December 2
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“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, NASB)

There are times when it seems as if trouble and adversity are predators, and these conditions stalk us like prey.

At such times, God’s word reminds us that we are far from alone in our tenuous condition: Prone to anxiety and bent toward fear.  There is One who has been where we are.  There is One who has faced what we are facing, and has emerged from the crucible completely victorious and utterly unsullied by sin. His name is Jesus.

The solution to our many dilemmas — whether existential or empirical — is not to seek the counsel of some and the comfort of others. Instead, immediately “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,” that is, seek God as your first Resource — not as your last resort.  Those who assiduously seek God will always receive mercy equal to any sin; find grace always abounding in abundance; and receive help that is always on-time.  – Luther

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November 30
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“He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done.”  (Hebrews 4:13, The Living Bible)

Some people seem surprised at the capacity of today’s technology to see all, hear all, to record all — and with our inability to keep for long any of it a secret.

Of greater concern than the public revelation of our deeds and misdeeds to our neighbors is the fact that we each “must explain all of that we have done” to our Creator.

An important element of discipleship is accountability.  Can you and I, as stewards of the blessings and gifts of God, account for how we’ve spent our years of living; or how we’ve used the gifts we’ve received; or how we’ve taken advantage of the many opportunities presented to us?  God’s word reminds us that no secret will be hidden forever; what was done in the secrecy of a basement — good or evil — shall be published to all from the rooftops, to our affirmation (good deeds) or to our shame and undoing (poor stewardship and evil deeds ).

For these reasons, do all that you can to engage with opportunities for good; to enlarge your influence for the sake of good; and to equip yourself (mentally, physically, morally, and spiritually) with the tools for the blessed task at hand, so that you may have no reason for shame on the Day of Accountability.  – Luther

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November 29
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“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”  (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27, NIV)

Excellence, discipline, and humility.

We extol these three qualities in any athlete.  Likewise, these three qualities together are essential for faithful discipleship.

Are we living our lives — every hour of every day — “in such a way as to get the prize,” which is life in all of its fullness and length?  Are we engaged in the private, hidden, work of “training”– in the words of Paul to his protege Timothy — “to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”?

Paul’s words remind us to aspire to excellence in all that we do. He reminds us to adopt the discipline of “strict training” so that we will be prepared for any of the so-called surprises of life, and that we will be fit to finish the course.  He reminds us to be humble, lest we ourselves are disqualified as the price of our pride.

Excellence + Discipline + Humility = Faithful discipleship.  – Luther

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