1 Peter 4:7-9

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Personal Challenge…

As a sinner I need the love of those whom God has placed in my life to love me in such a way so as to cover my sins. Should I do any less to them? I am commanded, once again, to love those in my life, and to love them fervently. This command is not just targeted at those people whom I like, but everyone. I am to be hospitable to them all and to not complain or grumble about any of them. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner. Is it no wonder that this commandment is preceded by the admonition to be serious and watchful in my prayers? Without this prayerful attitude I will never be able to love my neighbor this way.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Encouraging Words…

What a wonderful gift we receive from God when we give our lives to Christ…the Holy Spirit. We are not only saved from death, but we are filled with God Himself through the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 16:3 (15:3 LXX)

To the saints on His earth,
In them He magnified all His will.

Encouraging Words…

Through the Church, historical and present, God has poured out His will so that the world might know Him. Through the Church, both collective as a body of believers and individually as His saints, God has given His light to be beacons in a dark world.

Psalm 119:133 (118:133 LXX)

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

Personal Challenge…

The law, the commandments of the old covenant as well as the commandments of Christ are all built around loving God and loving our neighbor. Paul informs me here in this letter to Timothy that I cannot love the way that God wants me to out of the compulsion of the the law for the it is superficial.. I must love from a pure heart, one that is filled by the Holy Spirit and continually being turned over to Him. I must love from a good conscience, one that is continually being cleansed by confession and repentance. I must love from a sincere faith, one that is actively pursuing the likeness of Christ.

Matthew 16:24-28

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

Personal Challenge…

Why is it that I continue to turn my back on what I know to be the truth and my responsibility as a follower of Christ? His expectation is really simple…deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him. The difficulty comes up in the desires that are in my flesh for the things of this world. Is not the reason that we fast from the things of this world so that we can develop the capabilities to give up other things from the world. We do not fast out of legalistic obligation, but as a willing way to build up our spiritual muscles.

Luke 10:19-20

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Encouraging Words…

Through Christ we are given such great power and authority over this temporal realm as well as in the spiritual realm. This, however, is not what we should cherish because that leads to pride, idolatry, and sin. We should cherish the work of Christ, what He has done for us, which leads to humility and righteousness.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against such there is no law.

Encouraging Words…

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Encouraging Words…

God is faithful. When I let that sink in it reminds me just how powerful this is. It is absolute, it is permanent, it is all-inclusive. God is faithful. He will never falter on me, He will never abandon me, He will always do what is best for me in my life…now and on into eternity.

Luke 18:15-17

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

Encouraging Words…

The commentary on this passage usually focuses on the way that we should be as we come to Christ…like children; believing, trusting, obedient. However, this passage also says a lot about how God receives us. I am a father, I have raised children. I am blessed that now I am a grandfather and get to participate in the raising of another generation. God receives us as our Heavenly Father; with open arms, with delight, with great joy and love. He wants no one or no thing to come between us and Him. His arms are wide open for me, His son, His child, and I am blessed to rest peacefully in them.