PEACE AND EDIFICATION
Romans 14:19
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Personal Challenge
Paul concludes his discussion on loving our fellow Christians by challenging us to pursue those things in our relationships that result in peace and edification of one another. In order to do this, we must be willing to humble ourselves and put others first. Even if our doctrines are slightly different, as long as we are followers of Christ, we are family. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
DIRECT MY STEPS
Psalms 119:133 (118:133)
Direct my steps according to Your teaching
And let no lawlessness rule over me.
Encouraging Words
We have seen two passages in this psalm that show us how God provides His light to guide us on our path through life. He does not stop there. He is willing to direct our steps on that path according to His teaching and guidance. We just need to be willing to follow His direction. We can also pray to Him asking that we be protected from the lawlessness of this world that will try to distract us from Him. Glory be to God!
STUMBLING BLOCKS
Romans 14:12-13
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
Personal Challenge
When Paul wrote this letter there was only one Holy catholic and apostolic church. They were already dealing with heresies and wrong teaching, but they were not yet divided as we are today. His message here is more important today than ever. We are told to take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what. Whether they are Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant, as long as they are followers of Christ, we are not to judge them or be stumbling blocks to them. Sobering thoughts in this day with our Christian faith practice so divided and hostile towards each other. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
LIGHT
Psalms 119:130 (118:130)
The revelation of Your words gives light,
And it causes children to understand.
Encouraging Words
We all need light to see in the dark. Since we live in a dark and fallen world, we need a light that is spiritual and pierces through that darkness. God's living Word provides that light and helps us, His children, to see and understand the way. Glory be to God!
DO NOT JUDGE
Romans 14:7-10
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Personal Challenge
Jesus told His disciples, and ultimately all of us, in Matthew 7:1-2,
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Too many who proclaim to be followers of Christ choose to put on the robe of the judge and measure others against a standard that they hold for others and not even themselves. This is a dangerous thing to do. God, and only God, is the judge of the actions of each and every person. Only He knows their hearts. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
HIS WORD
Psalms 119:105 (118:105)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my paths.
Encouraging Words
Why is it so important for those of us who choose to follow in the footsteps of Christ to continue to be in the scriptures? One very important reason is clearly articulated in this verse. We live in a fallen world, a dark and dangerous world. By staying in God's word, we have a bright and consistent light to lead us on the path that leads us to heaven. Glory be to God!
Saint of the Week
St. Diadochos of Photiki
DO NOT JUDGE
Romans 14:3-4
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
Personal Challenge
The Christian Church is currently in the season of Lent. The Western Church is winding down to Palm Sunday this weekend and the Eastern Church is in the midst of their first week of Lent. A common practice in both in this season of Lent is fasting. This is to be a time of soul searching and repentance as we prepare for the upcoming, Easter/Pascha celebration. Unfortunately, it is also a time where many people begin to of judge others on how they are doing, or not doing, with their Lenten practices. Paul makes it clear that what another does, or doesn't do, is none of our business. We have a big enough job looking after our own lives. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
FOREVER
Psalms 119:89 (118:89)
Forever, O Lord,
Your word continues in heaven.
Encouraging Words
Christianity has only been around for 2,000 years, however, the God that we worship is eternal. His word is eternal and became flesh 2, 000 years ago. No other religion of cult can claim this truth. That very God, who is eternal, has loved us from the beginning of time and desired for us to be His children. this truly is encouraging. Glory be to God!
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Romans 13:8-10
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Personal Challenge
We have come to a significant crossroad in our day with institutional Christianity. We are hearing so many people; church leaders, church participants, elected officials all proclaiming the label of Christian, and yet, treating their neighbors with contempt and hatred. This is antithetical to the teachings of the Christian faith. God has made it undeniably clear that we are to love our neighbor and do them no harm. If we desire to claim that we are a child of God, then we must look honestly at our behavior in this area. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
COMPASSION
Psalms 119:77 (118:77)
Let Your compassions come to me, and I shall live;
For Your law is my meditation.
Personal Challenge
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are challenged to walk in His footsteps, to be like Him, to act like Him. As the Psalmist here calls out for the compassions of God, we are reminded that Jesus was God's compassion for us made incarnate. He poured out His compassion by humbling Himself and becoming human. If we are to truly be His followers, then we too must humble ourselves and be compassionate to those whom He brings into our life. This means everyone, the immigrant, the indigent, the homeless, the sinner, everyone! Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner and forgive me for not showing compassion to my neighbor.
BE SUBJECT TO
Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Personal Challenge
One of the unchristian behaviors that I have seen in my lifetime is the blatant resistance to the leaders of our government. God has Appointed the leaders that we have. We are charged with submit ting to them and praying for them. We are blessed to live in a time and country where if we disagree with them, we can vote against them. We are to exercise that right with prayerful consideration and then treat those who are voted into office with godly respect. When the world around us begins to dehumanize and disrespect these leaders, we are not supposed to join in. That makes us complicit with the ways of the world, which are driven by the enemy of God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
IN HIS WAY
Psalms 119:37 (118:37)
Turn away my eyes that I may not see vanity;
Give me life in Your way.
Personal Challenge
This is one thing that we so often neglect to seek after...God giving us life in His own way. We are constantly trying to shape that which goes on around us in our own ways and not His. This is why we so often end up committing sin and needing to run back to him. He has a way that will always lead us on His path. We need to take our eyes off the vane things of this world and keep them on Him. Glory be to God!
Saint of the Week
St. Basil the Great
WISE IN OUR OWN OPINION
Romans 12:14-18
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Personal Challenge
This passage is full of wise advice on how to live our lives in godly ways. Bless our persecutors. Do not curse. Rejoice and weep with those who need it. Be like minded with our brothers and sisters. Don't focus on high and mighty things but be humble. Don't repay evil with evil. Have regard for others and live peaceably with all. But, at the center of this list is the charge to not be wise in our own opinion. This is the one the gets us in to trouble more often than not. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
HIS TEACHINGS
Psalms 119:11 (118:11)
I hid Your teachings in my heart
So as not to sin against You.
Personal Challenge
As I get older, I recognize how important it has been to store up God's words in my heart. As my memory begins to wane His teachings continue to be there for me. I may not be able to recall them all the time, but they do continue to lead and comfort me. Glory be to God!
SEARCHING
Psalms 119:2 (118:2)
Blessed are those who search out His testimonies;
They shall search for Him with their whole heart.
Personal Challenge
We all desire to receive God's blessing. This is part of being created in the image of God. We desire to be connected with our creator. If we truly desire to receive His blessing, then we must be searching for Him in all aspects of life. He placed Himself throughout all of creation. We can find those testimonies about Himself by searching for them, for Him. We need do this with our whole heart. This is not a search for knowledge but a search for God Himself. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy on me as I search for You in every nook and cranny of life!
WITHOUT HYPOCRISY
Romans 12:9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Personal Challenge
This short verse packs quite a wallop. We all have heard the two great commandments given to us by Jesus... Love God and love our neighbor. But like so many other things in the Christian walk, we can slip into a mode where we are pretending to love this way. Paul reminds us that we must love without being hypocrites. Is our love true and real? Is it Christ-like. Do we really abhor evil or just talk about it? Do we cling to what is good like our life depends on it? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
THIS IS THE DAY
Psalms 118:24 (117:24)
This is the day the Lord made;
Let us greatly rejoice, and be glad therein.
Encouraging Words
As I look out the window on this beautiful spring-like day and listen to the birds and squirrels chattering outside, this verse comes fully to life. This is the beautiful day that He has given me to enjoy in Him. How can I not greatly rejoice and be glad in it? We so often let the busyness of life get in the way of every day like this. Glory be to God for He is good!
ONE BODY
Romans 12:4-5
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Personal Challenge
These verses so clearly inform us on how we should behave with our brothers and sisters in our church community. It takes everyone with their gifts and talents to make the body work effectively. What about how we interact with other Christian communities that also follow Christ, but might do that a little different than we do? We are still all one body in Christ, and we must recognize that God needs us all to build His kingdom. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
TRUST AND HOPE
Psalms 118:8-9 (117:8-9)
It is good to trust in the Lord
Rather than to trust in man;
It is good to hope in the Lord
Rather than to hope in rulers.
Personal Challenge
It is difficult for us finite human beings to not put our hope and trust in fellow humans. God is the only one that we can trust. Putting our unwavering and total trust in people of this world will only end in bad results. Putting our hope in people leads us down their path and their ways, which will never end up God's ways. God deserves our complete trust and hope, and He will never lead us astray Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Saint of the Week
St. Gregory of Nazianzen
A LIVING SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Personal Challenge
Jesus paved the way for us to be able to live our lives as living sacrifices. He was the first to be a living sacrifice. He gave His entire life for His Father and us. He died for us. And He came back to life from the grave after completing His work of defeating death so that we would have eternal life with Him. The ask for us to sacrifice ourselves to this world is an ask for us to follow in His footsteps and to live for Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
