Sirach 18:18-20

Before you speak, learn,
And before you get sick, take care of your health.
Before you make a judgment, examine yourself closely,
And in the hour of visitation you will find atonement.
Before you become sick, humble yourself;
And at the time of sinning, prove your conversion.

Personal Challenge

There are many insights in the Old Testament that offer sound advice for a quality life. Whether one accepts Christian principles or not, there is still wisdom in these teachings. Sirach provides some here. Learn the truth and the facts before you speak (or post). Take care of yourself and be humble in your actions and you can help push off being sick. Examine yourself closely before you judge another. When you know that you have done something to harm another, prove your sorrow and repentance by atoning to them. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Personal Challenge

As a follower of Christ, I am exhorted to pray for all, all men, all women, all leaders, everyone. I am to do this in order to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. Praying for another does not mean that I submit to abuse or other in appropriate behavior. As my Orthodox Christian faith practice teaches me, I am not only to pray for those whom I like or who like me, but for my enemy and those who persecute me. However, it is okay to do what is necessary to change that which is around me that is wrong, abusive, corrupt, or ungodly. Even Jesus turned over the money-changer tables in the temple. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner and show me how to love my neighbor and to righteously stand up for that which is right and true!

Sirach 18:4-6

Who will measure His majestic power with a number,
And who will add to this measure
While describing His mercies?
There is no one who can add or subtract,
And there is no one who can search out the wonders of the Lord.
When a man completes his search, then he starts over;
And when he stops, he will still be perplexed.

Encouraging Words

Right in the middle of these three verses extolling the majesty of God, Sirach throws in the most majestic and immeasurable aspect of God, His mercies. His mercies are immeasurable. His mercies can neither be added to or taken from. No one can ever find the depth, width, or height of these mercies. We are truly perplexed when trying to understand the majesty of God’s mercy. Glory be to God!

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

Personal Challenge

The commandments that Jesus gave us to love God and love our neighbor is not some flippant expectation to just placate those around us. As followers of Christ, we are commanded to love others from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. If we only love those who think like we do, aet like we do, worship like we do, then we are Christian in name only. Who is the neighbor that we are to love? Everyone, no matter what they look like, talk like, behave like…EVERYONE! This level of love is only possible if it is sourced in the God of love! Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner and forgive me for those times that I have not loved another as you have.

Sirach 17:24-25

How great the mercy of the Lord is,
And His atonement for those who turn to Him.
For all things are not possible for man,
Because a son of man is not immortal.

Encouraging Words

Our Lord’s mercy is so great. He is merciful to His creation. His grace is all encompassing. For those who turn to Him, He blesses with His atonement. Only He can provide everlasting life to His children for only He is immortal. Glory be to God!

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Encouraging Words

Prayer is a powerful tool for God’s children. He does listen to our prayers. In this letter, Paul prayers for the followers of Christ and issues this reminder that God is faithful. God establishes us in our relationship with Him: He guards us from the evil one. Our responsibility is to continually rest in Him and stay close to Him. He will do the rest. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Sirach 17:5-8

He gave mankind the ability to deliberate,
And a tongue, eyes and ears, and a heart to think with.
He filled them with the skill of comprehension
And showed them good and evil.
He set His eye upon their hearts
To show them the majesty of His works.
They will praise His holy name
So as to fully describe the majesty of His works.

Encouraging Words

God created us all in His image. Not the image of God that so many people have come up with, but in his true image. As part of that image, we have certain characteristics that set us apart from the rest of creation. We have the ability to deliberate. We have a tongue to speak lovingly with, eyes to see our world and to determine where we can be a blessing to someone else, ears to hear the needs and desires of others, and a heart to process all this through these actions so that it can lead us to love, compassion, and grace. We are blessed with the skill of comprehension. We have been given the ability to know the difference between good and evil. He placed within us the ability to see His majesty and desire to know Him and to praise and glorify His name. It is up to us to embrace all of this and use it for Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Personal Challenge