Isaiah 55:10-11

For as rain comes down, or snow from heaven, and does not return until it saturates the earth, and it brings forth and produces, and gives seed to the sower and bread for food, so shall My word be, whatever proceeds from My mouth. It shall not return until it accomplishes whatever I willed, and I shall prosper your ways and My commandments.

Personal Challenge…

It is up to God what purpose His Word serves and when. Just as it is His decision as to what benefit the rain and snow will have upon His creation. It is up to me though, His follower, as to what I will do with His Word when He pours it out upon me. I can choose to use it for His glory, to build up His kingdom and those whom He has placed in my life or I can choose to use it for my own good, my own edification. Not only does God pour out His blessings upon me, but He also gives me the freedom to choose what I do with it. I must learn to choose wisely.

James 1:13

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Personal Challenge…

Throughout the scriptures and the traditions of the Church we are reminded that there is only One that has the right to judge mankind, and it is not us. My role as a follower of Christ is to show mercy and reserve any passing of judgement to Him.

James 1:19-20

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Personal Challenge…

Hmmmm…in a recent heated exchange with someone dear to me I explained away my behavior as being passionate and therefore tried to justify my method of response. When is one person’s passion interpreted by another as wrath? This verse is a timely reminder, actually a command, for me to behave differently in my relationships with those in my life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Personal Challenge…

Even though Christ has come to redeem His creation from death we still live in a fallen world. It is in this fallenness that temptations arise. Part of my growth in Christ is to develop the strength to endure the temptations that well up from the flesh or from the evil one. It may be difficult, but the end results will make all the difficulty worthwhile.

I love how Yogi Berra enlightens us on the difference between theory and practice in this quote: “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” This could easily be applied to how we deal with temptations in our lives.

Psalm 55:22-23 (54:23-24 LXX)

Cast your care upon the Lord,
And He shall support you;
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
But You, O God, will bring them down into the pit of decay;
Men of blood and deceit
Shall not live even half their days.
But I will hope in You, O Lord.

Personal Challenge…

How do I ever know if I am doing the right things for God? Am I truly living my life in a way that honors Him or is it for my own sake? Am I treating those whom He has brought into my life in a godly, righteous way, or am I treating them in a similar way to those called out in the second half of this passage? I have come to learn in my few years of life that the answers to these questions do not typically come in the instance or situation where I am asking the question. I must look across a span of time and try to assess how am I doing at trying to live for my Lord. If I look at a single point in time the results will be skewed…either a good way or a bad way. If I look at multiple points then I will be able to better see what is my pattern, my propensity. And with all this said, the beginning and the end of this passage I am clearly told what to do…”Cast my care upon the Lord…I will hope in You, O Lord.” Thank You Lord Jesus that You are my Rock and my Salvation, and that I can hide in You.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Personal Challenge…

The life that God desires me to live is simply and completely layed out for me in the life of Christ…to walk in love. However, it is a lifelong battle to learn how to love my God and my neighbor in the way that Christ did.

Psalm 63:3 (62:4 LXX)

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Encouraging Words…

It is encouraging to know that we have had so much history in the Church that has gone before us that points to the truth of Christ and His work. Through this we can exercise our faith both in those things that have been promised and the evidence of these things in history that we may not be able to see, but do have the proof through the saints that have gone before us.

Matthew 2:18

A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.

Personal Challenge…

This is one part of the Christmas story that is often neglected. Even in the midst of the glory of Jesus’ birth there is an outpouring of evil that occurs. All the more of a reminder of the need for the redemption provided by this precious babe in the manger 2,000 years ago.

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Encouraging Words…

Praise be unto God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit! Through the work of Jesus the price of the old covenant has been paid and the new covenant set in place. Through His work and the grace of God I am now an adopted child into His family with all rights and privileges including the opportunity to grow through theosis to be like Him, my Father. Christ is born! Glorify Him!