Verse of the Day

October 25, 2013

He is there for us…

Psalm 16:7-9 (15:7-9 LXX)

I will bless the Lord who caused me to understand;
Moreover, until night my reins also instructed me.
I saw the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
Therefore my heart was glad,
And my tongue rejoiced exceedingly;
My flesh also shall dwell in hope.

Encouraging Words…

Everything that we would ever truly need will be supplied by our Lord. He teaches and instructs, He goes before us and walks besides us, He is our source of hope. The more we commit our lives to Him and follow His precepts the more our wants become in alignment with our true needs.
October 24, 2013

Growth in Christ requires community…

Hebrews 3:13

but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Personal Challenge…

One of the differences that I have discovered in Eastern Christianity versus Western Christianity is the perspective of community versus individuality. Growing up in Western Christianity I became well established in the individualistic point of view: I had a personal relationship with Christ, He saved/died for me, I am blessed…fill in the blank. While all of this is true it can create a faith that revolves around me, my needs, and ultimately my wants. This can lead to some skewed ways of thinking and behaving in our local church family. In my experience so far in Eastern Orthodoxy I am learning to think of my faith in terms of the community of believers. So many of our prayers, both individual and corporate, use we and us rather than me or I. We view the working out of our salvation, our faith, our journey to theosis, as something that can only be done in the community of faithful believers. The gifts that are given to us are to be exercised in building up the community. And the list goes on an on. This verse reminds us that we are all responsible to exhort our brothers and sisters daily, even to the point of being a responsible part of helping each other avoid sin. Glory be to God!
October 23, 2013

The battle is not always against flesh and blood…

2 Maccabees 8:18
“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.”

Encouraging Words…

Here Judas Maccabaeus reminds us that the true battles of life are fought both in the physical and the spiritual realms. Although our enemies (those opposed to God and His ways) may appear strong and well armed, they are operating only in the physical realm. They are no match for God in that realm, let alone the spiritual realm. We can take on any attack knowing that we are in His hands.
October 22, 2013

Living a godly life means putting one’s self to death!

2 Maccabees 6:24-28a

“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.”

Personal Challenge…

Do I have what it takes to live my life this way? Eleazar, in his 90th year, is being forced to violate the laws of his God that he has adhered to all of his life. He refuses and freely walks to the rack to receive his punishment. Then those who are punishing him offer him an out. He can pretend to the ungodly thing and they will let him go. He has the fortitude, the resolution, the love for his God, to deny this option because in so doing he knows that he will lead many astray. Again he offers to give up his life, which is taken away from him. How often do I chose to compromise my believes in order to save myself, whether it be my image, or to fit in, or for convenience? Am I willing to freely walk into the face of the enemy and suffer the consequences because I am unwilling to compromise my walk with my Lord? Lord Jesus Chris, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
October 21, 2013

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you. Do not go astray, for I am your God who strengthens you; and I will help and secure you with My righteous right hand.

Encouraging Words…

Just as the nation of Israel was God’s chosen people, blessed and protected by Him, I to, through the work of Christ, am one of His chosen people. These promise apply to me as well.
October 20, 2013

Proverbs 8:32-33 (32-34 LXX)

Now therefore, my son, hear me:
Blessed is the man who shall hearken to me
And the man who shall guard my ways;
Who watches daily at my doors,
Who keeps watch at the doors of my entryways;
For my issues are the issues of life,
And grace is prepared from the Lord.

Command with a Promise…

Aren’t we all looking for blessings and grace in our lives? Here the psalmist points us in the direction of where we can secure these. If we hearken to those whom have gone before us living their lives in Christ, if we guard those traditions and teachings, if we carefully and prayerfully take care of the places of worship that we have today, then we will be blessed and God will pour out His grace upon us.
October 18, 2013

Psalm 16:11 (15:11 LXX)

You made known to me the ways of life;
You will fill me with gladness in Your presence;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Encouraging Words…

Our Lord is not some distant object that we worship and hope to someday see. He is not some nebulous state like nirvana that we hope to achieve. He is the real, ever present Creator of all that delights in being an active part of our lives. What a blessing it is to know that He will reveal to His children the true ways of life, that He will fill us with gladness in His presence, and that He will fill our lives with His pleasures. Glory be to God.
October 17, 2013

1 Samuel 16:7 (1 Kingdoms 16:7 LXX)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his outward appearance, nor for the maturity of his stature, because I have refused him. For man does not see as God sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord sees into the heart.”

Personal Challenge…

It is critical for me to take the time to get to know other people so that I can have a better view into their heart. It is wrong to judge people and even more wrong to judge them on superficial, external appearances.
October 12, 2013

I do not need to be alone…

Joshua 1:5

No man shall be able to oppose you all the days of your life, and as I was with Moses, thus I will be also with you. I will not forsake you nor disregard you.

Encouraging Words…

Joshua had a heart for God and stood up for Him even when everyone else around him did not. Because of this God made a promise to him. It is a promise that carries forward to all who die to the world and live for Christ. Glory be to God!
October 9, 2013

What false gods do I pursue?

Exodus 34:14

(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord God, a jealous name, is a jealous God),

Personal Challenge…

Our Lord God is not passionately jealous as we humans are, but as a loving father is intolerant toward bad things happening to his children, so the loving Father is intolerant of the evil things that happen to His children when they go astray to worship other gods. (Taken from the Orthodox Study Bible.) So, what gods am I worshipping that are getting in the way of my Lord? My gifts and talents? My possessions? My time? Whatever comes between my Lord and me is a false god. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.