2 Timothy 4:1-4

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Personal Challenge…

In many of the Christian research circles today the term “consumerism” has been applied to those people that attend their church to be entertained, served, delivered what they want to hear the way that they want to hear it. They are consumers. Who would have known that Paul was exhorting Timothy to be prepared for this 2,000 years ago. One of the things that I have come to appreciate in the Orthodox Church is that our liturgy is the same one that has been delivered for nearly 1,600 years. It is not up to me to want something that tickles my itching ears or makes me feel good all over, but it is up to me to step into the traditions of my Church and meet God there. That is where true worship is found. This passage reminds us, actually commands us, very boldly to stand firm in the truth of the Church and to be ready to share it at any time.

Psalm 73:24 (72:24 LXX)

Psalm 143:1 (142:1 LXX)

Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.‘”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.‘”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.‘”

Encouraging Words…

Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully man…just like you and me. He was a man when the Spirit took Him out int the wilderness. He was a man as He fasted for 40 days. He felt the pangs of hunger and was truly tempted in His flesh by the greatest tempter of all. However, He denied the temptations, He exercised His free will to withstand the tempter, He used His training in the scriptures to defend His stand. And in doing this He gave us all the example to follow. We too are being lead by the Holy Spirit so we can rely on Him to help us be strong in times of temptation. We too have the power and authority to tell the tempter to go away. We too have the opportunity to practice fasting so that we can develop the power we need over our flesh and free will. Glory be to God.

2 Corinthians 4:7-10

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard- pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Encouraging Words…

With the grace of God being poured into us we have the poer of Christ in our physical lives where we are dying regularly to the flesh and being made alive in the Spirit. It is because of this living grace that we can press on through the things that the world throws at us.

James 4:6-7

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

   “God resists the proud,
     But gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Encouraging Words…

All true grace comes from God, however, we need to submit ourselves to Him, humble ourselves before Him, so that His grace will flow more freely into our lives. Once we do this not only will we receive His grace but also we will be able to resist the enemy better.

James 3:14-16

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self- seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Personal Challenge…

Once again I am reminded that I must constantly be checking the state of my heart. I must purge all bitter envy and self-seeking thoughts, attitudes, and desires or my actions will be skewed in an ungodly way.

Psalm 61:8 (60:9 LXX)

So I will sing praise to Your name unto ages of ages,
That I may pay my vows day to day.

Personal Challenge…

It is good to have a reminder once in a while from the psalmist to remember to sing praises unto our God for all that He does in my life.

James 2:26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Personal Challenge…

God is the source of our salvation, not our faith or our works. But just putting our faith in God is not enough, that faith must be followed by works for Him.

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Personal Challenge…

I was purchased for a very expensive price…God in the form of man being sacrificed to redeem me form the grip of hell. God’s grace, pored out through His Son Jesus Christ brings me my salvation. What should my response to this be? To live my life in such a way that I deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present, physical life, and look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ. He has redeemed me and purified me for Himself as one of His special people and I should be zealous to do good works for Him and through Him.