Sunday October 1, 2017

Epistle: Colossians 4: 2-18

Gospel: Luke 9: 57-62

Psalm: Psalm 104/105

Friends,

How does today’s Epistle apply to us in this day and age? Read the first few verses; 2 Be instant in prayer; watching in it with thanksgiving: 3 Praying withal for us also, that God may open unto us a door of speech to speak the mystery of Christ (for which also I am bound;) 4 That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. 5 Walk with wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt: that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

What wisdom is here in these few words alone? Be instant in prayer; friends just look around you, we live in a world that embraces faithlessness, a total lack of loyalty not only to our nations but to even our own families and to Jesus Christ Himself even among those who call themselves Christian. How many truly meditate on the word of God and make attempts at living it? I say attempts because we will and do fall flat on our faces every day. This is a struggle, run the good race as we read in the scriptures, why does it say that? Because it is a fight between the flesh and the spirit and between the spirits of good against the spirits of evil, it is a daily struggle, and a moment by moment struggle, do not remain passive in this.

Even sports figures and entertainers are idolized and everyman is a god unto himself. The world chooses to be entertained rather than to seek God. One who calls himself Christian yet chooses entertainment everyday and only one hour per week doing his duty to worship God is only fooling himself. Yet this is the way it is today, people have become self righteous, proud, all believing that somehow we deserve some luxurious living, comfort and expensive, fancy lifestyles, elegant and regal because we are so special in our own eyes.

We are a world of foolish people who have forgotten our Creator and our Lord. Think about where we are headed and cut this off within ourselves immediately. Be instant in prayer; guard you heart, your soul, and your mind from the evil that is prevalent throughout the world. Watching in it with thanksgiving; do not forget to thank the Lord for the good that He has in fact done for and to us.

But pray not only for yourself but for others also so that they may have a guarded heart, soul, and mind so that all may gain the wisdom from the Lord that all may speak wisely to others the truth without fear, seek that peace and learn to also remain silent when it may be prudent to do so. Remember the words of our Lord; greet others with peace and if they do not accept this peace, if they do not choose to hear your words; walk away and shake the dust off of your feet. Not all want to hear the truth and it cannot be force fed to anyone. But protect your own heart and maintain that peace within you.

Our gospel tells us how to make this all happen; we are to first of all seek God above all worldly understanding and knowledge as well as pleasures, seek the Kingdom of God first, learn to do His will first and then we shall be capable of walking about in wisdom knowing that many if not most will choose not to hear, but through our own lifestyle; living the truth, living the peace, loving the soul of another and remaining in constant prayer and worship of Almighty God; there will be those who shall be converted. Preach Jesus Christ by the way that we live and then use words when appropriate.

As the Psalmist says; 1 Alleluia. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles. 2 Sing to him, yes sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works. 3 Glory in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 4 Seek the Lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.

If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.

Little children, love one another; because this is our Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply need to see them within us and follow.

Remember; if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

In Christ.