July 12, 2012

Romans 10:8-13 NASB

But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart”--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

Encouraging Words...

How is it that we have come to practice that the only revelation of God is that which has been printed on paper? Paul, who wrote this letter to the Romans years before there was a published Bible, tells us that the Word is near us, it is in our mouth and our heart God's Word most certainly comes to us through the written Word, the Holy Bible, but it also comes to us through the traditions and teachings of the church. I have been asked why am I interested in worshiping in a way, a method, that dates back to the first century. It is because even this is part of the Word of God, the Word that has been passed from generation to generation with little change. This living Word, this tradition, does not have to doctored up with multimedia or theatrical flare, because it is a way that has been handed from generation to generation. And through it all, what truly rings important is whether or not we believe in Him, if we call upon His name, confess and profess Him.

July 11, 2012

Luke 11:28 NIV

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Personal Challenge...

This is Jesus speaking. Contrary to popular belief, the word of God that is referred to here is not just the Bible as we know it today. Yes, this is part of God's instructions to us, but we are also to be obedient to the traditions of the church and the teachings that have been handed down by those saints that have gone before us. The Christian life is one of submission and obedience. It is not about having it my way, but about me submitting and serving.

July 10, 2012

Proverbs 16:32 NASB

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

Personal Challenge...

Theosis ("deification," "divinization") is the process of a worshiper becoming free of hamartía ("missing the mark"), being united with God, beginning in this life and later consummated in bodily resurrection. Our journey through life as Christians is the process of theosis, the process of being united with God. This journey involves challenges such as these presented in Proverbs 16:32, being slow to anger, ruling our spirit. Even through the challenges of living this way can be significant I am thankful for the opportunities that God presents to us to know Him better and to strive to be like His Son.

July 7, 2012

Psalm 100 NASB

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.

Encouraging Words...

In the Orthodox Church we view people, God's creation, as diamonds covered with mud. We are created in God's image and it is through our walk with Him, our journey through theosis, that the mud gets washed away to reveal His likeness. This is so much different than the perspective that we are heaps of dung. Try reading this passage and the rest of the scripture through the eyes of Orthodoxy and things will look so different.

July 5, 2012

Psalm 18:32 NLT

God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

Encouraging Words...

"He makes my way perfect." I am sure that many read this in the expect God to give them a perfect life. However, it is His perfection that is being worked out in my life, not my perfection. If I am truly trying to walk in His path, to become more like Jesus, to grow in my theosis, then the perfect way that He make for me is His perfection. And all the while that He is doing this He is arming me with the strength that I need to follow in His path.

July 3, 2012

2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Celebrating July 4th...

This statement was made to Solomon by the LORD, the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, after he had finished building the temple for the LORD and seeking His blessing. Our LORD wants to bless us, to bless our land, to bless His people, but He also wants us to pursue Him, to humble ourselves before Him, and to turn from our worldly ways. This is not about a country such as the United States, but about her people, especially her people that claim to be Christians.

July 2, 2012

1 John 4:15-16 NASB

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Encouraging Words...

God is love...what a wonderful blessing its is to know that God is love and those who abide in love abide in Him. And how do we abide in Him, by confessing that Jesus is His Son. It is such a great mystery, but nonetheless, it is His work.