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James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Encouraging Words…

God is the creator and owner of everything in existence. Therefore everything that I have, even down to every beat of my heart is a gift from Him. This alone should be enough to cause me to fall upon my face before Him in humility and thankfulness. He deserves my love and adoration because He pours His perfect love and adoration out on me every day. Glory be to God!

2 Corinthians 1:10

(God),who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

Encouraging Words…

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen! The work that Jesus did on the cross, His death, burial, time in hell, and resurrection were all done to break the bonds that death had on us. Jesus is the victor over death, both physical and spiritual, and through Him we too are delivered from this death. Glory be to God!

Luke 16:10

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Personal Challenge…

All of life is a test…an opportunity for us to grow more in the image of Christ through situations where we can follow Him and discipline received when we don’t. One of these tests comes in the form of stewardship and how we use that which God has given us. This is often thought of as money, or wealth, but can also be time, experiences, our knowledge or wisdom given by God, basically everything that we have or are. As for the money part, here is what the commentary in the Orthodox Study Bible says…

“The test as to whether God will bestow heavenly blessings (true riches) on a person is directly related to how that person spends his money. The money we consider our own is actually another man’s, that is, belonging to God, or at least to the poor. The Fathers universally see a person’s failure to give money to God’s work as stealing: ‘nothing less than embezzlement of money belonging to someone else’ (Theophylact of Bulgaria)”

These can be sobering words or words that can encourage us to hold on to our wealth differently. Glory be to God!

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast in his might, nor let the rich man boast in his riches.” Instead, let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, who shows mercy, judgment, and righteousness on earth, for in these is My will,” says the Lord. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, “that I will visit upon all the circumcised their uncircumcision.”

Personal Challenge…

We live in such a blessed and prosperous time and part of the world. It becomes so easy for us to boast in the stuff that we have accumulated…that new car or motorcycle, that new home or second one by the lake or in the mountains, that new boat or other toy, that new promotion at work or position that we serve in…and chalk it all up to being blessed by God. Indeed God does bless us this way at times and sometimes, actually most of the time, it is the outcome of the blessing of when and where we live. Are those people who don’t have any of this stuff above any less blessed? What about the 99% of the world that do not have our blessings? Are they any less blessed by God? What do we boast about? What do we put our hope in? What do we value more than God and our neighbor? These are the things that show to God how uncircumcised our circumcision (being set apart) really is. To whom much is given, much is expected. Am I using the blessings that God has given me to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to take care of the widow, the orphan, the poor, and those in need around me? Some day I will stand before my Lord and be expected to answer these questions. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Personal Challenge…

Why is it that those of us who are set free from the bondage of sin continue to sin? It is not because of Adam, or because of our nature, or that the devil makes us do it. It is because we choose the things of this world and the temporary pleasures that they give us over the things of God and the eternal rewards that they lay up for us. It is our choice that betrays us. However, by the grace of God, the work of Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can choose to say, “No!” to sin and live a righteous and holy life. This takes work and persistence, but the results are far better than the other option. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Luke 18:13

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

Personal Challenge…

Am I living my life as the pharisee or as the tax collector? it is not that important what kind of life these two men lived up to this point. What was important was the condition of their heart and their perspective on who they were in comparison to the glory of God! We do not deserve His love and mercy, and yet He still pours it out upon us. We do not deserve to be in His presence and yet He invites us in. The tax collector had the right position in his heart…humility, and the right perspective on who he was in the presence of God…an impure and soiled sinner. This is where we should always start as we approach our Lord for He is so great, so pure, and so holy. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Psalm 15 (14 LXX)

O Lord, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle?
Who shall live in Your holy mountain?
He who walks blamelessly, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart,
Who does not deceive with his tongue,
Neither does evil to his neighbor;
And does not find fault with those nearest him.
He disdains those who do evil in his presence,
But he holds in honor those who fear the Lord;
He swears an oath to his neighbor and does not set it aside.
He does not lend his money at interest,
And he does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be shaken.

Personal Challenge…

I have often heard the question, “How does God want me to live my life?” Jesus set the standard by telling us to love God and our neighbor. But for some that is too vague. Here is one of those great nougats of information that tells us ways that we can love out this standard. Clearly, living this way does not give us our salvation and rescue us form the grip of death. Only the glorious and merciful work of Jesus can do this. But once we are redeemed this can be clear marching orders for how we should live our lives. Glory be to God!

Isaiah 66:1-2

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or what kind is the place of My rest? For My hand made all these things, and all these things are Mine,” says the Lord; “and upon whom will I show respect, but to the humble and the peaceful and to him who trembles at My words.

Personal Challenge…

There is nothing that I can do for the Lord, or give to Him, that exceeds what He already has. He doesn’t want my stuff, which already belongs to Him anyway. He doesn’t want my actions, which usually become tainted by my pride and sinfulness. He wants my heart. He wants my humility before Him and my neighbor. He wants the core of me and not my peripherals. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Acts 20:29

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Personal Challenge…

We must always be diligent to keep our flock, the church, guarded and protected from those who would destroy it. Sometimes that destruction comes in the form of false teachers. More often it comes in out own behaviors, dividing over non-important things, backbiting or gossiping about one another, disagreeing with the leaders of our body because they don’t tickle our ears, and the list goes on. If we focus on the unity of the body that both Jesus and Paul prayed for it is easier to spot those behaviors that attack this unity and deal with it. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Matthew 10:32-33

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Personal Challenge…

I have always read this passage to be focused on my profession of faith, my willingness to proclaim Jesus as my Lord. But could it not also be describing my behavior as I go through life and how it either confesses Christ as my Lord or denies Him? If I do things that are contrary to how God wants me to live (ignore the needs of my neighbor, gossip about others, lie, cheat, you name it) am I not denying that Christ is my Lord to those around me? This is a sobering thought. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.