Day 57: Strengthen & Encourage

1 Thessalonians 3, 4, 5

We are asked to strengthen and encourage ourselves as well as those around us so that none of us would be unsettled by the trials of this world.  Even in times of distress and persecution, our faith should encourage.  We should exhibit behaviors of a love so abundant that it overflows.  We are called to love more and more and to build each other up.

¹⁴And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. ¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

Given this salvation, we should all strive to be self controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your awesome sacrifice of your son – to cleanse us of our sins.  I ask for wisdom and strength to encourage others and to lead a life pleasing to you.  Don’t let the worries of this world grab a hold of my spirit.  I ask that I be able to be joyful always, pray continually and to give thanks in all circumstances.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 56: Understanding Christ’s Sacrifice

Colossians 2, 3, 4; 1 Thessalonians 1, 2

Do you believe that Christ is all in all and that He alone is sufficient for all life?  When we were dead in our transgressions and our sinful nature, God made us alive with Christ.  While reading Paul’s letters to the Colossians, I was humbled at Paul’s plight.  The encouragement from Paul should serve the purpose of being united in love and partake in the full riches of complete understanding with each other.

⁶So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:6-8

Paul asks them to have Christ’s sacrifice and gift to exude in all of their actions, words and thoughts.

Dear Lord, How imperfect am I, to still be confined to a worldly life despite your sacrifice.  Help me to truly wash my hands from submitting to the rules of this earth with self imposed worship, false humility and the harsh treatment of my body.  Help me to prioritize those thing that matter – to clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Allow me to work at the sincerity of my heart and reverence for you alone, not for men.  Teach me to devote in prayer and to be thankful always.  Grant me the peace within to stand firm in your will – spiritually mature and fully assured in my salvation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 55: Pressing On Toward the Goal

Philippians 3, 4; Colossians 1

As someone who accepted Christ later in life, the biggest struggle I have is pressing on.  lately, as I read the instructions written by God – I realize more and more of how much I trule value worldly desires.  As guilt washed over me on a daily basis, on the worldly life I still live, I came across Philippians 3:13.

¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, Philippians 3:13

It was what I needed to know.  The thoughts of perfection and the guilt associated disappeared.  I was comforted by Paul and his humility.  He writes to the Philippians that he himself has not yet attained being perfect.  He focuses on straining towards what is ahead – to press on.  It was a great reminder of God’s awesome grace.

Dear Lord, I humbly ask you to grant me the maturity and wisdom in my faith.  Allow me to not remain focused on confidences and treasures of the flesh – to consider them as rubbish.  Allow me to truly grasp the difference between righteousness found in my own ability but through my faith in Christ Jesus.  Allow me to clearly see that the truly magnificent part of my faith is that you transform my sinning body so that one day, it will be like your glorious body.

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Day 54: Defending the Chains

Ephesians 6; Philippians 1, 2

We are all partaking in God’s grace, just as Paul had.  Even in chains and through persecution, Paul was defending and confirming the gospel..  Through chains, the brothers of Philippi were encourage to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

²⁰I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21

Paul instructs the Philippians stand firm in one spirit, without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.  We are asked to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Dear Lord, I love you Lord.  I ask my love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.  i pray that I may be able to discern what is best and what is pure – so that I may be blameless.  Allow me to boldly proclaim and rejoice in my chains, for it is a mere representation of your amazing grace.  It is through my weaknesses that I become stronger in my faith.  Thank you for loving me so much.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 53: Life Worthy

Ephesians 3, 4, 5

Are you living a life worthy of the calling you have received?  While reading Ephesians, I found myself asking myself that very question.

²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:2-6

I find myself to be lacking in this very instruction.  I find myself still engulfed in rage, anger, judgment and impatience.  It is in God’s plan to prepare his people to build up the body of Christ – as it is His plan for us to grow and build ourselves up in love.  In order to unite in Christ, it requires us to live as children of the light.  Are you living as the child of light?

¹⁸They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. Ephesians 4:18-19

Are you bearing fruit that consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth?  As I end these chapters, all instructing us on how to lead our lives, I realize how much more I have yet to learn to leave behind.

Dear Lord, Grant me the wisdom to lead a life imitating God.  I realize I need to be careful in how I live, making the most of every opportunity – to not be foolish and understand your will.  Allow me to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Thank and in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 52: Instructions of Doing Good

Galatians 6; Ephesians 1, 2

While reading the Scripture, “doing good” is a prevalent topic.  Paul writes letters to both the Galatians and Ephesians.  Although they were different people and different churches, the message was the same.

We are called to be good to all and to carry each others burdens – especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  At the same time, we are not being asked to do this in order to boast of our abilities or of our deeds.

⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

We are one in Christ, through His blood, given access to the Father by One spirit.

[We] are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. Ephesians 2:19

This is all a part of God’s plan to redeem the world through Christ.

Dear Lord, I lack in so many areas.  While reading these chapters, I couldn’t help but feel so inadequate.  I realize that I have not yet cast aside the sins of my earthly body.  Grant me the wisdom to translate my belief about God into actions and attitudes that honor you.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.