Mark 8:34-35

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever 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 and the gospel’s will save it.

Personal Challenge

How is it that we are told that a Christian life is one of joy, peace, and love and yet we are commanded to take up the cross of Christ and live our lives as living sacrifices for Him? This is one of the great mysteries of God. If I fully give my life over to Christ then my life will become a life of servitude and submission to Him and to those whom I am called to love, which is everyone. This is the life in the physical, temporal realm that I live in this body. And yes, at times it will be tiring, it will be painful, it will be draining. However, this life is also being lived in the spiritual realm and it is here that God fills my life with joy in doing His work, with peace knowing that I am pleasing Him and drawing closer to Him, and love that He is pouring into me, abundant enough that it overflows through me to those around me that I am called to love. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Romans 2:1

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

Personal Challenge

If I judge another person for what they do, or say, or look like, or represent, or whatever, am I not putting myself in the place of God and then becoming self-righteous? Is this not just a grievous a sin as what I am judging? As a child of God, one of the commandments that I am to follow is to love my neighbor. Can I truly love them and judge them at the same time? No! Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

Encouraging Words

I have a hope! We, the members of the Church, have a hope! A hope that just as God rose Jesus from the dead, triumphant over death once and for all, He will raise those who die in Christ from the dead as well. This is not a hollow hope, for Christ has already gone before us in his resurrection. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 11:9 (11:10 LXX)

A man in need of discernment treats citizens with contempt,
But a man of discernment keeps quiet.

Personal Challenge

What a valuable life lesson to remember. My tongue can get me into trouble more often than anything else in my life. It is this kind of godly discernment that I desire from my Lord so that when I speak, and the words I speak, are His words and timing, not mine. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

1 John 2:7

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

Personal Challenge

What is this old commandment that John is referring to? It is the core of all of the laws of the Old Testament and the essence of the life of Christ…that we love as Christ loved us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, and teach me to love as You love!

2 Corinthians 3:1-3

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Encouraging Words

I was raised in a household, and an age in our society where I often heard truisms like: “Talk is cheap!” “Put your money where your mouth is!” “Actions speak louder than words!” Here Paul lashes out at those who are purporting to be better than him, more godly than him, because they have some letters, most likely forged, of commendation touting their authority. This phenomenon still continues today. We see all kinds of “personal” opinion on government, politics, Christianity, and every other aspect of life, often given because of some letter of commendation, whether it be a diploma or a list of books read and acting as if this proves that experience backs up this letter. Is there any wonder why the scriptures, and especially our Lord, tell us that we will be measured by the fruit of our labor and not our thoughts, words, and theories that come out of our mouths. Still, “Actions speak louder than words!” Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Encouraging Words

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, stands at the doors of our heart and life pursuing us. He desires to be invited into our lives so that we can have fellowship and communion with Him. He desires to be invited into our hearts so that we can be in an intimate relationship with Him. And every time we shut Him out so that we can things our own way, He remains there, knocking, and seeking readmittance. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Encouraging Words

What a blessing it is to be able to go through each day knowing that this is how it will all end up. Glory be to God!