Matthew 18:12-14

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety- nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety- nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Encouraging Words…

Hallelujah! Glory be to God! One of the most wonderful truths that I have come to embrace as I learn more of the Eastern Orthodox way of thinking is that God is love. God is all love and loves all of His creation. He loves us so deeply that He was willing to go into the deepest depths of hell to claim us from the grip of death…forever. Following this truth comes the understanding, and enlightenment, that He is not the God of judgement that Western Christianity makes Him out to be. Yes, the scriptures do talk about judgement, but God will do all of His judgement from His position of love and not mine. It is His will, His desire, that all lost sheep will be saved. Who am I to determine what constitutes what He determines that judgement to be? God is love and if I am truly His child I must do all that I do I love to be obedient to Him. I must also pursue every person as a lost soul, a lost sheep, just as He has, and continues to, pursue us, even if only in prayer for those who are lost.

John 7:37-38

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Command with a Promise…

If I am thirsty, hot that physical glass of water kind of thirsty, but that dryness in my soul kind of thirsty, then I am told to come to Jesus and drink. Better yet if I am constantly running to the well then the thirst will always be held off. When I do come to Jesus and drink He promises me that I will be filled to the point where His quenching water, the Holy Spirit, will flow out of me abundantly to all around me. What a glorious promise!

Acts 28:30-31

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Encouraging Words…

Paul is such an inspiration to me. He was not born into Christianity, he converted from Judaism…a decision, a choice, that created grief for him the remainder of his life. He never complained about his circumstances, even though the majority of his adult life he was persecuted, abused, and imprisoned. He did all things in joy knowing who his Lord was and serving Him with ever breath, every action, to his dying day. This is the way that I desire to live out my life. Glory be to God!

John 17:20-21

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Personal Challenge…

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Creator, Redeemer, Lord and Savior, prayed in His final hours for His church and for me as a member of that church. He specifically prayed for unity amongst us so that the world may see Him and believe. How can I love my neighbor if I cannot love my brother and sister in Christ? How can I be in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ if I harbor ill about them in my heart or mind? How can I speak lovingly to them if I speak badly of them when they are not around? I clearly have much to repent of to my Lord in this area. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!

John 16:23-24

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Encouraging Words…

In the Orthodox Church we do all of our prayers in the name of “the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” We do this because Jesus taught us to pray in the Father’s name because we have direct access to Him, and to pray through the name of Jesus because He is the one who provides that direct access and in the Holy Spirit because He makes intercession for us. How awesome is it to have the entire Godhead available to us for our prayers and petitions. Glory be to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

Personal Challenge…

One of the challenges for me is that I grew up in the western way of thinking about Christianity that fostered a very individualized, personal form of following Christ. Even though it is important for me to personally pursue my Lord it is critical that my relationship with Christ and the Father comes through the community of His Church. I cannot do it alone. I need my brothers and sisters in order to grow.

John 16:13

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Encouraging Words…

When Jesus ascended into heaven He not only opened the door for us to do the same but He did not leave us alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to reside within us…His Church. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and brings with His presence that truth, which He is guiding us, His Church, into. Glory be to God!

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 21:7

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

Personal Challenge…

John and Peter demonstrate two very critical traits of growing in Christ. Because of John’s great love for Jesus He was able to see Him and recognize Him in His spiritual (mystical) form. The lesson here is that if I want to see Jesus, really see Him, then my love for Him must grow deeper and deeper and fully consume me. Peter, even though He did not recognize Jesus, in His spiritual (mystical) form, still plunged forward in His excitement and commitment to His Lord who then revealed Himself to Peter. The lesson here is that I must press on in my journey through life trusting that Jesus will be the Man on the shore that I am running to. Glory be to God.

John 14:12

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Command with a Promise…

Okay…it is time to apply a little western logic to this eastern way of thinking. Jesus has departed to be with His Father in heaven. Check! He promised that if I believe in Him that I will do greater works than He did. Check! He demonstrated this promise through the works of the apostles and throughout the history of the church. Check! I say that I believe in Him. Check! And I do great works that exceed those that He did. NOT!

So what is missing here? Was Jesus wrong? Nope! Then the logical conclusion is that I do not believe in Him! Yet I know that I do believe in Him. How is this possible? I think there are two reasons. First, it is the level or intensity in which I believe in Him. As the father of the demon possessed boy said, “I believe, help me in my unbelief.” I need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to increase my belief. Second, and most important, is the mode that I am believing in. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He came as a man, and all of the rest of the Nicene Creed. But here is the issue, I believe all of this on the physical, or temporal plane. I am stuck here on earth. I think what Jesus is commanding me to do is to believe on the spiritual plane, in the mystical realm. That is where He resides, that is where I will be given the power that I need to do these great works that will overflow into the physical realm and to live a sinless life. Wow!! What a light bulb moment! It looks like my journey into godliness and righteousness is just now going to begin. Lord Jesus Christ, I believe, help me in my unbelief!!