Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments. Isa 52:1

I pray that you had a wonderful day of worship and gathering with the saints on this past Lord’s Day. Others can tell a lot about us in the way we dress. Our manner of dress can tell a lot about one’s attitude and activity. A businessperson or administrator will wear appropriate business attire for their work. An athlete will wear a workout suit or uniform for their practice or athletic event. Medical providers often wear scrubs and outdoor laborers, and workers wear protective clothing and safety gear. You may have heard “dress for success.” In the scripture passage we are told to “put on thy strength.” The scripture does not tell us to generate it by prayer and by strong determination, but simply put it on. Each day, as we awake to a new day of activities, let us put on the strength and might of the living Christ. He strengthens us with power “according to His riches in glory” (Phil 4:19). In His strength we are armed to “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11). In the strength of His word, we are “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17). My friend, let us not only dress to do the work of the Lord, but do it beautifully and with excellence. “Put on thy beautiful garments” so that others will see and come to know the love of Christ. His “beautiful garments” is the truth spoken in love (Eph 4:15), help given to others with graciousness and a joyful heart. His garments are the garments of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and generosity. The child of God is an emblem of life and light in the world’s darkness. Let us “awake out of sleep…cast off the works of darkness” (Rom 13:11-12) to put on the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ. “He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isa 61:10). Father, thank You for providing all I need according to Your riches in glory. You are my everlasting strength and hope. In the beauty of Your grace, may my thoughts, my words, and my actions be pleasing unto You in the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt 4:4

There comes a time when we must face the question “What are you living for?” Each day is filled with anticipation for greater fulfillment than yesterday, attention for a new beginning, a fresh start, or maybe anxiety for unresolved issues seems to hinder us from what we deem joys and pleasures in life. So often we are drawn to seek satisfaction in things that are the object of our desire rather than searching out substance that satisfies the soul. Pleasures in life tend to evade us until we obtain peace for our soul. All our striving, seeking, and searching seems so endless until we ask ourselves, “By what means are you living?” The scripture passage instructs us in the manner for which we find the desire of our heart and fulfillment for the soul. It is not by the objects of pleasure that one should live for, “but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” God created man and provided all that is ever needed “according to His riches in glory” (Phil 4:19). Man would enjoy God’s supply and have peace with God until he exchanged it for pleasure. From that moment, and even now, man has sought pleasure to fill what was made empty by sin against God’s word. Born in sin, we have an appetite for pleasure that clouds our judgement and blinds us to what is truly needed to fill and satisfy the eternal emptiness with the heart of man. Jesus, while alone in the wilderness, became tired and hungry. He was tempted by satan to please His hunger with provisions from the world. He resisted satan’s temptation and chose God over mammon. Jesus made “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” His number one priority. Jesus was obedient to the word of God to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33). God created us and gave us the appetites and desires within our bodies. The body is more than food. Dear friend, do not take your life out of God’s hand and give yours heart over to worldly passions, desires, and appetites. “Trust in the Lord, and do good…and feed on His faithfulness” (Ps 37:3). God will supply all your need, according to His riches in glory. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Ps 37:4). Father, thank You for peace with You through Your Son Jesus Christ. When I am tempted to exchange Your peace for worldly pleasure, strengthen my heart in Your word. You are my Strength, my Hope, and my Redeemer. I know that my Redeemer lives and I may “live…by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Eph 1:6