Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Personal Challenge…

We are not on this journey of life alone. We have brothers and sisters in Christ that are a part of our journey and we are a part of theirs. There is no room for individualism in the kingdom of God. In fellowship we find unity. In unity we find the power to overcome difficulties. Through all of this we build each other up in our hope. Glory be to God!

Romans 15:4

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Encouraging Words…

The early church did not have the writings of the New Testament as we do today. Paul refers here to the Old Testament and that we can fined mankind’s hope in the midst of them. They are full of promises and images of the coming of Christ and the hope that God’s people held onto as they patiently waited for His coming. They taught of the patience of God’s people as they waited for the fulfillment of His promises, but also of God who waited patiently for His children to return to Him. These are lessons from which we can learn today, even though we have Jesus in our presence and the fulfilled Scriptures to rely on. God still wants us to be patient and full of hope as we wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, and He continues to be patient with us as we stray from Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Personal Challenge…

It is so difficult to truly understand the teachings presented in the scriptures when staying focused on using the modern and reformed ways of thinking that most of us have grown up with. These words were penned by Paul a century before the great schism between the church of the east and the church of the west, a century and a half before the western world went through the age of enlightenment and reason, and a century and a half before the church was reformed. But through all of this history there still remained and does to this day, a branch of the church that adheres to the eastern way of thinking…pre-schism, pre-enlightenment, and pre-reformed. What a joy it is to pursue Christ, to read His scriptures, to study the early church fathers (those who walked with Christ and passed on His teachings), and to practice the traditions as they did at the beginning of the church.

This passage speaks so differently through that filter, that mindset. Our faith in Christ makes us justified, which is an ongoing state of communion with Him. Being justified refers to an ongoing state of righteousness and not merely to a one-time event. This justification requires a redemption: a sacrificial offering capable of (1) setting us free from sin and death, and (2) uniting us eternally with righteousness and life. Christ is the sacrificial offering. Because of this ongoing communion, we have peace with God which is also ongoing. Faith is more than the conviction that something is true. Genuine faithfulness is continuous loyalty and obedience to God. Such faithfulness justifies a person through God’s grace. (Notes taken from Orthodox Study Bible, pp 1528 & 1526.) Glory be to God!

Psalm 17:1-9 (16:1-9 LXX) specifically v. 8

Listen, O Lord of my righteousness;
Attend to my supplication;
Give ear to my prayer that is not with deceitful lips.

James 3:13-15

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self- seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Encouraging Words…

We believe that our God is never changing. We believe that He is all powerful and the supreme Healer of mankind. We believe that Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and passed this ability on to His apostles. Then why do we not see much healing in the church today? Could it be that it is because we lack one key element…FAITH! We live in the modern world, the age of enlightenment, and have mastered the art of reasoning. But all of this denies our God who transcends modern times because He is eternal. He transcends enlightenment because He is the source of all light, truth, and wisdom. He crushes reasoning because He holds the mysteries of everything within Himself. We can pull together all of the elements listed in this passage to perform healing acts (the presbyter or priest, prayer, the work of Christ, the Holy Spirit manifested in the oil, and confession of our sins) and yet we are not healed. What is missing? The prayer must be that of faith. We must defy reason, ignore what our enlightened minds argues with us, and seek God’s hand of healing as promised. And yes, sometimes He will choose not to heal, for reasons that only He knows. However, it seems very likely that we do not see the awesome hand of God moving in our world today as it did in the first century church because we really do not believe. My prayer is as the father who asked Jesus to heal his son, “I believe, help me in my unbelief!”

James 1:2-4

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Encouraging Words…

Life is not possible without trials. But what we do with our trials that makes all of the difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. We can walk through these trials with joy knowing that they will produce in us fruit that glorifies God. Glory be to Him!

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Encouraging Words…

The scriptures teach that if we are saved, redeemed by the blood of Christ, the Cross makes sense and that we can grow in Him and He will reveal His mysteries to us. However, for those who have rejected Him and are perishing they thinking the message of the cross is foolish. For those of us who are saved, our responsibility is to be beacons of light into the lives of those who are perishing so that they too might be saved. It is not right to hoard the truths of God and therefore be responsible for those in our lives who do not accept God’s truths.

Psalm 42:11 (41:12 LXX)

Why are you so sad, O my soul? And why do you trouble me?
Hope in God, for I will give thanks to Him.
My God is the salvation of my countenance.

Encouraging Words…

Once again the psalmist reminds us that we have everything that we need and that He is not only the salvation of our souls but even of our countenance. When we feel down, sad, or troubled we can turn to Him for comfort.

John 17:14-17

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Encouraging Words…

When we receive Christ and are baptized and chrismated int His Church we are no longer members of this temporal kingdom. We are immediately adopted into God’s spiritual family. Even though we still dwell in the midst of the temporal and physical world we are now ambassadors here. We are sanctified by God’s truth and now able to be His witnesses to those around us whose eyes and ears are still shut to God and His kingdom. The temporal and spiritual coexist and by God’s power we can live for Him in both.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (36:11-13 LXX)

For I shall consider a plan of peace for you, to give you good things and not calamities. Therefore, pray to Me, and I will hear you. Seek Me, and you will find Me, because you seek Me with all your heart.

Encouraging Words.

So many religions in our world are based on the need for us to do things in order to achieve a certain state. And even then there is no guarantee that the end state can ever be achieved. We who follow Christ, however, are promised that He will hear us when we pray to Him and we will find Him when we seek Him. His desire for us is a life of peace, joy, and freedom. Glory be to God!