|| Pope Shenouda || Father Matta || Bishop Mattaous || Fr. Tadros Malaty || Bishop Moussa || Bishop Alexander || Habib Gerguis || Bishop Angealos || Metropolitan Bishoy ||
Firmness
H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
How easy it is for one to start
a spiritual life and live with God for days or weeks then relapses and
regresses backward losing everything...!
It is important then for the one who starts, to continue, settle and become
firm.
Therefore, the Lord said, "Abide in Me, and I in you." (John15 :4).
He explained to us the importance of the branch's firmness in the vine in
order to bear fruit. He praised His saintly disciples not only because they
stood by His side during trials ; but as He said, "But you are those who have
continued with Me in My trials. " (Luke22 :28). So He praised their firmness.
In the parable of the sower the Lord tells us about those who were not firm,
"...and because they had no root, they withered away... and the thorns sprang
up and choked them." (Matt.13 :6).
Therefore, St. Paul the apostle does not talk only about the importance of
faith but more about being firm in faith.
He says, "...on those who fell, severity; but towards you goodness if you
continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off." (Rom. 11:22).
He also says to the Colossians, "...to present you holy... if indeed you
continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast." (Col.1 :22-23). And he blames
the Galatians who, "having begun in the spirit", but did not continue and,
"...are now being made perfect by the flesh." (Gal. 3:3).
Many are those whom the Apostle tearfully mentioned, because they did not
continue in firmness.
Some started serving actively, but did not continue...!
Others loved the idea of consecration, but did not abide!
And others started by loving God, then left their first love!
How grim it is for one to live the life of the tabernacle and altar with
Abraham, then ends up in Sodom.
Or starts as one of the twelve, then betrays Jesus.
Or starts his life as a mighty victorious and a Nazirite to God and the Spirit
of the Lord comes upon him then ends up shaving his hair and pulling the
grinder...!
Abiding in the spirit is a test for our will in the midst of tribulations.
Therefore, the Bible says, "Remember those... whose faith follow, considering
the outcome of their conduct. " (Heb.13 :7). They were steadfast and were made
perfect in faith.
|| The Orthodox Faith (Dogma) || Family and Youth || Sermons || Bible Study || Devotional || Spirituals || Fasts & Feasts || Coptics || Religious Education || Monasticism || Seasons || Missiology || Ethics || Ecumenical Relations || Church Music || Pentecost || Miscellaneous || Saints || Church History || Pope Shenouda || Patrology || Canon Law || Lent || Pastoral Theology || Father Matta || Bibles || Iconography || Liturgics || Orthodox Biblical topics || Orthodox articles || St Chrysostom ||
|| Bible Study || Biblical topics || Bibles || Orthodox Bible Study || Coptic Bible Study || King James Version || New King James Version || Scripture Nuggets || Index of the Parables and Metaphors of Jesus || Index of the Miracles of Jesus || Index of Doctrines || Index of Charts || Index of Maps || Index of Topical Essays || Index of Word Studies || Colored Maps || Index of Biblical names Notes || Old Testament activities for Sunday School kids || New Testament activities for Sunday School kids || Bible Illustrations || Bible short notes|| Pope Shenouda || Father Matta || Bishop Mattaous || Fr. Tadros Malaty || Bishop Moussa || Bishop Alexander || Habib Gerguis || Bishop Angealos || Metropolitan Bishoy ||
|| Prayer of the First Hour || Third Hour || Sixth Hour || Ninth Hour || Vespers (Eleventh Hour) || Compline (Twelfth Hour) || The First Watch of the midnight prayers || The Second Watch of the midnight prayers || The Third Watch of the midnight prayers || The Prayer of the Veil || Various Prayers from the Agbia || Synaxarium