May 7, 2024

LAWFUL VERSUS HELPFUL

1 Corinthians 6:12

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Personal Challenge

More than once in my life, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I have had someone articulate that they were not interested in following Jesus because it would be a restrictive life. Paul teaches us here that because Jesus fulfilled the law and that He became the forgiveness of our sins, that there was no longer anything unlawful for us. The restrictions placed on us have been removed. However, as we walk in Christ's footsteps, learn from Him, and become more like Him, we understand that there are many things that we could do that are not helpful for us and therefore we choose to avoid them, especially when we know that they could easily overpower us and enslave vs. This is not restrictive; this is choosing to live an abundant life filled with true freedom. Glory be to God!

May 6, 2024

IN TRUTH

Psalms 145:18 (144:18)

The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

Personal Challenge

There is a little twist in this verse that tells us that the Lord is near to all who call on Him. We must call upon Him in truth. Whose truth? His truth. If we have made God out in our own special image, then we do not have one that we can call out to in God's truth. A sobering thought. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

May 5, 2024

WASHED, SANCTIFIED, AND JUSTIFIED

1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Encouraging Words

Our salvation is a process that lasts our entire life. It all starts with our baptism, which washes us clean of our sins through the power and work of Jesus Christ. Our sanctification comes through our chrismation of oil and the reception of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The justification is the rest of our life living out our faith in Jesus Christ and doing His works. Glory be to God!

May 4, 2024

Saint of the Week

St. John Climacus

May 3, 2024

GOOD TO ALL

Psalms 145:8-9 (144:8-9)

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His mercies are upon all His works.

Encouraging Words

God is the creator of all. He bestowed His image into all of mankind, whether they follow Him or not. Jesus gave His pure and perfect life for all of creation, and therefore all of mankind. That is why this passage reads so true for all of us. God is gracious and merciful, longsuffering, good to all, and constantly bestowing His blessings upon His creation. Glory be to God!

May 1, 2024

DO NOT JUDGE

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Personal Challenge

Somewhere in the modern history of the Western Church, we have come up with the belief that we have the right, if not the responsibility, to judge people both inside the body of believers and outside. Paul makes it clear that no believer has the right to judge the actions of non-believers. Only God has this right. We are commanded by Christ, himself, to love our neighbor, no matter what. We, as believers, are also taught that there are guidelines by which members of our community of believers are to be judged and that none of those guidelines give is permission to be independent judges. Our best, and only option, is to love everyone and let God be the judge. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

April 30, 2024

TO DO HIS WILL

Psalms 143:10 (142:10)

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;
Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness.

Personal Challenge

This is a prayer that we need to utter every day. We need God to teach us His will and to have the Holy Spirit to guide us in doing that will. It is so easy to circumvent God's will with our own and to push Him into the corner, all the while doing things that make it look like we are following Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!