Author: David Short

Saint of the Week
St. Francis of Assisi

SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

Hebrews 13:15-16

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Personal Challenge

As followers of Christ, it is incumbent upon us to be continually offering our sacrifices of praise to our God. For many this is a lively performance on Sundays at their church of choice. But it goes much further and deeper than that. It must include us offering the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name, constantly and consistently. Worship goes much deeper than a weekly performance. The praise from our lips must be accompanied by actions of doing God’s good works to those around us. Being a follower of Christ is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week commitment and must mirror that which Jesus would do. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

HE SENT A MESSENGER

Malachi 3:1-5

“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come into His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you desire. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord Almighty. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can withstand His appearance? For He enters like a refiner’s fire and as soap in one’s wash. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver and gold. He will purify the sons of Levi and pour them out as purified gold and silver, and they will bring an offering to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years.

“And I will draw near to you in judgment, a swift witness against sorcerers, adulterers, those who swear falsely by My name, those who exploit wage-earners, those who oppress widows and afflict orphans, those who pervert the justice due foreigners, and those who do not fear Me,” says the Lord Almighty.”

Personal Challenge

No one can blame God of being secretive. He has His mystery, which only God can understand, but when it comes to mankind needing to know God’s plan for them, He always gave, and continues to give, heads up. He is fully transparent. In the days before Jesus was born, He sent prophets to point His followers back to the narrow path. His final prophet was John the Baptist paving the for Jesus to establish His new kingdom. After He ascended back to heaven, He left us trained and prepared apostles to point us to Him. Through His apostles, the Church, and His living word, He has guided us for 2,000 years. We have no excuse to say that we do not know what He wants from us. The last verse in the passage for today makes it very clear what He wants from us. Jesus reiterated it in His parable about the last judgement (Matthew 25: 37-46). The essence of that passage is that we will be judged by God for how well we love our neighbor. Sobering words considering where our country has devolved to in these days. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

AN UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM

Hebrews 12:28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Encouraging Words

Jesus told us that the kingdom of God is amongst us. His promise to us that He would always be with us and would never forsake us ushered in His kingdom. This is a kingdom that cannot be shaken and will not be supplemented or replaced by any manmade kingdom. This is our opportunity, and responsibility, to serve Him in this kingdom acceptably unto God with reverence and godly fear. He does not need us to create or institute any earthly rendition of His kingdom that will distract us, and others, from His Kingdom. Glory be to God!

DISPARAGED HIS NAME

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

For those who are truly followers of Christ, what must be done to honor God and to give Him the reverence that is due Him? For starters, it is not establishing a “Christian”nation. It is not posting the 10 commandments everywhere. It is most definitely not shutting down programs and processes that feed the poor and hungry, clothe the naked, and provides health services to those who are, or could be sick. It is also not taking away gainful employment from hard working, dedicated employees. This list can go on and on condemning those who call themselves Christians, lift their hands in a mockery of prayer, or brandish a Bible as if it was a weapon. So what do we need to do to honor God and show Him reverence? Jesus told us. Love God with all of our heart, soul, body, and spirit, and love our neighbor as ourself. He was pretty clear about that. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

A CLOUD OF WITNESSES

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Personal Challenge

We are not on our journey through life as followers of Christ on our own. We have all those who have gone before us, including Jesus, that have laid the ground work and established the footprints for us to follow. We can lay aside those things that would get in our way; every weight, every ensnaring sin, and any other incumbrances, and embrace Jesus to lead us. We can run the race with endurance looking to Jesus to help us through to then end. Thanks be to God!

REJOICE

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

The modern religious movement that calls themselves Christians are making the same mistake that the Jewish religious leaders and zealots did in the day of Jesus’ time here on earth. The are looking for Jesus to be a king riding on a stallion, wielding a sword, and judging everyone but them. This prophecy in Zechariah still rings true today. Jesus is still riding into the hearts and souls of people, gentle and mounted on a donkey. He still calls to us as the humble Son of God with love and mercy. And He expects us to be loving, merciful, and humble toward those around us. Glory be to God!

Saint of the Week
St. Paisios the Athonite

ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

Hebrews 11:17-19

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Encouraging Words

The early church fathers, those who were the apostles and those later taught by the apostles, recognized that Jesus was the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament, or old covenant. They recognized that it was critical to go back through the Old Testament scriptures and interpret them with that focus on Jesus. Everything changed from the Judaic interpretations. Many of the scriptures became less important as literal accounts and more important as to the messages God was giving us. In the story of Abraham offering up his son Isaac as a sacrifice, it became a story of God’s love for His creation and that it was such a deep love that He was willing to give up is only begotten Son so that He could gain us back from our sinful brokenness. That is unconditional love, relentless compassion, and unlimited mercy. Glory be to God!

OUR DELIVERANCE

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

The Apostle Paul refers to the followers of Christ as ambassadors for God. We are here on earth as emissaries for Him. Our true residence is in the Kingdom of God and we are here to encourage others to join His family. This prophecy in Zechariah reminds us that in God’s time, He will gather together His ambassadors into His new and Holy City. This is our hope and our job is to share His love with others. Glory be to God!