July 24, 2019

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE

Luke 10:9

And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Personal Challenge

One of the errors that we have grabbed on to in the church is that the Kingdom of God is coming... someday. Jesus taught us that with His incarnation, His being God and then becoming a human being, He threw open the gates to the Kingdom of God and made it possible for all of us to enter into it and experience it now, not sometime in the distant future. That is why He tells us to proclaim to the lost world that His Kingdom is here and that they too can participate in it. We too can heal the sick because we are residents in the Kingdom of God. Glory be to God!

July 23, 2019

DO NOT WEEP

Luke 7:13

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

Encouraging Words

Jesus is not some idle, out of reach, god that has been conceived in the mind of men. He walked upon this earth and changed the course of eternity by being both fully God and fully man. And while He was walking here amongst us He never lorded it over us. To the contrary, He had compassion for those whom He came into contact with and showed them God's love for them. He did what He asks us to do. Just as He told this widow whose only son had just died, to not weep, He tells us to not weep, to not be sad because this world is harsh and spiteful towards us. Just as He raised her son back up to life, He raises us up to life day after day. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

July 22, 2019

DOING

Luke 6:46

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Personal Challenge

If we really want to change our world for the better by introducing everyone to Christ, then we need to change our ways. We have become a people that proclaim Christ as our Lord, but don't do any of His commandments, like loving our neighbor in word and deed. God does not want just our words, He also wants our actions. Lord, have mercy!

July 21, 2019

HOLD FAST

Proverbs 1:22

“So long a time as the simple hold fast to righteousness,
They shall not be ashamed;”

Personal challenge

It is so easy in our Christian journey to become prideful and arrogant in what we perceive as our Christian-ness. We boast about the books we have read or the number of times that we have read the Bible. We are puffed up at our role in the church; I am on Parish Council, I teach Sunday School, I am a Deacon, I am... We strut around like we own the church, and even God Himself, because we donate a certain amount to the church. This Proverb reminds us that if we want to live a Christian life before God and our fellow human being that is without shame and full of righteousness, then we must proceed through our Christian journey as we did when we first met Christ, as simple, humble children, holding on tight to the hem of His robe lest we lose our way. He is the righteousness that we hold on to, not all of the prideful things above. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

July 20, 2019

Saint of the Week

St. Mark the Ascetic

July 19, 2019

WHOEVER DESIRES

Revelation 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Encouraging Words

Another promise of the future that awaits us. A future where we will never thirst, not just for water, but for anything. We are not just told of this promised world but told to come and partake of it. Glory be to God!

July 18, 2019

DWELLING WITH US

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Encouraging Words

God, our creator and sustainer, promises to dwell with us. That promise includes creating for us a place in eternity where there will be no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain. What a glorious and precious promise. Glory be to God!