11 March 2025
See how Job, too, confesses his sins, and says how sure he is that there
is none righteous before the Lord. He is
also sure of this, that 'if we say we have no sin...the truth is not in us.' While, therefore, God bestows on him His high
testimony of righteousness, according to the standard of human conduct, Job
himself took his measure from that rule of righteousness, which, as well as he
can, he beholds in God. Knowing this is
true, he goes on to say, 'How will a mortal be just before the Lord?'
St. Augustine
A Submissive Heart
10 March 2025
The heart is where faith and righteousness is received through the Word in which God reveals and affects the person's relationship to himself. A heart submissive to God and clinging to his chosen words of grace then yearns for ongoing conformation, healing and renewal.
Jared Wicks
The heart is where faith and righteousness is received through the Word in which God reveals and affects the person's relationship to himself. A heart submissive to God and clinging to his chosen words of grace then yearns for ongoing conformation, healing and renewal.
Jared Wicks
Doing the Father's Will
9 March 2025
Jesus is not deflected at His temptation. When subsequently tempted to put on a show of power that would reveal a God who would fit our notions, Jesus resolutely refuses. He never uses His power for Himself. Jesus is the man for others. As such He had no basis for fear, for fear is self-regarding. Jesus came to do the Father’s will that was “for us and for our salvation.” It was the weight of what that involved, not fear, that brought Jesus low in Gethsemane. Yet He held to the Father’s will and went on to Calvary. There Jesus did what only He could do. He did it for us, for if we had to bear our sin’s burden that would be the end of us.
Norman Nagel
Jesus is not deflected at His temptation. When subsequently tempted to put on a show of power that would reveal a God who would fit our notions, Jesus resolutely refuses. He never uses His power for Himself. Jesus is the man for others. As such He had no basis for fear, for fear is self-regarding. Jesus came to do the Father’s will that was “for us and for our salvation.” It was the weight of what that involved, not fear, that brought Jesus low in Gethsemane. Yet He held to the Father’s will and went on to Calvary. There Jesus did what only He could do. He did it for us, for if we had to bear our sin’s burden that would be the end of us.
Norman Nagel
Our Righteousness
8 March 2025
We then say, that in many things we all of us offend, and that no man is pure from uncleanness, even though his life upon earth be but one day. Let us ask then of God mercy; which if we do, Christ will justify us; by Whom and with Whom, to God the Father, be praise and dominion, with the Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
We then say, that in many things we all of us offend, and that no man is pure from uncleanness, even though his life upon earth be but one day. Let us ask then of God mercy; which if we do, Christ will justify us; by Whom and with Whom, to God the Father, be praise and dominion, with the Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Clothed in Righteousness
7 March 2025
The adversary has deceived me; he has stripped me of my garment and stolen it away. Because of him I remain fruitless and must go to the judgment entirely naked. May Thy mercy be for me a robe in the day of judgment!
St. Ephrem the Syrian
The adversary has deceived me; he has stripped me of my garment and stolen it away. Because of him I remain fruitless and must go to the judgment entirely naked. May Thy mercy be for me a robe in the day of judgment!
St. Ephrem the Syrian
On Music
4 March 2025
I am not satisfied with him who despised music, as all fanatics do; for music is an endowment and a gift of God, not a gift of men. It also drives away the devil and makes people cheerful; one forgets all anger, unchasteness, pride, and other vices. I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise.
Martin Luther
I am not satisfied with him who despised music, as all fanatics do; for music is an endowment and a gift of God, not a gift of men. It also drives away the devil and makes people cheerful; one forgets all anger, unchasteness, pride, and other vices. I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise.
Martin Luther
Live by the Spirit
2 March 2025
Your brother does not cease to be your brother because he slips or offends you; that is when he has most need of your love. Loving your neighbor as yourself means that you should not obey the sinful nature, which, when it is offended, hates and bites and devours. Rather, you should wrestle against it by the Spirit and continue loving your neighbor, although you find nothing worthy of love in him. Our righteousness is much more abundant than our sin, because the holiness and righteousness of Christ our Mediator far exceeds the sin of the whole world, and the forgiveness of sins that we have through him is so great that it easily swallows up all our sins, so long as we live by the Spirit.
Martin Luther
Your brother does not cease to be your brother because he slips or offends you; that is when he has most need of your love. Loving your neighbor as yourself means that you should not obey the sinful nature, which, when it is offended, hates and bites and devours. Rather, you should wrestle against it by the Spirit and continue loving your neighbor, although you find nothing worthy of love in him. Our righteousness is much more abundant than our sin, because the holiness and righteousness of Christ our Mediator far exceeds the sin of the whole world, and the forgiveness of sins that we have through him is so great that it easily swallows up all our sins, so long as we live by the Spirit.
Martin Luther
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