Author: David Short

Acts 1:9-11

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Personal Challenge

So…how much time do I waste “looking up into heaven” waiting for the return of my King when there is so much work that needs to be done for Him? Am I willing to give up my place in heaven so that every lost soul around me might go there in my place? Am I willing to be sacrificed for everyone else that God loves? I cannot cherish the truth that I will someday be with my Lord in heaven while at the same time taking joy in the fact that those around me may not. To be a Christian is to be one that actively shares the love of Christ hoping that all will be saved. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Habakkuk 2:4

If any man should shrink back, My soul will not be well pleased in him; but the righteous shall live by My faith.

Personal Challenge

Being a follower of Christ is not a part-time thing. I cannot claim Hm as my Lord on Sundays and then live like I do not know who He is the rest of the week. If I desire for Him to be well pleased with me as His child then I will never shrink back from in front of my peers or in the midst of pressure. What helps me to stay strong this way? He does! His faith! His power! His love! For I can do nothing apart from Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Acts 17:6

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

Personal Challenge

How awesome it would be to be accused of turning the world upside down for Christ. In order to do this, I would have to be living a life that is so radically different than those around me that they would be shaken. Only a person living fully in Christ can have this kind of impact, for it is not the person that is being seen, but Christ. I cannot live this kind of life if I am enamored by the world and pursuing the things of the world. I cannot live this way if all that I care about is me and what I want. I cannot make this kind of difference if I am the same as everyone else around me. Making a radical impact on the world, turning it upside down, requires me to allow Jesus to have a radical impact on me and having my life turned upside down. Lord Jesus christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Acts 16:25

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Personal Challenge

Life happens! Sometimes it is glorious and uplifting. Sometimes it is just plain mundane and ordinary. And sometimes it is downright painful and shakes our belief in God. In many of these events, we may begin to question God or more critically, our faith in God, and wonder what His will is. In all cases, I believe God’s will always boil down to one thing, that all might know Him and how much He loves us and desires for us to be His children. If I can hold on to this then going through life and dealing with the things that happen in this broken and fallen world begin to have more meaning. I can look for the love of God in every event, good or bad. I can look for how God is reaching out to everyone in the situation, good or bad. I can find God’s mercy and grace for me and everyone, everywhere and at all times. What is God’s will? That we turn to Him and seek refuge in His unmeasurable love. Glory be to God!

Psalm 138:4-6 (137:4-6 LXX)

O Lord, let all the kings of the earth give thanks to You,
For they heard all the words of Your mouth;
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord,
For the glory of the Lord is great;
For the Lord is high, and He watches over the lowly things;
But the high things He knows from afar.

Encouraging Words

Our God, the Father, is so holy that we, as humans, will never be able to come into His presence on our own without being destroyed. Our God, the Son, became human and lived a holy and righteous life thereby becoming our one and only High Priest that stands before the Father for us, therefore providing the means by which we can enter into the holy of holies and live eternally in the presence of the Father. Our god, the Holy Spirit, was given to us to lead us through our lives here on earth so that we can be more holy and righteous for our God. Glory be to God!

Psalm 139:4-6 (138:4-6)

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.

Encouraging Words

My God is not just an object or a principle to be worshipped. He is real and He knows me far better than even I know myself. He fashioned me from before time and has placed His hands upon me. Is it no wonder that I will never be able to grasp Him and His wisdom? Glory be to God!

Psalm 121:1-4 (120:1-4 LXX)

I lifted my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Let not your foot be moved;
Neither let Him who keeps you slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Encouraging Words

The things of this world will never fully satisfy my needs and desires. I can look to them all I can, but they are only temporary. My help, my joy, my completeness can only come from the Lord. And in my Lord I can find joy and completeness in the things of this earth that He has blessed me with. Glory be to God!

John 6:14

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Personal Challenge

It is one thing to proclaim Jesus as the “Prophet” of Lord when we have seen Him do mighty and glorious works, like in this case of feeding 5,000 with a few loaves and fishes. It is entirely a different thing to proclaim Him as our Lord when we do not see great and glorious things happening in our lives. Jesus is always the “Prophet”. He is always our Lord. He is always doing great and glorious things in our lives, we just don’t recognize them most of the time. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!