DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

Bible in a Year:  2 Chronicles 1–3; John 10:1–23

Today's Scripture : 2 Samuel 9:1–7  (NIV)

Insight  Jonathan’s father, Saul, had hated David with murderous envy ( 1 Samuel 18:1–16 ). Even though showing kindness to a surviving member of Saul’s house could’ve been met with lingering animosity, David made the choice to honor Jonathan’s family. He learned that one of Jonathan’s sons, Mephibosheth, was still living, although injured and permanently disabled. He’d been dropped by a nursemaid in the confusion following news of his father’s and grandfather’s deaths ( 2 Samuel 4:4 ). David himself would someday need mercy ( Psalm 25:11 ). His kindness foreshadowed the coming of Christ ( Luke 1:26–27 ), for whose sake God asks us to show mercy and kindness to one another . By:  Mart DeHaan

Following the death of his beloved friend Jonathan, David wanted to remember him and to keep a promise to him ( 1 Samuel 20:12–17 ). But rather than simply seek something static, David searched and found something very much alive—a son of Jonathan ( 2 Samuel 9:3 ). David’s decision here is dramatic. He chose to extend kindness ( v . 1 ) to Mephibosheth ( vv . 6–7 ) in the specific forms of restored property ( “all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul” ) and the ongoing provision of food and drink ( “you will always eat at my table” ). As we continue to remember those who’ve died with plaques and paintings, may we also recall David’s example and extend kindness to those still living. By   John Blase

Reflect & Pray Who has died that you don’t want to forget? What might a specific kindness to another person look like for you? Jesus , give me the strength to extend kindness in memory of the kindness others have shown me, but most important because of Your great kindness .

May 27: Math: Maybe Not a Mystic Language After All 1 Chronicles 21:1–22:19 ; 2 Timothy 2:14–26 ; Psalm 86:1–87:7 In a world of metrics, it’s easy to become obsessed with statistics and start to quantify every aspect of our lives. Stats can even become a type of scorekeeping between churches or pastors: “We have more members than you do.” We may never say those words out loud, but we think them; more than one person has made the mistake of measuring a ministry based on attendance. But God has His own method for measuring success. Prompted by an adversary ( “Satan” is often better translated as “adversary” or “accuser” in the Old Testament ), David decides to seek metrics—to count the people of Israel. This account illustrates the harm of seeking gratification or understanding in numbers. In 1 Chronicles 21 , major problems emerge from this: including placing an adversary’s will above God’s and predicting God’s will rather than seeking it regularly. Rather than countin...

Monday, May 27, 2019 | Pentecostarion Sixth Monday after Pascha Bright Vestments Epistle Acts 17:1–15 Gospel John 11:47–57   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print. Monday, May 27, 2019 | Pentecostarion Fifth Monday after Pascha Bright Vestments Epistle Acts 12:12–17 Gospel John 8:42–51   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print. Mon, May 27, 2019 (May 14, 2019) | Pentecostarion Fifth Monday after Pascha Bright Vestments Epistle Acts 12:12–17 Gospel John 8:42–51   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print.

Monday, May 27, 2019 | Easter Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter Years 1 & 2 | Roman Missal | Lectionary On the same date: Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop First Reading Acts 16:11–15 Response Psalm 149:4a Psalm Psalm 149:1b–6a , 9b Gospel Acclamation John 15:26b , 27a Gospel John 15:26–16:4a   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Monday, May 27, 2019 | Easter Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter Year 1 Psalms ( Morning ) Psalm 80 Psalms ( Evening ) Psalm 77 ( 79 ) Old Testament Deuteronomy 8:1–10 New Testament James 1:1–15 Gospel Luke 9:18–27  The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Monday, May 27, 2019 | Easter Monday after the Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C Psalm Psalm 93 First Reading 1 Chronicles 12:16–22 Second Reading Revelation 21:5–14 ...

Bible in a Year:  1 Chronicles 28–29; John 9:24–41

May 26 Lesson 13  ( KJV ) Called to Be Transformed Devotional Reading:   Psalm 34:1–14 Background  Scripture :   Romans 12 Romans 12:1–8 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the  mercies of   God , that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,  holy , acceptable unto  God , which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of  God . 3 For I say, through the  grace  given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as  God  hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in  Christ , and every one members one of another. ...

Sunday , May 26, 2019 | Pentecostarion Sunday of the Blind Man or Sixth Sunday of Pascha Bright Vestments Matins Gospel John 20:11–18 Epistle Acts 16:16–34 Gospel John 9:1–38   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print. Sunday , May 26, 2019 | Pentecostarion Sunday of the Samaritan Woman or Fifth Sunday of Pascha Bright Vestments Matins Gospel John 20:1–10 Epistle Acts 11:19–26 , 29–30 Gospel John 4:5–42   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2015. Print. Sun , May 26, 2019 (May 13, 2019) | Pentecostarion Sunday of the Samaritan Woman or Fifth Sunday of Pascha Bright Vestments Matins Gospel John 20:1–10 Epistle Acts 11:19–26 , 29–30 Gospel John 4:5–42   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print.

Sunday , May 26, 2019 | Easter Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C First Reading Acts 14:8–18 Old Testament 2 Kings 6:15–17 ( Supplemental ) Psalm Psalm 65 New Testament Revelation 21:10–14, 22 , 23 New Testament Revelation 3:14–22 ( Supplemental ) Gospel John 14:23–29   Christian Worship Three Year Lectionary (with Supplemental Lectionary) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Sunday , May 26, 2019 | Easter Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C | Roman Missal | Lectionary First Reading Acts 15:1–2 , 22–29 Response Psalm 67:4 Psalm Psalm 67:2–3 , 5–6, 8 Second Reading Revelation 21:10–14 , 22–23 Gospel Acclamation John 14:23 Gospel John 14:23–29   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Sunday , May 26, 2019 | Easter Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C First Reading Acts 16:9–15 Psalm Psalm 67 (UMH 791) New Tes...