Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Encouraging Words…

If we proclaim Jesus as our Lord, and God as our Father, and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, and live our lives this way, then we are no longer residents of this world. We have become strangers and pilgrims in this land with those who have gone before us on a journey to that promised land, to that city that He has prepared for us. We too are sojourners and we too can partake in His promise to be with us on our journey. But just as for those who have gone before us we must be careful to not look back so that we might be drawn back to the land that we have left behind. We must always keep our eyes and hearts set on Him and His kingdom.

Psalm 27:8 (26:8 LXX)

My heart speaks to You; my face seeks You;
Your face, O Lord, I will seek.

Personal Challenge…

Is this really my way of life? Do I seek my Lord above all else? Do I speak out to Him at all times? Regretfully I do not. My time with Him is so random and sparse…and this is my own doing, my own choice. No wonder I stumble and fall and commit sin. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner and help me to breathe this prayer with every breath I take.

Exodus 19:5-6

“‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be a special people to Me above all nations; for all the earth is Mine. You shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation.’ These are the words you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Encouraging Words…

God made His covenant with Abraham because of his faith and the special people referred to are not his physical offspring, but his spiritual ones. The nation of Israel, the physical offspring, lost their love for God and their faith in Him and through Christ God fulfilled this covenant and initiated a new one that made His church, comprised of Jews and Gentiles, the new special people. Now it is up to us to keep the covenant of faith given to us.

John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Encouraging Words…

Once again we are reminded, this time by Jesus Himself, that the life of a Christian is not a passive, sedentary life. We are told to follow Him and walk in His footsteps. We are never told to take it easy and rest comfortably in our salvation. Because of the work of Christ we will desire to be His workers and to be active for Him. His promise to us is that if we do this He will light our way.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Encouraging Words…

I have often heard it said, “Hindsight is 20/20 vision.” There has been many times in my life that I have been able to look back and see how God has turned situations, both good and bad, into wonderfully miraculous events. He has always worked together those things involved in ways that I would have never imagined. And through these events He has honed by vision and taught my heart to watch as His hand guides and blesses my life. Sometimes He even gives us the opportunity to see His hand at work going before us. I may be entering into one of these times and am relishing the opportunity to watch how He unfolds His handiwork. My part is to be humble and submissive to Him and to follow His will…and at the end of this season, give all the glory to Him.

Exodus 8:11

But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, his heart was hardened; and he did not heed them, as the Lord said.

Personal Challenge…

How often do we call out to God when we are in the midst of our trials and tribulations, just to turn our backs on Him when He delivers us? It is often said that times of prosperity are the times when people walk farthest away from God. We begin to look upon ourselves as being in charge of our lives and everything in them and then by our own free will decide that we don’t need God’s help anymore. Are we any different than Pharaoh was? Is it no wonder that through history the church has grown the most in times of oppression? Why not, however, stay close to God in the good times as well as the bad? It is a choice that we can make, that we must make, every morning that we get up and every moment throughout the day. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Psalm 37:7 (36:7 LXX)

Submit to the Lord, and supplicate Him;
Do not be envious of him who prospers in his way,
Nor of him who transgresses the law.

Exodus 3:5

So He said, “Do not come any closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

Personal Challenge…

Oh how presumptuous a generation we have become that we believe we can stand in the presence of our living God with our heads held up high and our chests puffed out. Is this not the behavior of the pharisee that Jesus condemned when He pointed out the humility of the publican? Throughout the scriptures we see that when men came into the presence of God, both the Father and the Incarnate Son, their response was to fall on their face because they knew they were unworthy. Why do we act today as if we are on equal footing with the Lord our god and refuse to bow before Him, to humble ourselves before His awesomeness? I know that for me it is my pride. What would someone think if I bowed submissively before my Lord? I have a personal relationship with Him so He is my equal. Not! He is my Lord! My Savior! He is God! He is the creator of all! He holds eternity and all that is within it in the palm of His hand. I am but an ant before Him. I must bow before Him and submit my all to Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

2 Samuel 24:24 (2 Kingdoms 24:24 LXX)

Then the king said to Orna, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with something that costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Personal Challenge…

David teaches us a very valuable lesson here. Our commitment to our Lord, our sacrifice to Him, should never be cheap. God wants our first fruits not our leftovers. Whether it be singing in the choir at church, or teaching in Sunday School, or vacuuming the sanctuary floors, or changing diapers in the nursery, or whatever ministry we are involved in, we are to do it sacrificially, offering up our very best to our Lord. Whether it be in our homes, or at work, or while shopping, or even driving, we are to do everything sacrificially for our Lord so that those around us will be pointed to Him. We as a community of believers cannot allow ourselves to be lazy, or cheap, or nonchalant about the work that He has called us to do. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.