By Michael Haldas
Thoughts on Knowing Wisdom, June 3, 3016
“Christ is the true light of the world; it is through Him alone that true wisdom is imparted to the mind…In Scripture wisdom always is traceable to God, who in the second Person of the Trinity is Himself often called Holy Wisdom.” (Jonathan Edwards, OCPM 1/29/2016)
“Wisdom is not smarts, nor cleverness, nor a high IQ…The Word of God became the incarnate God-man who enables us to grasp, in our variable human nature, that all true wisdom derives from God.” (OCPM 10/20/2015, 1/25/2016)
“Knowing Christ personally is the greatest wisdom anyone can have…Knowing Christ is knowing God.” (Life Application Study Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, Colossians 1:4-5)
“Evil men are evil not by nature but by choice. They have chosen not to know Wisdom and His instruction. Therefore, wisdom cannot be found among them. But perception and discernment are two aspects of the crown of the wise, for they choose to know Wisdom and His instruction.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Proverbs 14:6)
“Righteousness is one of the general virtues of Wisdom [Christ] implanted in those who know and love Him. To do righteous things shows the free movement of the will in one who lives according to Wisdom and His virtues. To speak the truth also shows the free movement of the will in one who declares the knowledge Wisdom imparts to him.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Proverbs 21:3)
Thoughts on Adversity, June 6, 2016
“Adversity—It can drive us to our knees in despair and depression or it can drive us to our knees in humble recognition of our dependence on the Father. It’s our choice.” (Rebecca Lusignolo)
“Adversity destroys this superficial faith. But adversity strengthens real faith by causing believers to dig their roots deeper into God in order to withstand the storms.” (Life Application Study Bible, Job 1:9)
“God has entrusted every single person with a measure of adversity…Times of adversity are always times of opportunity.” (James MacDonald, Warren Wiersbe)
“Often God allows us a period of waiting to show ourselves, and others, how we react and what we do in the face of difficulty, for it is only in adversity that virtue will be made manifest.” (Archimandrite Sergius)
“…it is the mark of a courageous and noble soul not to despair in adversity. (St. John of Karpathos)
~Michael Haldas, https://www.ancientfaith.com/contributors/michael_haldas.
Michael Haldas is an author, a religious educator and a speaker. He wrote Sacramental Living: Understanding Christianity as a Way of Life (published by Eastern Christian Publications), a book which he presented special editions of as gifts to Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in private audiences. Michael is also published monthly in Theosis Magazine and he has authored several Orthodox Christian themed articles for various publications. Additionally, he has recorded and contributed to multiple YouTube, DVD and CD educational projects. He teaches adult religious education and high school Sunday school at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Bethesda, Maryland and has worked with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Religious Education Department to create educational lessons and materials.
