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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!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Personal Challenge

So, if I start thinking that because I have been born into the land of the free and that I have the right to pursue happiness and self-gratification, then I am in for a rude awakening. When I was baptized into Christ and sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit I gave over my life, all of it, to God. I am no longer my own. He owns me! Yes, I am His bondservant! He dictates to me what I should think and do! My political preferences, my work preferences, my hobbies, my relationships, my desires and expectations of those around me, everything, must be submitted to Him! I am His, He is not mine. Am I living this way? Lord, have mercy! Am I willing to live this way? Lord, have mercy! Will He lead me and bless me in living this way? Lord, have mercy! It is time to let go…

Psalm 119:147 (118:147 LXX)

And I shall keep Your testimonies.
I arose at midnight and cried out;
I hoped in Your words.

Encouraging Words

My God never sleeps. He is never hidden or absent. If I cannot feel His presence in my life it is because I have moved away from Him. Because of this I can call out to Him at any time and in any situation knowing that He will hear my voice. Glory be to God!

Psalm 118:1-4 (117:1-4 LXX)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.
Let all who fear the Lord say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.

Encouraging Words

Throughout our liturgy we proclaim, “Lord, have mercy!” While quoting/praying the Jesus Prayer we plead, “”Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner!” We do not do this because we believe that God might relax on giving us His mercy. We do this because we recognize how little we deserve His mercy and how much forgiveness we need for our sinfulness. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!