Proverbs 29:23 NIV
A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honour.
Personal Challenge…
There is that difficult word again, humble (lowly spirit). Isn’t this what our Lord desires of us on a regular basis, to be humble before Him and our fellow man and woman? Isn’t this part of that daily struggle within us, pride versus humility? He not only desires us to choose Him, but to choose how we live before Him…in humility.
Psalm 30:5 NASB
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Encouraging Words…
Living a life in Christ is not a life filled with our every wish being fulfilled, our every want provided. A life in Christ is one of discipline, especially when we walk away from Him and His teachings. It is a life of commitment and work…for Him. But is also a life that is filled with His favor, His love, His presence. There will be those hard times, but they are times where weeping will last for the night, but the morning will be greeted with a shout of joy. I would have nothing other than a life in Christ.
Numbers 14:18 NASB
The LORD is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.
Personal Challenge…
I am so thankful that the LORD is so loving and forgiving. It is because of this that He is so patient with my propensity to sin and to turn my back on Him. I have often viewed this verse as God warning us that our sins will be paid for by our children and their children. Actually it seems to be saying that the seeds of sin, the lessons that we teach our children through our sinfulness, will be planted in our children’s lives and begin to grow. Oh how important it is for us to live Godly and righteous lives before our children…especially when it means going against what is popular in our culture. I hope and pray that my children and their children will forgive me for the seeds of sin that I planted in their lives in my younger years.
1 Peter 1:13-16 NASB
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Personal Challenge…
As followers of Christ we are holy…this means that our lives should be full of actions that both demonstrate that holiness and continue to drive us deeper into being holy. Some of these actions are clearly presented in these verses. All I know is that I certainly need the Holy One to be doing this work within me because I cannot do it on my own.
Galatians 6:9 NASB
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Encouraging Words…
The life a Christian is a life of works. It is true that our works do not earn us our entry into the Kingdom of God, however our life is to be filled with doing those things that God calls us to do. Our journey toward righteousness is not passive but active.
Acts 5:29 NASB
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Personal Challenge…
And who is it that I really obey? Is it God and His commandments, or is it man and his rules and expectations? Or worse yet…it is me and what I want to do? When faced with punishment and possibly even immediate death, the apostles of old stood firm on their commitment to obey God. Many of our church fathers and mothers through the history of the church have taken this stand and been martyred for their commitment to God and His Son Jesus. God does not expect any less from me.
Luke 11:23 NLT
Anyone who isn’t helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
Personal Challenge…
I know that I must always be checking my actions; the words that come out of my mouth, the expressions on my face, everything that I do, to determine if I am actually helping the cause of Christ or opposing it. How many times have I allowed my personal agenda to override His agenda, His plan, His love for those around me? Sobering thoughts.
Micah 7:18 NASB
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.
Encouraging Words…
How awesome it is to go through life knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that our God, the Creator of the Universe, delights in unchanging love for His possession…you and me!
Proverbs 27:17 NLT
Encouraging Words…
Psalm 46:1 NLT
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Encouraging Words…
What more can be said than this? He is always there…it us usually me that is absent from His presence not the other way around.
Verse of the Day 