August 29, 2022

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Encouraging Words

Who is it that forgives us of our sins? God, and God alone. We are charged here to confess our sins to our Lord in order to receive is His forgiveness, which He gives fully and freely. In the Orthodox faith practice we have the practice of confession. It is clearly taught that our priest is not the one who forgives our sins, neither does he absolve us of our sins. He is there to fulfill another admonition in the scriptures to "confess our sins to one another". Our confession and subsequent forgiveness is between God and us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner?

August 24, 2022

LIGHT VERSUS DARK

1 John 1:5-7

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Encouraging Words

Jesus is light, the light of God shining into this dark and dreary world. His light is warming and encouraging, especially in those times when we feel overcome by the darkness around us. His light is illuminating, revealing to us those dark areas in our lives that we need to purge so that we can live for Him. We can choose to live in His light or stay in the darkness, but life is only in His light. Glory be to God!

August 23, 2022

SEEN, HEARD, AND TOUCHED

1 John 1:1-3

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Encouraging Words

Our Christian belief and faith is not based on some legend or myth. It is not a story that is made up to generate a following. Jesus Christ was a real man, born of a virgin, and grew into a man. He was fully human as witnessed by many and documented in history. Based on the works and miracles that He performed, including the resurrection from death, He was clearly the Son of God, fully human and fully God. This too was witnessed by many and documented in the annals of history. Jesus was seen, heard, and touched as evidence that He walked upon this earth and did miraculous things. This is the Lord that I worship and choose to submit my life to. This is the Lord that I serve. Glory be to God!

August 22, 2022

LONG SUFFERING

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Encouraging Words

Throughout the last 2000 years, the faithful in Christ have been waiting for His return. He promised that He would return and end this world of suffering and pain. Has this waiting been in vain? No! God does not desire that any of His creation should perish. His is long suffering toward us and giving all an opportunity to repent and turn to Him. Glory be to God!

August 21, 2022

BUILDING BLOCKS OF FAITH

2 Peter 1:5-7

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Personal Challenge

Our journey to eternal life with our Lord starts with our faith in Him. But it does not stop there. That is just the beginning. Our lives should be changed by Him to be living more in His image and continuing to change until the day that we die. Peter gives us some building blocks that can help our faith to grow. We begin by pursuing virtue, doing the right things for God. We add to that knowledge, knowledge about God, who He is, and what He desires of us. We continue our growth by exercising self-control based on that knowledge. Next comes perseverance, for as we grow in the image of God others will begin to persecute us. Based on that perseverance, we add the godliness that God bestows on us. With this foundation in place we can add brotherly kindness topping it off with love. This is a journey worth embarking upon. Glory be to God!

August 20, 2022

Saint of the Week

St. Nikon of Optina

August 19, 2022

THE DIVINE NATURE

2 Peter 1:2-4

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Encouraging Words

We live in two realms simultaneously. The realm that we are most familiar with is the physical realm. Our bodies are temporal and this is the realm that sustains them. We also live in the spiritual realm. It is all around us. Due to our fallenness and the impact of the fall to all around us, we do not see this realm unless God opens the eyes of our souls to see this realm. Even so, because of the work of Jesus, we have been brought into this spiritual realm and blessed to be considered joint heirs with Him in the kingdom of heaven. We are partakers in the divine nature by the grace of God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 18, 2022

STEADFAST IN THE FAITH

1 Peter 5:8-10

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Personal Challenge

Our enemy, our adversary, the devil, will use whatever means he can to thwart us in our relationship with God and our neighbor. He will even use our brothers and sisters in Christ, if he can get a foothold in their lives. This is part of the charter here, to be sober and vigilant. This is not only needed to be prepared to deal with him and his willy schemes against us, but to make sure that he doesn't hook us into being a stumbling block for another. The core to resisting him is to be steadfast in our faith. This steadfastness must be at all times, not just when we are under attack. By doing this and persevering, Jesus will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. Glory be to God!

August 17, 2022

RETURN TO GOD

Tobit 13:6

If you return to Him with all your heart
And with all your soul,
To do the truth before Him,
Then He will turn to you
And not hide His presence from you.

Encouraging Words

All of us, like sheep, have gone astray from our God once or more in our lives. It is us who have changed in these situations, not God. He is always constant. When we recognize that we have wandered away, repent, and return to Him with all our heart and soul, then He will embrace us and hold us near to Him. Glory be to God!

August 16, 2022

HE CARES

1 Peter 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Encouraged Words

We humble ourselves before our God because we know that we owe everything to Him. He conceived us and has given us every breath that we breathe and every beat of our heart. We know that He will exalt us in His due time for humbling ourselves before Him. We cast our cares upon Him for we know He cares for us. Glory be to God!

August 15, 2022

HUMILITY

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Personal Challenge

One of the descriptive words of a key behavior of a follower of Christ is "submission". We are to embrace humility and live a life of submission. We submit, first and foremost, to our God and strive to live His ways. We submit ourselves to one another in love so that their needs may be met. We submit to our elders for they have gone before us and have much to offer us. We submit to our leaders because God has put them there for a reason. The entire core of this submissive mindset is founded upon a desire to be humble before our God. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 14, 2022

MINISTERING OUR GIFTS

1 Peter 4:10-12

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Personal Challenge

Each follower of Christ is given one or more gifts. These gifts can be found throughout the New Testament. It is our responsibility to use these gifts to build up the kingdom of God and to glorify Him. Almost all of these gifts are to be used in relationship to those around us, those whom God has placed in our lives. Glory be to God!

August 13, 2022

Saint of the Week

St. John of Kronstadt

August 12, 2022

FERVENT LOVE

1 Peter 4:7-9

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Personal Challenges

As followers of Christ, we are called to love one another, whether inside the church or out, whether a righteous person or a sinner, whether they treat us nice or not. This is really not a choice, it is an expectation. We do this because by the example of Jesus we see "that "love covers a multitude of sins". Part of these acts of love mean that we be hospitable to those around us, especially those who come into our homes and churches. This kind of love and hospitality is to be expressed fervently. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 11, 2022

THE HOPE WITHIN

1 Peter 3:13-17

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Personal Challenge

Why is it that people, quite often people in the church, treat others with such disdain and animosity, especially when they don't take the time to reach out to them to find out what is going on in their lives? Why do people make assumptions of others' intents and then go off treating them based on those assumptions rather than showing them the love of Christ. Sometimes we make decisions to do what we believe is right in the eyes of God, just to be looked down upon and sneered at by those who are not willing to at least ask us if we are doing okay. I am so thankful for the hope that is within me that comes from my Lord. It is this hope that keeps me moving forward even in the midst of those who are unhappy with my decisions. They can attempt to defame me as an evil doer. They can revile me for my good conduct in the Lord. But in the end it is they who will be ashamed. This may be part of all of our journeys in Christ at some point in time. It is never easy. It is always painful when people that you have loved and served alongside of revile you and snub you because you are no longer fitting their model and attempting to follow where you believe you are being led. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 9, 2022

LIVING AMONGST OTHERS

1 Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”

Personal Challenge

Let's face it. If we truly desire to live a Christian life, then our behavior must change. We cannot do as we please or as we have always done and expect God to bless it. Are our actions any different than the non-Christian world around us? Do we get wrapped up in political agendas and divisive arguments like the rest of the world around us? Do speak evil and deceitfully of others? Do we seek peace or revel in the discord of our world? Are we different? Are we set apart? Do we do all that we do in our lives, our families, our churches, and our going in and going out in love or are we legalistic and controlling, God has called us to be like His Son and to love Him and our neighbor. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 8, 2022

HONORING OUR WIVES

1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 

Command with a Promise

Peter gives us a detailed discourse on how Christians should be in relationship with others. This verse instructs husbands to honor their wives, to take care of them and to protect them in this harsh world. We are to treat them as our equals and full partners throughout life. And what is the promise that goes with this behavior? Our prayers will not be hindered. Glory be to God!

August 5, 2022

DEALING WITH SUFFERING

1 Peter 2:19-20

For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Personal Challenge

Life is difficult. If we are striving to live godly lives it can be even more difficult We must remember that even after Jesus spent three years healing people and teaching God's truths, He was still crucified. Peter reminds us here that if we suffer for our commitment to Jesus that we should take it patiently because it is commendable before God. Of course, it is not easy to live this way but by His grace we will be able to do it. Glory be to God!

August 3, 2022

LIVING IN THE WORLD

1 Peter 2:12

having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

Personal Challenge

I have always tried to be aware of the saying, "You are so heavenly minded, that you are of no earthly good." We, as Christians, are ambassadors of heaven living here on earth. That means that we are to be representing God to all that we come into contact with. I know far too many who profess to follow Christ and who are so focused on heavenly things, church things, that they end up being negligent, or even  sometimes abusive, to their families, their coworkers, and everyone else around them. Even Jesus gave up His place in heaven to become one of us and to share God's love with all of creation. We are supposed to live in such a way that those around us who do not yet know God might want to meet Him. This is our personal challenge. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 2, 2022

CHOSEN FOR A PURPOSE

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Encouraging Words

As Christians, we have been chosen, or set apart, for a reason. We are to proclaim praises to our God who has called us out of the darkness of this world into His marvelous light. We cannot fully experience being His royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own special people until we are willing to proclaim Him. Glory be to God!

August 1, 2022

WHAT DO WE DESIRE?

1 Peter 2:1-3

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Personal Challenge

As Christians, our continuous desire should be to be in the presence of our Lord, to be able to eat of His banquet table, and to be able to do His good works. We should desire to be growing in the image of our Lord at all times In order to have this desire, and to fulfill it, we must lay aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking because these will all get between us and our Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

July 31, 2022

BE HOLY

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Personal Challenge

It can be difficult to live the life that we are called to live as Christians. We still live in a fallen world. We are charged with being salt and light to those in this fallen world so that others might come to know Jesus as well. We are not alone in our quest to be holy as our Lord is. We have the Holy Spirit to help us. We have our community of fellow believers. Even this can be difficult, it is definitely worth the effort. Glory be to God!

July 30, 2022

Saint of the Week

St. Isaac the Syrian