Isaiah 40:8 (40:7-8 LXX)

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God abides forever.

Encouraging Words…

We, the people of the generations that follow the incarnation of Christ, are blessed to have many of the teachings of Christ and the early church in written format. However, the Word of God that endures forever is far more than this published text. God has also dispersed His wisdom to us through the traditions of the church, through the teachings of His saints and early fathers, and through His Holy Spirit. The ultimate dispersion was in His Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. We must embrace Him and seek His truths as our way, truth, and life.

Hosea 6:6

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God
More than whole burnt offerings.

Encouraging Words…

If our God is a judgmental, angry, legalistic God then why does He remind us throughout His scriptures that He desires mercy and our broken and contrite hearts more than our sacrifices and offerings? He is love! He is mercy! He desires that we live our lives in love and mercy. These are what please Him and not what we do or say. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 29:23

Arrogance humbles a man,
But the Lord supports the humble-minded with glory.

Psalm 30:5 (29:6 LXX)

For there is wrath in His anger,
But life in His will;
Weeping will lodge at evening,
But great joy in the morning.

Encouraging Words…

The early church fathers viewed this Psalm as a prophecy of the resurrection of Christ. If we choose to reject God and His love for us then an eternity of separation from Him will feel like anger and wrath even when His will is for us to have life. In Christ’s death and burial there was great weeping for all seemed lost, but upon the breaking of morning, when He was no longer in the tomb there was great joy and celebration. Glory be to God!

1 Chronicles 10:10-12

“Give me wisdom and understanding, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

Numbers 14:18

‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth, taking away lawlessness, wrongdoings, and sins; but He would not cleanse the guilty by repaying the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’

Encouraging Words…

Moses reminds us here that even though God could uphold His covenant with the early fathers by holding them accountable for their sins, even to their future generations, He did not. Why? Because God is love, and in His love He chooses to be longsuffering and abundant in mercy toward us. He forgives us and is not the judgmental, legalistic God that so many make Him out to be. Glory be to God!

Luke 11:9-10

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Encouraging Words…

What if our prayers and petitions were to shift from asking God for things “out there” to those important things that we need “within” us? A new and clean heart. A broken and contrite spirit. A life of humility and repentance. If we were to focus our desire on these would we not be a better child of God and more able to be used by Him to bring about those things needed around us? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Personal Challenge…

Is it possible to live a holy and righteous life? Some would say “No”, because we are viewed as depraved and bad. But our Lord would not challenge us to be holy as He is holy of we could not do this. We cannot live this way on our own. We need the Holy Spirit working in our lives. We need the community of believers that our fellowship brings to us. We need the traditions of the church to keep us focused. But we also need to be proactive, girding up the loins of our minds so that we can take every thought captive and turn it over to God. We need to turn from this world toward God’s kingdom.

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron,
And a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Personal Challenge…

This is such a true statement. Those few times in my life that I have had this kind of friend have been rewarding and growth-filled. Why is it so difficult for us, especially us men, to develop deep relationships with others? Relationships where we can share the deep thoughts and secrets of our lives and know that we will will be sharpened by the other as a sword. Is it because we have become such individualist that we strive to live this life on our own? Is it because we are so focused on ourselves that we cannot find the wherewithal to invest in another’s life? Is it because we are so busy with the busy-ness of life that we cannot slow down and be in a relationship? David had Jonathan. Jesus had the twelve and especially the three that He was closest to. Even God Himself has the Trinity. Oh Lord, my God, I long for a Jonathan, or a Peter, or a John in my life so that I can be challenged to be more like you.

Psalm 46:1 (45:2 LXX)

God is our refuge and power;
A help in afflictions that severely befall us.