Author: David Short

Forgive a wrong done you by your neighbor;
Then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
Can a man preserve wrath against his neighbor
And still seek healing from the Lord?

Personal Challenge…

It is so easy to hold a grudge, and if we are not careful we begin to develop (and believe) justifications for this. However, we are commanded by or Lord to forgive our trespassers, for only in this do we develop the humility to receive God’s forgiveness. It is through our acts of forgiveness that we receive healing, both physical and spiritual. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Wisdom of Sirach 25:1 LXX

There are three things beautiful to see,
And they are beautiful before the Lord and men:
The harmony of brothers, friendship between neighbors,
And a wife and husband well-adjusted together.

Encouraging Words…

It is clear throughout the scriptures that our Lord desires that we live in unity one with another. These three examples provide enough to cover almost every aspect of our lives. The one that is often overlooked by those who are so keen on following monasticism is the relationship of the husband and the wife. St. John Chrysostom said of this verse: “For there is no relationship between man and man so close as that between man and wife, if they be joined together as they should be… nothing whatever is more precious than to be… loved by a wife and to love her.” (taken from the Orthodox Study Bible). My prayer today, and every day, is that I love my wife as Christ loved the church. What a blessing it is to be married to your best friend and sister and Christ. Glory be to God!

Wisdom of Sirach 22:27 LXX

Who will set a guard over my mouth,
And a prudent seal over my lips,
That I may not fall because of them,
And that my tongue may not destroy me?

Personal Challenge…

That which comes out of our mouths can either be edifying or destroying. Who determines which one it is? I do? I must be the guard of my mouth and tongue in order to control what I say. This starts by focusing on the purity of my heart and mind, both of which drive the rest of my actions. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

My son, have you sinned?
No longer add to them, but pray about your former sins.
Flee from sin as you would from the presence of a snake,
For if you approach it, it will bite you;
Its teeth are like lion’s teeth, destroying the souls of men.
All lawlessness is like a two- edged sword,
For there is no healing from its wound.

Personal Challenge…

Sin, whether it be by action or inaction, in thought or in deed, is something that besets all of us in this fallen world. In Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, by the grace of the Father, we can flee from sin. If we commit sin we can confess it, repent of it and flee from it, but we must still strive to be humble before our Lord. As we become more humble before Him we become more aware of our sins and of the temptations to sin and can run to our Lord quicker for forgiveness and strength. In Him we can become sinless.

Wisdom of Sirach 18:18-20 LXX

Before you speak, learn,
And before you get sick, take care of your health.
Before you make a judgment, examine yourself closely,
And in the hour of visitation you will find atonement.
Before you become sick, humble yourself;
And at the time of sinning, prove your conversion.

Personal Challenge…

Once again we are reminded that the life of a Christian is an active life. A life pursuing truth and righteousness. A life of sacrifice and putting oneself second to others. A life of humility and repentance. We are not to sit on our event of salvation but to work out our salvation every moment of our lives and all for Gods glory. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Who will measure His majestic power with a number,
And who will add to this measure
While describing His mercies?
There is no one who can add or subtract,
And there is no who can search out the wonders of the Lord.
When a man completes his search, then he starts over;
And when he stops, he will still be perplexed.

Encouraging Words…

We cannot contain the magnitude and glory of God. We cannot create a doctrine or a dogma that captures Him and defines who He is or what He does. He is greater than all of the collected writings and teachings of religious scholars. And yet He is our Lord and we are His children!

He gave mankind the ability to deliberate,
And a tongue, eyes and ears, and a heart to think with.
He filled them with the skill of comprehension
And showed them good and evil.
He set His eye upon their hearts
To show them the majesty of His works.
They will praise His holy name
So as to fully describe the majesty of His works.

Encouraging Words…

God created each and everyone of us in His image. In doing that He gave us the ability to think and process a situation so that we could ultimately choose between right and wrong. And He did not stop there, He placed within our hearts His eyes, the ability to see His majestic works. What are we to do with all of this? Praise His holy name! Choose to do good and not evil! Magnify His majesty! Glory be to God!

How great the mercy of the Lord is,
And His atonement for those who turn to Him.
For all things are not possible for man,
Because a son of man is not immortal.

Encouraging Words…

No matter how we look at life, or how much technology we create, or wealth that we amass, we are still mortal and finite. God, however, is immortal and full of mercy and atonement. All things are possible for Him. Glory be to God!

Wisdom of Sirach 14:20-22 LXX

Blessed is the man who practices wisdom
And discourses with insight.
Whoever ponders the ways of wisdom in his heart
Will also reflect on her secrets.
Pursue wisdom like a tracker
And lie in wait on her paths.

Encouraging Words…

Wisdom, true godly wisdom, is attainable. It does not just come from being learned, but also requires that we practice it, ponder on it, reflect on it, and pursue it. It makes so much sense that the early church fathers saw the wisdom of the old testament as christological text, for wisdom, divine wisdom, is embodied in Christ. I love the metaphor of pursuing wisdom like a tracker. Having done this, it requires patience, focus, stealth, discernment, and determination. Isn’t tis what we should be doing to become like Christ…pursuing Him like a tracker pursuing his prey.