Author: David Short

Psalms 139:23-24 (138:23-24 LXX)

Test me, O God, and know my heart; Examine me, and know my paths, And see if there is a lawless way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Personal Challenge

It takes either a very humble man or one who is confident in his way of living, to tell God to test him and see if his paths are lawless and godly. My desire is to be able to live my life in such a way that I am willing to cry out to my God and ask Him to test my heart for purity and commitment to Him. I know that I have a very long way to go to get to that point, but I also know that my God is continually working in my heart to get me to this place. May this prayer of the Psalmist someday become my prayer as well. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 17:28 (17:30 LXX)

Wisdom shall be imputed to a man without understanding who asks for wisdom,
And anyone who holds his peace will seem to have discernment.

Encouraging Words

Discernment has always been viewed as the crown of the virtues. With discernment, a person knows how and when to exercise the other virtues. All of the virtues come to is through Wisdom or Jesus Christ, and He promises to provide these virtues to grow them within us when we seek Him and ask for His virtues to become an integral part of our lives. In the process of taking on these virtues, we go through the process of taking off ourselves. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner and plant the seeds of Your virtues within me.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Encouraging Words

Jesus came into this world for only one reason. It was to give us life and break the chains that death had us bound in. Doing this He defeated the ultimate thief, Satan. We have the opportunity to have a true life while on this temporal earth and abundant life when we enter into eternity. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Psalms 139:4-6 (138:4-6 LXX)

For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether,
The last things and the first things;
You fashioned me, and placed Your hands on me.
Your knowledge has become too wondrous for me;
It has become too overwhelming; I am unable to grasp it.

Personal Challenge.

God knows everything about me, past, present, and future. He knows my every thought, every action, every word that proceeds out of my mouth, whether whispered or yelled. And yet He still loves me, He still forgives me, He still desires to have me walk in the gardens of eternity with Him. I know that I do not deserve any of this for I am unworthy. I will, however, cherish this un­limited love that He continually pours out on me. I will strive to submit my will to His, knowing full well that I will continue to resist Him. He made me in my mother’s womb and has been making me ever since my birth. His majesty is incomprehensible to me, yet I will trust Him as He is my Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 17:27 (17:29 LXX)

He who refrains from uttering a harsh word is intelligent,
And a longsuffering man has discernment.

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Encouraging Words

Don’t we all want to be set free? Freedom is what Jesus became incarnate for. Freedom from the strangle­hold that death had onus. Freedom from wing a life of sin and separation from God. But this freedom does come at a price. First is the price that Jesus paid by going to the cross for us. Second is the price that we pay for knowing Him as the truth and choosing to abide in His word so that we may know Him. Such a small price to pay to gain what He is offering.

Psalms 139:1-3 (138:1-3 LXX)

O Lord, You test me and know me;
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thoughts from afar;
You search out my path and my portion,
And You foresee all my ways.

Encouraging Words

We are never alone. Our glorious God is ever present in our lives. He knew us as we were being formed in our mother’s womb and He has been intimately active in every aspect of our lives since our birth. He is active leading us along the journey of our lives whether we recognize that or not. Today we celebrate the birth of our incarnate Lord knowing that He left His place in Heaven to become one of us, to live as we have had to live in our temporal bodies, saying “No!” to temptations and sin, showing us that it is possible as a human being to live a sinless life. He gave His life up for us so that we would never have to yield our lives to death. Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Proverbs 17:14 (17:15 LXX)

The foundation of righteousness gives authority to words,
But discord and quarreling precede poverty.

Personal Challenge

Isn’t righteousness grounded in unity? Unity with our Father in heaven. Unity with our neighbor, both in Christ and the stranger. If we do not have unity with those around us, if we are constantly picking at others or condemning their choices, then we are not loving our neighbor. So without loving our neighbor and treating them with love and respect then how can we expect to have righteousness in our lives? We cannot. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Encouraging Words

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or Seasons Greetings! It really doesn’t matter which one we use nowadays because the truth of the matter is that Jesus Christ, the incarnate son of God, is the light of God that has entered this dark world and this is the time of year that we celebrate His birth. Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth for all mankind.