Acts 1:9-11

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Encouraging Words…

Today we celebrated the ascension of Jesus into heaven in the Orthodox Church. The early church fathers taught, and our icons of the ascension show us, that Jesus has not left us for a future return, but He has taken His rightful seat at God’s right hand on His throne in Heaven. He reigns from there. The angels remind us that we are not to be living our Christian lives looking in the past longing for what was or looking to the future waiting for what might be, but in the present spreading His good news and love. We do this remembering the past and learning from those who have gone before us, while holding on to the hope of our future reunion with our Lord, but actively living for Him and through Him in the lives that He has blessed us with. Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen.

Habakkuk 2:4

“If any man should shrink back, My soul will not be well pleased in him; but the righteous shall live by My faith.”

Personal Challenge…

The relationship between faith and works has caused much division and confusion amongst the followers of Christ. And I know that I do not have the wisdom to articulate, better yet understand, the mystery that God has around this. It is critical that I put my belief and faith in Jesus Christ and the work that He has accomplished for this is where my justification comes from. But as this verse says, operating in that faith I should not shrink back from Him whom I have put that faith in. Part of working out that justification in my life is boldly doing the works that He calls me into. Glory be to God!

Psalm 138:4-6 (137:4-6)

O Lord, let all the kings of the earth give thanks to You,For they heard all the words of Your mouth;
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord,
For the glory of the Lord is great;
For the Lord is high, and He watches over the lowly things;
But the high things He knows from afar.

Personal Challenge…

Do I really want to draw close to the Lord and to know Him more intimately? Then I must become lowly before Him. for if I become lowly before Him He will watch over me. If I live my life in a high and mighty way He will leave me alone to my on ways. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Acts 17:6

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

Personal Challenge…

Am I living my Christian life in such a way that the people around me can accuse me of turning the world upside down? Am I living in my church body in such a way that it is turning the world upside down? Unfortunately I must answer, “No!” to both of these questions. The message of Christ is just as radical, life changing, and world upturning today as it was 2,000 years ago. I must let it turn my world upside down before I can be accused of doing the same to the world around me.

Acts 10:25

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Personal Challenge…

My desire is that by the grace of God I will respond to persecution as Paul and Silas did. To be praying and singing hymns after being beaten and thrown in prison shows that these men no longer lived in this world. They had been transformed into another world, a world in the presence of God where they could endure the oppression of the temporal life with joy and rejoicing. Glory be to God!

Psalm 139:4-6 (138:4-6 LXX)

For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether,
The last things and the first things;
You fashioned me, and placed Your hands on me.
Your knowledge has become too wondrous for me;
It has become too overwhelming; I am unable to grasp it.

Encouraging Words…

Our God is far too magnificent and wondrous for us to ever truly know Him. As soon as I begin to think that I know my God He lifts another veil and shows me that I have the understanding of an infant. Does this dissuade me from asking to know him? No, to the contrary it drives me to know Him more and more. While this journey to know Him may be assisted by studying the scriptures, teachings of the early church fathers, and other learned believers, but it is also found by doing His work of loving my neighbor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and taking care of the orphan. All of this is necessary to draw closer to my Lord and therefore to know Him better today than I did yesterday.

Psalm 121:1-4 (120:1-4 LXX)
I lifted my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Let not your foot be moved;
Neither let Him who keeps you slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Encouraging Words…

Praise the Lord for who He is? He is always present and I can always hide under His wings of love and protection. Glory be to God!

Psalm 119:147 (118:147 LXX)

I arose at midnight and cried out;
I hoped in Your words.

Encouraging Words…

No matter what the time of the day; no matter what the conditions of life; I can call out to my God and put my hope in Him. Glory be to God!

John 6:14

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Personal Challenge…

Is my Jesus the Prophet of the world or the Prophet of all creation and heavenly things? This passage reminds me that many are believers in Christ because of what they have seen or received in this physical world. He makes me feel good! He has helped me get…! Jesus would often leave those crowds who sought Hm for His physical and worldly things. Belief comes in trusting Him for those things that are not of this world. If I believe this way then the world can take away all that I have, even my life, and my belief will remain strong. Faith must be what rules my life and not my experienceså or desires.

Psalm 118:1-4 (117:1-4 LXX)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy endures forever.Let the house of Israel say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.
Let all who fear the Lord say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.

Encouraging Words…

Let the house of David and Laura say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.