Author: David Short

Sirach 1:16

The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,
Making peace and soundness of health to flourish.

Personal Challenge

It is so easy to proclaim that you are a Christian. This is the same with all professions of how we label ourselves. The truth is that labels mean absolutely nothing to God. Do we have a true fear of God. Not a cowering, He will punish me kind of fear, which is a clear demonstration of not knowing Him, but a deep trust, or faith, a committed conviction to follow in the footsteps of our Rabbi and to do as He does and speaks. If we truly desire a crown of wisdom in the godly things that lead to peace and soundness of health, then we must do as Jesus would have us to do. What are these things. To love God and to love our neighbor. To do as Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Living a Christian life is a life focused on Him and not the ways of this world. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Personal Challenge

This life on this earth is temporary. It is also filled with many things that can beat us down, if we let them. As followers of Christ, we know that we can count on Him to meet our every need. He can give us peace and contentment to carry us through every event. He strengthens us to fight the good fight. Glory be to God!

Sirach 1:10-11

The fear of the Lord will cheer the heart
And will give gladness, joy, and long life.
For those who fear the Lord, it shall be well to the utmost,
And on the day of his death, he will be blessed.

Personal Challenge

There is no person, organization, or thing in this earth that we need to fear. If we put our trust, our faith, a godly fear and respect in our Lord, then He will cheer our heart, give us gladness, joy, and long life, and our lives will be blessed. However, this also means that we will strive to do His will and live His ways, which may cause earthly hardships for us, for we are no longer of this world, but in it as his ambassadors. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner!

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Personal Challenge

So often in our lives, things do not go the way that we would like them to. Sometimes, it even looks like things do not go the way that God wants them to. We must remember that we still live in a fallen world and a world where free will can still take us in directions away from God. Paul reminds that if we want the peace of God in our lives then we must think on the good things of God. Glory be to God!

Wisdom of Solomon 19:22

For in everything, O Lord, You have exalted and glorified Your people,
And have not neglected to be present with them in every time and place.

Encouraging Words

Throughout the history of mankind, God has honored the people of His covenants. He has continually exalted and glorified them in His heavenly realm, and He will continue to do so throughout eternity. If we are His followers, we need to look for His rewards in His kingdom and not the kingdom of this earth. Glory be to God!

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Command with a Promise

We are told to rejoice in our Lord always, let our gentleness be known to all people, be anxious about nothing, pray in thanksgiving, and let our requests be made known to God. This is almost in the form of command, a directive. What happens when we do this? The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. That is the promise that comes with this command. Glory be to God!

Wisdom of Solomon 15:1-3

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Personal Challenge

As long as we reside here on earth in our temporal bodies, our journey of theosis will never be done. We must continually press on to the goal of being like Christ, following closely in His footsteps. Part of doing this is forgetting that which we have left behind and reaching forward to that which is ahead. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!