W4T (Word for Today) Φιλορνιθία - Love of Birds

I love hosting birds in our yard. We have a feeder, a bath, a nesting box, and actually consider birds when contemplating what trees, bushes and flowers to plant in our yard. I even "sacrifice" my blackberries by leaving them for the birds. I have identified more than twenty different bird species that make a DAILY appearance in our back yard. We had two different nests this year. Welcome birds!

W4T (Word for Today) – δἐος – awe

It seems like we hear this word daily. “It was so awesome,” or “I have some awesome news for you.” In both these cases, the word “awe” has the attribute of joy and success attached to it. But if you consider the word in its verb form, “φοβερίζω – to be in awe” we also see the root connected to fear. But awe is not fear as we would think it today.

We are told to be in awe of God. However, the excitement commonly associated with awesome just doesn’t fit. So most settle upon the idea of fear, and MANY Christians lives in fear of God, but God doesn’t desire us to fear Him….or does He?

The Lord said to Isaac, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you.” (Genesis 26.24)

Saint John the Theologian (the one whom Jesus loved – see John 19.26) said, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4.18)

But then Saint Paul says, “Do not be haughty, but fear” (Romans 11.20) and “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13.6)

And in Acts we read, “And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” (Acts 9.31)

On the surface it might seem like a conflict. In Greek, the word we read as “fear” has many uses including, but limited to, “be afraid.” In EACH case above, the use is NOT “be afraid” but (based upon the citations listed above, which are not exhaustive by any means) ONLY Genesis and Saint John’s, “There is no fear…” uses the characteristic of “be afraid” and in this case we are NOT supposed to be afraid.

So today, walk in the awesome contemplation of the Lord (Acts 9.31) . Do not be haughty, but cautious (Hebrews 13.6). But whatever you do……do be afraid of God. He doesn’t want that.

W4T (Word for Today) – ασυλία – immunity

Commonly used in political or legal terms, this word has also become very popular in the recent reality TV shows where immunity is earned as a reward for some type of challenge. The “winner” of immunity can’t be voted off the show and therefore is safe from elimination. If only our spiritual life were that easy! In the REAL reality show of life, such immunity doesn’t exist. We are never immune to temptation from the devil to veer off the path of righteousness. On TV the cast member with immunity normally behaves “knowing” he/she is safe from elimination. I think sometimes we live our Christianity that way, which is, I suppose, the understanding behind “once saved, always saved” which the Orthodox Church, being consistent with the Ancient Church doesn’t subscribe to.

Saint Paul said:

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? (Romans 11.17-24)

Stop living like you have immunity, and start living like you can be voted off the show….

W4T (Word for Today) - Άσκηση – practice

Anything we desire to improve requires practice. We all prepare in some fashion for activities and events in which we participate. If, for example, we will be performing in a musical concert, we ask what the music will be and then we practice the music. Some day we will all be expected to worship God in Heaven. How can we practice for that? Check out Isaiah 6.1-4 and Revelation 1.12-15; both describe the continual worship of God in Heaven. This was the same worship established by God in the Temple, and this IS the same worship which continues today in the Orthodox Christian Church. So we know HOW we will worship God in Heaven, now it time to practice. Find the closest Orthodox Christian Church and begin practicing for Heaven.

Isaiah 6.1-4 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

Revelation 1.12-15 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.

W4T (Word for Today) – Εμπειρία – experience

Life experience is a two-edged sword. It can either harden or soften our hearts. The choice is up to us whether we follow Christ and His Church or the world. Don’t let your life experience harden your heart to your fellow human beings. Rather, allow it to inform you of the great need for mercy and love…and then put that experience into proper action!

W4T (Word for Today) - πληθωρικός - plethoric

W4T (Word for Today) - πληθωρικός – normally used in reference to quantity but can also be used to describe a person with an exuberant or having an overly-grand personality. One can be plethoric in style or physique.

We all want to believe that we add something special to any group or organization of which are a part. This is our ego working to puff us up rather than the call of our Lord to be a servant of all and act with humility. Sometime we are just "too much" or worse, "too full" of ourselves.

W4T (Word-for-Today) - Αχόρταγος - insatiable

I've decided to begin another outreach as part of Be Transfigured! Internet Ministries. I often come across words or phrases that speak to me about the spiritual condition of our society. This W4T (Word-for-Today) will be short and I pray profound and may even lead to discussion, so if you would like to comment you are always welcome!

We have become an insatiable people demanding "our share" while ignoring others. The Lord said, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29 NKJV)