Genesis 3:7

Then the eyes of the two were opened, and they knew they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Personal Challenge

After Adam and Eve committed the first sin of humankind, their eyes were opened and they saw what they had done and how bare they stood before God. If we are not careful, we too can become blinded to the sins that follow temptation. The farther we are from God in our journeys through life, the more we are blinded toward the sin in our lives and the consequences of our behaviors. We do have a choice. We can say “No!” to sin. But we need God in our lives to help us do this. We need Him to forgive us when we do sin. We need Him to open our eyes while we are being tempted so that we can see sin for what it is and flee from it. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Genesis 1:5

God called the light Day; the darkness He called Night; and there was evening and morning, one day.

Encouraging Words

No matter how chaotic our lives may get from time to time, we can be encouraged that we serve a God that puts everything in proper order. He is organized and not disheveled. He has everything that we know of as creation in His hand and moving along like clockwork. We can rest in that truth just as we can rest in the night that He created to end each day. Glory be to God!

James 4:11-12

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Personal challenge

It is so hard to live in this Jerry Seinfeld world where it is expected to be putting everyone down and try to live a Christian life of love. What comes out of our mouth, whether encouraging or demeaning, has an impact on those whom we speak to. We are told here by James that we should not judge or criticize others because it is only God’s job to do that. There is a fine line between correcting someone who is in error and being judgmental. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Ephesians 2:19-22

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Personal Challenge

Being a Christian is not being a lone ranger. We have been saved into a body of believers that goes back to the beginning of the church founded by the Apostles and Fathers of the church. There is no such thing as an isolated Christian. We need each other to grow, to love, and be loved. Even Jesus surrounded Himself with the twelve Apostles. We have become complacent in our society and culture to stand alone and apart from each other and have brought that mindset into the church. However, the true Church of our Lord is an entity of its own, the Bride of Christ, and will not let this individualistic mindset invade the church. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

2 Corinthians 4:6

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Encouraging Words

God is light, pure uncreated light. There is no darkness within Him. It is He who spoke into the dark void and said, “Let there be light.” He did that again when Jesus entered into humanity as a little child and the incarnation of God as a human being. And He wants to do that again with each and every one of us who claim Him as our Lord and savior. He sends us out as light in the dark world to be His light for the lost. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Romans 6:17-18

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Personal challenge

Let’s face it, freedom is an allusion. Now before you put up your fists to take me on, hear me out. From a human point of view, we are all slaves to our desires, our passions, and ultimately our sins. How else has the saying, “The devil made me do it.” become so popular. We may be “free” to do whatever we want, but we still have to pay the price or receive the consequences, for our choices. Paul is reminding the Romans, and us, that when we choose to obey Christ, his teachings, and His doctrines, then we become slaves to Him, but we receive freedom from our sins. This is truly a choice worth making. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Corinthians 1:22-24

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Personal Challenge

For Paul, and the Corinthians, the entire world was divided into two types of people, the Jews and the Greeks (Gentiles). The Jews were those who lived under the Old Testament covenant with God. They had the law of God. They were blessed as God’s chosen people, set apart from the rest of the world and the only ones that would receive God’s mercy and grace. The Greeks were everyone else. They were the pagans, the unbelievers, the unclean. Paul makes it very clear that Jesus is no respecter of groups that we are put into. He came for everyone. The Jews, like so many today, claim that they are the only ones with true connection to God, and they kept demanding a sign. Show us that you are God. The Greeks in this scripture pursued wisdom as their God. For both of them, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news, was either a stumbling block or foolishness. Our modern versions of Christianity have created so many fake religions under the name of Christianity. We have got to stop creating and practicing these fake religions in our churches and embrace Jesus. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Romans 16:17-18

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Personal Challenge

This passage is so relevant to our world today. It has become so divisive and self-centered, even within the church. Paul tells to avoid those who cause division and offenses that are contrary to the teachings of Christ and ultimately the church. It can be difficult sometimes to recognize who these people are because they can be very crafty in their approaches, but the closer we are to God the more obvious they become. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!