашого” (в. 1). Далі написано, що джерелом цієї хвали є усвідомлення того, Ким є Бог: “Господь – Бог великий, і великий Він Цар над богами всіма” (Пс. 94:3), і чиї ми: “Він наш Бог, а ми люди Його пасовиська” (Пс. 94:7).

Для моєї дочки ці істини є першими думками зранку. Завдяки Божій благодаті ця маленька співачка нагадує нам про радість, яку ми можемо отримати від співу Богу.

Що спонукає вас прославляти Бога за Його вірність до вас? Які пісні допомагають вам пам’ятати про Його характер і доброту, і зосереджуватися на цьому?
Боже, дякую за те, Ким Ти є, і за те, що Ти для мене і для всього Свого народу зробив, запросивши нас бути вівцями Твого пасовиська. Сповни мене сьогодні піснями хвали за Твою доброту.

Автор Адам Хольц


© 2020 Хліб Наш Насущні
Я думав, що всі, крім мене, ще сплять, проте голос моєї найменшої дочки підтвердив хибність моїх припущень.