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Psalm 119:133 (118:133 LXX)

Direct my steps according to Your teaching
And let no lawlessness rule over me.

Encouraging Words…

So, what is this teaching that the Psalmist is requesting to be directed in? Contrary to modern belief it is not just the published Bible that so many of us have in our homes. The teachings of God are indeed found in the Bible, but also in the teachings of His saints, confirmed and validated over 2,000 years in the boundaries of His Church, in the traditions of the Church, in our hymns, and in our community. God even teaches through His creation. If we submit ourselves to Him and His way of teaching us we will be able to live righteous and holy lives filled with His wisdom.

Luke 10:19-20

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Personal Challenge…

Indeed it is awesome to know that because of the work of Jesus Christ and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, that we can be triumphant over the demonic hosts of this world and all they throw at us. However, what is more important than this, is that we rejoice in the promise that we are permanent citizens in heaven. Why is this so much more important? Because the world and all of the demonic host that is ruling it will some day pass away and we will dwell in the heavenly realm forever. This is where our hearts and minds should be today and every day.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Encouraging Words…

Our God is faithful, He will never leave us nor forsake us, He will establish us in His kingdom and protect us from the evil one. This is not some way off in the future kind of promise, but an ever-present active presence in our lives by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We can deal with each day and every event within it with confidence that our Lord is there with us. Glory be to God!

Daniel 6:5-6

The administrators and governors sought to find some charge against Daniel, but they could find no charge or wrongdoing or fault against him because he was faithful. Then the administrators said, “We will find nothing against Daniel unless we find it in the laws of his God.”

Personal Challenge…

What an awesome compliment to pay to a person who serves his God. Daniel’s live is on that we can all strive for…to live our lives in a way that no one around us can find fault in what we say or do. I know it is too late for this to occur in my life in relationship to my past, however, it is never too late to start living the rest of my life in a way that people could not find any fault in my ways from this day forward. It is clear that I will not be able to do this on my own accord, but by the grace of God and through the indwelling Spirit, I believe it is possible to strive for this for the remainder of my life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner! Be Lord and Master of my life precious Jesus!

Daniel 3:40 (LXX addition)

So let this be our sacrifice before You today,
And may it be accomplished for those who follow You;
For there is no shame for those who trust in You.

Personal Challenge…

God does want us to offer sacrifices to Him. He does not want stuff offered, or even our labors, but what He wants is our hearts. There is nothing that we can do to merit God’s grace, but because of God’s grace poured out on us we should be willing to give our all as a living sacrifice for Him…freely, willingly, and with joy. Glory be to God!

Today I would like to dedicate this post to my father, Billy Gene Short. Today he would have been 88. Memory Eternal Dad! Your meekness was an obvious indicator of your devoted life of prayer.

Luke 18:15-17

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Encouraging Words…

I don’t want to ever grow up. Why? As we become adults we begin to embrace intellectualism and yield to the pressures around us to be rational and logical. It is in these very acts that we become cynical and hard to those things around us that can often be viewed as mysteries. Theophylact of Bulgaria said of this passage:

“A little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone, he is innocent and guileless. He does not inflate himself in the presence of important people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows. Instead, he lives in complete simplicity.”

Is it any wonder that Jesus want us to approach Him and receive His kingdom like a little child? Glory be to God!

Susanna 22-23

Then Susanna sighed deeply and said, “I am hemmed in on all sides, for if I do this thing, it is death for me; yet if I do not, I will not escape your hands. But it is better for me not to do it and to fall into your hands, than to sin against the Lord.”

Personal Challenge…

This account of Susanna in the preamble to Daniel is so appropriate for what is going on in our world today. The news may not be covering it very much, but in the Middle East we are seeing many Christians being martyred for their faith and their unwillingness to reject their Lord. So many people are asking why they don’t just reject Christ and save their lives. Here Susanna is confronted with a false accusation from two upright men in her community who want to take advantage of her and she would rather stand firm in her purity, her commitment to her God and face a trial with two credible witnesses (because of their positions only) that will lie and surely condemn her to death rather than sin against God. Am I willing to look into the barrel of a gun and refuse to deny my Christ knowing that it will be the last thing I do in my life? Am I willing to show my commitment to my Lord at work and in the community when it is not politically correct and suffer shame and humiliation for my God? I can only answer these questions, “I hope so!” Jesus died for me without asking anything from me. Am I willing to take up His cross and die for Him today, tomorrow, and every day after that? Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Luke 17:20-21

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Personal Challenge…

Why are we, the children of God, always so preoccupied on His kingdom being established in some future age? It is because by looking at it this way we can justify the ways that we live our lives today. Lives filled with debauchery and abuse of those around us whom we should be witnessing to and bringing into the kingdom of God. Jesus tells us that with His incarnation the kingdom of God has been established, in our presence in the body of Christ, and within the hearts of each and every one of His children. Since this is so, then we should be living our lives today as residents in God’s kingdom…glorifying Him, casting off the sins and skins of this world, and putting on righteousness and purity. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Personal Challenge…

Here is an example of how we can grow in our image of Christ. As God Himself, Christ gave up all the richness and glory of heaven to become one of us so that we might be restored to our relationship with God and once again partake in His riches. Is this not what we are also called to do, especially during the season of Great Lent…to give up of our riches here on earth so that we might be able to give to those around us? It is not just about the stuff of this earth that we are to give to those around us but the riches that God has poured out upon us so that others might experience His love and run to Him for their salvation. Glory be to God!