GOD IS WITH US – IMMANUEL

Deuteronomy 31:23

Then Moses commanded Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be valiant and strong; for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land the Lord swore to them; and He shall be with you.”

Encouraging Words

Some may ask what this Old Testament verse has to do with us today. Everything! Moses sent Joshua into the promised land to claim it, occupy it, and help it to grow for God. The imagery of this applies to all of us who are followers of Christ. We are encouraged to be valiant and strong as we conquer the sinful desires of our hearts and go into the promised land of eternity that God has set aside for us. Jesus promised to be with us every moment of our walk with Him. He is Immanuel, which translated means God with us. It is not about militantly conquering others. It is about fighting our internal spiritual battles to become more righteous and more in the image of Christ…our theosis. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Saint of the Week

St. Gregory the Great

“It is better that scandals arise than THE TRUTH be suppressed”

NO FEAR

Deuteronomy 31:8

‘But the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not be afraid, nor be terrified.”

Encouraging Words

As followers of Christ, we can choose to live our lives with no fear. We trust, by faith, that God exists and will honor His commitment to be there for us. As for me, I can acknowledge that for my 72 years here on this earth, I have seen His hand at Work in my life more times than I can count. It is evidence that continues to shore up my faith. Thanks be to God!

BE VALIANT AND STRONG

Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be valiant and strong, do not fear nor be afraid of them, nor be terrified before them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes before you and with you and among you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Encouraging Words

Throughout the Scriptures we are encouraged to be strong and to not worry about the things of this temporal life that might happen to us. How do we do this as followers of Christ? We start by not putting our hope in people or institutions of this world. We put our hope in God, believing that He goes before us, walks with us, dwells with us, and will never leave or forsake us. We believe this and live our lives accordingly. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, the sinner!

ACCEPTING THE MYSTERIES

Deuteronomy 29:28

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Personal Challenge

One of the most comforting phrases that I heard when I converted from Protestantism to Eastern Orthodoxy is, “It’s a mystery. “. As a people who have of grown up in the Age of Reason, we have embedded in us the mindset that everything has an explanation. As followers of Christ, we can comfortably accept that God knows things the we do not and that is okay. God will always know more than we do. He is God and we are not. So when it comes to how does the trinity, one God and three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, work? It’s a mystery. How does the eucharist become, actually become, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: It’s a mystery. When will be the end of times with Jesus returning? It’s a mystery. We believe all of this, and much more, trusting that God knows and that that is enough. Glory be to God!

AGAIN, WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

“So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and His ordinances I command you today for your good?”

Personal Challenge

Once again, we encounter a passage in the Scriptures that makes it pretty clear what God expects His followers to do. We have no excuse for not doing what He expects from us. Sometimes we have to look at the fruit of our lives and of those in our lives that proclaim to be Christians to determine if God’s expectations are being met. If not, it is acceptable to question if Jesus is being followed. So, what are those commandments and ordinances that we are being told to keep? Jesus made it clear in Matthew 25:35-36.

‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

This is the fruit of a follower of Christ. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

REMEMBER THE LORD

Deuteronomy 8:18

Then you shall remember the Lord your God, for He it is who gives you strength, that you may gain power, and He may establish His covenant the Lord swore to your fathers, as it is today.

Personal Challenge

One of the downfalls of modern day Christianity is how it has accepted, and adopted, the mindset of self-sufficiency. This is especially prevalent in Western evangelicalism. When this mindset is grafted into the doctrine of an organization, and its individuals, God is given the back seat. People begin to believe that God is just an add on to their system of belief because they made it on their own. This is counter to all the teachings of Christ and therefore no longer Christian. This is how cults come into being and lead many astray. This is heresy. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS

Deuteronomy 8:2-5

Now you shall remember the whole way the Lord your God led you in the desert, to deal harshly with you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He dealt harshly with you and weakened you with hunger, and fed you with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God man shall live. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your feet become callused these forty years. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

Personal Challenge

This passage, and the time in the wilderness for the Israelites, is an image for us and our journey through life. Life in this temporal world for a follower of Christ is challenging. The world is harsh towards us for it hates Christ and His followers. These challenges can be tests for us and help us to grow in the image of Christ. What is truly in our hearts is brought out and refined. As this is happening in our lives, God is feeding us His spiritual food and walking along with us, clothing us with His mercy and grace, and taking care of us. This journey draws us closer to Him Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Saint of the Week

St. Gennadius of Constantinople

FAITHFUL GOD

Deuteronomy 7:9-10

Therefore know, the Lord your God, this God, is a faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with those who hate Him; He will repay them to their face.

Encouraging Words

Our God is infinite in contrast to us who are finite. He is willing and able to keep His promises, His covenant and mercy for thousands of generations. He is patient, and in that patience, waits for His creation to turn to Him. This is love. Thanks be to God!