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Romans 5:12-13

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.)

Encouraging Words…

The early church fathers taught that because of Adam’s sin death became a regular part of every man’s life. Because of sin…we die. They also taught that we sin because of the death, because when death entered the world we became mortal and in that mortality we sin. They did not teach that Adam’s sin was imputed to us. We are responsible and accountable for our own sin. But the good part of this is that when Jesus was incarnated as a man, taking on fully our human nature, lived a sinless life, was crucified as an innocent man, and rose again the third day, He defeated death and therefore the sin that death brings into our lives. Through Christ our sins are forgiven and we can begin the process of living sinless lives. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Psalm 147:3 (146:3 LXX)

He heals the brokenhearted
And He binds up all their wounds.

Encouraging Words…

Only in our brokenness can we truly receive the healing power of our Lord. This is why David and so many of the godly, righteous saints that have gone before us so often ask God for a broken and contrite heart and spirit. The hold that the flesh has upon us must be broken. That is the first stop in our journey and starts with confession and repentance. But what comes next is the most important step…letting our Lord heal that which is broken and bind it all back together in His way, in His likeness. He is the great Physician. We are His patients. Gory be to God!

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Encouraging Words…

We are exhorted to pray for others at all times, especially those in civic authority. I love how we pray multiple times throughout our liturgy for the people in our lives…those who love us and those who hate us, those in civil authority and those traveling, those who have departed this life and for the faithful members of the community. By praying for others we take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on others and their needs. Part and parcel with this is how clear this passage makes it that God loves all of mankind and desires that all come to Him. He has not pre-determined who will be saved and who will not. He does not have this big list of who will get His gift this “Christmas”, for His gift is for all of creation…past, present, and future. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 19:20

Hear, my son, the instruction of your father,
That you may become wise in your last days.

Encouraging Words…

We do not make it through this journey of life on our own. Our guidance and direction begins with our parents and eventually continues on to other teachers in our lives. But no matter how young or how old we are there is always someone that has something that we can be taught. Part of our responsibility in this journey is to be humble and listen to the instruction of others. Glory be to God!

Romans 5:20-21

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Encouraging Words…

If God knew that someday His Son, Jesus, would be born a man in order to cancel out the law then why give us the law to begin with? Because through the law we could see just how much we need God because we choose to break the law. If God was a judgmental law enforcer then why send His Son to cancel out the law? Because God so loves His creation that He can’t stand to see it perish. Now that is love! That is mercy! That is grace! This the God that I choose to love and serve, along with Abraham, Isaac, David, and all of the other patriarchs and fathers and mothers of the church. Glory be to God!

Micah 7:18

Who is a God like You, removing wrongdoings and passing over the ungodliness of the remnant of His inheritance? He does not keep His anger as a witness, for He delights in mercy.

Encouraging Words…

Once again we are reminded that our Lord is a loving and merciful God. Even though we sin and often live unrighteous lives He removes our wrongdoings from us and passes over our ungodliness. Glory be to God!

Psalm 37:16-19 (36:16-19)

Better the little with the just man
Than the great riches of sinners;
For the arms of sinners shall be shattered,
But the Lord supports the righteous.
The Lord knows the ways of the blameless,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in an evil time,
And in days of famine they shall be filled.

Personal Challenge…

We should be careful with the company that we keep. Our world tells us that we should hobnob and rub elbows with the rich and famous in hopes that some of it might rub off on us. However, the Psalmist reminds us that it is much more prudent to spend time with those who live just and righteous lives for we can gain so much more from them. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 22:17-19 (20-22 LXX)

Incline your ear to the words of the wise and hear my word,
And establish your heart, that you may know they are good.
And if you apply them to your heart,
They will gladden you and at the same time be upon your lips;
That your hope might be in the Lord,
And His way might be known to you.

Personal Challenge…

The desire of our heart should be to walk with Wisdom at all times. We do this by leaning in toward Him, listening to His word, and listening to those whom He has made wise. By doing this we too will grow in His wisdom and be able to follow the straight paths that He lays before us. Glory be to God!

James 5:16

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Personal Challenge…

One of the travesties of our modern, Western practice of Christianity is the concept of a personal faith and personal walk with Christ. Granted, Jesus’ work on the cross was for each and every individual in the world and time, but our salvation must be worked out in our community of believers. “No man is an island” as John Donne stated. The idea of confessing my sins to God by myself is not a biblical concept. Confessing our sins to one another in our Christian community is. We need each other. We need to be active in each other’s life. It is through this living community that God brings healing to each of us individually and collectively. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Galatians 5:16

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Personal Challenge…

We have a choice that we must make in our lives. Follow the passions of our earthly life or follow in the footsteps of the Holy Spirit. This is a choice that we must make over and over since the world keeps presenting opportunities to sin. But like any other muscle, the more we exercise our will to follow God the easier it gets to do so. This is feeding the good nature that God has built within us. Glory be to God!