‘Fear not, for I am with you. Do not go astray, for I am your God who strengthens you; and I will help and secure you with My righteous right hand.’
Encouraging Words
As followers of Christ we have promises that we can hold on to as we go through our journey of life. God has promised to be with us so that we have nothing to fear. He also promises to strengthen us as long as we do not stray away from Him. He will help and secure us as we strive to do His will and His work. Thanks be to God!
So the woman went and did it. Thus she and he and her children ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, and the jar of oil did not run dry, according to the word the Lord spoke by Elijah.
Personal Challenge
This is another one of those cases in the scriptures where a person is told to do something and they immediately do it, acting out of faith. In the text before these verses, we are told that the land is in the midst of a three year drought. Elijah is the prophet who let everyone know about this coming drought. After his provisions are used up, he is told by God to go find this woman and that she would feed him. He finds her as she is gathering wood to cook the last bit of food that she has for her and her children as she prepares for them all to die. Elijah asks her to cook the meal for him. She tells him her story and trusts him when he says that God will cause here last bit of food to last until the drought is over. She trusts this stranger and fixes her food for him. That took courage, that took faith that this man of God would take care of her. This is a story of trust, faith, and obedience. Glory be to God!
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Personal Challenge
It is so easy to throw the name of Jesus around as if it is just an everyday word. It is also easy to tell others that you know Jesus and live for Him. But our lives in Christ must go beyond words. Even the demons proclaim that Jesus is the Lord and tremble at that truth. However, without actions that follow those words, there is only death of the proclamation. Our belief is only a true belief when we do the works that Jesus calls us to, Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
He gives strength to the hungry, and sorrow to those who do not grieve. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the elect shall be without strength. But those who wait on God shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not hunger.
Personal Challenge
We live in a time where we are in the midst of various battles. Some are political, some are physical, and some are spiritual. Our personal challenge arises when the battles converge and become one, and the same, battle. We are there. Politically, our democracy, which was founded on putting people first, is under attack and in a great state of distress. Physically, our world is being impacted by mass climate change and the divisions amongst people that has been fostered by the political battle going on. Spiritually, we see anger, hatred, mistreatment of people, and many other anti-Christian activities in the name of Christian nationalism. As followers of Christ, we must strive to follow His leading, His teachings, and represent Him accordingly. We have a daunting task before us. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love have mercy!
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Personal Challenge
Atrophy is a terrible thing. What do I mean by that? Let’s start with the definition of atrophy from Websters.
decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue
arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant
a wasting away or progressive decline
If we, those who proclaim to be followers of Christ, are not doing His works, then they are in the state of atropy, or wasting away. No works that we do because of our faith and because of the work of Jesus, then no life. Now I know, there will be many who say that we are not saved by works. That is correct, but because we are saved by the work of Jesus, we do His works. What are those works? Let’s see what Jesus says…
Matthew 25:34-40
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”
Jesus is very clear, if we love Him, if we follow Him, we will do His works. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God abides forever.
Encouraging Words
Whether a person, or a society, believes in God or not it doesn’t matter. He still exists, always has, and always will. His word, the living Son, also exists, always has, and always will. It is up to us to decide whether or not we will submit to Him, His love for us, His mercy towards us, and His grace. Glory be to God!
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Personal Challenge
James makes it very clear that being a Christian is much more than just a proclamation that you are one. A true follower of Christ will be recognized by their actions and not their proclamations. It is also extremely critical to note what those actions are. The Scriptures never praise a person for the number of liturgies, masses, or services that they participate in. Nothing is praised when it comes to how many books one has read or even verses of the Bible have been memorized. We are measured by how we treat people, especially the destitute. Who are these destitute? Everyone around us is lacking in one way or another. We are to invest of ourselves into their need. We are also to be very focused on supporting the naked, the orphan, the widow, the foreigner amongst us, the poor, the hungry, and the list goes on. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
and those gathered by the Lord shall return and come to Zion with gladness, and with everlasting gladness over their head. For praise and exceeding joy will be on their head, and gladness shall possess them. Pain, sorrow, and sighing fled away.
Encouraging Words
Jesus came in order to establish the new “Zion” and open the way for all to make it there. This has nothing to do with any city, state, nation, or kingdom here on earth. It has nothing to do with any single people group. It is for all of mankind for all of time. It will be a kingdom of gladness and joy with no pain, sorrow, or sighing. Glory be to God!
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Personal Challenge
One of the things that has become very aparent in the recent events accross our country is the depth and breadth of partiality within the hearts and minds of so many people. It has played out in so many ways. Racisim. Anti-immigrants. Anti-“Woke” attitudes. Hatred between political parties. Animosity between different faith practices. For those who claim to be Christian, none of this is acceptable. We are called, actually commanded, to love our neighbor, no matter who they are. We cannot claim to be followers of Christ and show partiality. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Verse of the Day 