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Matthew 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

Personal Challenge…

One of the challenges for me is that I grew up in the western way of thinking about Christianity that fostered a very individualized, personal form of following Christ. Even though it is important for me to personally pursue my Lord it is critical that my relationship with Christ and the Father comes through the community of His Church. I cannot do it alone. I need my brothers and sisters in order to grow.

John 16:13

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Encouraging Words…

When Jesus ascended into heaven He not only opened the door for us to do the same but He did not leave us alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to reside within us…His Church. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and brings with His presence that truth, which He is guiding us, His Church, into. Glory be to God!

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 21:7

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

Personal Challenge…

John and Peter demonstrate two very critical traits of growing in Christ. Because of John’s great love for Jesus He was able to see Him and recognize Him in His spiritual (mystical) form. The lesson here is that if I want to see Jesus, really see Him, then my love for Him must grow deeper and deeper and fully consume me. Peter, even though He did not recognize Jesus, in His spiritual (mystical) form, still plunged forward in His excitement and commitment to His Lord who then revealed Himself to Peter. The lesson here is that I must press on in my journey through life trusting that Jesus will be the Man on the shore that I am running to. Glory be to God.

John 14:12

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Command with a Promise…

Okay…it is time to apply a little western logic to this eastern way of thinking. Jesus has departed to be with His Father in heaven. Check! He promised that if I believe in Him that I will do greater works than He did. Check! He demonstrated this promise through the works of the apostles and throughout the history of the church. Check! I say that I believe in Him. Check! And I do great works that exceed those that He did. NOT!

So what is missing here? Was Jesus wrong? Nope! Then the logical conclusion is that I do not believe in Him! Yet I know that I do believe in Him. How is this possible? I think there are two reasons. First, it is the level or intensity in which I believe in Him. As the father of the demon possessed boy said, “I believe, help me in my unbelief.” I need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to increase my belief. Second, and most important, is the mode that I am believing in. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He came as a man, and all of the rest of the Nicene Creed. But here is the issue, I believe all of this on the physical, or temporal plane. I am stuck here on earth. I think what Jesus is commanding me to do is to believe on the spiritual plane, in the mystical realm. That is where He resides, that is where I will be given the power that I need to do these great works that will overflow into the physical realm and to live a sinless life. Wow!! What a light bulb moment! It looks like my journey into godliness and righteousness is just now going to begin. Lord Jesus Christ, I believe, help me in my unbelief!!

Acts 1:9-11

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Encouraging Words…

Today we celebrated the ascension of Jesus into heaven in the Orthodox Church. The early church fathers taught, and our icons of the ascension show us, that Jesus has not left us for a future return, but He has taken His rightful seat at God’s right hand on His throne in Heaven. He reigns from there. The angels remind us that we are not to be living our Christian lives looking in the past longing for what was or looking to the future waiting for what might be, but in the present spreading His good news and love. We do this remembering the past and learning from those who have gone before us, while holding on to the hope of our future reunion with our Lord, but actively living for Him and through Him in the lives that He has blessed us with. Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen.

Habakkuk 2:4

“If any man should shrink back, My soul will not be well pleased in him; but the righteous shall live by My faith.”

Personal Challenge…

The relationship between faith and works has caused much division and confusion amongst the followers of Christ. And I know that I do not have the wisdom to articulate, better yet understand, the mystery that God has around this. It is critical that I put my belief and faith in Jesus Christ and the work that He has accomplished for this is where my justification comes from. But as this verse says, operating in that faith I should not shrink back from Him whom I have put that faith in. Part of working out that justification in my life is boldly doing the works that He calls me into. Glory be to God!

Psalm 138:4-6 (137:4-6)

O Lord, let all the kings of the earth give thanks to You,For they heard all the words of Your mouth;
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord,
For the glory of the Lord is great;
For the Lord is high, and He watches over the lowly things;
But the high things He knows from afar.

Personal Challenge…

Do I really want to draw close to the Lord and to know Him more intimately? Then I must become lowly before Him. for if I become lowly before Him He will watch over me. If I live my life in a high and mighty way He will leave me alone to my on ways. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Acts 17:6

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

Personal Challenge…

Am I living my Christian life in such a way that the people around me can accuse me of turning the world upside down? Am I living in my church body in such a way that it is turning the world upside down? Unfortunately I must answer, “No!” to both of these questions. The message of Christ is just as radical, life changing, and world upturning today as it was 2,000 years ago. I must let it turn my world upside down before I can be accused of doing the same to the world around me.

Acts 10:25

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Personal Challenge…

My desire is that by the grace of God I will respond to persecution as Paul and Silas did. To be praying and singing hymns after being beaten and thrown in prison shows that these men no longer lived in this world. They had been transformed into another world, a world in the presence of God where they could endure the oppression of the temporal life with joy and rejoicing. Glory be to God!