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1 Maccabees 3:59-60

For it is better for us to die in war than to look upon the evils the Gentiles would bring to us and the sanctuary. But as God’s will is in heaven, so He will do.

Personal Challenge

Am I willing to die for my Lord? To give my life for Him, whether it be physically dying for Him or giving up of my personal wants and needs on a day to day basis? Am I willing to go to war, to battle for my Lord? As a living member of the body of Christ, I am considered a part of the Church Militant. This does not mean that we are out to battle the world and those who believe differently than us. It means that our battle is against those spiritual forces that are counter to our Lord. The battle is also an internal one against these desires and passions within me that well up against that which my Lord desires of me. This is truly the war that my Lord wants me to die in. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Luke 8:16-18

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Personal Challenge

As a follower of my Lord Jesus Christ, I have received so much. He has shown me so much love and has really asked for nothing in return. That is how much He loves me, So, why would I not shout of His love and mercy from the rooftops? Why would I ever consider hiding my relationship with under a bushel? I will not! I never want to hide from those around me the love that God has for me or the love that I have for Him. I also know that the more love that He pours out on me, the more love that I have to pour out on those around me. I cannot hold onto this treasure as if it is my own, I can only share it and gave it away. What I know is that I can never out give my Lord and all that he pours out on me, so I know that the more that I am given the more responsibility I have to give it away. Glory be to God!

Psalms 84:11-12 (83:12-13 LXX)

For the Lord God loves mercy and truth;
He will give grace and glory;
The Lord’s hand will not remove good things from those who walk in innocence.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who hopes in You.

Encouraging Words

God is truth. God is mercy. So doesn’t it make sense that He loves Mercy and truth? If I love God, then shouldn’t I also love mercy and truth? So, isn’t this what He wants from me, to walk in innocence, mercy, and grace? Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Maccabees 3:18-19 LXX

Then Judas said, “It is easy to hem in many at the hands of a few, and it makes no difference before heaven to save with many or with few. For victory in battle does not come from the size of the army, but from the might of heaven.”

Encouraging Words

It is futile to keep trying to do God’s work or live a godly life in our own power. And even if we solicit the help of positive mental attitudes, or worldly training and empowerment, or whatever, we are still trying to live God’s ways, our way. The victory in any and all spiritual battles comes from the might of our Lord, not us. Glory be to God!

Luke 7:31-35

And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Personal Challenge

What is it with today’s modern generation? It has become the norm to redefine God the Father and His Incarnate Son in ways that fit the individual. This is much like the days of the Gnostics when the teachings and traditions of the church were abandoned for the teachings and ramblings of men who believed that they had the right to interpret the scriptures on their own. This was heresy in the early church and it is heresy today 2,000 years later. Lord, have Mercy! Lord, have Mercy! Lord, have Mercy!

Psalms 84:1-2 (83:1-3 LXX)

How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of hosts.
My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh greatly rejoice in the living God.

Encouraging Words

No matter how blessed we are in this present life. No matter how much wealth we may have accumulated. No matter how spectacular our home or other earthly possessions may be. None of this compares to the majesty and beauty of that which is God’s. For those who have given their lives, their minds, their hearts, and their all to our Lord, that which is God’s becomes ever present in their thoughts, their hopes, and their desires. Our souls begin to long and faint for that day when we will enter into the courts of our Lord to spend the remainder of our eternity with Him. Eventually, that longing that starts with our soul begins to permeate our heart and flesh until that point when our entire being desires to be in the presence of our Lord. It is at this point that we can taste and see our Lord God in every created thing touched by His magnificent hand and filled with His love, grace, and mercy. Glory be to God!

1 Maccabees 2:50-51 LXX

Therefore, children, be zealous for the law, and offer your lives for the covenant of our fathers; and remember the deeds our fathers did in their generations, and receive great honor and an everlasting name.

Personal Challenge

The Maccabees are facing a period of time in the history of their people where they are being oppressed and abused, not unlike many of our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East. In this passage, the people of Israel are being called to stand firm in their zealousness for the truths of the God that they worship. They are being challenged to give their lives for their God as their fathers before them did. And they are being encouraged to remember how the fathers of their faith lived their lives for their living God. We too, can apply these steps to rise up against that which is attacking our Church today, whether it be from the culture that hates God, or passivity and busyness in our lives, or physical threats to us and our loved ones. In order to do this we must know the truths of our God, We must study and follow the teachings and lives of the fathers of our faith, and we must be willing to give up our lives for Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Personal Challenge

The world continually tells us that our appearances and the stuff that we possess are what defines who we are. However, our Lord tells us that it is what we have in our heart that truly defines us. I can only keep up a facade for so long before it fades and crumbles. I can only project an image for so long before the light behind it dims and then the image begins to show through. Jesus tells us that we must fill our hearts with Him, with love for Him and His Father, with love for our neighbor, in order for abundant treasures to flow forth from my heart. My heart drives what I think, what I speak, and what I do. If my heart belongs to my Lord then His abundance will flow from it. If my heart belongs to me then my abundance will flow from it and that never ends up good. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!