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Psalms 13:5-6 (12:6)

But I hope in Your mercy;
My heart shall greatly rejoice in Your salvation;
I will sing to the Lord, who shows kindness to me;
I will sing to the name of the Lord Most High.

Encouraging Words

When Adam and Eve rejected God’s warning to not eat of one tree in the garden, they introduced sin into the world. The consequences of that sin has been death for all creation and the propensity to sin. As followers of Christ, we put our hope in God and His great mercy. We rejoice in the truth that Jesus became human, lived a sinless life, was crucified a quiltless man, and resurrected from death in order to provide to us salvation from death. This why why we sing to Him in joy. Glory be to God!

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

The parable of the pharisee and the tax collector reminds us that we are all sinners and in need of God;\’s great gift of mercy. This is why those of us who practice the Orthodox way of Christianity so often pray the Jesus Prayer, which is: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!”. We need God’s mercy at all times in our lives. Glory be to God!

Psalms 11:7 (10:7)

The righteous Lord loves righteousness;
His face beholds the upright.

Encouraging Words

So, what is this righteousness that the Lord loves. The New American Oxford Dictionary defines it as: the quality of being morally right or justifiable. This is our goal as followers of Jesus Christ. We are to develop a quality in our lives that morally follows His teachings and His characteristics and to be justified in Him. This is God’s desire for us. Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Luke 17:20-21

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Personal Challenge

Throughout the history of mankind, we have been looking for the kingdom of God. It is wired within us to know that when we were expelled out of the Garden of Eden that we lost our connection to God’s precious kingdom. In this passage, Jesus rearranges our thoughts, and expectations, to teach us that this kingdom is here and now. His kingdom now dwells within us, His followers, and that we are to be bringing that kingdom to the lost around us. Glory be to God!

Psalms 10:17-18 (9:38-39)

The Lord hears the desire of the poor;
Your ear heeds the readiness of their heart,
To judge the orphan and the humble,
That man may no longer increase his great boasting upon the earth.

Encouraging Words

God knows that the world is still fallen. He grieves for it and yet He delays the return of His Son and that last day of judgment. Why? Because He desires that as many as possible have the opportunity to turn to Him. In His great love, He hears the desires of the poor and heeds them. We can be poor in so many more ways than a wealth and all need to have a readiness of heart that is humble before Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Luke 17:15-16

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

Personal Challenge

Do we take the time to thank God for all that He does in our lives? In the story before these verses, Jesus had just healed ten lepers and sent them on their way.  This Samaritan was the tenth one and the only one that came back to Jesus to thank Him for His healing of the leprosy. We often get so wrapped in doing the things of religiosity that we forget to take time out to show God our appreciation for who He is and what He has done for us. Let’s make this our prayer today… “Thank You, God!!” Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love, have mercy!

Psalms 10:14 (9:35)

But You do see, You do perceive the suffering and pain,
That You might deliver them into Your hands;
Therefore, the poor man will be left to You;
You give help to the orphan.

Encouraging Words

Our God is not some idol made by the hands of man. He is not some person who established a following and now lies decaying in a grave. He is, and always has been, alive and ever-present in our lives. He sees those who are in need and delivers His love to them through His followers. Are we heeding His call to be His hands and feet to those in need. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy