Author: David Short

JUDGMENT IN TRUTH

Isaiah 42:1-4

“Jacob is My Servant; I will help Him. Israel is My chosen; My soul accepts Him. I put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard outside. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; but He will bring forth judgment in truth. He will shine forth and not be broken until He establishes judgment in the earth; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Encouraging Words

God has had a plan in place from the beginning of time in which He would redeem His people, His created children, from our ongoing choices to reject Him. He created us with free will and we turned away from Him. He entered into a covenant with Jacob and Israel to lead the world to Him and they reniged on their part of the covenant. He waited and sent His only begotten Son to become a human and draw us into a relationship with the Father. Jesus has brought the human race into a new relationship/covenant with the Father. Jesus did not cry out (accepting His death freely for us). He did not raise His voice (going quietly as a sheep to the slaughter). He has not broken the bruised reeds (lovingly caring for those who are downcast and in need of encouragement). He has not quenched the smoking flax (by not belittling or demeaning any of us). He established the judgment of the earth in truth and has become the hope of us all. Glory be to God!

DEMONIC WISDOM

James 3:14-16

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Personal Challenge

We have seen a rise in false Christianity across our land. This passage reminds us that if we see acts and mindsets that are full of bitter envy and self-seeking attitudes, then we are seeing characteristics of people that are earthly, sensual, and demonic. These people, even if they are proclaiming to be Christians and
wearing crosses, are actually far from Christ and effectively following the prince of the earth. What follows is confusion and many evil things. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

FEAR NOT

Isaiah 41:13

For I am your God who holds your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not.’

Encouraging Words

As followers of Christ, we put our hope in our God, trusting in His promises like this one. He promises to hold our hand and to be with us. Being in Him gives us the ability to fear not. Glory be to God.

DEAD OR ALIVE

James 2:26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Personal Challenge

A question that we should all be asking ourselves on a regular basis is whether our lives are filled with works that glorify our Lord and edify our neighbor, or not. If the answer is “Yes”, then we can proclaim that we are alive and followers of Christ. If the answer is “No” or “Maybe” or “I don’t know”, then we are dead in our faith and need to run to Jesus for life. Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy!

Saint of the Week
St. Poeman

FEAR NOT

Isaiah 41:10

‘Fear not, for I am with you. Do not go astray, for I am your God who strengthens you; and I will help and secure you with My righteous right hand.’

Encouraging Words

As followers of Christ we have promises that we can hold on to as we go through our journey of life. God has promised to be with us so that we have nothing to fear. He also promises to strengthen us as long as we do not stray away from Him. He will help and secure us as we strive to do His will and His work. Thanks be to God!

SHE WENT AND DID IT

1 Kings 17:15-16 (3 Kingdoms 17:15-16)

So the woman went and did it. Thus she and he and her children ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, and the jar of oil did not run dry, according to the word the Lord spoke by Elijah.

Personal Challenge

This is another one of those cases in the scriptures where a person is told to do something and they immediately do it, acting out of faith. In the text before these verses, we are told that the land is in the midst of a three year drought. Elijah is the prophet who let everyone know about this coming drought. After his provisions are used up, he is told by God to go find this woman and that she would feed him. He finds her as she is gathering wood to cook the last bit of food that she has for her and her children as she prepares for them all to die. Elijah asks her to cook the meal for him. She tells him her story and trusts him when he says that God will cause here last bit of food to last until the drought is over. She trusts this stranger and fixes her food for him. That took courage, that took faith that this man of God would take care of her. This is a story of trust, faith, and obedience. Glory be to God!

TREMBLING

James 2:19-20

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Personal Challenge

It is so easy to throw the name of Jesus around as if it is just an everyday word. It is also easy to tell others that you know Jesus and live for Him. But our lives in Christ must go beyond words. Even the demons proclaim that Jesus is the Lord and tremble at that truth. However, without actions that follow those words, there is only death of the proclamation. Our belief is only a true belief when we do the works that Jesus calls us to, Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

WAITING ON GOD

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the hungry, and sorrow to those who do not grieve. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the elect shall be without strength. But those who wait on God shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not hunger.

Personal Challenge

We live in a time where we are in the midst of various battles. Some are political, some are physical, and some are spiritual. Our personal challenge arises when the battles converge and become one, and the same, battle. We are there. Politically, our democracy, which was founded on putting people first, is under attack and in a great state of distress. Physically, our world is being impacted by mass climate change and the divisions amongst people that has been fostered by the political battle going on. Spiritually, we see anger, hatred, mistreatment of people, and many other anti-Christian activities in the name of Christian nationalism. As followers of Christ, we must strive to follow His leading, His teachings, and represent Him accordingly. We have a daunting task before us. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love have mercy!