Luke 18:15-17

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Encouraging Words…

I don’t want to ever grow up. Why? As we become adults we begin to embrace intellectualism and yield to the pressures around us to be rational and logical. It is in these very acts that we become cynical and hard to those things around us that can often be viewed as mysteries. Theophylact of Bulgaria said of this passage:

“A little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone, he is innocent and guileless. He does not inflate himself in the presence of important people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows. Instead, he lives in complete simplicity.”

Is it any wonder that Jesus want us to approach Him and receive His kingdom like a little child? Glory be to God!

Susanna 22-23

Then Susanna sighed deeply and said, “I am hemmed in on all sides, for if I do this thing, it is death for me; yet if I do not, I will not escape your hands. But it is better for me not to do it and to fall into your hands, than to sin against the Lord.”

Personal Challenge…

This account of Susanna in the preamble to Daniel is so appropriate for what is going on in our world today. The news may not be covering it very much, but in the Middle East we are seeing many Christians being martyred for their faith and their unwillingness to reject their Lord. So many people are asking why they don’t just reject Christ and save their lives. Here Susanna is confronted with a false accusation from two upright men in her community who want to take advantage of her and she would rather stand firm in her purity, her commitment to her God and face a trial with two credible witnesses (because of their positions only) that will lie and surely condemn her to death rather than sin against God. Am I willing to look into the barrel of a gun and refuse to deny my Christ knowing that it will be the last thing I do in my life? Am I willing to show my commitment to my Lord at work and in the community when it is not politically correct and suffer shame and humiliation for my God? I can only answer these questions, “I hope so!” Jesus died for me without asking anything from me. Am I willing to take up His cross and die for Him today, tomorrow, and every day after that? Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Luke 17:20-21

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Personal Challenge…

Why are we, the children of God, always so preoccupied on His kingdom being established in some future age? It is because by looking at it this way we can justify the ways that we live our lives today. Lives filled with debauchery and abuse of those around us whom we should be witnessing to and bringing into the kingdom of God. Jesus tells us that with His incarnation the kingdom of God has been established, in our presence in the body of Christ, and within the hearts of each and every one of His children. Since this is so, then we should be living our lives today as residents in God’s kingdom…glorifying Him, casting off the sins and skins of this world, and putting on righteousness and purity. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Personal Challenge…

Here is an example of how we can grow in our image of Christ. As God Himself, Christ gave up all the richness and glory of heaven to become one of us so that we might be restored to our relationship with God and once again partake in His riches. Is this not what we are also called to do, especially during the season of Great Lent…to give up of our riches here on earth so that we might be able to give to those around us? It is not just about the stuff of this earth that we are to give to those around us but the riches that God has poured out upon us so that others might experience His love and run to Him for their salvation. Glory be to God!

Psalm 91:1 (90:1 LXX)

He who dwells in the help of the Most High
Shall lodge in the shelter of the God of heaven.

Encouraging Words…

As members of the body of Christ, His Church, we are in constant battle with His spiritual enemies. The only way that we can survive this warfare is to dwell in the help of our Lord. We do this through prayer, worship, fellowship with others, practicing the traditions of the Church and spending time in His teachings. Through these activities, we lodge in His shelter and are protected and strengthened by Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Encouraging Words…

What a blessing it is to know that our salvation in Christ is not just “fire insurance”. He did not just save us from eternal separation from God, but He saved us to be His royal priesthood, His holy nation, His own special people so that we can proclaim Him, and His grace, mercy, and love, to those who are still in darkness. Glory be to God!

What a great reminder as we head into the season of Great Lent.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Personal Challenge…

I have been blessed to have been living a Christian life for over 50 years. Most of those years, I have been active in a church and I cannot remember how many times we had problems getting people to serve in the church and to help the body of Christ. After reading this passage again, I think I figured out one of the reasons for this. In the Western church, everyone is so worried about the teaching that we are not saved through our works that maybe we have given everyone permission, and sometimes even commands, to not do any works at all. Throughout the scriptures, we are told that we are to be active in our Christian lives. Look at all of the active verbs in these two verses. The scriptures clearly teach us to do works for our Lord, for our Church, and for our neighbor…not in order to be saved or looked upon better by our Lord, but because He has saved us. We are saved to do good works! Our salvation is worked out in our actions, not our passiveness. We are to go and make disciples. We are to love our neighbor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless. We are to bring Christ to the lost world. This is all about works, works of service and love for our Lord and in thanks for what He has done for us. Glory be to God!

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Personal Challenge…

What is one of the desires that all Christian faith practices hold on to? To live our lives where our hearts are blameless in holiness before God. How can we do this in our lives? By loving one another. We are called to love our God and to love our neighbor. It grieves me when I see my brothers in Christ condemning other brothers in Christ for their practices and traditions of faith. Especially when they do not take the time to truly understand these practices or traditions. One of these practices that are prevalent this time of year is Lent and we see the ramp up of rhetoric against it. Is this showing love? Is this leading to holiness? Love is an active, purposed action bestowed upon another, starting with understanding them. To God be the glory…not us!

Ezekiel 34:15-16

“I shall feed My sheep and refresh them; and they will know that I am the Lord,” thus says the Lord and Master. “I shall seek the lost, bring back the misled, bind up the broken, strengthen the fallen, protect the strong, and feed them with judgment.”

Encouraging Words…

This nugget of encouragement is sandwiched in the middle of some difficult and troubling texts. The shepherds (leaders) of Israel are being called out for how much they have misled and taken advantage of their flock, their followers. Ezekiel is prophesying that these leaders will not only be replaced by the ultimate Shepherd, Jesus Christ, but that these bad shepherds will have to pay the price for the lives that they have misled and abused. Couldn’t this text, these problems, also apply to today? We have so many people in leadership in our churches and ministries that have abandoned the truths of old, redefined God and His promises and commands to fit their agendas, and created their own empires based on the backs of their flocks…and doing it under the guise of Christianity. We must always remember that of whom much is given, much is expected. We as leaders, teachers, ministry leaders in God’s Church will be held accountable for how well we have led, nurtured, and protected His flock. We are stewards, not owners. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!