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1 John 2:7

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

Personal Challenge

What is this old commandment that John is referring to? It is the core of all of the laws of the Old Testament and the essence of the life of Christ…that we love as Christ loved us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, and teach me to love as You love!

2 Corinthians 3:1-3

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Encouraging Words

I was raised in a household, and an age in our society where I often heard truisms like: “Talk is cheap!” “Put your money where your mouth is!” “Actions speak louder than words!” Here Paul lashes out at those who are purporting to be better than him, more godly than him, because they have some letters, most likely forged, of commendation touting their authority. This phenomenon still continues today. We see all kinds of “personal” opinion on government, politics, Christianity, and every other aspect of life, often given because of some letter of commendation, whether it be a diploma or a list of books read and acting as if this proves that experience backs up this letter. Is there any wonder why the scriptures, and especially our Lord, tell us that we will be measured by the fruit of our labor and not our thoughts, words, and theories that come out of our mouths. Still, “Actions speak louder than words!” Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Encouraging Words

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, stands at the doors of our heart and life pursuing us. He desires to be invited into our lives so that we can have fellowship and communion with Him. He desires to be invited into our hearts so that we can be in an intimate relationship with Him. And every time we shut Him out so that we can things our own way, He remains there, knocking, and seeking readmittance. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

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

What a blessing it is to be able to go through each day knowing that this is how it will all end up. Glory be to God!

Psalm 120:1-4 (119(1-4 LXX)

To the Lord in my affliction
I cried out, and He heard me.
O Lord, deliver my soul from unjust lips
And from a deceitful tongue.
What should be given You, and what added to You,
Against a deceitful tongue?
The arrows of the Mighty One are sharpened
With hot coals from the desert.

Encouraging Words

Our Lord is always there for us. He is able to withstand andy evil and deceitful tongue that should try to defame Him. And, as His child, He will surround me with His love and protection so that I too will be able to withstand any evil and deceitful tongue that should try to defame me…for I am His!

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

My priest is always reminding us, his parishioners, that our lives as Christians is not a sprint, but a marathon. He knows that we can get burned out if we try to become the uber-Christian all at once and not spend the time building up our practices of faith and traditions. We fast so that we can learn to discipline and control our bodies and minds, but we take time learning to fast. We participate in the liturgy and other activities of the church, but not all at once. We learn to love our neighbors, take care of those in need, and give our wealth and other resources, but only after we have learned to be nurtured so that we can nurture others. Another aspect of all of this is that we learn, grow and exercise within the context of what our life is. I do not practice to run a marathon if the sport that I am engaged in is boxing or vice versa. So, if this is the case, then why would I spend most of my time learning and practicing all that a monastic would do if I am married, have a family, and will never be a monastic? I can learn from the saints and fathers that lived out their holiness in their marriages and with their children. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Corinthians 7:3-4

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Encouraging Words

There is a practice that is followed in many Protestant faith practices that truly has no place in the body of Christ. It is dominionism, which includes within it the belief that the wife must be fully submissive to the husband and that he basically acts as the lord of his household. Paul and the early church fathers taught that the husband and wife are equally joined together as co-heads of their marriage and their household. Even in Genesis we are taught that the two have become one flesh and that the single unit is responsible for the marriage, the family, and everything else in life going forward. What a blessing to be a part of Christ’s Church that believes this and fosters it in all aspects of its traditions. Glory be to God!

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Personal Challenge

Paul has just finished reminding the brothers and sisters in Corinth that it is their responsibility to discipline a member of their church for living an openly sinful life. He encourages them to do this in a loving, caring, way, but to do it so that the person may be brought back to Christ. He also warns them, and us, however, that they do not have the right to judge someone who is outside of the body of believers for the sins in their lives. To the contrary, we are to show them the love of Christ in order to win them to Christ. Today, with the advent of the internet and social media, so many in the church have determined that they have the right and authority to judge everyone in the world who does not conform to their beliefs. This, in and of itself, is a sin. Only god has the right and the authority to judge those outside of His church. My job, my charter is to love my neighbor, and to show them how much God loves them and desires them to become His children. I must always remember to judge not, that I might not be judged. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Genesis 6:22

Thus Noah did according to all the Lord God commanded him, so he did.

Personal Challenge

Throughout the scriptures, both Old Testament and New, we read stories of great men and women of God and how much they pleased Him. It is so easy to slip into the mode of thinking that they were special because God had touched them in a certain way to make them special. And this is never the case. God gave them situations similar to what I can face every day. What made these people special is that in their humanness they chose to exercise their faith in their God and do what He asked. It was their response, their action, their faith that made them special. This gives me great hope that I too can live my life like a Noah, or a Moses, or a David, or a Peter, or a Paul. In order to this it means that I must choose to follow God, and obey Him, and step out on faith. Glory be to God!