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‎1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

Personal Challenge…
God expects us to represent Him and His gospel without error, impurity, or deceit. This can be a difficult and sobering responsibility…especially when the world is so full of teachings such as the gospel according to Fox, or the gospel according to CNN, or the gospel according to my political party, or the gospel according to my own needs and desires, or the gospel according to ________ (fill in the blank). It is not my gospel, or the gospel of men, that we are called to share…it is His gospel.

Colossians 3:23-24 NASB
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Command with a Promise…
If we do all that we do, everything in life, heartily and as if we are doing it for the Lord (which we are) then we will receive His reward that He has in store for us. That reward may not measure up to worldly standards, but we are not to be striving after worldly perfection or rewards but spiritual perfection and rewards.

Mark 9:32-35 NASB
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. And they came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. And sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

Personal Challenge…
Servant? Who wants to be a servant? We are told all of our lives that we should strive to be in charge, to be in front, to be the leader and not the follower. But the greatest leader of all time, Jesus, chose the path of being a servant leader. He set the pattern for us to serve those in our lives and to put them first. This is so contrary to what the world (often including the the church) teaches and yet so rewarding when done with the intent to be more like Him.

Psalm 3:3-4 NASB
But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to the LORD with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain.

Words of Encouragement…
It is so encouraging to know that we serve a God that is not some dead idol made out of wood or stone or precious metal, but a Living God, a caring God, the Creator of all. He hears our voices and He is present in our lives…especially when we follow and obey Him.

2 Kings 6:16 NASB
So he (Elisha) answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Words of Encouragement…
Have you ever had one of those days where it feels like you are standing all alone in the battle of life facing humongous odds against you? Well Elisha and his servant did. His servant was ready to run in fear until Elisha had his eyes opened up so that he could see the heavenly host that had been gathered together to take their side. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities of this world. We are not alone, we just need our eyes opened to see Who is really on our side…as long as we are on His.

‎1 John 1:5-7 NASB
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Personal Challenge…
We often think of walking in darkness as walking in sin… purposely choosing to live a life that we know that would be dishonoring to God. However, this also means doing those little things that we would not be considered sin by the measurement of the culture around us.

One that I can think of is in the language that we use about, or to, those around us. Do I build people up or tear them down? Do I offer grace in my words, even to those that I do not like or agree with, or do I offer criticism and cynicism? Do I speak with the love of Jesus or the malice of Jerry Seinfield? Do I show and speak love to those around me (physically and virtually in the Internet world) or do I tear them down?

Hebrews 4:14-16 NASB
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Words of Encouragement…
It amazes me that when you look at all the other religions and “non-religions” around the world you find that the god that is being pursued, or the end that is desired, is so far from human reach. It is never possible to know if you will “make it”.

However, for true Christianity we are reminded that since we are inadequate and incapable to reach God on our own, God came to us through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a life as a man, like all of us. He was tempted, but never gave in to the temptation. He suffered, but always remained true to His Father. He laughed and cried and played with children. He knows what it is to be human…up close and personal. And because of Him and His sacrifice we who believe in Him have a means by which we can reach God. Now that is encouraging!

Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Words of Encouragement…
How much does God love His children? He loves us so much that it is not possible to define it in our meager, finite human terms. If I am loved that much, then how can I not show love to those whom God has placed in my life?

Romans 12:9 NLT
Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.

Personal Challenge…
I love how the NLT presents this verse. It is so easy for me to act, or pretend, like I am loving others. But, God can see through that facade. If I am to be living out my relationship with Christ, my sonship through Christ, then my love for others must be real, it must be sacrificial, it must be for their good…even if it means giving up my desires to be right. This is how God wants me to shine His light in this dark and gloomy world.

Luke 11:17 NASB
He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A divided home is also doomed.

Personal Challenge…
I have always seen this verse used to defend Christ as the Son of God and the miracles that He performed. But couldn’t it also be a warning to us in the church? A warning to stop being a divided church, arguing with each other over who has the “true” expression of the gospel and the “true” right to call themselves Christians.