Saint of the Week

St. John Chrysostom

THINGS TO AVOID

Titus 3:9-11

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Challenge

We live in a very contentious age. People have become conditioned to be mean and nasty to each other. This behavior is so contradictory to the teachings of Jesus Christ and yet practiced by so many who claim to be His followers. You cannot have it both ways. As this passage instructs us to reject a divisive person after the first and second admonition, I have chosen to unfriend and block people in my social media who confront the truth in contentious and divisive ways. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

REDEEMED FROM DEATH

Hosea 13:14

“I will deliver them out of the hand of Hades
And will redeem them from death.
Where is your penalty, O death?
O Hades, where is your sting?
Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

Encouraging Words

John 3: 16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to save the world from perishing and to give them eternal life. Throughout the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, we find passages like this one that proclaim God’s desire to save all of His creation and especially his created children. I do not subscribe to universalism, but who am I to say who gets saved and who does not? Who am I to set the rules that God must abide by? For that matter, who is anyone who thinks they can do this? I believe that no one, especially me, deserves God’s grace and mercy, and yet He chooses to bestow it upon me, upon us. This belief makes it all the more important to love my neighbor, whomever they may be. Glory be to God!

KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD

Titus 3:4-8

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Personal Challenge

Once again, a society that proclaims itself to be “Christian” is striving to force upon others its definition and expectations of what it means to be Christian. This is the very mindset that Jesus fought against when He challenged the “institution” of Judaism that had polluted the gifts to them from God. Paul makes it clear to Titus, and the rest of us, that God’s pouring out of His kindness, love, and mercy has no dependencies on our behaviors. He gives it through His Son, freely and graciously. We cannot earn it. We cannot legislate it. We cannot fully receive it when we do not follow through with doing His good works, which are based on loving our neighbor. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

SOW AND GATHER

Hosea 10:12

Sow to yourselves in righteousness;
Gather in the fruit of life;
Light for yourselves the light of knowledge;
Seek the Lord till the fruits of righteousness come upon you.

Personal Challenge

There are multiple times in the New Testament where we are reminded that we reap what we sow as well as if we sow abundantly, we will reap abundantly. Hosea encourages us to sow righteousness so that we can reap the fruit of life. Whether we are trying to love our neighbor or fight a battle on their behalf we can still do all in a righteous and loving way. This mindset and associated behavior keeps us above reproach. We are also encouraged to shine the light of knowledge based on wisdom from the Lord as we seek Him and we will see the fruits of righteousness come our way. Glory be to God!

SHOWING HUMILITY

Titus 3:1-2

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Personal Challenge

Being a follower of Christ clearly presents us with challenges in living our lives. Here we see Paul instructing Titus, and all followers of Christ, to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing humility to all people. How do we do that when we are placed under an authority that is truly demonstrating a disdain for God and His precepts by their actions and edicts. This has been a dilema throughout the history of Jesus’ Church. It has resulted in centuries filled with martyrs for His truths. We can be involved in social dissent, as long as we do it in a godly way and especially when it is to support those who cannot defend themselves, the widow, the orphan, the naked, the poor, the alien amongst us, all who are images (icons) of Christ in His last judgment parable (Matthew 25:31-46). We must be ready, however to accept the sacrifice that this my incur, even up to martyrdom for our God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Saint of the Week
St. Gregory of Nanzianzen

MERCY NOT SACRIFICE

Hosea 6:6

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God
More than whole burnt offerings.

Personal Challenge

Once again, people that say they are worshipping God have entered into the state where they are spending more time and resources on the trappings, the traditions, that they have built rather than God. The people of Israel did that throughout the Old Testament and God kept trying to correct them. For Him it is not about the things that we do to show others how Godly we are. What are some of those things. Attending more religious services and acting all pious. Demanding that the 10 commandments be posted everywhere. Pursuing a nationalistic expression of biased beliefs. These are just a couple of examples. God wants us to show the world His love and mercy by being loving and merciful. He wants us to be as “woke” as Jesus was. Read about Jesus if you disagree with that. He does not want sacrifices and burnt offerings (religious activities). He wants mercy, love, compassion, and our actions in these areas to our neighbors. Lord, have mercy! Lord, here mercy! Lord, have mercy!

APPEARED TO ALL MEN

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Encouraging Words

Our God, the Creator of all, the triune God, has appeared to all people throughout all time. He continues to reveal Himself to us. It is up to us to open the eyes of our bodies, minds, and hearts to see Him. In His appearance He has taught us how to live sober, righteous, and god lives looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of His Son, Jesus Christ. We can see Jesus in our neighbor, every person that comes in to our life, as we see them as created in the image of God. If we desire to see Christ in a way that leads us to be zealous for His good works then we need to do as He commanded us, and love our neighbor…all of them. Glory be to God!

KNOW AND PURSUE

Hosea 6:3

Let us know, let us pursue
That we might know the Lord.
We shall find Him ready as the daybreak,
And He will come to us
As the early and latter rain to the earth.

Personal Challenge

Tertullian (AD 160-225)taught that this verse
pointed forward to the myhorbearing women
going to the tomb of Jesus to find that He
was no longer there. They knew Jesus intimately
and were pursuing Him even though a
expected to find Him dead in the tomb. hey just
as the daybreak springs forth every morning as it
has since the beginning of time, Jesus springs forth
to those who know Him and pursue Him. We do
not find Him in legislation or elected officials. We do
not find Hin in the pursuit of wealth and prestige.
We find Him by loving Him, knowing Him, and loving and
taking care of our neighbor Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God have mency on me, the sinner?