 |
| Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini |
The purpose of sound doctrine is not simply the knowledge of sound doctrine. It is meant to play out in the life of each individual in accord with his or her station in life. Older men, older women, younger men, and younger women each have their own unique ways of expressing a temperate, just and devout life.
For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
Indeed the particular gifts and challenges are as varied as each individual. The good news is that no matter how different we feel God has a plan for how his grace is meant to be expressed in our lives. Jesus Christ came to deliver us from the things that hold us back from embracing this life. He died and rose to cleanse us and make of us a people eager to do what is good. As we let this grace bear fruit in our lives we come to long more and more for his appearing again.
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of the great God
and of our savior Jesus Christ,
When we let the grace of Jesus and the power of the Spirit bear fruit in us it is not an excuse to start bragging about ourselves, as if we could ever manage to manifest these gifts of the Spirit through sheer force of will.
When you have done all you have been commanded, say,
'We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
The LORD will indeed invite us to his heavenly banquet if we stick with him and endure. But we don't somehow oblige him or put him in our debt by our work. We eventually learn the privilege of service. After all, the one who tells us this himself said that he came not to be served but to serve. We learn that love is its own reward.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
No comments:
Post a Comment