Galatians 5:13-14 (Message)

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.

Imagine the entire Bible summed up in one sentence, “Love others as you love yourself.” Paul determined that true freedom was found in a life not enslaved by self-seeking indulgences but by putting selfishness on the backburner and reaching out to those around you. Random kindness is a principle preached by both Christians and non-Christians equally. There is a certain level of satisfaction found in doing something for another person completely unwarranted and without expectation. In turn it floods the soul with immediate joy and peace to have touched the life of another. God says that we are to love others as ourselves. “Others” covers a wide range of humanity. God did not say just to be kind and love those who are loveable or nearby or from your church. God did not cover worthiness. It is an open term as wide as the freedom that Jesus Christ offers to those who are willing to love beyond the confines of needy characteristics. In other words, God is saying, “Open your eyes and look around. Love them.” Every single person encountered holds the potential to open the doors and gates to greater freedom when we choose to love them as we love ourselves.

Many people struggle at the thought of loving themselves. The person who greets them in the mirror each morning may not be the one they hoped to see. But one thing is clear – there must be some level of love to preserve life. If you are hungry, you feed yourself. When a winter chill washes over you, you will warm yourself. If you’re uncomfortable in your present situation, you will move. If you desire to by dry, you will get out of the rain. Simple things that are done on a regular basis to ensure comfort and wellbeing are the very same things that Jesus Christ expects for us to do for others. We would not bad mouth ourselves to others but rather seek to gain approval. So why do we choose to talk badly about our neighbor? It is the little things that we do for others that build the foundation of freedom that we desperately seek. When we see things through the eyes of Jesus, it changes our perspective. Jesus did not come to the earth to save the twelve disciples and His immediate family. No – Jesus successfully achieved freedom from sin for all humanity. He has proven over and over again that God is no respecter of persons and our kindness must emulate that of our Lord. By reaching out to everyone we meet to ensure that their needs are met and their souls are satisfied in such a way that would be satisfactory to us, we have achieved our goal and freedom is attained.

Selfishness builds a wall that prohibits freedom from the life of a believer. Characteristics of Godliness must be cultivated to breakdown the strongholds that threaten our release in Jesus Christ. Dislike and disregard for those who surround us are equally as hindering as it is not Christ-like. In Luke 10:30 -37, Jesus shares the parable of the Good Samaritan and the importance of random acts of kindness. The Jewish man left for dead was neglected by a priest who passed him by maybe tired from a long day of intercession. Then a fellow Believer passed by maybe even one who worshiped in the same synagogue but didn’t want to get caught up in the whole mess and walked away. But the man who probably endured the worst that this dying Jew had to offer in ridicule, shame and hate as a Samaritan could not just pass by. He did not see a Jew but a neighbor in need. He took the time and expense to touch his life and ensure his recovery. Jesus said at the end of this story, “Now you go do the same!”

Galatians 5:1 (Amplified)

IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Selfishness is a snare that will steal your freedom without you even being aware until it is too late. The next time there is a tug at your heart to get involved and help your neighbor, silence the excuses in your mind and reach out in kindness as Jesus has instructed. Suddenly, you will notice those around you more readily and begin to meet their needs. In turn, the threshold to freedom expands as you walk in this new life and it becomes quite clear that Jesus will take better care of you than you ever could. As we care for others, it releases the Hand of God in our life and His Blessings pour over us!

Earlier today, I was talking with a good friend about the spiritual life. The conversation centered on the topic of doing God’s will.

As our conversation rolled along, I thought about Israel’s disobedience. Most people familiar with the Old Testament will know that the ancient Israelites strayed from God countless times. During the Exodus from Egypt, they complained to Moses and when they didn’t get what they wanted, they started to worship a Golden Calf. Moses talked to God about the problem and the Israelites received the Old Law. Of course, that’s not the end of the story. Far from it.

When the Judges were around and kept warning the Israelites that Divine Justice would not sit back and be stilled, they continued to sin and do what they had always done. The prophets came and went warning the people about impending doom; life continued as it always had. People were born, lived, and died. They ate, drank, and made merry, but they didn’t know God. At least, they didn’t understand Him and that He was the ruler of their nation not the number of kings that came after Saul like Rehoboam and Jeroboam.

Why is it, I thought to myself today, that some people continue down a road that leads to self-destruction and don’t listen to sound reason? Why is it that so many of us choose deliberately to disobey God rather than obey Him?

The easy answer is that obedience is not appealing. After all, why give up everything that you have now and reform your life for a supreme being that could just as well be living on Mars? What’s the point in that? Why not just continue going down the road and don’t giving a flip?

The main problem with that kind of reasoning is that God is real and He does exist. Whether we see it or not, He shapes every day of our lives. Each day that we live on this earth, He presents with choices. Some of these are rather small and insignificant, while others are larger than life. Yet each of these choices is a chance for us to show one of two things: obedience or disobedience, love or lack of love.

In my own life, I have often struggled with reciting the Divine Office every day. I know that I’ve sung its praises countless times on this blog in the past, but the truth is that it can be very difficult to motivate myself to pray in the middle of the day or just after rolling out of bed in the morning. However, I solider on. Not because I really want to, but because God expects it of me. Indeed, my recitation of the Divine Office is a sacrifice that I render to Him every single day both for myself and the rest of the Church. With this realization in mind, I cannot imagine giving up on the Office. After all, who will be there to pray for me if I don’t pray for the Church?

Another choice that came up recently was rather different. Last Wednesday, I went up to the old seminary library to peruse the volumes. Ever since I started going up there, there was always a particular book that I was longing for. I knew that it was there, but I could never find it.

So there I was on the third floor of the library going through cardboard box after cardboard box. I finally found that book, a Dominican breviary, in immaculate condition at the bottom of one of these boxes. Instantly, my jaw dropped to the floor and the biggest smile made itself felt. God was good, I thought, and I took the breviary down to the show the librarian who is a personal friend.

Well, I didn’t take the breviary home that day. I was told that books from the third floor were forbidden for me to take unless my friend got permission from the parish priest. So the breviary was put on her desk with a sticky. I was disappointed and crestfallen. I got really quiet and wanted to throw a tantrum, but then something happened that amazed me.

Almost reflexively, I kept saying to myself over and over, “If it’s God’s will to give you that breviary, you will have it.” The thought occurred over and over. I even said it out loud. Indeed, I realized that God would get me that prayer book somehw, but not immediately. It would take time, of course, and the only thing that I would have to do was wait

The wait still isn’t over and I’m still praying, but the story goes to illustrate an important truth. When my friend told me that I couldn’t have the breviary, I could have done one of two things. I could have thrown a tantrum about it or I could have resigned myself. I also could have carried the breviary out in my briefcase. But I chose to resign myself because I knew that I wasn’t in charge, God was.

The thing is that obeying God is easier than just disobeying Him. God’s laws are not meant to be a stumbling block for us or to bind us down. Rather, they are there as a safeguard for us. Few people relaize that this is so and even fewer realize that Our Lord meant that His burden was easy and His yoke was light. Indeed, it is for those that are willing to follow Him and Him whatever He asks in loving obedience and charity.

Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us!

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

My conscience is clear, but that isn’t what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due. 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 (NLT)

For years I read this as a sort of “get off my back!” kind of statement from Paul. Then one day it hit me that there’s more ~ much more ~ to this, for its application is toward me and not toward others. And now it brings me to repentance with lightening speed!

Too often, I read something in Scripture and I know just the person who needs to hear what God is telling me. Then God reminds me that I am the one He is addressing and the application He’s showing me is for me. Then a passage like this cuts me to the core.

This is a very hard truth. And keeping it properly at the front of my thoughts is vital to the integrity of my walk with Christ… I suppose the question for me to really be ready to answer for myself is: Do I look forward to having God reveal my deep secrets and private motives with dread or with delight?

Today, and always, I must remember Whose servant I am and let my Master ~ in His time ~ demonstrate what He sees in me… If nothing else, this should help me to keep my “yes”, “yes” and my “no”, “no”.

I expect it should also help free me from what Augustine called “…the lust of always vindicating myself.”

This is also, then, a good way to keep my own feet to His fire, to make sure my efforts and the motives of my heart are praiseworthy… Once again I find myself face to face with the First Commandment and I can hear Jesus saying, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” This is about obedience born out of love for my God and my King…

As the old hymn goes, “To God be the glory, great things He has done…” Please, Father, make it so! Amen!

November 29 2009 First Sunday of Advent

About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/112909.shtml

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Douay-Rheims Challoner

Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform the good word that I have spoken to the house of Israel, and to the house of Juda. In those days, and at that time, I will make the bud of justice to spring forth unto David, and he shall do judgment and justice in the earth. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely: and this is the name that they shall call him, The Lord our just one.

Responsorial Psalm 24:4-5, 8-10, 14 (Ps 25 NAB)
DR Challoner Text Only

Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause.
Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.
Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour;
and on thee have I waited all the day long.
The Lord is sweet and righteous:
therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.
He will guide the mild in judgment:
he will teach the meek his ways.
All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth,
to them that seek after his covenant and his testimonies.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Haydock New Testament

And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in charity towards one another, and towards all men: as we do also towards you, To confirm your hearts without blame, in holiness, before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Amen.

For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more. For you know what commandments I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Haydock New Testament

Jesus said:

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads: because your redemption is at hand.

And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life: and that day come upon you suddenly. For as a snare it shall come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Haydock Commentary Jeremiah 33:14-16
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 15. Bud, or orient, Christ, (C.) of whom Zorobabel was a figure. Theodoret. All cannot be verified of the latter. v. 16. C. — The Jews themselves explain this of the Messias. Calov. — It evidently refer to him, as he was born of David, whose posterity should continue till Christ, the founder of an eternal kingdom. W.
• Ver. 16. Him. Sept. Chal. &c. The Heb. has “her” Jerusalem, or the Church, which receives all its beauty from Christ. C. — See C. xxiii. 5. where all read him. H.

Haydock Commentary 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

• Ver. 12. And may the Lord multiply you. That is, increase the number of Christians among you. Wi.
• 1 THESSALONIANS 4
• CHAPTER IV.
• Ver. 1. In this chapter the apostle begins to remind them of their obligation of always striving to increase in virtue. Though he praises them through the whole epistle, he still thinks it necessary to warn them not to be surprised in uncleanness. He repeats what he had taught them before; first, that there is vengeance awaiting the workers of evil; and secondly, that the favour of God is the reward of those who deal with the brethren in simplicity, and preserve themselves from the defilements of the Gentiles. S. Ambrose, Comment. hic.

Haydock Commentary Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

• Ver. 26. The powers of heaven, &c. Some explain this of the angels, who shall be terrified and tremble at the sight of so many calamities. Others understand it of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, stars, &c. which shall in some sort, likewise, be confused in the general dissolution. The prophets often make use of such expressions, when speaking of the fall of monarchies, or the ruin of nations. The heavens shall be astonished and moved, &c. Ezech. xxxii. 7. Joel iii. 15. Calmet.
• Ver. 27. The Jews shall not see him corporally, but at the last judgment. Then, says the Scripture, (Zach. xii. 10.) They shall see him whom they pierced with nails. But in the ruin of Jerusalem, all who will compare his predictions with the event, can evidently see that this was the day of his coming, so plainly marked in his words. Every body could see that this was evidently the hand of God that punished them. Calmet.

Catena Aurea Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
From Catechetics Online

• BEDE; The events which were to follow the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles He explains in regular order, saying, There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.
• AMBROSE; All which signs are more clearly described in Matthew, Then shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.
• EUSEB. For at that time when the end of this perishing life shall be accomplished, and, as the Apostle says, The fashion of this world passes away, then shall succeed a new world in which instead of sensible light, Christ Himself shall shine as a sunbeam, and as the King of the new world, and so mighty and glorious will be His light, that the sun which now dazzles so brightly, and the moon and all the stars, shall be hidden by the coming of a far greater light.
• CHRYS For as in this world the moon and the stars are soon dimmed by the rising of the sun, so at the glorious appearance of Christ shall the sun become dark, and the moon not shed her ray, and the stars shall fall from heaven, stripped of their former attire, that they may put on the robe of a better light.
• EUSEB. What things shall befall the world after the darkening of the orbs of light, and whence shall arise the straitening of nations, He next explains as follows, And of the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea. Wherein He seems to teach, that the beginning of the universal change will be owing to the failing of the watery substance. For this being first absorbed or congealed, so that no longer is heard the roaring of the sea, nor do the waves reach the shore because of the exceeding drought, the other parts of the world, ceasing to obtain the usual vapor which came forth from the watery matter, shall undergo a revolution. Accordingly since the appearance of Christ must put down the prodigies which resist God, namely, those of Antichrist, the beginnings of wrath shall take their rise from droughts, such as that neither storm nor roaring of the sea be any more heard.
• And this event shall be succeeded by the distress of the men who survive; as it follows, Men’s hearts being dried up for fear, and looking after those things which shall come upon the whole world. But the things that shall then come upon the world He proceeds to declare, adding, For the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
• THEOPHYL. Or else, When the higher world shall be changed, then also the lower elements shall suffer loss; whence it follows, And on the earth distress of nations, &c. As if He said, the sea shall roar terribly, and its shores shall be shaken with the tempest, so that of the people and nations of the earth there shall be distress, that is, a universal misery, so that they shall pine away from fear and expectation of the evils which are coming upon the world.
• AUG. But you will say, your punishment compels you to confess that the end is now approaching, seeing the fulfillment of that which was foretold. For it is certain there is no country, no place in our time, which is not affected or troubled. But if those evils which mankind now suffer are sure signs that our Lord is now about to come, what means that which the Apostle says, For when they shall say peace and safety. Let us see then if it be not perhaps better to understand the words of prophecy to be not so fulfilled, but rather that they will come to pass when the tribulation of the whole world shall be such that it shall belong to the Church, which shall be troubled by the whole world, not to those who shall trouble it. For they are those who shall say, Peace and safety. But now these evils which are counted the greatest and most immoderate, we see to be common to both the kingdoms of Christ and the Devil. For the good and the evil are alike afflicted with them, and among these great evils is the yet universal resort to licentious feasts. Is not this the being dried up from fear, or rather the being burnt up from lust?
• THEOPHYL. But not only shall men be tossed about when the world shall be changed, but angels even shall stand amazed at the terrible revolutions of the universe. Hence it follows, And the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
• GREG. For whom does He call the powers of heaven, but the angels, dominions, principalities, and powers? which at the coming of the strict Judge shall then appear visibly to our eyes, that they may strictly exact judgment of us, seeing that now our invisible Creator patiently bears with us.
• EUSEB. When also the Son of God shall come in glory, and shall crush the proud empire of the son of sin, the angels of heaven attending Him, the doors of heaven which have been shut from the foundation of the world shall be opened, that the things that are on high may be witnessed.
• CHRYS. Or the heavenly powers shall be shaken, although themselves know it not. For when they see the innumerable multitudes condemned, they shall not stand there without trembling.
• BEDE; Thus it is said in Job, the pillars of heaven tremble and are afraid at his reproof. What then do the boards do, when the pillars tremble? what does the shrub of the desert suffer, when the cedar of Paradise is shaken?
• EUSEB. Or the powers of heaven are those which preside over the sensible parts of the universe, which indeed shall then be shaken that they may attain to a better state. For they shall be discharged from the ministry with which they serve God toward the sensible bodies in their perishing condition.
• AUG. But that the Lord may not seem to have foretold as extraordinary those things concerning His second coming, which were wont to happen to this world even before His first coming, and that we may not be laughed at by those who have read more and greater events than these in the history of nations, I think what has been said may be better understood to apply to the Church. For the Church is the sun, the moon, and the stars, to whom it was said, Fair as the moon, elect as the sun. And she will then not be seen for the unbounded rage of the persecutors.
• AMBROSE; While many also fall away from religion, clear faith will be obscured by the cloud of unbelief, for to me that Sun of righteousness is either diminished or increased according to my faith; and as the moon in its monthly wanings, or when it is opposite the sun by the interposition of the earth, suffers eclipse, so also the holy Church when the sins of the flesh oppose the heavenly light, cannot borrow the brightness of divine light from Christ’s rays. For in persecutions, the love of this world generally shuts out the light of the divine Sun; the stars also fall, that is, men who shine in glory fall when the bitterness of persecution waxes sharp and prevails. And this must be until the multitude of the Church be gathered in, for thus are the good tried and the weak made manifest.
• AUG. But in the words, And upon the earth distress of nations, He would understand by nations, not those which shall be blessed in the seed of Abraham, but those which shall stand on the left hand.
• AMBROSE; So severe then will be the manifold fires of our souls, that with consciences depraved through the multitude of crimes, by reason of our fear of the coming judgment, the dew of the sacred fountain will be dried upon us. But as the Lord’s coming is looked for, in order that His presence may dwell in the whole circle of mankind or the world, which now dwells in each individual who has embraced Christ with his whole heart, so the powers of heaven shall at our Lord’s coming obtain an increase of grace, and shall be moved by the fullness of the Divine nature more closely infusing itself. There are also heavenly powers which proclaim the glory of God, which shall be stirred by a fuller infusion of Christ, that they may see Christ.
• AUG. Or the powers of heaven shall be stirred, because when the ungodly persecute, some of the most stout-hearted believers shall be troubled.
• THEOPHYL. It follows, And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds. Both the believers and unbelievers shall see Him, for He Himself as well as His cross shall glisten brighter than the sun, and so shall be observed of all.
• AUG. But the words, coming in the clouds, may be taken in two ways. Either coming in His Church as it were in a cloud, as He now ceases not to come. But then it shall be with great power and majesty, for far greater will His power and might appear to His saints, to whom He will give great virtue, that they may not be overcome in such a fearful persecution. Or in His body in which He sits at His Father’s right hand He must rightly be supposed to come, and not only in His body, but also in a cloud, for He will come even as He went away, And a cloud received him out of their sight.
• CHRYS. For God ever appears in a cloud, according to the Psalms, clouds and darkness are round about him. Therefore shall the Son of man come in the clouds as God, and the Lord, not secretly, but in glory worthy of God. Therefore He adds, with great power and majesty.
• CYRIL; Great must be understood in like manner. For His first appearance He made in our weakness and lowliness, the second He shall celebrate in all His own power.
• GREG. For in power and majesty will men see Him, whom in lowly stations they refused to hear, that so much the more acutely they may feel His power, as they are now the less willing to bow the necks of their hearts to His sufferings.
• GREG. Having in what has gone before spoken against the reprobate, He now turns His words to the consolation of the elect; for it is added, When these things begin to be, look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws nigh; as if he says, When the buffetings of the world multiply, lift up your heads, that is, rejoice your hearts, for when the world closes whose friends you are not, the redemption is near which you seek. For in holy Scripture the head is often put for the mind, for as the members are ruled by the head, so are the thoughts regulated by the mind. To lift up our heads then, is to raise up our minds to the joys of the heavenly country.
• EUSEB. Or else, To those that have passed through the body and bodily things, shall be present spiritual and heavenly bodies: that is, they will have no more to pass the kingdom of the world, and then to those that are worthy shall be given the promises of salvation. For having received the promises of God which we look for, we who before were crooked shall be made upright, and we shall lift up our heads who were before bent low; because the redemption which we hoped for is at hand; that namely for which the whole creation waits.
• THEOPHYL. That is, perfect liberty of body and soul. For as the first coming of our Lord was for the restoration of our souls, so will the second be manifested to the restoration of our bodies.
• EUSEB. He speaks these things to His disciples, not as to those who would continue in this life to the end of the world, but as if uniting in one body of believers in Christ both themselves and us and our posterity, even to the end of the world.
• THEOPHYL. Our Lord declared above the fearful and sensible signs of the evils which should overtake sinners, against which the only remedy is watching and prayer, as it is said, And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time, &c.
• BASIL; Every animal has within itself certain instincts which it has received from God, for the preservation of its own being. Wherefore Christ has also given us this warning, that what comes to them by nature, may be ours by the aid of reason and prudence: that we may flee from sin as the brute creatures shun deadly food, but that we seek after righteousness, as they wholesome herbs. Therefore said He, Take heed to yourselves, that is, that you may distinguish the noxious from the wholesome. But since there are two ways of taking heed to ourselves, the one with the bodily eyes, the other by the faculties of the soul, and the bodily eye does not reach to virtue; it remains that we speak of the operations of the soul. Take heed, that is, Look around you on all sides, keeping an ever watchful eye to the guardianship of your soul. He says not, Take heed to your own or to the things around, but to yourselves. For you are mind and spirit, your body is only of sense. Around you are riches, arts, and all the appendages of life, you must not mind these, but your soul, of which you must take especial care. The same admonition tends both to the healing of the sick, and the perfecting of those that are well, namely, such as are the guardians of the present, the providers of the future, not judging the actions of others, but strictly searching their own, not suffering the mind to be the slave of their passions but subduing the irrational part of the soul to the rational. But the reason why we should take heed He adds as follows, Lest at any time your hearts be overcharged, &c.
• TIT. BOST. As if He says, Beware lest the eyes of your mind wax heavy. For the cares of this life, and surfeiting, and drunkenness, scare away prudence, shatter and make shipwreck of faith.
• CLEM. ALEX. Drunkenness is an excessive use of wine; crapula is the uneasiness, and nausea attendant on drunkenness, a Greek word so called from the motion of the head. And a little below. As then we must partake of food lest we suffer hunger, so also of drink lest we thirst, but with still greater care to avoid falling into excess. For the indulgence of wine is deceitful, and the soul when free from wine will be the wisest and best, but steeped in the fumes of wine is lost as in a cloud.
• BASIL; But carefulness, or the care of this life, although it seems to have nothing unlawful in it, nevertheless if it conduce not to religion, must be avoided. And the reason why He said this He shows by what comes next, And so that day come upon you unawares.
• THEOPHYL. For that day will not come when men are expecting it, but unlooked for and by stealth, taking as a snare those who are unwary. For as a snare shall it come upon all them that sit upon the face of the earth. But this we may diligently keep far from us. For that day will take those that sit on the face of the earth, as the unthinking and slothful. But as many as are prompt and active in the way of good, not sitting and loitering on the ground, but rising from it, saying to themselves, Rise up, be gone, for here there is no rest for you. To such that day is not as a perilous snare, but a day of rejoicing.
• EUSEB. He taught them therefore to take heed to the things we have just before mentioned, lest they fall into the indolence resulting therefrom. Hence it follows, Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass.
• THEOPHYL. Namely, hunger, pestilence, and such like, which for a time only threaten the elect and others, and those things also which are hereafter the lot of the guilty for ever. For these we can in no wise escape, save by watching and prayer.
• AUG. This is supposed to be that flight which Matthew mentions; which must not be in the winter or on the sabbath day. To the winter belong the cares of this life, which are mournful as the winter, but to the sabbath surfeiting and drunkenness, which drowns and buries the heart in carnal luxury and delight, since on that day the Jews are immersed in worldly pleasure, while they are lost to a spiritual sabbath.
• THEOPHYL. And because a Christian needs not only to flee evil, but to strive to obtain glory, He adds, And to stand before the Son of man. For this is the glory of angels, to stand before the Son of man, our God, and always to behold His face.
• BEDE; Now supposing a physician should bid us beware of the juice of a certain herb, lest a sudden death overtake us, we should most earnestly attend to his command; but when our Savior warns us to shun drunkenness and surfeiting, and the cares of this world, men have no fear of being wounded and destroyed by them; for the faith which they put in the caution of the physician, they disdain to give to the words of God.

*Advent wreath photo by Micha L. Rieser used according to Creative Commons license as found HERE  at Wikipedia

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land– not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it. In that day the lovely virgins and the young men shall faint for thirst. Those who swear by the Guilt of Samaria, and say, As your god lives, O Dan, and, As the Way of Beersheba lives, they shall fall, and never rise again. (ESV) Amos 8:11-14

God declared in the days ahead He would send a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Amos told the people this was the worst kind of famine to have, a famine of hearing the words of the Lord rather than a famine of bread and water. It would not be a famine of the physical kind but a famine of a spiritual kind. A spiritual famine of hearing the words of the Lord. There was not a lack of God’s word but of hearing it. The people would become unable to hear the words of the Lord not because God withheld His word but they being in such a state as to not hear the words of the Lord. The famine of hearing the words of the Lord had to do with the listener not the messenger of the word. God was speaking. The people were just not listening.

Since the people were not hearing the words of the Lord because of the famine, the people became restless. Restlessness followed as they searched to try and find something which would satisfy them. Their restlessness was a result of no longer hearing the words of the Lord. The people would not only perish in their body but also in their soul for the lack of hearing the words of the Lord. Physical strength did not matter. Virgins and young men who were in the strength of their youth fainted because they did not have what they needed to sustain them which were hearing the words of the Lord.

Is there a famine of hearing the words of the Lord today? In this country the Bible is readily available in many different versions, languages and types. God still speaks through His word. Are people listening? Do they hear the words of the Lord? Many Bibles does not mean people are hearing. Many Bibles does not mean this nation is not experiencing a famine in hearing the words of the Lord. When people do not hear the words of the Lord, restlessness sets in. Look at our world! How people wander around from here to there. They search trying to find something which satisfies them. People are blindly searching everywhere to fill the void within their lives. People need to hear the word of the Lord, to get their heart satisfied in God’s word. The restlessness will stop. The wandering here and there to fill a void will cease. When? When people hear the words of the Lord and apply it to their lives. Start today to hear and heed the words of the Lord! This will stop the famine!

A good man is not a perfect man; a good man is an honest man, faithful, and unhesitatingly responsive to the voice of God in his life.

John Fischer

Genesis 7:1 (Message)

Next God said to Noah, “Now board the ship, you and all your family—out of everyone in this generation, you’re the righteous one.

The holidays bring houses full of every generation of family member from young to old, close to distant and functional to dysfunctional. For some it is a time of great joy, sadly for many it is the opening of wounds, hurts and rivalries. How does your family survive in the same house for an extended period of time? Are you happy when the day is over and your family is gone? Or is the time too short until you can all be together again? Noah and his family were handpicked by God for an “extended holiday” together aboard the ark while God cleansed the earth of sin. Noah and his relatives were together inside the gopher wood walls in close proximity for well over a month. Could your family survive 40 days and 40 nights in pounding rain in the hull of a ship with no power, limited food, and no entertainment except the sights and smells of every animal known to man? Or is it difficult for your family to occupy the same space for 40 minutes let alone a whole day?

Quality family time is not defined by civility and tolerance but rather connected to the heart condition of the members of a family and their ability to enrich each other when together. God called Noah the righteous one. As the head of his family, it was up to him to set the standard of love for his family. Noah had purposed in his heart that his family would serve God and led by example. His example saved his entire heritage through choosing obedience. Even in the midst of adversity and condemnation, Noah chose righteous obedience and thereby his family was blessed. Does your attitude create an atmosphere of love and obedience? Not every person in a family may know Jesus Christ, but you as a believer have a mandate of righteousness that will cause your family to be blessed. As Noah worked on the ark day after day preparing for an event that only he and God were aware of, it would only be expected that his conversations with God were lengthy and intense. Through this constant dialect, God’s anointing poured through Noah’s hands into the walls of the ark creating a home that was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit which made it a holy place and a sanctified environment that would be conducive to harmony and love. The preparation for this time of lengthy togetherness was not in the time it took to build the boat but in the rending of Noah’s heart for God so that when it was time to be in close proximity – God would be honored. As families gather, it is important to make prayer part of the preparation process. Not many families in Biblical times or today could have survived such an extended time in such a confined environment like the ark without the power of God in control. Though we are not in a life or death situation, many of our friends and family are without salvation. May the Lord make our time together throughout the holidays count for His Glory and achieve His Purpose of introducing His Son, Jesus, to everyone!

Psalm 101:1-2 (NLT)

I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

It is His Presence that creates a loving home that makes family time peaceful and loving. It promotes righteous living and God’s Favor. The influence of the Holy Spirit will take the most dysfunctional of all families and make it work. Sin makes all people dysfunctional in some way so this principle applies to all Christian homes. Those who come to your home will experience a peace like never before and will seek that which you have. Lengthy visits will become enjoyable. Togetherness will become pleasant regardless of the spiritual condition of your friends and family. To live lives of integrity every day is the foundation laid for powerful family gatherings that promote unity and love. Your home will be a light in the darkness and you will be blessed. If God can produce quality family time for Noah and his family in the midst of a ship full of animals with all its challenges, how much more can he do with the blessings available in the freedom given through Jesus Christ!

Meditations in Romans : 4 :  Called to Obedience

Rom  1:5,6 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

We live in days when ‘obedience’ is not a much used word. We like to do what we want to do, what feels right for me. Obedience for adults smacks of control and abuse, we think. When we hear of obedience being mentioned we think of ‘heavy shepherding’, of people being told what to do by authoritative leaders and stories of abuse abound, don’t they!  Well actually that was the theme of gossip in Christian circles twenty years ago, but today we just go with the ethos of the world and prefer to do our own thing. In fact in some churches I am sure that if there was directive teaching that required conformity to standards laid down by the Biblical preacher, there would be uproar – yet that is what the New Testament clearly teaches!

Paul refers to his calling and says that through Christ he has received two things: grace and apostleship. Grace is simply the God-given ability to do something, and God had given Paul the ability to do what he did, and that leading and enabling meant that he did things that were the mark of an apostle and therefore he had the ministry of apostleship. This calling, he said, had come from Christ and was ‘for his name’s sake’, i.e. it was to honour Christ’s own calling. We have already seen how Paul was Christ’s servant, but Jesus was there on earth as a servant of his Father, to fulfil the divine plan. Jesus had prayed, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you,” (Jn 17:21) and then gone on to ask for his church, that it would work in such a way that the world would know and honour the Father. This was the order: Paul’s ministry would honour Jesus and Jesus would honour the Father. That was what Paul’s ministry was about.

But the outworking of it was to call people from all over the world, the Gentiles, to come to Christ.  And why should they come to Christ? Because they needed to be saved, and Christ was the means of saving them. But it wasn’t just about a one-off being ‘born again’; that was just the start. From the moment of our conversion we start a long walk with Christ where he teaches us to be obedient to his word and to the leading of his Spirit so that we are changed into the likeness of Christ (2 Cor 3:18)

This brings us back to the subject of obedience again. How can we change unless he guides us and we follow? The ‘following’ is an act of obedience.  From the start, Jesus taught his disciples, “Follow me.” (e.g. Mt 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 10:38 etc.).  Today we ‘follow’ him by responding to the prompting and leading of his Holy Spirit. Jesus came to usher in a ‘kingdom’ (Mt 3:2, 4:17,23) – the rule of God on earth through Jesus and then, subsequently, through us his followers.

Now that ‘kingdom’ or ‘rule’ is a benign rule, a rule of goodness and of love. Everything the Father does through Jesus is to bring His love into our experience so when we talk about ‘obedience’ we need to think very differently to any other use of the word. It simply refers to us bringing our thinking and our lives generally, into line with God’s desire to bless us, and the channel through which He brings that blessing is His Son, Jesus.  Jesus is the means through which we can be forgiven and Jesus is the administrator of God’s goodness which he is able to bring to us as we respond to his leading.

But, we note, it is all by faith, says Paul. We are people of faith because everything we do in response to God, we do in response to one who we cannot see with our eyes or hear with our ears. We ‘hear’ him in our spirit, and faith is responding to what we have heard at that deep inner level. We may use our minds to process what our spirit is sensing but it is then an act of will which exercises faith.  It is as we respond in faith that Jesus is able to lead us and we obey and he blesses.

But there is yet something else here for Paul speaks to those of us, God’s children, Christians, who are called to belong to Christ. Why do we ‘belong’ to him? Because he purchased us: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Rev5:9,10). Imagine a slave condemned to death who is then bought and set free. That is the picture language of the New Testament. Later in this same book Paul writes, “though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Rom 6:17,18). The same idea comes up in a variety of forms in the New Testament: “he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” (Col 1:13). We belong to Christ, we live in his kingdom, the kingdom of light, a kingdom of righteousness, a kingdom where obedience to the king is the norm. All these pictures say the same thing: we are part of a kingdom, a kingdom of love and goodness, and a kingdom has a king and kings require obedience, but this obedience is about doing what is good, loving, right, to live in an environment where those characteristics are the characteristics of blessing that comes from God. Who would say that this sort of obedience is hard?

The follower of Jesus is known by his love—love for God and love for his neighbor.

If we refuse to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked way, we dare not claim to be God’s, for we are ashamed of His Words (Luke 9:26), and we prove by our self-serving silence that we do not love our neighbor as ourselves.

I. Godly Old Testament men who did God’s Will

Moses: The LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. (Num. 15:28)

God, speaking of David: ‘I have found David…a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ (Acts 13:22)

II. Satan—His attitude is “I will,” and he desires to be like God (Lord over men, even in the very congregation.)

I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ …(Isa. 14:13-14)

III. Men who do according to their own will serve the devil

Disobedient Israel: “We will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.” (Jer. 18:12)

Spirit of antichrist: Then the king shall do according to his own will… (Dan. 11:36)

Jesus, speaking to the Pharisees: You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. (John 8:44)

In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim. 2:25-26)

IV. Attitude of Jesus

Jesus: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34)

Jesus: I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. (John 5:30)

Jesus: For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38)

Jesus, facing the cross: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

V. Christians MUST not follow their own will, but deny their own will and follow Jesus.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. (Luke 9:23-24)

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. (Heb. 10:36)

To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.(NASB) Titus 1:15,16

Titus confronted these people who believed nothing was pure. They denied Christians basic and godly pleasures that were not sin. All things are pure meant those things which were permitted in Scripture but forbidden by those who were legalistic in their mistaken attempt to earn favor with God. The problem arose out of those who were legalistic from their defiled and unbelieving minds and consciences, not with the things themselves. Everything permitted in the Scriptures was pure to those whose hearts were pure. But nothing was pure to those who were corrupt and unbelieving because their minds and consciences were corrupt. These claimed to know God, but with their actions denied Him. They were detestable and disobedient. They proved themselves unfit to do anything good. They talked like Christians. Their declaration was all in order but with their actions they denied Him. More than likely they thought of themselves as more spiritual than others but their spiritual deception was seen right through by Paul and Titus. They wanted the other believers to see through these people spiritual facade as well.

We cannot go only on what a person says. We have to go also on how a person lives. They said they knew God but their actions spoke louder than their words. Many in our world today profess to know and serve God, yet their immoral lives are a denial of Him. How many of us know those who profess to know God but in their conversations and lives deny and reject Him? What they live is a contradiction to what they profess? We cannot as a body blindly follow so called leaders whose lives are a contradiction to what they profess. Unfortunately, this does happen because often times we believe what they say without examining how they live. What about us? Do we say we know God? What do our actions speak? Are our lives a contradiction to what we profess? Paul and Titus warned others about the spiritual facade of those who were not what they said. We must as well. However, in this day and age it is a difficult task to undertake. We are all about not upsetting anyone. We do not want confrontations. However, people must be told so they can see through the spiritual facade of those whose lives are a contradiction.

Even though it is a fact that God is a God of love (1 John 4:16), the Bible also teaches that He hates some things. Similarly, although Christians are commanded to love God and others, there are some things Christians should hate. Take notice of the following Scriptures.

A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. Proverbs 13:5

Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. Exodus 18:21

I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the LORD. Psalms 31:6

These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant. Isaiah 61:8

Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate, says the LORD. Zechariah 8:17

“For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 2:16

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Romans 12:9

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Revelation 2:6

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 2:16-17

These scriptures teach us that God hates: dishonest gain (including the prosperity “gospel” and message), idolatry, lying, haughty eyes, murder, wicked schemes, troublemaking among the brothers, stealing, iniquity, divorce, evil, certain deeds and certain doctrines!

And then there is the COMMAND, “Do not love”—

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

While feel good preachers teach their out of balance “love doctrine,” they deceive many with partial truth because they fail to teach the “hate doctrine” that the sheep also need to know about.

The righteous hate what is false. In other words, if you are truly a Christian trusting in Jesus for salvation, you MUST HATE some things, including sin, idols, the things of this world (that are in opposition to God), and any thing or teaching that is false.

When a couple gets married there are all sorts of adjustments they have to make. Some they are aware of and many they don’t expect.