THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as rain comes down, or snow from heaven, and does not return until it saturates the earth, and it brings forth and produces, and gives seed to the sower and bread for food, so shall My word be, whatever proceeds from My mouth. It shall not return until it accomplishes whatever I willed, and I shall prosper your ways and My commandments.

Encouraging Words

As followers of Christ, we have a desire that every human being will be ushered into the loving arms of God. In the Eastern Orthodox faith practise we consistently pray, “Lord, have mercy! “. We do this knowing that none of us will be saved, or redeemed, from eternal separation from God except by His love, grace, and mercy! Truly, it does not matter how many times I attend liturgy, mass, or worship. These can become acts of works, trying to earn God’s favor. It does not matter if I recite some canned prayer or make a statement of belief that someone is asking me to do. Again, this can be an act of works. What matters is am I doing what Jesus commanded me to do, which is loving God and lovin g my neighbor. Only God knows the state of our heart and where we truly are on that scale. He also knows that we may take up to our last breath, like the thief on the cross, to finally proclaim Him as Lord. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy!

Saint of the Week
St. John Chrysostom

KNOWING AND DOING

James 4:17

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Personal Challenge

So many people have become comfortable with saying that sin is only about doing something that is wrong. That would only account for sins of commission. We also have sins of ommission in our lives. We are wired, as human beings, to know the right things, the good things, that we should do. If we do not do these things, we have sinned. These are things like speaking the truth, showing kindness to another, loving the unloveable, and so many acts that are embedded in our soul. In the world today, we need to commit more of these acts that edify our neighbor and glorify God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

THE WAYS OF GOD

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For My counsels are not as your counsels, neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “But as heaven is distant from earth, so is My way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from My mind.”

Personal Challenge

Be very wary when someone proclaims to be following the ways of God and exhibiting behaviors that are contradictory to what God has told us to do. Jesus warned us to be on the watch for false prophets, anti-Christs, and leaders that were actually wolves in sheep’s clothing. It is always critical to observe the fruit of one’s labor to understand the true nature of their heart. Sowing hatred and division is not of God. Demeaning others, tearing them down, and praising oneself is not of God. Doing things that will destroy families, harm innocent people, take food and care from those in need, and other acts like these are not of God. His ways are not the ways of man. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

DO NOT JUDGE

James 4:11-12

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Personal Challenge

It is a fine line between challenging a brother or sister in Christ for their behavior and judging them for that behavior. Only God knows the true state of a person’s heart. It is not for us to try to judge if another person is a follower of Christ or just proclaiming to be a Christian. It is acceptible to challenge actions and behaviors that conflict with the teachings of Christ in order to help the other see their errors and hopefully correct them. We must also always be monitoring our own actions and behaviors to ensure that we are following Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Saint of the Week
St. Anthony the Great

I have posted it before, but today it seems appropriate to post it again.

DELIGHT IN GOOD THINGS

Isaiah 55:1-2

“You who are thirsty, go to the water, and all who have no money, go and buy wine and fat, and eat and drink without money and price. Why do you value at the price of money, and give your toil for what does not satisfy? Listen to Me and eat good things, and your soul will delight in good things.”

Personal Challenge

The ways of the world almost always seem to revolve around the accumulation of wealth. The more that I have, the happier I will be, is so often the mantra that is professed and played out. However, wealth is fleeting, It can come and go without care about those who hold it. True, eternal wealth can only be found in the truths of our Lord and are eternal. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

HUMILITY

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Personal Challenge

One characteristic to look for in determining a follower of Christ that is real versus a pseudo-Christian is where they are on the humility scale. If we want God to lift us up then we must be humble before Him and our fellow mankind. If I am flaunting my Christianity whether it be with parphenalia, such as a cross around my neck, slogan brandishing t-shirts, or bumper stickers, then the odds are that I am not being very humble. If I am proclaiming Jesus as my Lord and yet encouraging or supporting things that hurt or harm others, especially those who cannot defend themselves, then the odds are that I am not humbling myself in the sight of the Lord. We are not to judge one another, but we are called to be discerning in who we believe and who we put our trust in. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

GLORIFIED IN GOD

Isaiah 45:25

All the seed of the children of Israel shall be made righteous by the Lord, and glorified in God.

Encouraging Words

The original recording of this verse was targeted at the children of Israel, but with Isaiah being a prophet, the full intent was the seed of the children of Israel. This would be every man, woman, and child that would follow in the footstep of Christ over the last 2,000 years and on until He returns to take us all home. The promise here is that we will be made righteous by the Lord, and glorified in God. Definitely encouraging words. Glory be to God!

NEARNESS TO GOD

James 4:8-9

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Personal Challenge

Our God is always present and available for us to run to. We spend so much of our time distancing ourselves from Him. As this passage says, if we more closer to Him, He will move even closer to us. It also reminds us that part of drawing closer to Him involves cleaning up our act eliminating obstacles that can come between us. We do this by cleaning ourselves of the sins, the passions, that we hold on to. It involves lamenting and mourning over our sins, repenting, and seeking His forgiveness. Sounds gloomy but the sunshine on the other end is blinding. Glory be to God!