December 30, 2021

STANDING FAST WITH LOVE

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

Encouraging Words

Paul finishes his letter to the Corinthians with this admonition. It is a great way to persevere through each day of life as we press on to that final day before we leave this earth to be with our Lord. We are to be constantly on the watch for Him and His eminent return. We have been given a faith in Him and His work. We are to stand fast in that faith. We must be brave and strong as we confront the things of this world and the challenges and temptations that come our way. And most importantly, we do all of this in love. Glory be to God!

December 29, 2021

NOT IN VAIN

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Encouraging Words

Sometimes it feels like living a Christian life is not worth it. We often fail new people coming into the Christian faith by painting this rosy picture of how wonderful it is to be a Christian. It is wonderful! It is freedom of the utmost kind! But it is a difficult life. If we are truly trying to be like Christ, then we will continually be at odds with the world that we live in. We must abandon the ways of the world, separate ourselves from the worlds' political and socio-economic way of thinking, and live the life that God calls us to. We must leave behind our preferences and desires so that we can embrace our Lord. This might mean getting a vaccine or wearing a mask for loving our neighbor and taking care of them is more important than our own preferences. It might mean doing things differently than how we want to do it because the good of the many is more important than the good of one...me. It means putting others first because that is what Jesus did. Being a Christian is not doing what I want to do, slapping a WWJD sticker on it, and calling it blessed by Him. It means doing what He has asked me to do, doing it joyfully, and not seeking any reward at the end. This is what it means to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 28, 2021

PEACE NOT CONFUSION

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Encouraging Words

Many of our churches today have become places where confusion and discord reign. This is clearly not of God. God is the author of peace and unity, not confusion and discord. We can hold onto this as a promise from Him. If we are not experiencing this in our community then we need to look to Him for direction and correction. Glory be to God!

December 25, 2021

LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Personal Challenge

Life is full of twists and turns as well as ups and downs. It can truly be a rollercoaster. Throughout life we have the opportunity to make many choices, all of which end up with many different consequences. One choice that we can always make, no matter what the circumstances are with respect to what is going on around us, is to love others. Love is above all as Paul points out here. Love also means that we have to make some tough decisions. As we abide in faith, hope, and love, these decisions will be guided by our Lord and the consequences will be bearable. Glory be to God!

December 20, 2021

FOR THE PROFIT OF ALL

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Encouraging Words

God has blessed us with the church, the Bride of Christ, as our safe place to work out our salvation. Part of what He does in that church, the body, is to grant different gifts to the members. These gifts are given for the express purpose of building up the church. We are to use our gifts for the profit of all and not just for ourselves. It is so rewarding to know your personal gifts that God has blessed you with and to be able to use them for His work. It is also very disheartening to know your gifts and to not be able to put them to work for the body. This often happens when others are jealous or fearful of the gifts of others. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 19, 2021

WHATEVER YOU DO

1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Personal Challenge

As a follower of Christ, we are supposed to be walking in the footsteps of our Lord and savior. This means that we try to live as He would. Jesus did not take any short cuts. He gave His all for His Father, and ultimately, all of us. What does this mean for us? It means that in whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God. We gave our all, 100%, plus anything else that we can muster. Are we asked to clean the toilets or vacuum the rugs, then we do it for His glory. Are we singing in the choir or teaching a class or working in the nursery, then we do it for His glory. And this does not stop with the church. In my job, at my home, when I go shopping, everything that I do should be for His glory. It saddens me that in the six decades that I have been trying to follow Jesus, I have seen this mindset dwindle down to be almost non-existent, not only in our society, but more sadly in our churches. We, those of us who practice Christianity, should be different than the rest of the world. We are quickly being indistinguishable from the world around us. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 18, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. John Chrysostom

December 17, 2021

LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS

1 Corinthians 10:24

Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

Personal Challenge

Life works out so much differently when we apply this principle of looking out for the well-being of others rather than seeking our own needs and desires. This is not only counter intuitive but it is also counter cultural. Our culture presses us to look out for ourselves, number one, and let everyone else fend for themselves. And where has this gotten us? We are at a place where lies are heralded as the truth. conspiracy theories abound, politicians and business leaders are corrupt and self-centered, and the common person is angry and misguided. If we hold on to the teachings and truths that we are all created in the image of God, that we are to love our God first and our neighbor second, that we are to die to ourselves so that others might be lifted up, and that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, then we will see a world around us in a much different way and be shakers and changers in our world. Glory be to God!

December 16, 2021

TAKE HEED

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Personal Challenge

No matter how spiritual we are, we are all still susceptible to temptations. Even Jesus, the son of God, was tempted. The first thing that we must do in light of these temptations is to recognize that we cannot resist them on our own. We need God to be there, through the Holy Spirit, to lead us through the temptation. Secondly, we can hold on to the promise that there will be no temptation coming our way that God is not there with us, making sure that we have the capability to resist it, providing us an escape, and giving us the power to bear it. God wants us to succeed in winning the battle with the enemy. Glory be to God!

December 15, 2021

THE CROWN

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Personal Challenge

What is the crown that we are each pursuing? For some it is the crown of fame. For some it is power. Others are pursuing wealth. Some even make their crown that they pursue, health. All of these crowns are temporal and will someday perish and be turned back into dust. These crowns are all uncertain and fleeting. As a follower of Christ, our pursuit should be for the imperishable crown, that crown that will be placed on our head by our Lord for running a race that glorifies Him. This crown comes from a life of discipline and persistence in our pursuit for our Lord, Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 14, 2021

RUN

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Personal Challenge

Life is like a race. A race that ever person who tries ever lived, who is alive now, and who will be alive until Jesus returns. In that race we are all striving to win the prize, the prize of eternal life with our King. He is the only one that can give us that trophy. He is the only one that has actually won that trophy. He is the one that is willing to share that trophy with us. Our part in this race is to run it as if we are the only one that can win it. We are to put our all into it, running relentlessly to the very end so that we can be crowned by Him at the end. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 13, 2021

FOOD

1 Corinthians 8:8

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

Encouraging Words

The Christians of the early church had a challenge to deal with that we do not have in this present age. They lived in a time when there were many gods celebrated and worshiped. Part of that worship was the sacrificing of animals to the gods. The problem came in where most of the food in the markets was food that had been used in these sacrificial ceremonies and then sold to the public. What was a Christian to do? How could they eat this food with a clear conscience? Paul reminded them that food is just that, food. He taught that they were free in Christ and that eating this food would have no impact on them. He also taught that their love and concern for their brothers and sisters was of utmost importance and that if eating this food would cause them to stumble, then don't eat it. It always comes down to loving others. Today this applies to wearing or not wearing masks, having a vaccine or not. Love for another is above all else. Glory be to God!

December 11, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Basil the Great

December 10, 2021

EQUALS IN MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:3-4

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Personal Challenge

In the Orthodox marriage ceremony, the bride and the groom put on crowns that are tied together with a ribbon. There is a time when the priest moves the crowns back and forth between the two. The bride and the groom or co-rulers in their marriage and household. They are the king and queen ruling side by side. As Paul elicits in this passage, they are expected to render themselves, give up their authority, to each other so that they can be unified in their marriage. Much of Western Christianity sets up a hierarchy between the husband and the wife with the husband having his dominion over their wife and family. This is not how God ordained marriage to work. Glory be to God!

December 9, 2021

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Personal Challenge

Is it possible to be a follower of Christ and live as everyone else in the world lives? Not really. God paid a very expensive price to redeem us from the grip of death and this world. He continues to pay a price by giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It is our responsibility, and our privilege, to glorify God in our body and spirit. This will always set us at odds with the world. We cannot be a true follower of Christ and a full blown citizen of this world at the same time. Only one of these will become our master. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 8, 2021

POWER OF CHOICE

1 Corinthians 6:12

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Encouraging Words

So many people turn away from the thought of becoming a follower of Christ because they think their life will be restricted by a myriad of rules and regulations. They believe it is too high of a price to pay. However, Paul points out to us that Jesus fulfilled the Law and that we are actually free in Christ. As we grow in our relationship with Him we begin to understand that we are really free to do whatever we want in life, but we choose to do those things that glorify and edify Him. The things of this world are no longer attractive to us. We also learn that pursuing the things of this world begins to bind us to this world and get in the way of our relationship with God. As we mature in Christ we gladly give up the things of this world for the things of God. Glory be to God!

December 7, 2021

WASHED, SANCTIFIED, AND JUSTIFIED

1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Encouraging Words

The preceding verses to this one calls out all of the things that we were before we became followers of Christ. We were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, and all other sorts of people that lived our lives apart from God. Anything, no matter how big or small, that separates us from God is bad and needs to be removed from our lives. As we enter into His family through baptism and chrismation, we are cleansed from these past sins and made whole before our Lord. Glory be to God!

December 6, 2021

WE ARE NOT JUDGES

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Personal Challenge

There are some in the church today that believe it is their responsibility to be judges of those in the world. That is not true. Only God can be the true godly and righteous judge. We are called to be beacons of light into a dark world, shining His light to all. This is bringing His Gospel to the lost. We cannot do this and be judges at the same time. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 5, 2021

FOOLS FOR CHRIST

1 Corinthians 4:10

We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

Personal Challenge

What is the most important thing in our lives? Is it Jesus Christ? If it is not, then something of this world is. Does the world look at us and our everyday behavior, and call us a fool because we have given ourselves over to Him and live as He would live? If not, then we are living for ourselves and not God. I must search my own life and identify those areas where I have not submitted to my Lord and seek forgiveness for holding on to the things of Egypt rather than yielding to the promised land. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 4, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Clement of Alexandria

December 3, 2021

SELF-DECEPTION

1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Personal Challenge

We so often confuse knowledge with wisdom. It is one thing to be very learned and full of a lot of information about things, even important things, but it is entirely something else to have the wisdom to know how or when to apply that knowledge. We have become a people of the information age and are experts at collecting a lot of information. But if we do not have the wisdom of God within us, and most importantly, are willing to listen to that voice of wisdom, then we are fools before God and man and deceived. It is more important to know God intimately than to know volumes of information about Him. He wants us to become fools in this world for Him so that He can make us wise in Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 2, 2021

SURPRISES AHEAD

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Encouraging Words

Just as we can never, in our finite state, know and understand the greatness of our God, we will never know until we enter into His Kingdom, the wonderful things that He has prepared for us. We do not just live our lives in the present day for the gifts that He has bestowed upon us, but we live in the hope of all that He has prepared for us into eternity. Glory be to God!

December 1, 2021

GLORY IN THE LORD

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

Personal Challenge

Being in a church that has rubrics that are followed on a regular basis, it can be easy to slip into a mindset where we begin to think that the adherence to those rubrics is what saves us or gives us righteousness. Not so! The rubrics are there to teach us discipline. It is like going to the gym. There are all forms of exercising equipment available to us. The equipment does not do anything to help us tone and shape our bodies unless we develop the discipline to use it properly. In our churches, it is Christ Jesus who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It is living in Him, practicing His teachings , and developing the discipline of walking in Him that makes us His children. Through Him, and Him alone, that we have glory. Glory be to God!