Category: Uncategorized

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!

SEEKING A HOMELAND

Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Personal Challenge

As followers of Christ, we have the ancient fathers that have shown us how to live our lives, lives of hope. The patriarchs, those in the Old Testament, lived their lives in hope of the future kingdom, the holy land that God had promised to them. The true believers of that time were those who believed that promised land would be the eternal kingdom ushered in by the Messiah and not some physical land on this earth. The apostles walked with Jesus and heard His teachings on His kingdom that He ushered in and taught us to live our lives in His Kingdom here on earth as we hoped for the heavenly kingdom to come. The early church fathers of the New Testament era, the time that we live in now, and the martyrs over the last 2,000 years, have continued to point us to the kingdom of heaven that is amongst us and will come to fruition at the end of ages. Our God never expected us to long for an earthly kingdom. Glory be to God!

A JUST JUDGMENT

Zechariah 7:9-10

Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Render a just judgment; show mercy and compassion each to his brother. 10 Do not oppress the widow, or the orphan, or the foreigner, or the poor. And let not one remember in his heart any wrong of his brother.’

Personal Challenge

Contrary to the behaviors that we are seeing in today’s American leadership, Zechariah is pointing out to us the type of behavior that God wants from those who proclaim to be His people. We are to render a just judgment toward others in everything that we do. It is imperative to remember that this would be justice in alignment with God’s ways, not the way of man. We must show mercy and compassion to our brothers and sisters, which by God’s definition is every other man, woman, and child. We are not to oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the poor. Oh, how miserably is our current government leadership and supporting constituency failing at this. And we are not to remember the wrong of another, therefore no retaliation. If we keep going down the path that we are on, we will be someday seeing God’s just judgment. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

BY FAITH

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Personal Challenge

Faith is such a critical part of our Christian life. It is not just about having faith as much as it is about the object in which we put our faith. For followers of Christ, that object is our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We do not put our faith in politicians or political parties. We do not put it in religious teachers or religious institutions. We put it in our living God. Abraham lived before Jesus was born and yet God accounted his faith in the promises that God gave him. Abraham is an example in faithful trust in the unseen and unknown. We do not need a Christian nation in order for us to trust in God. To the contrary, that will always come between us and God’s kingdom here on earth. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!