SACRAMENTAL LIVING

Understanding Christianity as a Way of Life

Prayer (Continuous)

“The Lord Jesus directs us to continuous prayer because He knows that quick, easy results, obtained conveniently and effortlessly, only tempt us. We of course prefer to ask once and receive immediately, at our convenience. Our self-indulgence prefers methods that involve no struggle. If we receive easily, however, we are likely to remain flabby in our relationship with God. There are other darker, evasive desires that keep us from remaining constant in prayer. We like to keep

Grace (and Blindness)

“God and man then possess in common an uncreated energy and life, the One being the Source, and the other the vessel of grace.” (St. Gregory Palamas) “We know that Jesus emphasized faith. To the woman with the issue of blood whom He healed, He said: “Your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34). To the blind beggar He met on a street in Jericho and also healed, He said: “Your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52). Jesus tied personal faith in Him to the efficacy of healings. But

Truth (Knowing the Truth)

“If you abide in My word,” the Lord Jesus tells them, “you shall know the Truth” (John8:31-32). The verb “to know,” when used in the context of Scripture, expresses a relationship, as in knowing a person rather than simply acquiring information about him. Because the Lord calls Himself “the Truth” (John 14:6), to know the Truth means to know Christ Jesus through our relationship with Him.” (Dynamis 5/16/2020) “Now we come to the one additional matter of truth which is of spe

Praise and Popularity

“When we do something well, we want to tell others and be recognized. But recognition is dangerous—it can lead to inflated pride…Often those who try the hardest to become popular never make it. But the praise of people is not that important. Don’t spend your time devising ways to become accepted in the public eye. Instead, strive to do what is right, and both God and people will respect your convictions….How much better it is to seek the praise of God rather than the praise o

Love (Woundedness, Trauma, and Patience)

“Most woundedness goes back to a lack of love in one way or another, and what is most needed is to fill the person with an experience of God’s love… “Jesus treated sinners with compassion, especially those who sinned out of weakness, and with more respect than He did the pious, self-righteous, hard-hearted Pharisees. He knew that sinners are often seeking something good in their sin, even if they are seeking happiness in the wrong way. The alcoholic may be trying to deaden th

Worship (in Spirit and Truth)

“God is Spirit: God cannot be confined to a particular location. Those who receive the Holy Spirit and believe in Jesus Christ can worship God the Father with purity of heart.” (Orthodox Study Bible, John 4:20-24) “God is not limited by time and space. When people are born of the Spirit, they can commune with God anywhere…Christ makes worship a matter of the heart. Truth is what is in harmony with the nature and will of God.” (Foundation Study Bible, John 4:24) “Therefore, th

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