October 1, 2018

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

1 Corinthians 10:24

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

Personal Challenge

If you had to sum up the responsibility of a follower of Christ in a simple and succinct statement, it would be, "Put others before yourself." Isn't this what God did went He sent His son to be incarnated? Isn't this what Jesus did when He willingly went to the cross? Isn't this what Mary did when she said, "Yes!"? Isn't this what the prophets and the martyrs did when they died for our Lord? Isn't this what Jesus asked us to do when He asked us to take up our cross and follow Him? Lord, have mercy! Lord. have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

September 30, 2018

DISPARAGING GOD

Malachi 1:6

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then, I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the reverence due to me?” says the Lord Almighty. “You priests are the ones who disparage My name, yet you say, ‘In what way have we disparaged Your name?’”

Personal Challenge

So many of us today proclaim that we are Christians, yet if we watch the news, read the feeds of "social" media, and observe the behaviors of us, then we can see how God might accuse us of disparaging His name today. As Christians, we are commanded to love the Lord our God above all else. Do we really do that? Do we participate in our churches, practice prayer, do almsgiving, and do His works on a regular basis? Do we execute His second commandment to love our neighbor as much, or more, than we love ourselves? I don't think we do. I know that I don't. We disparage His name by living the way that we do. We cast a bad, dark light on who God is to those around us who do not know Him. We are called to honor Him and to glorify Him. That means in all aspects of our lives. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

September 29, 2018

Saint of the Week

St. Isaac the Syrian

September 28, 2018

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

I remember, back in my younger days, memorizing verse 13 of this passage. It is a powerful tool in our arsenal against sinning. To know that there is no temptation coming at us that has not come against many other people helps us to remember that we can say "No!" to the temptations because others have as well. Also knowing that God loves us so much that He will not let us be tempted beyond our capability to say "No!", to be able to exercise our own free will and walk away from the temptation and the potential sin that it could lead us to. God is there to help us beat the temptation. But it is verse 12 that sets this up and gives the power to verse 13. We must be careful that we do not stand tall in our pride thinking that we can withstand these temptations on our own for in doing so we are setting ourselves up for a fall, regardless of the escape that God is giving us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

September 27, 2018

HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE

Zechariah 9:9

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is righteous and saving; He is gentle and mounted upon a donkey, even a young foal.”

Encouraging Words

Even though this prophecy was given to God's chosen people in the day of Zechariah, we can claim this for ourselves. God's chosen people have always been the entire population of His creation. Israel was chosen to be a light to the rest of the world. We, the church, are His daughter of Zion, His daughter of Jerusalem. He, the King, came to us upon the young foal to give us life and claim us for His own. Glory be to God!

September 26, 2018

PROPER DISCIPLINE

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

As we strive to discipline our bodies and our passions through ascetical practices we must remember that it is not about just doing these things because they are there for us to do. Paul reminds us that we live this life of discipline with purpose and focus. We target those passions and sins that we know we need to take care of. We confess those areas of our lives, read scriptures that guide us through our discipline and do the right kinds of "exercises" to heal that part of our lives. My flight instructor from many years ago told me, "Practice does not make perfect! Perfect practice makes perfect!" Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner and correct my vision and focus!

September 25, 2018

OUT OF EXILE

Zechariah 8:7-8

Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Behold, I shall deliver My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. I shall bring them in and settle them in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be to Me a people and I will be to them a God in truth and in righteousness.’

Encouraging Words

Israel had been living in exile from their promised land for a long time. They desired to be home again. It was their sin that got them exiled and their continued sin that kept them there. Aren't we in a similar situation? Jesus proclaimed the He was establishing the new, heavenly kingdom with His incarnation. Heaven exists today and we can be living within its spiritual boundaries, yet we choose to sin and be exiled from it. Just as God promised the Israelites that He would bring them back to their promised land out of exile, He also promised us that through Christ, His incarnation, His sinless life, His death, burial, and resurrection, that we too will be brought out of exile into His present kingdom. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner, and bring me home.