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Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:30-31 Fainting, weary, exhausted. This describes all of us. But Isaiah 40 shows us that the LORD God is glorious (v. 5); faithful and true (v. 5); mighty (v. 10); and His Word stands forever (v. 8). He is a tender shepherd (v. 11); the sovereign, everlasting Creator (vv. 12-17, 28); He transcends His creation (vv. 21-26); He is holy, unique (v. 25); He does not faint or grow weary (v. 28); He is all-seeing, all-knowing, and His power is limitless (vv. 27-29). Are you waiting for something or someone? Are you waiting for love? Are you waiting for your children to be born? Are you waiting for healing? Or maybe you're starting to bargain with God because the waiting is so long? Are you busy crafting an idol of wood or gold to comfort you (vv. 19-20)? Isaiah 40 wakes us up with word pictures that challenge our imagination as to the greatness of our God. But it also reminds us that our God is a tender shepherd to His people. He teaches us that waiting for Him is worth everything because God Himself is our greatest treasure. And this waiting will lead us to worship Him above all. He is above the circle of the earth and the heavens are like a tent. We are like grasshoppers from His lofty view and all the rulers of the earth are nothing and empty. There is no one like Him. Stand in awe of Him. Let the praises in your heart give expression through your voice right now. Great are You, LORD! You are God and there is no other! You alone are worthy of our praise! God never faints or grows weary. His understanding is unsearchable and He is the one who gives power and strength to His people (v. 29). Why would you not wait for Him? He knows how weak you are. If you were to set out on your own, you would faint and gain no eternal benefit whatsoever. Even youths, who are in their prime physically, who have maximum courage and strength, will faint and be weary. But God will not. So, will you wait on the LORD? What does He promise if you will wait for Him? He will renew your strength. You will mount up with wings as eagles. God will cause you to soar above everything earthbound. Just like an eagle, your wings will catch the wind and you can rest in the gliding. Looking down from the heights, your eye will capture earthly cares in heavenly sight. Knowing who God is (the very life of your soul), and seeing what concerns you from His perspective will change your heart. When you meet again with concerns on earth, you will be strengthened in His might to run the race with endurance, fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. You will now walk and not faint because you have waited on the LORD and placed your hand in His. For Reflection: There are many grave concerns in the world today. Have you let your heart be carried away by the cares of this world? Actively wait on the LORD; ask Him what are some practical ways to guard against worshiping earthly things? How might knowing the attributes of God given in Isaiah 40 shape your view of life? Are you keeping the heavenly perspective in your life? What are you doing practically to “set your mind on things above and not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-3)?

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. —Isaiah 40:28-29 This section of the book of Isaiah is filled with amazing language about the supremacy of God, interwoven with the repeated exhortation for us to “fear not” (Isaiah 40:9; 41:10, 13-14; 43:1, 5; 51:12-16; 54:4, 14). God’s sovereignty is a truth meant to comfort his people, not put them in angst. And yet we know it doesn’t happen overnight. In Desiring God, John Piper writes: “Many of us have gone through a period of deep struggle with the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. If we take the doctrines into our hearts where they belong, they can cause upheavals of emotion and sleepless nights” (38). Piper then goes on to quote Jonathan Edwards’s recount of his own struggle: From my childhood up, my mind had been full of objections against the doctrine of God’s sovereignty…It used to appear like a horrible doctrine to me. But I remember the time very well, when I seemed to be convinced, and fully satisfied, as to this sovereignty of God. But never could I give an account, how, or by what means, I was thus convinced, not in the least imagining at the time, nor a long time after, that there was any extraordinary influence of God’s Spirit in it; but only that now I saw further, and my reason apprehended the justice and reasonableness of it. However, my mind rested in it; and it put an end to all those cavils and objections. And there has been a wonderful alteration in my mind, in respect to the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, from that day to this; so that I scarce ever have found so much as the rising of an objection against it, in the most absolute sense…I have often since had not only a conviction but a delightful conviction. The doctrine has very often appeared exceeding pleasant, bright, and sweet. Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God. But my first conviction was not so (quoted from “Personal Narrative,” in Jonathan Edwards: Representative Selections, 58–59).

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, —Ephesians 4:26 There are several different Greek words used for anger in the New Testament that are expressions of two kinds of anger—righteous anger and unrighteous anger. Last week our Fighter Verses passage admonished us to “set our minds on things that are above” (Colossians 3:1-3) and now in Ephesians 4:26, we find opportunity to apply this principle regarding righteous anger. “Be angry” Righteous anger is a settled conviction of God’s holiness that burns in our hearts against all manner of evil, hating what God hates, loving what He loves. It is anger that is tempered by wisdom and reason. There is also a grieving humility that accompanies righteous anger and this is a good test for us when we get angry. In Mark’s gospel account, Jesus gives us an example: Again [Jesus] entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And [the Pharisees] watched Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. (Mark 3:1-5) “Do not sin” Jesus’ righteous anger directed at the Pharisees was coupled with grief for the hardness of their hearts. He then glorified the Father in the healing of this man. In the same way our righteous anger can drive us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight. Yet, because of our frailties and weaknesses, the command, “Be angry” is necessarily followed by another command that warns us, “and do not sin.” What starts out as righteous anger can easily cross over into self-centered passions, agitations, exasperations, and even bitterness. Ephesians 4:31 exhorts us, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice.” “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” Do not carry the burden of righteous anger when it is time to rest. At the end of the day, if your heart is not at peace, it is essential that you turn to the Lord, setting your mind on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Let His authority and sovereignty give you peace. Or perhaps your righteous anger has crossed over into unrighteous anger that requires confession and repentance. It is time to come to God in Jesus’ name and receive forgiveness and restoration of a clean heart. Continuing in unrighteous anger can grow a root of bitterness, cause a grudge to be taken up—or as Ephesians 4:27 states, give opportunity to the devil. Remember the instruction we are given by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:17-20) For Reflection: Unrighteous anger is destructive, whether that anger is directed toward you or initiated by you. In what ways can you apply Romans 12:17-20 to those who are angry with you? In dealing with unrighteous anger toward others, pray that God would grow you in your desire to embrace Ephesians 4:31-32. What are some things that should cause righteous anger to well up in the hearts of God’s people? What are some ways that righteous anger can be directed for good and the furtherance of the Kingdom of God? As you memorize Ephesians 4:26 this week, ask God to grow in you righteous anger and humility in loving what He loves and hating what He hates. The Bible tells us that the world will increasingly call good evil and evil good. What are some gracious ways your righteous anger can shine light in the darkness of this world?

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. —Colossians 3:1-3 The ministry of Fighter Verses desires that each person who has dedicated themselves to weekly memorizing the Fighter Verses passage will also be committed to grow in their understanding of Scripture. It begins with asking God to engage our minds and open the eyes of our hearts—to truly, and deeply, receive His Word. The Holy Spirit then works this precious word in our hearts to better equip us to follow Christ, our Victor in the fight of faith. Context: What came before in Colossians 2? “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him," having been established in your faith (v. 6). Do not let yourselves become captives to the world’s philosophies, regulations, traditions, elementary principles—rather than according to Christ (v. 8). In Christ dwells all the fullness of God in bodily form, and in Him we have been made complete (vv. 9-10). We were buried with Him in baptism and were also raised up with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead. We were dead in our trespasses and sins but now have been made alive together with Him (vv. 12-13). “If you have died with Christ,” Believers are in union with Christ in His death. In Him, we are set free from the law of sin and death, and are made alive to God. Do not then exchange your freedom in Christ for useless, man-made rules. Do not let your heart be carried away with the things of this world or submit to them—things destined to perish, the worship of angels, following decrees, regulations, and self-abasement that have no value against fleshly indulgences (vv. 16-23). “If then you have been raised with Christ,” Believers are in union with Christ in His resurrection from the dead. He has conquered the grave and is alive forever. In Him, we walk in newness of life. Our new life in Christ will continually be drawn to seek the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (v. 1). This position at the right hand of God, is the place of absolute authority. The King of kings is seated there, signifying His work is finished. Oh, how thrilling to think on this heavenly scene! Our risen Savior is there interceding for us and ruling in sovereignty over everything. Is it any wonder that earthly things will fade in view and lose significance? “Set your minds” Is there something for me to do? Yes. Set your mind on things above, not on the things of earth (v. 2). We do this by yielding to the Holy Spirit and taking every thought captive to obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And we do this also by remembering what God has done for us and what He has said about our position now—“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (v. 3). The believer is in union with Christ, hidden with Him in God. There we enjoy true worship of God, the love of God, the pleasures of God, fulfillment of all God’s promises, the peace of fellowship with God, the security of God, the righteousness of God, the glory of God, and more, all through our union with Christ. Today and every day, may our thoughts turn continually to the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. The things that are above define our new life, eternal and glorious in Christ Jesus our Risen Lord. For Reflection Have you been raised with Christ? Those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ are given new life in Him. Read the following Scriptures to help you personally answer this question: Romans 5:6-11 Romans 10:8-11 Ephesians 2:1-10 1 Peter 1:3-9 What are some “things that are in the world” that especially pull on your heart? In what ways will Colossians 3:1-3 help in your fight of faith to break that pull? In John Bunyan’s allegory Holy War the city of Mansoul’s walls have gates that are vulnerable to assault: Eye-gate, Ear-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate. And nothing can get into Mansoul except by the gates. What “things that are on earth” have you allowed to enter your “gates,” to take up residence and draw the affections of your soul away from Christ? Repent of these things and ask God to guard your soul, and give you strength, grace, and discernment to join in this holy war.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. —Psalm 1:3-4 Continuing in our memorization of Psalm 1 this week, verses 3-4 restate verses 1-2 using figurative language. This is typical of Hebrew poetry and is meant to teach us well the contrasts of the blessed righteous man and the miserable wicked man. In verses 1-2 we learned that the blessed man finds his delight in meditating on God’s law (His infallible Word) day and night, but the wicked man counsels with lies, leads others in the path of sin, and scoffs at God (Psalm 1:1-2). The Tree There is more. The blessed man is like a tree that is chosen and purposefully planted on the banks of a stream. There it can be constantly fed all that it needs to flourish. What a powerful word picture God has given of a life rooted in Him, dependent upon Him, drinking up the living water of God’s Word, and bearing fruit that glorifies Him. The Master Gardener is tending to this tree and keeps it beautiful, providing all its needs. The blessed man has the wisdom of God’s Word coursing through his spiritual roots, up to the branches and leaves, bearing fruit in season—patience and perseverance in the season of suffering, faithfulness in a season of trials, joy in a season of persecution. He prospers in whatever he does because he belongs to God and is known by God. You may be asking what kind of prosperity is referred to in this passage. How sad it would be if this prosperity were earthly wealth and economic status, but as Charles Spurgeon notes, “God’s prosperity must be viewed through the eye of faith.” This is not referring to material, temporal prosperity, but eternal. The Chaff The wicked are not like the righteous. Instead of a deep-rooted, fruit-bearing tree, the wicked are like chaff that the wind drives away. After grain is harvested, the winnowing begins. Newly harvested grain is tossed into the air and because the chaff (consisting of hulls and pieces of straw) is lighter than the grain, the wind picks up the chaff and blows it away. The heavier grain is separated from the chaff and falls back to earth. It is the precious fruit of the harvest. The tree planted by streams of water flourishes and never dies, but the dry, lifeless chaff is carried away on the wind. The righteous will abide forever, but the wicked will perish (Psalm 1:6). True Prosperity God is generous. There is none like Him. His supply for our need is according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus! He is our true treasure and prosperity. And His life in us, His Word and Spirit working in us what is pleasing to Him, will bear good fruit through us. For Reflection Listed below, from the wealth of Scripture passages, are a few that reflect the riches of God’s love and grace poured out on us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17) "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) "If anyone loves God, he is known by God." (1 Corinthians 8:3) "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him." (2 Corinthians 1:20) "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are." (1 John 3:1) "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. —Psalm 1:1-2 Psalm 1 and 2 combine to provide the introduction to the book of Psalms, Israel’s book of prayers and praises to Yahweh. Psalm 1 begins with what will give us blessedness or overflowing happiness—delighting in God’s Word: “his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). And as Psalm 2 ends, it tells us who will give us overflowing happiness—His Son: “Kiss the Son…Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12). With this context in mind, let’s focus now on our passage. Psalm 1 contrasts the righteous man who is blessed and the wicked man who is miserable. Every Christian must acknowledge that he is a sinner and is incapable of the righteousness that God requires in His law. Christ Jesus, who never sinned, has taken our sin on Himself and clothed us in His righteousness. “For our sake he [God] made him [Christ Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). And this gift of righteousness will find expression and bear fruit in our lives, as we learn the Bible and walk in the Spirit. In the first verse of Psalm 1, we are told what the “blessed man” will not do— He will not walk in the counsel of the wicked. He will not turn to an unbeliever for counsel or go along with them in their deceptive and empty philosophies. He will not stand in the way of sinners. From God’s Word, the righteous man has learned about the temptation of the path of sinners and flees from it. He will not sit in the seat of scoffers. Our world is full of scoffers. The person in the seat of a scoffer is one settled on his unbelief. He mocks God, as well as God’s people, and spurns the Bible. The righteous man believes God and knows His Word is true. Charles Spurgeon writes in The Treasury of David on Psalm 1:1: When men are living in sin they go from bad to worse. At first they merely walk in the counsel of the careless and ungodly, who forget God—the evil is rather practical than habitual—but after that, they become habituated to evil, and they stand in the way of open sinners who willfully violate God’s commandments; and if let alone, they go one step further, and become themselves pestilent teachers and tempters of others, and thus they sit in the seat of the scornful. They have taken their degree in vice, and as true Doctors of Damnation they are installed and are looked up to by others as Masters of Belial. But the blessed man, to whom all the blessings of God belong, can hold no communion with such characters as these. He keeps himself pure…puts away evil things…comes out from among the wicked…bearing the reproach of Christ. What keeps him away from the counsel of the wicked, the path of sinners, the seat of scoffers? The law of Yahweh. The “blessed” man delights in God’s law and meditates on it day and night. The Word of God is never out of his thoughts. When he lies down to sleep and when he awakens in the morning, all the time and in everything, this man is secure in God’s Word. He doesn’t just know God’s Word, but he loves it, delights in it, finds his joy in it. His footsteps are ordered by the pure, clear sound of God’s wisdom ringing like a bell in his heart. God’s Word equips him to recognize the sins of the wicked and empowers him to walk away for the greater joy of belonging to God. We are living in uncertain times, yes, but what a gift God has given us in His Word! Let’s delight in it, enjoy it, daily feast on this heavenly bread, and be transformed by it to live in the happy understanding of His righteous will for us. Over the next few weeks we will be memorizing Psalm 1. Will you join us at Fighter Verses and begin this week to fight the good fight of faith by memorizing Psalm 1:1-2? We are praying for you. For Reflection The quote from Charles Spurgeon suggests a downward spiral of sin in verse 1. What are the three things the blessed man will not do? Do you see a progression in these? Think about a time when you especially “delighted” in God’s Word. What was the circumstance? Which of God’s commands addressed the situation and helped you make a godly choice? Read Psalm 1 and 2 this week. Make two columns on a sheet of paper (or in your Fighter Verses Journal) and list the contrasts of the righteous and the wicked you find there. Pray, asking God to give you a teachable heart and joy in your Bible study.

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. —James 1:4-5 James continues his encouragement for the believer’s joy in trials, because God is doing something greater and more wonderful than we imagined. He is testing our faith to give us steadfastness, and this steadfastness has the fruit of Christian maturity. For our study of these verses, let’s examine some key words. Steadfastness The Greek word is hupomoné and can be translated more fully as “patient perseverance with hopefulness.” This same Greek word is used in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” And in Colossians 1:9-11 we hear the echoes of James 1:2-5, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy… How precious to God is steadfastness and patience in the life of the believer! He never ceases to work this in us. As trials test and prove our oneness with Christ, the desire to “count it all joy” also increases in us. “Patient perseverance with hopefulness” becomes a reality in our lives. Perfect and Complete The word perfect is translated from the Greek word teleios meaning "brought to its end, finished, completeness.” The word “complete” is translated from the Greek word holokleros meaning perfectly sound, whole. The emphasis is on our being steady and whole—one with Christ and thereby firmly established in Him with unwavering faith. It is only in Christ that we find wholeness. In love, God brings difficult circumstances into our lives so that we will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to maturity. We find that in Him we lack nothing, for by God’s divine power, He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Wisdom The trials that come our way will reveal our sin, test our faith…and when in the fire, we can lose our ability to see the next step on the path of righteousness. There are perplexing situations where we find ourselves lacking in God’s wisdom. Questions arise in our minds about the most God-glorifying thing to do next. Should I speak or remain quiet? Run away or stand firm? Take bold action or devote myself to prayer only? Obey the government or practice civil disobedience? Accept this marriage proposal or not? Stay in ministry leadership or step down? Oh, how we need God’s wisdom! When wisdom is lacking, we must ask God to open the eyes of our heart to His Word. And through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we learn how to apply God’s wisdom to all of life. The Bible is the holy treasure of God’s wisdom and He has given it generously without reproach (1:5). This is grace—He gives His wisdom lavishly, not withholding it even though we are deserving of His rebuke and severity. The wisdom of God is not like the wisdom of this world and the Bible teaches us the differences. Test the wisdom you are trusting. In James 3:15-17 we read, Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and so lie against the truth. This is not wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Our decisions, and the motives behind them, can be weighed against the clear definitions of earthly and heavenly wisdom found in God’s Word. (Greek word translation notes taken from Spiru Zodhiates's The Complete Word Study New Testament ©1991 AMG International.) For Reflection Are you growing in Christian maturity or are you divided in your devotion to Christ? How does the teaching of James 1:2-5 help move you to steadfastness and wholeness? Are you in a difficult trial right now? How might God’s wisdom be applied to your situation? The Bible has much to teach us about wisdom. The book of Proverbs contrasts wisdom and folly. In his introduction to Proverbs, John MacArthur states, “Wisdom, which includes knowledge, understanding, instruction, discretion, and obedience, is built on the fear of the Lord and the Word of God. Folly is everything opposite to wisdom.” Are you practicing folly or seeking to obey God’s wisdom? Recommended Resources God’s Wisdom Wisdom Calls Aloud The Way of the Wise

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. —James 1:2-3 Key Words from James 1:2-3: Joy Meeting trials with joy is not flippancy or denial of what you are suffering. James is not saying, “just put on a happy face!” What then is this joy? The joy James calls us to is fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is true and strong (Nehemiah 8:10). This joy runs like a river deep and wide in our souls, flowing from the throne of grace, a river of assurance of being forgiven and accepted and adopted by the Father through Christ Jesus. It is the very presence of our Immanuel, God with us. For He is our life, and in Him is all the fullness of joy (Psalm 16). Our joyful heart will affect our emotions, but God does not intend for it to be the other way around. Steady and strengthening, joy does not change with our circumstances. Think of a mother about to give birth to her child. She has joy even in the pain of childbirth because the long-awaited fulfillment of her hope is coming. When she sees her child take his first breath, joy in her soul overflows to her emotions in tears of happiness. Trials There are trials of “various kinds” that will come our way in life. Our God, who loves us and knows everything about us, works each providential trial in our lives to test and mature us. Trials can be painful, but they come with purpose. He sends them to test our faith and build steadfastness in us. You may be tested with persecution for your faith; physical pain or illness; trials of mental illness or depression; financial struggles; the loss of a loved one through death, divorce, or their walking away from Christ. These are all very hard things and the pain is real, but God is greater. And as He deepens our faith in Him, the pain submits to His joy in us. Trials awaken us and remind us that we are the beloved children of our heavenly Father. Under His watchful eye, we can trust His testing of our faith as proof of His love for us (Hebrews 12:6). Faith & Steadfastness He has told us why He is sending the faith-testing trials—to produce a great blessing in us. Steadfastness. Trials that test our faith are not pleasant in the moment, but without them we will not learn steadfastness. We can be tempted and “lured away by our own desires” (James 1:14). But if we pass the test, our faith in God deepens. He will plant our feet firmly on the rock and keep us from doubting. Would there be a child of God who would want to be wavering in their faith? No! May the truth of His love and fatherly care prepare us now to receive with joy that test of faith He sends, and let it work in us steadfastness. For Reflection: The book of James is a letter written to Christians in the first century. And like most letters we receive, we want to read it from beginning to end in one sitting. This week take time to prayerfully read through the book of James. Knowing that joy is from the Lord and fruit of the Holy Spirit, what are some ways you can cultivate joy as you face various trials? Can you name some instances in your past when God tested you and proved your faith? What lessons did God teach you then that you can now apply in your present trials? Pray, asking God to give you unwavering joy and faith in Him (Psalm 34).

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. —Philippians 2:12-13 Our Fighter Verses passage this week begins with the word “therefore,” continuing the thread of God’s calling for believers. It is a connector that signals us to look at what came before and draw out application for our lives. We can go all the way back to Philippians 1:27, where Paul says, Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. Paul wants the believers in Philippi to keep in mind what he has previously said regarding the gospel, unity, and the humility of our Savior. Now he addresses them as “my beloved,” and we can feel his shepherding heart longing for them to be alert and heed the word of God. He says, “You have always obeyed,” now, in my absence, obey even more. The Philippians were very dear to Paul and he exhorts them to continue growing in godly maturity by obeying always. Children may be more likely to disobey if their parents aren’t looking on. But parents see real maturity in their children when they discover their children have obeyed even when no one was watching. This is Paul’s commendation here, “you have always obeyed,” coupled with an exhortation to obey even more when he isn’t there to see. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Do not lose heart as you continue in the goal until its conclusion. We have so great a salvation in Christ Jesus. And it has come to us as a gift, one of very high cost—the precious blood of Jesus. God has said, “this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). So with full and overflowing adoration and reverence, let us walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, continuing on in humility to the glorious finish line. “Let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (12:1-2). “...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Oh, what comfort it is that we are not being called to obey in our own strength. In fact, the endurance and obedience from the heart that is pleasing to God can only be accomplished by the working of God in us. The indwelling Holy Spirit, together with God’s Word, works this in us for His good pleasure. God is doing a glorious, maturing work in every believer, not for the believer’s joy only, but amazingly, for His own joy as well. For Reflection: What spiritual disciplines can help you cultivate the mind of Christ, His humility and obedience, and help you walk in a manner worthy of the gospel? Bible commentators note that “working out your salvation” requires an ongoing, mutual cooperation of the believer with the Holy Spirit in the things of God—saying no to sin and yes to God. What are some areas of your life that you are not in cooperation with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit? Take time now to pray about what God reveals to you.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, —Philippians 2:8-9 Our Fighter Verses passage this week continues Paul’s appeal to believers. Last week’s passage helps us to make the connection with Philippians 2:8-9, Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:5-7). Keep in focus the context for this second part which points us back to the admonition: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Last week, we memorized the beginning of the explanation of what it means to have the mind of Christ. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, born in the likeness of men, "And being found in human form"—form, not shape, but with a body and nature of a man, born in the flesh, being tempted in every way as we are, yet perfectly righteous, never sinning. "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient"—Christ’s humility and obedience is shown in His willingness to do His Father’s will at all times. "obedient to the point of death"—The depth of Christ’s humility is displayed in His obedience even as it leads to His death. Jesus, the Creator of all things now willingly subjects Himself to death (Colossians 1:15-20). "death on a cross"—Christ’s obedience never wavered. He willingly laid down His life. He was tempted even to the point of sweating great drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44), and tested with scourging, humiliation, mocking, and scorn. Christ, in obedience to His Father, and innocent of any sin, perfect in every way, died the death of a criminal, executed in the most torturous way devised by man, crucifixion. Therefore, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, The glorious result of Christ’s humility is God’s exaltation and declaration that Jesus has accomplished all His will, bestowing on Him authority and the name by which we must be saved. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) For Reflection When we become Christians, God’s Word teaches us the path of life in Christ. The Holy Spirit guides and empowers us to obey what we learn. In Luke 9:23, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. (When a person was sentenced to be crucified, they were ordered to take up their cross, and there was only one place that a cross-carrying person was going and that was to their death.) Jesus is calling us to follow Him, to die with Him and live by faith in Him. Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Jesus said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). What kind of exaltation would a humble believer receive? Can you name some instances in your own life where God humbled you and later lifted you up? Did it require you patiently waiting on Him?

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. —Matthew 11:28-30 Who is inviting and who will come? Invitations have a “from” and a “to.” The invitation in this week’s Fighter Verse passage comes from Jesus and is directed to those who will come to Him as children, those who have faith as a child, dependent and eager to learn. In Matthew 11:25-26, Jesus prays to His Father thanking Him for revealing His wisdom to little children. Then, in verse 27, Jesus declares His authority to make this invitation: "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Here we get a glimpse into the holy and intimate relationship of the Father and the Son. The Bible gives us many references to the authority of Jesus. In John 10:30 we read, “I and the Father are one.” and again, in John 14:9-11, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.…I am in the Father and the Father is in me…” And Colossians 1:19, “For in him [Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” The Invitation Jesus calls to you, “Come to me…” This is what qualifies this invitation. If we are hearing His call, we must know it is not a call to things such as material wealth, status, fame, or anything of this world. It is also not a call to keep the law of Moses or adhere to a church denomination. It is a very personal invitation to come to the One who knows all about you, and still invites you into His presence. And in coming to Him, what will you find? Rest. Rest in Jesus who has carried the burden of your sin at the cross. Rest for your soul through faith in Him. This invitation is the most important one you will ever receive. Proud vs. Teachable Pride can and will cause us to decline Christ’s invitation. Pride blinds us to our sin and need for redemption. Pride makes us feel self-sufficient, powerful, in control. Oh, the drudgery of carrying such a burden. But Jesus sees our hearts and, if we will come to Him, He will reveal Himself to us. Come, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” This rest is by faith in Christ and bears the fruit of joyful obedience. When we take the yoke of Jesus, we become locked in step with Him, no longer slaves of sin, but now slaves of righteousness. And we will have rest from the burdens we have tried to carry because He has said “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Oh, to be with Jesus, and live by His loving work in our souls; to take His yoke and learn from Him, to rest in His gentle companionship and reflect His lowly heart! For Reflection Have you heard this invitation from Jesus and resisted coming to Him? What do you think is keeping you from coming to Him? Is your soul restless? Are you carrying burdens you were not made to carry? What are they? How does Jesus fulfill your needs? What is “easy” about His yoke and “light” about His burden?

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. —James 1:12 The person who is blessed in the Lord is one to whom God has given eternal life through Jesus Christ and when tested, has remained steadfast. What is the meaning of “under trial”? Some Bible versions translate it as “when tempted” or “when provoked to do evil” and that gives us a good understanding. Think of a time when you were weak in the fight of faith. Perhaps you were facing something very difficult or maybe you were carrying on in life but lacked joy and purpose. Suddenly you felt pressed upon with various temptations to sin. What form did the temptation take? Did you doubt God? Were there thoughts of stepping out of His will and doing something on your own to “fix” the problem? Were you tempted to stop praying or reading your Bible or spending time with fellow Christians? In James 1:13, we read: Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own desire. When we are tempted by our own desires to make decisions that may seem right in the moment but are not God’s way, remember God’s love in the gift of His Son and remember the blessing He bestows on those who patiently endure the trial. When we remain steadfast in love and trust in Him, it is irrefutable evidence that we truly belong to Him. Though temptations still come, by His power we will stand firm, see them for the evil that they are and trust in God. In this, we will have stood the test and remained steadfast. His Word encourages us frequently about this: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4) As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:10-11 ) The crown of life is God’s promised reward for those who have shown their love for Him by persevering through trial and remaining faithful, steadfast, and true. Through faith in Him we are empowered to stand the test, no matter what temptations may come. This will be glorious evidence that we do believe: He will keep all His promises—eternal life with Him, the gift Christ has won for us and, the crown of life, God’s reward and recognition of the Christian’s victory over sin. That victory is won only through Christ Jesus our Lord. "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory" (Romans 11:36). For Reflection Are you weak right now, tempted? Perhaps you have given into temptation to sin. Oh, there is such wonderful assurance from God that if you will turn to Him and confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive your sin and cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Will you come to Him today? He will restore you and give you strength to stand. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” These have been difficult times in our world, times of testing and temptation to doubt God. Keep yourself in the love of God through prayer, and by memorizing and meditating on His Word. Hold fast to His promises and place your trust in Him, then turn and encourage others who are enduring trials. Read through the book of James this week. Write out what you find there about the proving of our faith and the perseverance of believers.