I will both sleep and rest in peace, For You alone, O Lord, cause me to dwell in hope.
Encouraging Words
As a follower of Christ, we are able to find true peace in our lives. We can rest in that peace even when the world around us is spinning in chaos. We are also able to have joy in our lives no matter what the circumstances are that with what is happening around us. We do this because our hope is in our Lord and that exceeds all understanding. Glory be to God!
You heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness. You strengthened my heart when I was in distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
Encouraging Words
God hears us when we call out. He hears us and strengthens our heart, especially when we are in distress. One of the most repeated prayers in the Orthodox Church is, “Lord, have mercy!” We know that we do not deserve His love or His mercy. This is why we repeatedly ask for Hismercy. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, the sinner!
Salvation is of the Lord, And Your blessing is upon Your people.
Encouraging Words
The salvation of all mankind, even all of creation, is of our Lord. Salvation from what? From death, eternal death. The most critical thing that was released upon mankind and creation when mankind chose to sin was death, or separation from God. Satan, the tempter, was given the keys to the prison of eternal death, separation from God. Jesus, our Lord, became a human being, lived a sinless life as a human, gave His life as an innocent man, and broke down the hold of eternal death by resurecting from His own physical death. By doing this, He bestowed an eternal blessing upon us and put death to death. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Love, have mercy!
But You, O Lord, are my protector, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. (Pause) I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will help me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who set themselves against me all around.
Encouraging Words
As David so eloquently states, our Lord is so precious to His followers. We see him as our protector, our glory, the One who lifts up our heads in times of despair. When we cry out to Him, He hears our voice and responds. When we lay down to sleep, we know He is guarding and protecting us. We wake up from our sleep knowing that the Lord will help us. We are not afraid of anything that the world might send our way. Thanks be to God!
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the way of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the troublesome; But his will is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by streams of waters, That produces its fruit in its season; And his leaf shall not wither, And whatever he does shall prosper.
Encouraging Words
In my life, I have been asked why I continue to choose to be a Christian when science and reality disproves it. First, I have never seen anything related to science that does not prove more deeply that what true Christianity believes is irrefutable. Now for all those false beliefs that profess to be Christian, much of what they profess is refutable and even heretical. As for reality, every real day proves to me that God is God and we humans are not. I choose to hold on to orthodox Christian believes, walk in the counsel of the godly, not walk in the way of sinners, and not sit in the seat of the troublesome because I have been the recipient of God’s blessings and will cherish those more than any temporary blessing that may be experiencedby rejecting God. Glory be to Him, and Him alone!
3 Maccabees 3:3-5 (not in the Protestant or Catholic Bible)
The Jews, though, maintained their goodwill and unswerving faith toward the throne. But because they worshiped God and lived by His precepts, theykept themselves separate from others with regard to food, and therefore appeared hateful to some. But they adorned their way of life with the good deeds of righteous people, and thus established themselves as honorable to all men.
Personal Challenge
Being a follower of Christ is not easy. Our heart, mind, and soul are to be focused on our heavenly kingdom, our home, and not this world. And yet, we still live in this world. The Jews in this passage are living in Egypt around 210 BC and suffering persecution under Ptolemy IV. The message to them is the same message to us today. We are to live our lives of Christian goodwill and faith in way that draws people to Christ. We are to maintain our Christian principles and values even though at times it will cause persecution and misunderstanding. If our lives for Christ are above reproach, our actions will be appreciated as righteous people and honorable to all men. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mency on me, the sinner!
“For they trust in arms and bold acts,” he said, “but we trust in Almighty God, who with only one nod is able to overthrow both those who come against us and the entire world.”
Personal Challenge
Today’s verse is specifically targeted to those who proclaim to be followers of Christ. We are reminded by Judas Maccabeus where our help comes from and Who we should be putting our trust in. It is the almighty God! As followers of Christ, we are not to put our trust in any earthly nation. Therefore, Christian nationalism is heretical to the Christian faith. We are not to put our trust in any person or group or ideology. Therefore, Trumpism or MAGA are also heretical. We are called to be good representatives of Christ wherever He has placed us. The Apostle Paul calls us ambassadors for God. If we are to be the salt and the light to our world then we must get our priorities right. Glory be to God!
“For to pretend such things,” he said, “is not worthy of our time of life, lest many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to a foreign religion, and because of my pretense for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they should be led astray through me, while I earn only pollution and defilement in my old age. For even if for the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I shall not escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and bravely for the venerable and holy laws.”
After he said this, he went straight to the rack,
Personal Challenge
The example that we set for those in our lives is the most profound statement that we may ever make. Eleazar was a scribe in the temple of his day. He was ninety years old. King Antiochus was forcing the Jews to be Helenistic, which included worshiping the Greek gods and participating in their rituals. Part of the ritual was eating food sacrificed to these gods. Those who refused were tortured and put to death. Eleazar was being threatened by an Athenian Senator who had been sent to Jerusalem to convert or persecute the Jews. When it was clear to Eleazar’s friends that he would not submit, they came up with a plan to substitute the profaned food with Kosher food so that Eleazar world survive. They told him that no one would know. This passage is his response. He chose to die rather than appear to submit and fake it. He knew that he would set the wrong example for those whom he loved and cared for. We must choose this same approach with our lives to truly be followers of Christ. Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
“For it is better for us to die in war than to look upon the evils the Gentiles would bring to us and the sanctuary. But as God’s will is in heaven, so He will do.”
Personal Challenge
How willing are we, am I, to stand firm on the belief that we, I, have? The Maccabees, like so many of the martyrs throughout history, were willing to stand firm on their profession of their faith, even to the point of death. We have been blessed as a people of faith for quite some time now and we may be surprised if we ever get truly tested for our faith. That day may be coming, if it is not already here. Are we, am I, are you, willing to tell the acuser that we are a follower of Christ, and will never renounce that. Are we, am I, are you, willing to do what Jesus commanded us to do regardless what another, especially an authoritarian government says to us, or threatens us with. This is being able to proclaim that it is better to die than to betray our Lord and his expectations of us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
Verse of the Day 