Author: David Short

1 Esdras 9:54-55 (Ezra)

Then everyone went on their way to eat and drink, to gladden themselves, to give gifts to those who were lacking, and to heartily rejoice. For they were inspired by the words which were taught to them, and they gathered together.

Personal Challenge

In this event in Esdras (Ezra), the people have just finished listening to the reading of the Law, the words of God. They did not leave this event going their own way and doing what they did every other day. They were moved by God’s presence in His living word to go away inspired to do His works, to live differently in a way so as to be the hands and feet of God. They were inspired to change the world for him. We too have the opportunity to here His living Word every time that we participate in a service of our church. Do we listen close enough to go out inspired to do His work? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Luke 5:27-28

After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

Personal Challenge

The focus of the commentary on this verse is usually about how Jesus was willing to call upon a tax collector to join his band of followers. What strikes me here, is how Matthew dropped everything, and immediately followed Jesus. This is a characteristic that has been exhibited by most of the Apostles of Jesus. None of us fully knows the circumstances of their lives and why they dropped everything to follow Jesus, but this is what is expected of all of us. We are to take up our cross and follow him. Are we willing to do this? Am I willing to do this? Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Esdras 4:59-60 (Ezra)

“The victory and the wisdom are from You, the glory is Yours, and I am Your servant. Blessed are You who granted me wisdom, and I give thanks to You, O Lord of our fathers.”

Personal Challenge

So many times throughout our lives we choose to take the glory for what God has done in our lives or for how He used us for His work. God deserves all the credit and all the glory for everything that happens in our lives. Every victory, all wisdom, all blessed results, are from Him, and Him alone. Glory be to God!

Luke 4:18-19

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

Encouraging Words

Jesus launched His ministry with this proclamation from Isaiah. He was not here to liberate the Jewish nation from the tyranny and oppression of the Roman empire as so many looked for the Messiah to do. He was here to liberate all of mankind from the shackles of death. Even today, we have different Christian faith practices calling out for God to liberate them from the tyrannies of this society that they are against. And again God proclaims that His Son became a man so that these blessings could be bestowed upon all of His creation and that our role as his followers is to spread His Good News to all and to not condemn them. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Esdras 4:38-40 (Ezra)

“But the truth abides and is strong forever. The truth lives and rules unto ages of ages. There is no partiality or prejudice with the truth, but it does righteous things, distinct from all wrongdoings and evil. All are pleased with its deeds, and there is nothing unjust in its judgment. For strength, dominion, authority, and majesty belong to it unto all ages, and blessed is the God of truth.”

Encouraging Words

If I have learned anything during my short life on this earth, it is that the truth always does prevail. It may be painful at times to stand firm on the truth, but it will always win out. Why? Because we serve the God of truth. He will always prevail in any situation. If we can hold onto Him and His truth, then we too will prevail. Glory be to God!

Luke 4:1

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Encouraging Words

We all have the opportunity to be baptized and chrismated into the body of Christ. Through this process we are blessed with the infilling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He dwells within us. Just as Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to face the temptations of Satan, we too are led by the Spirit through our lives as children of God, facing temptations that confront us. The Holy Spirit is always there to lead us through the challenges of live and to comfort us, even when we miss the mark. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Luke 3:21-22

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Encouraging Words

Throughout history, many have been asked that if Jesus was sinless, then why was He baptized? Here are some notes out of the Orthodox Study Bible that offer a very good answer to this question.

“Jesus Himself does not need baptism. In being baptized, our Lord accomplished several things: (1) He affirmed John’s ministry; (2) He was revealed by the Father and the Holy Spirit to be the Christ, God’s beloved Son; (3) He identified with His people by descending into the waters with them; (4) He prefigured His own death, giving baptism its ultimate meaning; (5) He entered the waters, sanctifying the water itself; (6) He fulfilled the many types given in the Old Testament, as when Moses led the people from bondage through the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and when the ark of the covenant was carried into the Jordan so the people could enter the Promised Land (Joshua 3; 4); and (7) He opened heaven to a world separated from God through sin.”

Jesus was baptized for us, His people, His children. He gave His all for us by becoming one of us so that we might become one with Him and His Father. Glory be to God!