I Am A Christian
When a child grows into adulthood, he is simply maturing into who he was always meant to be. Likewise, as Christians who are reborn as children of God, our growth is a natural consequence of living with God. Children learn and grow gradually, both through intentional efforts of their own and the help of their parents and family. Healthy children are not method actors pretending to be fully-matured adults, or pour over tomes of child-rearing to parent themselves as a personal project of self-improvement. Rather, they trust their parents to help them grow in love, and genuinely try their best to follow their examples. This is how God wants us to relate to Him.
There is a place for contemplation, study, and focused efforts, but even this must be rooted in a relationship of trust where we begin with the reality that we are already children of God. God wants us and cares for us as His children. This is not a status we earn. Rather, it’s an identity that we grow into more fully one day at a time in our walk with God. So, when you feel tempted to withdraw yourself from God and others and to put on an act, only pretending to be holier or more mature than you are, remember that you are already a child of God. You are a Christian. Live with God as His child, not as an actor.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Quote of the Day
”If you want cure your soul, you need four things. The first is to forgive your enemies. The second is to confess thoroughly. The third is to blame yourself. The fourth is to resolve to sin no more. If we wish to be saved, we must always blame ourselves and not attribute our wrong acts to others. And God, Who is most compassionate, will forgive us.”
-St. Kosmas Aitolos
Saturday, August 04, 2024 (7532) / Saturday, August 17, 2024
Saturday of the 8th week after Pentecost; Tone VI
Fast: Wine and oil allowed
Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus (Seven Sleepers): Maximilian, Jamblichus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus († c. 250 and 408-450)
Martyr Eudokia of Persia († c. 362-364)
Martyr Eleutherios of Constantinople († 305-311)
Hieromartyr Cosmas, Equal-to-the-Apostles
New Hieromartyr Nicholas Prozorov († 1930)
New Martyrs Michael, Simieon, and Dimitrius († 1937)
Daily Scripture Readings
(Saturday of the 8th week after Pentecost)
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.