Psalm 35:22-23 (34:22-23 LXX)

Psalm 103:8 (102:8 LXX)

Luke 8:16-18

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Encouraging Words…

I absolutely love it when a precious morsel of God’s Word leaps out at me, especially when it is something that I have read over and over. “Therefore take heed how you hear.” Jesus placed this statement between two sections on what is seen; the light and the lampstand on one end and what we have been given, which is physical, tangible, and therefore visible on the other end. Why did He do this? He is reminding me to be attentive in my listening and discriminating in my response. According to the notes in my Orthodox Study Bible, “I must not only hear, but hear properly.” Is this not the reason I have been given the Holy Spirit? To hear God’s spoken Word clearly, to read God’s Word precisely, to be constantly changed by God’s Word whether I receive it through the worship services and traditions that I participate in or the scriptures I read. In all of these I need to be in the Holy Spirit. In all that I do I must be intential at submitting to the Holy Spirit and His working in my life. Thanks be to God for showing me this short, six word morsel of truth.

2 Timothy 2:3-4

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Personal Challenge…

If I am truly living my life for the Lord, glorifying Him, spreading His message to those who do not know Him, then I am living a life at war. At war with the enemy of the kingdom of God. At war with the norms that are around me. At war with worldly desires within my own heart and fleshly body. The more that I pursue a life for Christ with the attitude and understanding of a soldier the better I will be prepared for this war.

Psalm 146:1-2 (145:1-2 LXX)

Psalm 111:10 (110:10 LXX)

Colossians 1:9-12

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Encouraging Words…

One of the traditions/teachings of the Orthodox church is that when we fall asleep in the Lord we enter into His presence in eternity. We are henceforth living in eternity with Him and this is the reason we can reach out to those whom have gone before us to petition our Lord on our behalf. I can see Paul lifting up this prayer on behalf of all Christians yesterday, today, and tomorrow asking our glorious God to quide us and protect us as we draw closer to Him.

This passage provides us a summary of progress in a truly spiritual life: from discernment of God’s will (v. 9) to doing God’s will (v. 10) with divine energy and virtue (v. 11), within the Church, the baptized and eucharistic assembly. In the apostolic tradition, this life is open to all the saints, not just to a few. (Orthodox Study Bible)

Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Personal Challenge…

Contentment: that long sought after prize of every man, woman, and child. We have advertisers, politicians, preachers, and everyone else that you can think of selling us the latest gadget, program, or concept of what will provide us contentment. And here we find Paul giving is the ultimate true answer to contentment. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Contentment is not found in the stuff we accumulate, or the status and achievements that we acquire. It is not found is what I can do or what others can do for me. It is found in trusting Christ, loving God and loving our neighbor, making a choice to let go of how the world does things and letting God be our source…of everything.

Philippians 1:2

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Encouraging Words…

Throughout the scriptures we, the readers, the faithful, are offered greetings such as this. Should I not follow this example and offer up prayers and blessings to those whom God has placed in my life. Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to all whom I know, love, and care for.

Proverbs 16:1
All the works of the humble are evident before the Lord,
But the ungodly will be destroyed in the evil day.

Personal Challenge…

Throughout the scriptures we are reminded that we are to be about God’s work. What is critical in this is our thoughts and actions. When we go about our Christian lives with a sincerely humble spirit it pleases our Lord and points others to Him. However, if we do our work, even the work of the Lord, with a prideful attitude then the works become ungodly. Something to ponder and a reminder to keep checking the state of my heart.