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Church Fathers V3 - Fr George Grube - Saint Mina Coptic Orthodox ...

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PRAYER BEFORE STUDY:<br />

Lord Jesus Christ, whose will all things obey; pardon what I have done and<br />

grant that I, a sinner, may sin no more. Lord, I believe that though I do not<br />

deserve it, You can cleanse me from all my sins. Lord, I know that man looks<br />

upon the face, but You see the heart. Send Your Spirit into my inmost being, to<br />

take possession of my soul and body. Without You I cannot be saved, with You<br />

to protect me, I long for Your salvation. And now I ask for Your salvation and for<br />

wisdom. Deign of Your great goodness to help and defend me. Guide my heart,<br />

Almighty God, that I may remember Your presence day and night.<br />

- <strong>Fr</strong>om the Desert <strong>Fathers</strong><br />

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES:<br />

REFLECTION:<br />

> Revelation 2:13, 17:6<br />

> Acts 5:28<br />

> Acts 4:12<br />

> Ephesians 1:7-12<br />

> 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10<br />

> Romans 5:9-11<br />

> 2 Peter 1:10-11<br />

> Philippians 2:12-13<br />

> Titus 1:1-3<br />

> 2 Corinthians 7:10<br />

> Colossians 3:12-17<br />

> Colossians 1:9-14, 1:19-20<br />

> Romans 13:11-14<br />

> St. Matthew 24:22, 24:24-25, 24:31<br />

> St. Luke 1:68-75, 1:76-77, 3:4- 6 , 19:9<br />

> Romans 9:11, 11:7-11:15, 11:28-32<br />

There are times when a Christian feels that he lives in a society that is both<br />

alien and dangerous. One feels almost like a missionary in a foreign land.<br />

Christians are interested in salvation, the secular world is interested and<br />

maintained by “pleasure” or “what’s in it for me! ”<br />

Christians must learn to translate what they know to be true about salvation into<br />

actions, words and phrases that people can understand. But in doing so, they<br />

risk the sometimes cruel judgments of those who have become secularized to<br />

an alarming degree. Believers must respond with a tender, compassionate<br />

understanding that is also foreign to the tenor of the times. This makes them<br />

available targets and the butt of scorn and derision.<br />

Perhaps the world- at- large has no interest in salvation but it understands<br />

completely the desire to be “saved” from a life of futility and failure, from<br />

uselessness and guilt. While secularists may not use the word “sin”-they have<br />

experienced loneliness, emptiness, and alienation from God, as have all men.<br />

Secularists may not comprehend “eternal life” - but you can believe they fear<br />

death, and what awaits them, if they even believe in an afterlife.<br />

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