August 23 – Cease Wearisome Pursuits

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.” – Proverbs 23:4-5 (NASB)

The precepts of a Christian life can be found clearly in Scripture. All it takes is to pay attention to what is there, to what we read in the Bible, and examine carefully with Scripture what we hear and read elsewhere. It is not rare for a teaching to be found contrary to explicit truth in the Word of God. Today’s passage is one such time or example. There is an overwhelming flood of false teaching we call the ‘prosperity gospel.’ It teaches that wealth is evidence of blessing and is available to any who will ‘claim it.’ It is not wrong or evil to be wealthy and to work hard and be rewarded with bountiful returns. God does provide abundance to his children but when he does, we are to use our abundance to glorify God.  So, today we have a Proverb that gives us a specific caution and the reason for the caution. The wearisome pursuit of prosperity wealth style should not even be considered as a goal in life. Why? Because all things rich and poor are temporary. Here today, it’ll be gone tomorrow and we can’t take it with us when we leave this earth.  

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September 26 – Trading Weary for Rest

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (NASB) 

Weary. Heavy-laden. Do not we all feel this way from time to time? in this passage. This is an open invitation from Jesus to all who hear—but expressed in such a way that the ones who will respond to the invitation are those who are burdened by their own effort of trying to be good enough to please God and “qualify” for heaven. The ‘rest’ that Jesus promises is rest from just that self-effort to be righteous enough through one’s own good works. Many will think and say “I’ve lived a pretty good life and I’m going to heaven.” A pretty good life will never be good enough. There is only one way any of us will find ourselves to be that good and that is through Jesus Christ who gives to us His righteousness. It is impossible for us to be good enough even though we’ve been better than pretty good. Jesus says, “Come to Me because I can give you rest from your weariness. I can lift that heavy burden off of you. And it is free.” He bought that rest for us when he was crucified without sinning and died for sinners⸺that’s us. 

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December 7 – Cure for Weariness

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)

We hear many remarking how difficult this year has been and nearly everyone has been affected by the chaos in our world. They’re hoping next year will be better and are eager for this year to be over. How can we know if it will be any better? We can know that Jesus experienced much worse in His life for our sake. These words were written to encourage us when we are tempted to give up when the going gets really tough. The verse just before this one encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ our Savior which will help us to avoid giving up. Some may be tempted to think that it is not worth all the trouble involved in following close to the Lord. Then we should remember that Jesus came to earth to do his Father's will and He encountered a lot of suffering. The leaders of the people hated Him and were hostile to Jesus and eventually killed him. But He endured it all, shame and death on the cross, and now He is in heaven's glory and we'll be there someday too. Let's fix our eyes on Him today.

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February 14 – No Weariness or Fainting

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”  - Hebrews 12:3  (ESV)

Our ability to choose is one of the most powerful abilities we have.  We make choices over and over every day on what to think and what to give attention to.  We do have a free will, given to us by God when He created man.  Our exercise of that free will determines how successful we are in our walk with God.  He calls us to action, to righteous behavior, and to do what glorifies God.  We encounter challenges each day.  Challenges that come as distractions, disruptions, and hostility against us and our God.  Trials and persecution happen to test our faith and we might be tempted to give up our hope.  Our verse today promises that if we choose to consider Him (Jesus) and how he endured some awful nasty hostility and even death from His enemies, we will have the strength to hold up when we too are the target of such hostility because of our faith.  Let’s keep in mind today how Jesus endures all this for our benefit as He would experience a criminal’s death but then resurrection to new life, also for our benefit. 

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January 17 – Flying, Running, Walking, Falling

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
“Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”  Psalm 37:24 (NLT)

Does this sound too good to be true? We know, of course that the verses chosen for today are speaking of spiritual strength and relief from spiritual weariness, but God also will provide our physical bodies with strength when we need it and ask for it. We have a promise of God’s watchful care over us in both of our verses today.  The prophet Isaiah and the psalmist David tell us what result we can expect if we trust in the Lord. Waiting for God to lead us and knowing that He holds our hand, so to speak.  Even when we stumble and fall, He protects us from destruction.  Our God does not grow tired or weary; He gives strength to us when we are weary; His steady hand keeps us from deadly falls. Our great almighty God has a way of passing on to His trusting children relief from weariness and protection from destruction. Are you tempted to give into the weariness of living for the Lord and of facing trials? Hope in the Lord! He WILL renew your strength and He WILL keep you on your feet.

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June 1 – Sustaining Good Actions

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV)

We are all susceptible to getting tired.  Today's verse is an encouragement to not get tired of doing what God has given us to do, that is, doing good and not evil.  Our thoughts, words, actions are all watched over by God.  He has a purpose he has given to us and we persevere in that purpose.   When we believed and received the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life, we were bought into God's family.  This is the result of our salvation bought by the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.  As children of God and members of His family, God wants us to show this relationship by our actions toward other members of this great family.  God wants us to do good, especially to other believers and to not get tired doing good.  We are promised a reward if we persevere.  Be on the look-out, be alert for the opportunities to do good to everyone.  Be especially intentional of doing good for the brothers and sisters in Christ who are part of the family of God.    

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September 27- Each and Every Day

“The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.”  Isaiah 50:4 (ESV)

The Word from the Bible which we have today is a testimony of the prophet Isaiah.  We do know that God did give this prophet many messages to deliver to His people of that day.  And, we believe that God spoke to Isaiah about personal matters as well.  We are taking this verse today and applying the promise to ourselves.  An experience like this would not be only for special people like Isaiah but for all who know God.  We all can be used by God to give words of encouragement to those who are weary.  We also believe that God gives us messages when we awaken in the morning.  He has so much to teach us in our Christian lives and He want to teach us every day.  He knows first what each one of us needs to learn each day.  So, let's turn our ears and our hearts to Him and be willing to be taught by Him each and every day. 

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August 10 – Waiting is Action

“Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength;”   Isaiah 40:30-31a ( NASB)

From the book written by the prophet Isaiah we find words of encouragement and promise today.  These verses are really about two different kinds of strength which are often very closely related.  We realize that there is an inner strength which affects a person's physical strength.  So, what the prophet reminds us about in this passage is that this inner strength comes from trusting in the Lord and it affects our ability to perform useful functions in life.  Waiting on the Lord is actually an act of trust, of hoping with the expectation that God will act for us according to His promises.  God knows when we have an attitude of expectation and He responds by strengthening us.  It is new strength because it comes from Him and it comes from trusting in His word – that is what hoping and waiting is all about.  And, it is about what God promises to do for us when we wait for Him to act.   

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June 2 – Seeking Earnestly

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 (ESV)

David was in the dry desert when he wrote these words. He described the place as being dry and without water to drink. You and I may not be in that kind of a place physically but we might still share some of the thoughts that David had. I'm thinking of the words, “my soul thirsts for you.”  David's heart and soul longed for close fellowship with God and the reason for that is given in the first words of our verse. David could tell God “you are my God;” This he had learned by past experience and that's why he longed always for close fellowship with God. Can we say the same? If we have experienced this promise that the Lord is our God, we'll be always longing for constant fellowship with Him – it is a natural outcome for us to desire and seek the close presence of God and He has promised it to us today and forever. 

December 4 – Cure for Weariness

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)

These words were written to encourage Christians when they are tempted to give up trying to reach some goal in their life. The verse just before this one encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ our Savior which will help us to avoid giving up. Sometimes we may be tempted to think that it is not worth all the trouble involved in following close to the Lord. Then we should remember that Jesus came to earth to do his Father's will and He encountered a lot of suffering. The leaders of the people hated Him and were hostile to Jesus and eventually killed him. But He endured it all, shame and death on the cross, and now He is in heaven's glory and we'll be there someday too. Let's fix our eyes on Him today.

March 28 – Gain New Strength

“Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31 (NASB©)

Today’s verse gives us refreshing and encouraging words about how God helps those who serve Him. We can expect God to help us for as we wait for him, our strength is renewed and we will not get tired or grow weary in serving Him. In the verses just prior, the prophet reminds us that God, the Creator will not grow tired or weary and that He gives strength to the weary. We are tempted to give in and lay off when we are tired but God has promised what we need. So, if you are facing a daunting task or if you feel tired, this promise is for you. God, who never gets tired, will help us when we feel that we are, and will help us from getting tired. As we put our trust in God, it is He who keeps us going in our Christian life. He will help us walk, run or fly when we are tempted to take a break or check out.

Scripture quotation taken from the NASB©. (www.lockman.org) 

June 9

“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.”  Isaiah 50 4a (NIV)

We remember that in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus gave a special invitation to those who are weary, to come to Him. This invitation fits in with a prediction which Isaiah wrote. Isaiah is predicting the ministry of the Messiah, the One whom we call Jesus Christ.  It is as if in this verse our Lord Jesus is reminding us that part of His ministry is to encourage those who are weary. What is it that makes one weary? It could be weariness from trying to live right in our own strength. It does not work. Jesus invites us to trust Him. He will remind us that He died on the cross to set us free. And He will by His word encourage us to keep trusting, not exerting our own effort but relaxing in what He has done. 

May 14

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Our God in heaven knows what we, as humans, need. That’s why He has given us statements such as this one. We must admit that there are times when we are tempted to give up trying to do what God wants us to do. When we are trying to do what is right we may not always see the results that we expect as soon as we would like. This word tells us that the results will come at the proper time – and that is God’s time. It encourages us not to become weary or to give up, to trust Him to bring results in His time.