“If the words of God are uttered merely as verbal expressions, and their message is not rooted in the virtuous way of life of those who utter them, they will not be heard. But if they are uttered through the practice of the commandments, their sound has such power that they dissolve the demons and dispose men eagerly to build their hearts into temples of God through making progress in works of righteousness.” IfsMenWayHeartChristianSoundPracticeProgressHeardExpressionMessagesDemonTemplesOrthodoxRighteousnessWord Of GodRootedVirtuousCommandmentsOrthodox Christian Author:Maximus the Confessor
“He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to practise the commandments by kindness alone, but must more often be induced to continue the struggle by being rigorously reminded of God's judgment. In this way he will not only be moved by love to desire what is divine, but will be moved by fear to avoid what is evil. For 'I will sing to Thee, O Lord, of mercy and judgment' (Ps. 101:1 LXX). He will sing to God charmed by love, and steeled by fear he will have strength for the song.” WayChristianDesireSongEvilLordKindnessStruggleDivineJudgmentMercyMovedTheeOrthodoxCommandmentsOrthodox ChristianOften IsBeginnersPractiseCharmedHaving Strength Author:Maximus the Confessor
“We have been taught to keep the commandments, and we have kept them all too well. We have enshrined them like religious relics in sealed containers on the altar. Thus, it could be said that one lives by the commandments in much the same way as many persons live by a neighbor, never learning his name, let alone having any understanding communication with him.” WayWellsPersonsHas BeensSaidNamesUnderstandingReligiousTaughtCommunicationNeighborLive ByCommandmentsAltarsRelicsContainers Book:Breaking the Ten Commandments: Discover the Deeper Meaning Source: Breaking the Ten Commandments: Discover the Deeper Meaning