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Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For there is not a second one to help him up!
If two lie down together, both stay warm,
But how can one stay warm alone?
If one is added strength, two will stand before him,
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Personal Challenge

People were not created to live life alone. God saw that Adam was alone and gave him Eve to complete him. The early church fathers taught that we are saved in community. Jesus is our Savior, and it is through Him alone that the gates of heaven are opened up to us, but it is in our Christian community that we find the opportunity to grow in our salvation. This is where we find sanctification, or theosis. Glory be to God!

Ephesians 5:8-10

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Encouraging Words

We were once darkness! Let that sink in. At one time in our lives, those of us who are followers of Christ, were darkness. Paul does not say that we were in darkness but that we were darkness. However, because of our Lord, and the work that He has done, we are light in Him. We have the fruit of the spirit in all goodness, righteousness, and truth within us. Our task now is to walk as children of the light. Glory be to God!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to give birth
And a time to die;
A time to plant
And a time to pluck what is planted.
A time to kill
And a time to heal;
A time to pull down
And a time to build up.
A time to weep
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn
And a time to dance.
A time to throw stones
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace
And a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to seek
And a time to lose;
A time to keep
And a time to throw away.
A time to tear
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silent
And a time to speak.
A time to love
And a time to hate;
A time of war
And a time of peace.

He made everything beautiful in its time, and He indeed put eternity in their hearts in such a way that man may not find out the work God made from the beginning to the end.

Personal Challenge

Our life is not lived in a constant state. Things are always fluctuating. Many times, these fluctuations are because of external things, but usually they are results of our own decisions. How we respond to the things that happen in our lives talks more about the state of our hearts than any words that come out of our mouths. As followers of Christ, we must choose to respond to the times in our lives in ways that glorify and honor Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Personal Challenge

We are told here to be imitators of God. How do we do that if we are not close to Him? How do we do this if we do not know Him intimately? We must be consistently following in His footsteps if we are to ever pick up His characteristics and teachings. Once again, being a Christian, a follower of Christ, is not a onetime event, or a passive following. We must constantly be moving forward in our relationship with Him, or we are moving backwards. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love, have mercy!

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Personal Challenge

The events in our recent history related to the politics of our nation become quite convicting as we read these two verses. We cannot claim to be followers of Jesus Christ in one breath and continue to spew bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice in the next breath. We are commanded by our Lord to love our neighbor which includes the homeless, the widow, the immigrant, and every other person that exists. We are told to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, and forgiving. If we are not doing this to the best of our ability. then we are not following Christ. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron,
And a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Personal Challenge

Iron is a dull, lifeless metal. If, however, you hone it and sharpen it against another piece of iron, it will begin to shine and take on a life that will cut through many other things. This is an image of us. We are dull and covered with our sinful nature and acts. When we are honed by another who cares for us and challenges us, the dullness of our sins falls away and we become a sharp tool in the hand of our Lord. Glory be to God!

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Personal Challenge

There are a lot of us that proclaim to be followers of Christ who will have a shocking revelation on our day of judgment. And yes, I include myself in this group… regretfully. Paul entreats us to not let corrupt words proceed out of our mouths (or off our fingertips in this day of social media). We are to only put out words that are good for edification of another, importing grace to those who hear (see) our words. Are we falling prey to the culture of rudeness, demeaning others, and supporting lies and falsehoods? If so, we need to remember that we will be held accountable for our actions. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 25:4

Beat drossy silver,
And it will be made entirely clean.

Personal Challenge

Silver can be a beautiful metal to use to make jewelry…if it is done correctly. At the beginning of the process the silver will be covered with dross. Isn’t this like all of us? At the beginning of our walk with Christ, we are covered with our sinfulness. To eliminate the dross, it is pounded and beaten until the dross is brought to the surface and then eliminated. Again, isn’t this what the Christian life is like. We are presented with challenges and difficulties that God uses to form and shape us into the image of Jesus. Glory be to God!