2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Encouraging Words
Just as Moses charged Joshua, “Be bold and courageous!”, we are given the spirit to be bold and courageous in our Christian lives. The powerful thing here is that the spirit of power here also comes with the spirit of love and sound mind so that our boldness is applied appropriately. Glory be to God!
Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet- smelling aroma.
Personal Challenge
The rich young man asked Christ who his neighbor was and how to love him. Here I am reminded that if I am to walk in Christ then I am to love my neighbor as He loved us and gave Himself up for us on the cross. Therefore my neighbor and his or her needs should always come before mine. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Galatians 4:4-7
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Encouraging Words
Is it all worth it? Is what worth it? The challenges in life that we suffer by trying to live our lives for Christ. The threats and eventual deaths that our brothers and sisters in the middle east are enduring for their faith. Yes! Why is it worth it? Because through Christ we have been transformed from slaves to the law, which ends in death and judgment, to being adopted as children of God and joint heirs with our Lord. We are set free from the law, the tyranny of death and sin, and ways of the world. Glory be to God!
Isaiah 9:6
Great shall be His government, and of His peace there is no end. His peace shall be upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order and establish it with righteousness and judgment, from that time forward and unto ages of ages. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.
Encouraging Words
Wait a minute! Who says that we cannot be a citizen in two countries at the same time? Since I am still living in this fleshly tent I am still a citizen of the earthly realm. However, since Jesus became incarnate, lived the life of a man (a citizen of this same earthly realm), gave up His life for me on the cross, entered into Hell and destroyed death and sin, and rose again victorious over the powers of darkness, I am now a full-blown citizen of heaven today, not someday in the future after I die. He opened the doors of heaven so that I can live in both realms at the same time! Christ is risen!!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!
As the thief on the cross, I cry out, “Remember me in your kingdom!” and You pull me into eternity!
As Adam and Eve, and all of the others who were dead and trapped in Hades, I cry out, “Save me!” and You break down the gates forever setting all of mankind, throughout all of eternity, free from death and sin!
As I call out to You to come again, You cry out, “I am with You always, even to the end of the age!” Your work is completed and I dwell in Your house forever! Glory be to God!
Mark 10:27
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Encouraging Words
Jesus’ response to His disciples regarding their amazement of the difficulty of those who love riches entering into heaven is one that I can apply to my life today. There are issues and challenges that I deal with every day of my life. How do I deal with, and love my neighbor? How do I show my love for Him every moment of my life? How do I avoid sin? His promise here is that it is impossible for me to do any of these on my own. But I don’t have to because God can and will, do them within me. Glory be to God!
Mark 10:24-25
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Personal Challenge
It is not the riches themselves that keep me from serving God and entering His kingdom. It is my desire for riches, my desire for what the riches might bring me in this life, that cause me to take my eyes off of Jesus and focus on the world. This is what keeps me from following Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
2 Timothy 3:12
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Personal Challenge
Who is the prince of this earth? Satan. So, if I am trying to live my life for Christ while living on this earth won’t he do whatever he can to thwart me? Yes. This means that the more I desire to live for Christ, the more I do for Him and His kingdom, the more persecution I should expect to receive. If the apostles, the saints, the martyrs, and our Lord Jesus Christ, all suffered persecution then I should cherish it for it is a sign that I am becoming like them. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Titus 3:9-11
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self- condemned.
Personal Challenge…
Divisiveness comes in many forms in a community. The worst kind is gossip and rumor mongering. It is so easy to start talking about someone and set aflame a fire that ruins peoples’ lives. We are called to flee this behavior and event to put out members of our community that continue this behavior after admonition. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Mark 9:49-50
“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Personal Challenge
Sometimes I find myself relaxing in my walk as a Christian and then realize that I am failing my Lord for not keeping my guard up and living a godly, righteous life. Our calling as Christians is to be in constant struggle with the world as we live as citizens of heaven in this foreign land. Living this way puts us in the fire that seasons us as a blacksmith uses fire to season, or harden, the sword. Life really should always be a struggle if we are living the way that Christ would want us to. We also must live our lives as salt and light so that those who do not know Christ will taste the sweetness of His gospel through our actions and have His light shown upon them by His presence in our lives. Glory be to God!
Verse of the Day 