May 29, 2022

GOD'S REST

Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Encouraging Words

There will be a day for all of us who are followers of Christ where we will enter into His rest. Before we do that we will continue to do His work just as God has done His work. This rest will be perfect and eternal, a rest that is filled with love, mercy, and grace. Glory be to God!

May 28, 2022

Saint of the Week

St. Isaac the Syrian

May 27, 2022

EXHORTATION

Hebrews 3:13

but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Personal Challenge

We are encouraged by the author of Hebrews to be exhorting one another, building each other up. If we do not do this on a regular basis, then we take the risk of becoming hardened toward one another and our God. By exhorting and lifting up each other we are bringing the love of God to those around us. Glory be to God!

May 26, 2022

LIKE HIS BRETHREN

Hebrews 2:17-18

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Encouraging Words

This passage does a lot to sum up why Jesus became man and went to the cross. It was never possible for a High Priest to represent and intercede for the people of God unless He was one of them. He needed to be one of their brethren to know and understand the issues, challenges, and needs of their lives. Jesus had to do the same thing, be one of us, in order to represent and intercede for us. By doing this, He could show us both His great mercy and God's great mercy to us. By being the intermediary between us and God He could make propitiation for our sins. As a human, He Himself, has suffered, been tempted, lived a sinless life, and is able to aid us as we are tempted. This is our High Priest. Glory be to God!

May 25, 2022

TRAMPLING DOWN DEATH BY DEATH

Hebrews 2:14-15

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Encouraging Words

One of the most wonderful and encouraging teachings in the Eastern Orthodox church is not that Jesus died on the cross to be our substitutionary atonement to protect us from the ire of an angry, judgmental, capricious God, but that He became fully man while retaining His full nature of being God, so that by living a perfect, sinless life and dying on the cross an innocent and sinless human being, He could put death to death. He undid the curse of death that Adam brought upon us when he committed the first sin. He destroyed all power that Satan had on us and set us all free from the bondage of death. We are no longer slaves to death. Glory be to God!

May 24, 2022

THINGS TO AVOID

Titus 3:9-11

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Challenge

Division in the church is not a new thing. Even Paul had to write to Titus about it and how to deal with it. As then, we see similar developments in our Church of the day. Jesus spoke out against the institution of His day that had made the interpretations of the laws of God and the practices and traditions of the leaders in the church higher than God Himself. Jesus fulfilled the law and instituted a new covenant based on love. His new covenant spread throughout the known world adapting its delivery and the traditions to each culture. Paul continued this practice by becoming what was necessary in each culture that he went into in order to preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Today we see people trying to grab onto traditions and practices that they believe define the true church and abandon the true essence of the gospel...loving God and loving one another. We must be willing to avoid and reject these things in order to fully embrace our Lord and share His love. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

May 23, 2022

POURED OUT

Titus 3:4-8

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Encouraging Words

God is full of kindness and love for us, His creation. So much so, that His only begotten Son became man so that He could redeem us from our sin and save us from the ravages of death. To ensure that we stay close to Him and follow Him, He abundantly poured out the Holy Spirit to dwell within us making us joint heirs with our Lord in the Kingdom to come. We are not alone. We are blessed. We are justified by His grace. Glory be to God!