De Nada Sirve Preocuparse

Mateo 6:25-30 (NVI)
25 Por eso os digo: No os preocupéis por vuestra vida, qué comeréis o beberéis; ni por vuestro cuerpo, cómo os vestiréis. ¿No tiene la vida más valor que la comida, y el cuerpo más que la ropa?
26 Fijaos en las aves del cielo: no siembran ni cosechan ni almacenan en graneros; sin embargo, el Padre celestial las alimenta. ¿No valéis vosotros mucho más que ellas?
27 ¿Quién de vosotros, por mucho que se preocupe, puede añadir una sola hora al curso de su vida?
28 ¿Y por qué os preocupáis por el vestido? Observad cómo crecen los lirios del campo. No trabajan ni hilan;
29 sin embargo, os digo que ni siquiera Salomón, con todo su esplendor, se vestía como uno de ellos.
30 Si así viste Dios a la hierba que hoy está en el campo y mañana es arrojada al horno, ¿no hará mucho más por vosotros, gente de poca fe?

Have No Fear

Isaiah 43:1-7 (NKJV)
1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Bible Reading for May 27

I Kings Chapter 4

1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, Continue reading “Bible Reading for May 27”

No Tengas Miedo

Isaías 43:1-7 (NVI)
1Pero ahora, así dice el Señor,
el que te creó, Jacob,
el que te formó, Israel:
«No temas, que yo te he redimido;
te he llamado por tu nombre; tú eres mío.
2Cuando cruces las aguas,
yo estaré contigo;
cuando cruces los ríos,
no te cubrirán sus aguas;
cuando camines por el fuego,
no te quemarás ni te abrasarán las llamas.
3Yo soy el Señor, tu Dios,
el Santo de Israel, tu Salvador;
yo he entregado a Egipto como precio por tu rescate,
a Cus y a Seba en tu lugar.
4A cambio de ti entregaré hombres;
¡a cambio de tu vida entregaré pueblos!
Porque te amo y eres ante mis ojos
precioso y digno de honra.
5No temas, porque yo estoy contigo;
desde el oriente traeré a tu descendencia,
desde el occidente te reuniré.
6Al norte le diré: “¡Entrégalos!”
y al sur: “¡No los retengas!
Trae a mis hijos desde lejos
y a mis hijas desde los confines de la tierra.
7Trae a todo el que sea llamado por mi nombre,
al que yo he creado para mi gloria,
al que yo hice y formé”».

The Peril of Not Progressing

Hebrews 6:1-12 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Living according to God’s will for your life requires a growing process. Jesus has saved you, but there are some biblical disciplines that you must develop in order to grow into a healthy and victorious Christian. The Apostle Paul identifies these as “things that accompany salvation” in Hebrews 6:9.”

Garvin R. Alfter

Bible Reading for May 26

I Kings Chapter 1

1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. Continue reading “Bible Reading for May 26”

El Peligro de No Progresar

Hebreos 6:1-12 (NVI)
1 Por eso, dejando a un lado las enseñanzas elementales acerca de Cristo, avancemos hacia la madurez. No volvamos a poner los fundamentos, tales como el arrepentimiento de las obras que conducen a la muerte, la fe en Dios,
2 la instrucción sobre bautismos, la imposición de manos, la resurrección de los muertos y el juicio eterno.
3 Así procederemos, si Dios lo permite.
4-6 Es imposible que renueven su arrepentimiento aquellos que han sido una vez iluminados, que han saboreado el don celestial, que han tenido parte en el Espíritu Santo y que han experimentado la buena palabra de Dios y los poderes del mundo venidero, y después de todo esto se han apartado. Es imposible, porque así vuelven a crucificar, para su propio mal, al Hijo de Dios, y lo exponen a la vergüenza pública.
7 Cuando la tierra bebe la lluvia que con frecuencia cae sobre ella, y produce una buena cosecha para los que la cultivan, recibe bendición de Dios.
8 En cambio, cuando produce espinos y cardos, no vale nada; está a punto de ser maldecida y acabará por ser quemada.
9 En cuanto a vosotros, queridos hermanos, aunque nos expresamos así, estamos seguros de que os espera lo mejor, es decir, lo que atañe a la salvación.
10 Porque Dios no es injusto como para olvidarse de las obras y del amor que, para su gloria, vosotros habéis mostrado sirviendo a los santos, como lo seguís haciendo.
11 Deseamos, sin embargo, que cada uno de vosotros siga mostrando ese mismo empeño hasta la realización final y completa de su esperanza.
12 No seáis perezosos; más bien, imitad a quienes por su fe y paciencia heredan las promesas.

Bible Reading for May 25

Mark Chapter 15

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. Continue reading “Bible Reading for May 25”

Points to Ponder – My Good Shepherd

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” –Psalms 23:1-6 KJV

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” –Isaiah 40:11 KJV

“For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. … I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.” –Ezekiel 34:11-12, 14-16 ESV

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” –John 10:11-15 KJV

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” –1 Peter 2:25 KJV

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” –1 Peter 5:4 KJV

Bible Reading for May 24

Mark Chapter 13

1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! Continue reading “Bible Reading for May 24”