DON’T LOOK BACK

Isaiah 43:18

Do not remember the former things, nor reason about the things of old.

Personal Challenge

A trend that is growing stronger throughout our society is focusing on times from the past and trying to create the present to be that way again. It ia happening in the church as much as it is in secular society. In the Catholic Church there are the radical traditionalist (RadTrads) who want the church to back to the way it was in the 50’s. In the Orthodox Church it is the zealots that believe old style Orthodoxy is the only correct way to be. This would be women in long dresses and head coverings, no pews, etc. It is happening in protestant Churches as well. In society it is our current regime trying to roll back everything to the “Leave it to Beaver” era, which by the way only existed on TV. Isaiah was prophesying to his fellow country men and women to abandon the former things and to move forward with God’s new plans for them. Good advice, even today. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD

James 4:1-7

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Personal Challenge

As we see a rise in our country of Christian nationalism and pseudo-Christians, this passage from James articulates those things that followers of Christ must focus on keeping out of their lives. Read this passage multiple times and identify what needs to be addressed, repented of, and eliminated from your life, even if it appears to be really minor. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Saint of the Week
St. John of Kronstadt

CALLED BY NAME

Isaiah 43:1-2

And now, thus says the Lord God who made you, O Jacob, and who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I redeemed you. I called you by your name, for you are Mine. If you pass through water, I am with you; and the rivers shall not overflow you. If you pass through fire, you shall not be burned up, nor shall the flame consume you.

Encouraging Words

Life can be tough. We are not alone in our journey through this life. Whether we choose to be followers of Christ or not, God still calls us by our name to follow Him. He created us to be His. He has redeemed us. Even as we pass through the floods and fires of life, He is still there, calling our names and waiting for us to turn to Him. Glory be to God!

WISDOM FROM ABOVE

James 3:17-18

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Personal Challenge

We live in a time where so many people feel that they have all the knowledge and wisdom to rule the world. They pride themselves on their positions and/or wealth as if these things contribute to true wisdom. James highlights for us some of the characteristics of true, godly wisdom. To be this kind of wisdom, it is pure in its actions, peaciable in its intentions, gentle in its relationships, willing to yield to the needs of others, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality to those to whom it is imparted, and without hypocrisy. We must measure all earthly proclamations of wisdom against these measurements before accepting them as true and right. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

JUDGMENT IN TRUTH

Isaiah 42:1-4

“Jacob is My Servant; I will help Him. Israel is My chosen; My soul accepts Him. I put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard outside. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; but He will bring forth judgment in truth. He will shine forth and not be broken until He establishes judgment in the earth; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Encouraging Words

God has had a plan in place from the beginning of time in which He would redeem His people, His created children, from our ongoing choices to reject Him. He created us with free will and we turned away from Him. He entered into a covenant with Jacob and Israel to lead the world to Him and they reniged on their part of the covenant. He waited and sent His only begotten Son to become a human and draw us into a relationship with the Father. Jesus has brought the human race into a new relationship/covenant with the Father. Jesus did not cry out (accepting His death freely for us). He did not raise His voice (going quietly as a sheep to the slaughter). He has not broken the bruised reeds (lovingly caring for those who are downcast and in need of encouragement). He has not quenched the smoking flax (by not belittling or demeaning any of us). He established the judgment of the earth in truth and has become the hope of us all. Glory be to God!

DEMONIC WISDOM

James 3:14-16

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Personal Challenge

We have seen a rise in false Christianity across our land. This passage reminds us that if we see acts and mindsets that are full of bitter envy and self-seeking attitudes, then we are seeing characteristics of people that are earthly, sensual, and demonic. These people, even if they are proclaiming to be Christians and
wearing crosses, are actually far from Christ and effectively following the prince of the earth. What follows is confusion and many evil things. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

FEAR NOT

Isaiah 41:13

For I am your God who holds your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not.’

Encouraging Words

As followers of Christ, we put our hope in our God, trusting in His promises like this one. He promises to hold our hand and to be with us. Being in Him gives us the ability to fear not. Glory be to God.

DEAD OR ALIVE

James 2:26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Personal Challenge

A question that we should all be asking ourselves on a regular basis is whether our lives are filled with works that glorify our Lord and edify our neighbor, or not. If the answer is “Yes”, then we can proclaim that we are alive and followers of Christ. If the answer is “No” or “Maybe” or “I don’t know”, then we are dead in our faith and need to run to Jesus for life. Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy!

Saint of the Week
St. Poeman