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Deuteronomy 10:12-13

So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and His ordinances I command you today for your good?

Personal Challenge

This is not something that changed between the old covenant and the new covenant. God still wants us to love Him with all our heart and soul. All the other expressions of our love for Him, fearing Him, walking in His ways, serving him, keeping His commandments, all flow from that love. The important thing for us to remember here is that He is not asking us to do anything that He is not doing for us as well. He loves us so much that He gave us His only Son. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!Lord, have mercy!

Matthew 18:1-6

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Personal Challenge

Jesus makes it very clear in this passage, and others, that there is a state of mind and spirit that His followers must approach Him in. He never encourages “churchiness”, how many books we have read about Him or others, or times we go to the monastery or “spiritual” retreats, or even how often we go to liturgy, mass, or services. What we admonishes us all to do, or be, is like little children. Little children are accepting…100%. They are humble. They are loving and caring to those around them. If we are to be truly following our Lord Jesus Christ, then we must become like a child in His presence and to lovingly receive and accept those who also become like a child before their God. Glory be to God!

Deuteronomy 8:18

Then you shall remember the Lord your God, for He it is who gives you strength, that you may gain power, and He may establish His covenant the Lord swore to your fathers, as it is today.

Encouraging Words

Our strength comes from the Lord our God. We do not get our strength from anything in this world. Not our job. Not our wealth or position. Not our political leaders. Not our own selves. We are truly nothing without our God. That very same God who chose to become one of us and live in this fallen world, experiencing the same challenges and sorrows that we do, dealing with the same temptations that we do, and yet showing us the pathway to living a sinless life before a holy God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Matthew 16:24-28

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Personal Challenge

Living a life following Jesus Christ is not an easy life. It is a life filled with difficult decisions that will set us contrary to those around us who still follow the ways of the world. Sometimes this way of life will even set us on a contrary path to those who we worship beside. Jesus made it clear during His last days that if His disciples, His true followers, wanted to be with Him, they needed to do three things. First, is to deny ourselves. We are to be willing to die to ourselves and what we want in this world in order to begin the journey to righteousness. Second, we take up the cross that He has fashioned for us. Each of our crosses will be tailored for us individually by our Lord and we must take them up in the place of our denied self. Third, we are to follow Him. We strive to walk in in His footsteps. We love those whom He loved. We reject that which He rejected. We do what He asks us to do and go where He leads us, even when it makes no sense. By doing this we become little-Christs, growing in His image, and building His kingdom for Him. Glory be to God!

Deuteronomy 8:2-5

Now you shall remember the whole way the Lord your God led you in the desert, to deal harshly with you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He dealt harshly with you and weakened you with hunger, and fed you with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God man shall live. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your feet become callused these forty years. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

Encouraging Words

I have often heard people comment that they cannot believe in a God that allows suffering. Believe me, our God grieves at the suffering that we bestow upon one another. We still live in a fallen world. God loves us so much that He sent His son, His only begotten son, into this world so that He could become one of us and suffer in the midst of our sinfulness. He lived a sinless life and gave His life as a sacrifice for us and to cleanse our sins. He will come again to restore creation to its original state before the fall. So, why is He waiting? So that more may know Him and be redeemed. Why must those of us who love Him have to suffer in our lives? So that we might grow in His image and gain theosis in our lives. God loves us more than we will ever understand. Glory be to God!

Matthew 15:7-9

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

Personal challenge

The challenge in the body of God that Jesus had to deal with in His time here on earth was not what was going on in the world but what was happening within the ranks of God’s chosen people, the church of the old covenant. Legalism had become the norm. Rules and traditions were established by the leaders and they elevated them to being above God. Clericalism was well established and the common participant, the lay person, was delegated to the role of just being an observer. People were falling away and the leaders, the priests, did not care, as long as they could attract new ones that wanted legalism, clericalism, and just clear steps to follow. God was pushed out just as those who loved Him and His ways. This is happening again today in many of our churches, parishes, and Christian faith practices. Even Jesus is becoming pushed into the role of being an observer. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Matthew 14:27

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

Encouraging Words

The world that we live in can be a scary place at times. It seems to be getting worse all the time. In the midst of all this, we have our Lord and Savior coming to us and telling us to be of good cheer. He is here amongst us. He is present in our lives, often more present than we are. We have nothing to fear for He casts out all doubt and fear. Glory be to God!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

These are the ordinances and the judgments the Lord commanded the children of Israel in the desert, when they came from the land of Egypt: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, from your whole soul, and from your whole power. So these words I command you today shall be in your heart and in your soul. You shall teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and it shall be immovable before your eyes; and you shall write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

Personal Challenge

In the days of old, writing things down was a significant event. Today, in the information age, we take the written text for granted. The people of Israel were now freed from the slavery of Egypt. They have finished their time wandering in the desert. They are now ready to enter the promised land. What are their instructions? To know and understand that their God is one Lord, the only One. To love Him with their entire being, heart, soul, and power. And to record this in every means possible so that every time they open their eyes, everywhere that they look, they see these truths written down as reminders. How much do we do this today? Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!