Monday Morning Encouragement -- Come Now

 

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."    Isaiah 1:18

In the Book of Isaiah God contends with the kingdom of Judah. The leaders and people are corrupt. They treat one another badly, while professing allegiance to God with their religious ceremonies. But God is not impressed with a show of worship while the heart of the so-called worshiper is unrepentant. Because of their sin God is about to bring judgement upon them; an invasion of Judah is coming.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- More Strength

 

"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength." Isaiah 40:29

I often think we take for granted the inexhaustible power God possesses. He who created this world -- speaking it into existence -- is the One who not only sustains the earth through His mighty power, but at the same time sustains His beloved children. Each one of us is daily receiving from Him what we need to live the life He has set before us. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Our Daily Bread

 

"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11

Todays' Bible verse, taken from what we commonly refer to as "The Lord's Prayer," is well-known. It's so familiar to us that we may gloss over it without thinking about its implications. Here the Lord is instructing us to ask God for the provisions we need for this day. Not for today and tomorrow and the next day. But only for today. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Free From Debt

 

"by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:14

Last spring I made my last car payment. When the title arrived in the mail, I felt relieved. My debt to the bank was paid in full; it was settled, and I was no longer under obligation to them. Now when I drive my automobile I have a sense of freedom that for years I didn't have. A canceled debt is something to celebrate.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- See The Light

 

"For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness." Psalm 18:28

When the day winds to an end and the sun sets, darkness naturally begins its descent. The rooms in our home that were bright with sunlight become dim, and so we turn on lamps to illuminate our surroundings. I doubt any of us would willingly sit in darkness when we have the ability to turn on a light.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Worship God Only

 

“You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3

At the time God gave this commandment to the Israelites, they were surrounded by nations that served false gods; gods made of stone and wood that had no power to save or protect. God had delivered the Israelites from Egypt, and He alone was worthy of their worship.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Our Solid Rock

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25

Many years ago I heard of a residential subdivision where the home foundations were giving way, and the houses were literally sinking into the earth below. Apparently, the developer had not properly researched the soil properties before proceeding with building the houses, and the clay-based soil was shifting. The result was horrific. Imagine losing your home under such circumstances.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Jesus Prays For Us

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:30-32

The account of Peter's denial of Jesus, and his subsequent repentance and restoration has great significance for all believers. Beginning with today's scripture we see that the Lord already knew what was coming Peter's way, and that He had prayed that Peter's faith would not fail. Peter would give in to temptation, this our Savior knew, but He also knew that Peter would not fall away completely; Peter would turn back to Jesus and would fulfill his mission. It wasn't Peter's strength or will that made this possible, for he had neither. It was the prayers of Jesus.

Monday Morning Encouragement - - Grow in Grace

 

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 1 Peter 3:18

The grace of God is potent, and a gift that we should never take for granted. It is by His grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9), and it is God's grace that is sufficient to meet all the challenges that may come our way (2 Corinthians 12:9). We don't deserve God's grace, yet out of His great love for us He extends it. Knowing this should prompt us to praise and worship Him, and to purposely live in a way that honors Him. In other words, to live in obedience to our God.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- God Our Ebenezer

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, 'Till now the Lord has helped us.'" 1 Samuel 7:12

Under Samuel's leadership, Israel experienced a great revival. Sins were confessed, idols destroyed, and the people began to serve the Lord. In 1 Samuel 7:10-11 we read: 

"As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.  And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car."

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Peace On Earth

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Luke 2:14

On December 25, 1863 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the words to the poem "Christmas Bells," which many years later would be set to music and become the familiar Christmas carol "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day." The story behind the poem is Longfellow's own battle to believe peace on earth is possible. Allow me to set the stage for you.