👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾(#Anqetse #Bitsuan)#Blessed are the #pure in #heart, for they shall #see #God.(#Matthew 5:8)
(Part 36)
Dear followers of the Orthodox teachings on John's Repentance website .we greet you with the peace of the Lord. Today, based on the topic mentioned above, we present to you the following important lesson. We encourage everyone to read it carefully and learn from it.
✍🏾Saint Paul
Saint Paul teaches us the humility and reverence required in receiving divine revelations. He says:
“It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable; yet I will speak of visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ whether in the body or out of the body, God knows who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I know such a man, whether in the body or out of the body, God knows. He was caught up into paradise and heard ineffable words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak. On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.(2 Corinthians 12:1-6)
✍🏾Saint John
Saint John describes the glory and majesty of God as revealed to him in a vision:
👉🏾“After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice I heard was like a trumpet, saying, ‘Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must take place hereafter.’ Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat upon the throne, appearing like jasper and sardius stone.
Around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and upon them sat twenty-four elders, clothed in white raiment, with golden crowns upon their heads.”
(Revelation 4:1-4)
✍🏾Blessed Are Those Who Believe Without Seeing
When the apostles told Saint Thomas about the resurrection of our Lord, he said,
“Unless I put my hand into His side and see, I will not believe.”
Jesus appeared to him and said,
“Reach here your finger and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas responded,“My Lord and my God.”
Jesus then said“Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have believed without seeing.”
(John 20:27-29)
This shows that true faith does not require physical sight but comes from a heart that trusts in God. Those whose faith is steadfast, like the apostles and the venerable Abba Hiriakos, experience the presence of God in their lives:
“He is wonderful who does not dare, yet is humble among us; he is supreme who is unattainable, yet serves as an example to us; he is an untouchable fire, yet we have seen Him, touched Him, and eaten and drunk with Him,” speaking with complete faith as if among the holy apostles.
✍🏾Today, the hearts of the faithful, when purified, see God continually. Through prayer, worship, and obedience, they perceive His guidance, help, and protection from temptation. In the end, they will see Him giving them the kingdom prepared before the foundation of the world, and they will live with Him forever, praising His glory.
👉🏾Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
Continues 👇🏾