Matthew 5:17 NIV
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Encouraging Words…
Hmmm…I have always read this verse as talking about the Law and how much I have missed the mark, but now that I am looking at this (and all of the Scripture) through different eyes I see an entirely different focus. Jesus came to redeem God’s creation, His creation, from that death that was introduced by Adam. The Law was established to better define the consequences of that death, the prophets rose up to point mankind to God and the promise of the The Christ who would come to defeat that death. Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets was His act of redeeming creation from the grip of death and setting it on a new path to fulfill God’s glory. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!!!

Isaiah 12:2 NASB
“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”

Encouraging Words…
God, and God alone, is my salvation. In Him I can find true peace, true joy, true LIFE. I will not find these in the books that I read or the doctrines that grab onto, even those these are not bad in and of themselves. But is is God who is my strength and song, my salvation.

Proverbs 10:22 NLT
The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Encouraging Words…
It is amazing what can happen in our lives when we choose to shift our focus. If we look away from what the world defines as richness and look at what God means by it then verses like this make so much more sense. When God pours out His blessing upon us our richness is a heavenly one and there is no sorrow that come with it. To the contrary it comes with true joy and rejoicing.

Psalm 30:11-12 NLT
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Encouraging Words…
It is so amazing to serve a Living God that turns our mourning into joyful dancing, that takes away our clothes of mourning and replaces them with clothes of joy. He is our source of life, love, and joy.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Encouraging Words…
So, life is a race to be run…day in and day out. Isn’t it wonderful that we have Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who has gone before us and shown us how to run and win the race. Isn’t it also wonderful that we have the saints that have gone before us also available to show us how we as “works in progress” can run and win the race. We are not in this alone.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Personal Challenge…
Once again the scripture reminds me that, “it is not about me!” Life is about our Lord and Savior and His work and His plans. I love how Paul teaches us that God’s grace is sufficient for us, that His power working through our weaknesses is how Christ gets manifested in our lives. I must become less so that He can become more. I must submit so that He can take over. I must be content with where He is leading me and what He is doing in my life because He is doing it for His plans…which are much greater than I will ever be able to imagine.

John 15:19 NASB (Jesus speaking)
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

Encouraging Words…
Have you ever considered the possibility that the people around you are after you because you are living a life that glorifies Christ? Granted it may be because you are living a worldly life and rubbing against people, but if you are living your life in a way that Christ is glorified, that points people to Him and his saving grace, that is contrary to what the world deems as popular and correct…then you can know that people will be uncomfortable with you and even persecute and ostracize you. The question that I must always be asking myself is, “Who am I living for and can people who look at me see Him?”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NASB
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Words of Encouragement…
I think that one of my favorite books of the Bible is Ecclesiastes. The author has spent his entire life pursuing wisdom and this is his final collection of thoughts. Throughout the book we are reminded that all in life is futile…except our relationship with God. Here he reminds us that our life here on earth boils down to fearing (respecting, holding in awe, etc.) God and obeying Him. All else is just futile and will be burnt up in the end. Isn’t this also the key to trying to live our lives with a desire to be like Christ…fearing the Father and obeying Him? As many of our prayers during our Sunday service remind us, “Lord, have mercy.”

Proverbs 10:19 NASB
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Psalm 11:7 NASB
For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.

Personal Challenge…
Why is that I sometimes slip into the mode of thinking that just because I have received Christ then I can live life the way that I want? This verse reminds me that our LORD is righteous, that He loves righteousness, and if I want to see His face then I must live my life as an upright (righteous) person. Salvation is an ongoing work that God is performing in my life and He wants me to be active in my pursuit of Him and His desires.