Great Lent - Day 15, March 17, 2014 Be humble. In Philippians 2:3-11 we read; Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Our Lord says; Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. READING OF THE DAY - Colossians 2:8-3:4 Dont let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. When you came to Christ, you were circumcised, but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision-the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed[d] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So dont let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Dont let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, Dont handle! Dont taste! Dont touch!? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a persons evil desires. Living the New Life Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at Gods right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. PRAYER OF THE DAY St. Nerses the Graceful Jesus, wisdom of the Father, grant me the wisdom To always think, speak and do that which is good in your sight. Deliver me from evil thoughts, words and deeds. Have mercy upon your creation, And on me, a manifold sinner. Իմաստութիւն հօր Յիսուս, տուր ինձ իմաստութիւն զբարիս խորհել եւ խօսել եւ գործել առաջի քո յամենայն ժամ. Ի չար խորհրդոց, ի բանից եւ ի գործոց փրկեա զիս. եւ ողորմեա քո արարածոց եւ ինձ բազմամեղիս:
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:00:38 +0000
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