Galatians 2:20 NASB
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Words of Encouragement…
Jesus loved us enough to give Himself up for us. But He did not stop there, as His child my life has been crucified with Him and He now lives within me. This is a mystery and I am okay with that. Through Him I can be transformed into the person that He desires me to be.

Matthew 26:41 NLT (Jesus speaking)
“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!”

Personal Challenge…
Temptation, that terrible thing that creeps up on us and surprises us…leading us to do something that we really don’t want to do. But here Jesus tells us how to defeat temptation. Keep alert and be constantly in prayer. Isn’t one of the best defenses a good offense? I cannot be lazy in my life, I cannot let acedia (check out this old word) stake it’s claim in my life, if I want to overpower temptation in my life.

Proverbs 9:9-12 NLT
Teach the wise, and they will be wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn more. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Personal Challenge…
I love reading through the Proverbs. There are so many tidbits of great wisdom there. Not the kind of wisdom that the world tries to impress upon us, but the wisdom that comes from the God of eternity. Oh that I would be a good pupil and soak it all in, then most importantly…live it out in my life.

Nehemiah 6:16 NASB
When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Words of Encouragement…
The book of Nehemiah captures the story of the exiled children of God returning to Jerusalem to rebuild their city. While they are doing this all of the people and kings around them kept taunting them and trying to frighten them into stopping the work. However, under Nehemiah’s guidance, and his commitment to listen to, and follow his God’s leading, they completed the task in 52 days.

This story offers a powerful reminder to us who follow Jesus even today…listen to the leading of God, stay true to His teachings, do not listen to the taunts of those around us (sometimes from those whom sound like they might be representing God), and keep doing the tasks that He has given you. And the results…our enemies will loose their confidence, not because of anything that we have done, but because of what God has done through us.

‎1 Chronicles 28:9 NASB
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Encouraging Words…
As David passed his kingship on to his son Solomon he admonished him to know God, to serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind. He reminded him that God searches our hearts and knows our every thought and intent. This admonition works for us as well today…we are to seek our Lord with a whole heart and a willing mind and He will reveal Himself to us.

1 Peter 3:13-16 NASB
And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

Personal Challenge…
Wow! There is so much that can be unpacked from this passage as well as the other ones that surround it. In essence we are being commanded to be willing to suffer for doing what is right, for what good is there in suffering for doing what is wrong. We are being commanded to be ready to stand and defend our faith, our hope, but not as we define defense in today’s society (aggressive, mean spirited, underhanded, with the intent to eviscerate), but with gentleness and reverence and with a good conscience…again by doing what is right in the eyes of God. Once again it comes back to doing all that we do in love!

Luke 6:32-36 NIV
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Personal Challenge…
Have you ever had someone tell you that being a Christian is for wimps? Reading a passage like this, which is Jesus speaking directly to His followers, certainly tells us that true Christianity is not for wimps. We are asked, actually commanded, to do the hard things, like love our enemies and do good to them, give out of our wealth…joyfully, forfeit our treasures (time, possessions, pride) to those who do not have, for our King. This is not a life of ease and comfort, but it is one that is full of rewards that we cannot put a price tag on.

Jeremiah 30:16-17 NIV
“‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no-one cares.’”

Words of Encouragement…
As followers of Christ we are citizens of Zion. Here God tells His children that He will restore their health, He will heal their wounds. What a wonderful promise that we can hold on to.

Psalm 25:4-5 NASB
Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.

Personal Challenge…
No matter how much I know, how much training and education that I have, I still need to know His way, His path. I need my Lord to lead me in His truth, because I cannot do it on my own. The encouraging part of this journey is that He keeps His promises, He will lead me and teach me…if I wait upon Him.

‎1 Timothy 1:5 NASB
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Personal Challenge….
Do I give instruction (teach, preach, share) what I know of God’s truth from a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith or do I do it to show others what I know? We are told that the goal of our instruction, the purpose of sharing, is to love my neighbor. Now that can be a real personal challenge in this day when knowledge is deemed as power.