Sirach 2:1-6

My son, if you draw near to serve the Lord,

Colossians 1:9-12

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Personal Challenge

Paul shares with us here in Colossians how much he cares for the church that he has planted. His prayer is one that continues over us, the Church, even today, and is one that we can pray as well. He asks that we be filled with knowledge of God’s will in wisdom and spiritual understanding. He desires that we walk worthy of our Lord, fully pleasing Him and to be fruitful in every good work as well as increasing in our knowledge of God. He petitions that we are strengthened with all might, according to God’s glorious power, that we have patience and longsuffering with joy and continually give thanks to our Father. Glory be to God!

Sirach 1:20-21

A patient man will hold fast until the proper time,
Then afterwards gladness shall burst forth for him.
He shall conceal his words until the proper time,
And the lips of many will tell of his understanding.

Personal Challenge

We live in such a fast paced, instant gratification world that we have forgotten of the benefits of being patient. Part of be patient is holding fast on to our expectations, desires, and promises given to us. It is not patience if we are not waiting for something. One of the rewards of this patience is the gladness that bursts forth within us when what we have been waiting for comes into fruition. Another part of being patient is holding onto or concealing our words until the proper time. The result of doing this is that the lips of others will tell of our understanding. Glory be to God!

Philippians 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Personal Challenge

We, our nation, as a people proclaiming to be a Christian nation, have followed in the footsteps of so many nations and people groups that have come before us. We have put our trust in princes, kings, presidents, and sons of men to “save” us. Our Lord has made it clear that there is only one that we should put our trust in. The Lord God Almighty. This verse reminds us about that only God will supply our needs, and only then through Christ Jesus, not some elevated and worshipped man or group Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy? Lord, have mercy!

Sirach 1:16

The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,
Making peace and soundness of health to flourish.

Personal Challenge

It is so easy to proclaim that you are a Christian. This is the same with all professions of how we label ourselves. The truth is that labels mean absolutely nothing to God. Do we have a true fear of God. Not a cowering, He will punish me kind of fear, which is a clear demonstration of not knowing Him, but a deep trust, or faith, a committed conviction to follow in the footsteps of our Rabbi and to do as He does and speaks. If we truly desire a crown of wisdom in the godly things that lead to peace and soundness of health, then we must do as Jesus would have us to do. What are these things. To love God and to love our neighbor. To do as Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Living a Christian life is a life focused on Him and not the ways of this world. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Personal Challenge

This life on this earth is temporary. It is also filled with many things that can beat us down, if we let them. As followers of Christ, we know that we can count on Him to meet our every need. He can give us peace and contentment to carry us through every event. He strengthens us to fight the good fight. Glory be to God!

Sirach 1:10-11

The fear of the Lord will cheer the heart
And will give gladness, joy, and long life.
For those who fear the Lord, it shall be well to the utmost,
And on the day of his death, he will be blessed.

Personal Challenge

There is no person, organization, or thing in this earth that we need to fear. If we put our trust, our faith, a godly fear and respect in our Lord, then He will cheer our heart, give us gladness, joy, and long life, and our lives will be blessed. However, this also means that we will strive to do His will and live His ways, which may cause earthly hardships for us, for we are no longer of this world, but in it as his ambassadors. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner!

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Personal Challenge

So often in our lives, things do not go the way that we would like them to. Sometimes, it even looks like things do not go the way that God wants them to. We must remember that we still live in a fallen world and a world where free will can still take us in directions away from God. Paul reminds that if we want the peace of God in our lives then we must think on the good things of God. Glory be to God!