Wisdom of Solomon 6:1-3

Listen therefore, O kings, and understand;
Learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,
And take pride in yourself over a multitude of nations.
For power was given to you from the Lord,
And your lordship from the Most High,
Who will make a careful search of your works
And examine closely your plans.

Personal Challenge…

No matter what position of leadership we find ourselves in, we must always remember that we are there because God has put us there. Whether it be a management role at work, a leadership position in our church or community, a head of a household, or any other multitude of positions of authority, we are there by the grace of God and must exercise our role with humility, love for those subject to us, and submission to God. We have no power or authority of our own accord. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Psalm 119:2 (118:2 LXX)

Blessed are those who search out His testimonies;
They shall search for Him with their whole heart.

Command with a Promise…

We are told here to search out our Lord with all of our heart. We are not saved once and then able to to rest on our “fire insurance”. We are saved through an ongoing, continuing process of seeking our Lord, repenting of our sin, striving to walk in His ways, becoming like Him, and growing in righteousness. All of this is to be done with our whole heart. And the promise? He will bless us with His love and mercy. Glory be to God!

2 Corinthians 6:2

For He says:

“In an acceptable time I have heard you,And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Encouraging Words…

In His own time, and in His own way, God reaches into our lives and infuses His strength into us. In our human weakness God wields His strength to help us to renounce the world in order that we may master its influence on our lives. This will often alienate us from those who want to hold onto the world, which is all the more reason for us to show them the love of God. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Galatians 6:4-5

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.

Personal Challenge…

In an earlier verse (2) Paul tells us to bear one another’s burdens and here he tells us to “each one shall bear his own load.” Both statements are true. We are called to initiate caregiving in the church, and not to be needless burdens to others (notes from the Orthodox Study Bible, p. 1596). This also plays out in our time of fasting within the Orthodox faith. It is my responsibility to observe my own plate and my own convictions and not worry about whether or not my brother is doing what I am doing. To the contrary I should yield my convictions to meet his needs as a way of showing my love to him, We are called to do all that we do in love. Glory be to God!

Galatians 5:24-26

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Personal Challenge…

So! What question does this passage prompt in our lives? Are the passions and desires of the flesh crucified, or put to death, in our lives? If not, then am I truly Christ’s or just faking it? This does not mean that we don’t occasionally sin because of a passion or a desire, but it the passions or desires of the flesh and the world reign in our lives then we must question if we ever truly gave our lives over to Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Galatians 6:14

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Personal Challenge…

We are nothing without Christ. Our salvation is nothing without the cross. So all of the accomplishments that we achieve in the world, all the kudos, all the promotions are nothing compared to Christ and His work on the cross. This is why we boast in the cross, why we venerate it and kiss it, why we cross ourselves at the mention of the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Glory be to God!

Psalm 118:8-9 (117:8-9 LXX)

It is good to trust in the Lord
Rather than to trust in man;
It is good to hope in the Lord
Rather than to hope in rulers.

Personal Challenge…

As we wrap up another election cycle in our country is is good for us to remember that our trust and hope should not be put into man or rulers, but in God alone. It is our responsibility as God’s children to serve obediently under the rulers of our land for that honors God. It is also our responsibility to look to God to meet our needs and to serve Him with humility, love, and respect. Glory be to God!

Psalm 111:4 (110:4 LXX)
He made a remembrance of His wonders;
The Lord is merciful and compassionate;

Encouraging Words…

So why does our Lord do such wondrous things in both the lives of His children and in His creation? What is the purpose of miracles and works of wonder? They are all to point us to Him, to remind us of His great love, mercy, and compassions. They are to remind us that we need Him more than anything. Glory be to God!