Wisdom of Sirach 18:18-20 LXX

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…

Once again we are reminded that the life of a Christian is an active life. A life pursuing truth and righteousness. A life of sacrifice and putting oneself second to others. A life of humility and repentance. We are not to sit on our event of salvation but to work out our salvation every moment of our lives and all for Gods glory. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

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 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…

We cannot contain the magnitude and glory of God. We cannot create a doctrine or a dogma that captures Him and defines who He is or what He does. He is greater than all of the collected writings and teachings of religious scholars. And yet He is our Lord and we are His children!

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 each and everyone of us in His image. In doing that He gave us the ability to think and process a situation so that we could ultimately choose between right and wrong. And He did not stop there, He placed within our hearts His eyes, the ability to see His majestic works. What are we to do with all of this? Praise His holy name! Choose to do good and not evil! Magnify His majesty! Glory be to God!

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…

No matter how we look at life, or how much technology we create, or wealth that we amass, we are still mortal and finite. God, however, is immortal and full of mercy and atonement. All things are possible for Him. Glory be to God!

Wisdom of Sirach 14:20-22 LXX

Blessed is the man who practices wisdom
And discourses with insight.
Whoever ponders the ways of wisdom in his heart
Will also reflect on her secrets.
Pursue wisdom like a tracker
And lie in wait on her paths.

Encouraging Words…

Wisdom, true godly wisdom, is attainable. It does not just come from being learned, but also requires that we practice it, ponder on it, reflect on it, and pursue it. It makes so much sense that the early church fathers saw the wisdom of the old testament as christological text, for wisdom, divine wisdom, is embodied in Christ. I love the metaphor of pursuing wisdom like a tracker. Having done this, it requires patience, focus, stealth, discernment, and determination. Isn’t tis what we should be doing to become like Christ…pursuing Him like a tracker pursuing his prey.

Remember that death does not delay,
And the covenant of Hades has not been shown to you.
Before you die, do good to a friend,
And reach out and give to him based on your ability.
Do not let a day go by without doing something good,
And do not let any of your desire for doing good escape you.

Personal Challenge…

Sometimes I think that the hardest part of being a follower of Christ is recognizing that I am the biggest impediment that I have in the journey. I must constantly remind myself that everything does not revolve around me. Actually, nothing really revolves around me. This is why Christ admonishes us to die to self if we are to live for Him. Part of this process is doing good to others, not just when it is convenient, but all the time, every day. When I am focused on doing good to others I am looking at them and not at myself. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Wisdom of Sirach 11:7-8 LXX

Do not find fault before you examine a situation.
First, understand it, and then make your judgment.
Do not answer before you have listened,
And do not interrupt someone while he is talking.

Personal Challenge…

If I am learning anything on my journey toward theosis it is that I spend far too much time inserting “me” into a situation or conversation. This verse strikes home so very closely because I often do what is warned against here…finding fault too quickly, making a judgment without fully understanding the situation, answering before I listen, and interrupting while someone is talking. If you are reading this then I am sure that I have done one or more of these to you…please forgive me! Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Wisdom of Sirach 7:20-21 LXX

Do not mistreat a servant who does his work in truth
Nor a hired worker who devotes himself to you.
Let your soul love an intelligent servant;
Do not deprive him of his freedom.

Personal Challenge…

As employers, or managers of people for our employers, we have an obligation to take care of our employees and those who report to us. Sometimes it seems like our places of work have become places of indentured servitude. If we profess to be followers of Christ then we must cherish those who work for us and those whom we work with as brothers and sisters created in the image of God. What a different environment our workplaces would be if we all lived out our professed Christian believes in the way that they were meant to be lived. Lord, may this begin with me.

Wisdom of Sirach 7:1-3 LXX

Do no evil things,
And evil will never overtake you.
Stay away from wrongdoing,
And it will turn away from you.
My son, do not sow on the furrows of wrongdoing,
And you will not reap the same things sevenfold.

Personal Challenge…

God created me with free will, the ability to choose between good and evil, sin and righteousness. I cannot blame my sin on anything other than my choice, even though I live in a fallen and broken world. Through God’s grace He has not only provided a way to have my sins forgiven (Jesus), but He has also provided a Helper to me so that I can choose not to sin any more (Holy Spirit). But once again, I must choose to submit to His guidance and be obedient. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Wisdom of Sirach 6:18-19 LXX

My son, from your youth up, choose instruction,
And you will find wisdom also into old age.
Come to her as one who plows and sows,
And wait expectantly for her good fruits;
For in her work you will labor a little while,
Then you will quickly eat of her fruit.

Encouraging Words…

I am so thankful that I grew up in a farming culture and as a youth had to work in the family garden as well as summer jobs in the orchards. I hated it when I was young, but as an adult I can look back and see the lessons that it taught me. One is that you must work hard preparing the soil, planting the seeds, pulling the weeds, watering and nurturing the crops in order to receive the fruit of your labor. And that fruit is so much sweeter than something bought at a store or given to you by someone else. It is the same with the pursuit of Wisdom (that which is embodied in Christ). Anything gained easily and without sacrifice quickly looses its flavor, but that which you work for, pursue, and even fight for is so much more valuable. Glory be to God!