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Galatians 3:28

Luke 11:28

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Personal Challenge…

We live in an age where information is king, where information is prolific and often wrong. Because of this we have developed the ability to filter the information flowing at us and selectively chossing what we want to keep and what we want to reject. We are told here by Christ that our blessing comes from not only hearing the word of God but keeping it, meditating on it, applying it to our lives, living it out and letting it change and control us.

Psalm 85:15 (86:15)

But You, O Lord, are compassionate and merciful,
Longsuffering and very merciful and truthful.

Encouraging Words…

We are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves, to love our enemies, to put others first…even those who hate and persecute us for Christ’s sake. We are not asked to do something that our Lord does not do Himself.

Psalm 70:6 (71:6)

By You I have been supported from birth;
From my mother’s womb You have been my protector;
My song shall be always of You.

Encouraging Words…

God has been actively participating in my life since my conception. He has always been my protector and provider, whether I was walking with Him or not. Why wouldn’t my song be of Him?

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Encouraging Words…

The early church fathers (those who built the church in the first couple of centuries) taught that God created mankind with free will, and with that free will we have been given a choice to believe in Christ and follow Him or to reject Him and face eternal condemnation. If you read through the scriptures with this in mind then they look so much different than reading them from the perspective that we do not have a choice, that some are pre-chosen and some are not. Praise God for His love for mankind and providing us a way to be with Him throughout eternity.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the counsel of saints is understanding; For to know the law is characteristic of a good mind.

Personal Challenge…

Wisdom! Understanding! A good mind! All precious jewels to be sought after in our lives. We so often seek out our God and fear Him, and in that process gain His wisdom. We also read and study His law, His word, and from that gain a good mind. But what about the counsel of the saints, those whom have gone before us? Much of the modern church has abandoned this part of our pursuit of godliness and righteousness.

Psalm 46:10 (45:11)

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.

Encouraging Words…

Contrary to what is so often taught in many of our churches, knowing God is a two-sided activity. I must take action to know Him, I must slow down and be still so that I can hear His voice. He expects me to be an active participant in the relationship with Him.

Galatians 1:10

For do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Personal Challenge…

I cannot have it both ways…pleasing God and pleasing men. These two ways are mutually exclusive, diametrically opposed! To follow God is to leave the ways of the world behind. This is what it means to be a bondservant to Christ. Am I willing to give up my all for Him?

Psalm 33:18 (34:18)

The Lord is near those who are brokenhearted, and He will save the humble in spirit.

Personal Challenge…

Oh, how many times have well meaning Christians told me that I need to get closer to God in those times that I have been brokenhearted. “Read more scriptures!” “Pray more!” “Go to church more!” But this Psalm reminds me that it is in those times that I am boken that God draws near to me, that He wants to encourage and comfort me. Maybe an important part of our path to righteousness comes through the humility that comes out of being brokenhearted. Is my heart broken for Christ.

I recently finished my read through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. September 1st is the beginning of the calendar year in the Orthodox church. I have decided to follow the readings of the church for the next year using the Orthodox Study Bible, which is the New King James Version with the Old Testament based on the Septuagint. As I do this I will be doing my verse of the day from these readings.

Psalm 31:8 (32:8)

“I will give you understanding, and I will teach you in the way you should walk; I will fix My eyes on you.”

Encouraging Words…

I am not on this journey through life alone. God is there with me all of the way. He desires to teach me and give me understanding. Am I willing to receive it and let go of my desires?