DearBlog friends:  I will be on travel today and unable to post actively on the blog. Hopefully all will return to normal in three days. 

God bless and thank you for your interest in our ministry.

Jerry Ogles

DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

September 30. Faithfulness

"And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities!" Luke 19:17 

It is remarkable how much the Word of God makes of faithfulness — simple faithfulness. It is not great things which God requires of us — unless our mission is to do great things. He only asks that we be faithful in the simple duties that come to our hand in our commonplace days. That means that we do all our work as well as we can; that we serve well in the varied relationships of life in which from time to time we find ourselves; that we stand heroically in our lot, resisting temptation and continuing true and loyal to God; and that we fulfill our mission in all ways according to the grace given unto us, using every gift and talent for the glory of God and the good of the world. The world crowns "success." God crowns "faithfulness."

Jesus tells us that faithfulness in this life — lifts us to places of authority hereafter. So, then, life here on earth is only a trial to see what we are capable of doing. It is after all, a real probation to find out who may be set over large trusts. The real life is to be begun in the eternal world. Those who prove faithful here — will have places of responsibility in the kingdom of glory.

This ought to give a new and mighty motive to our living in this world. Our eternal honor and employment — will depend upon the degree of our faithfulness here. Godly men and women often say at the close of their lives, "If I could only begin now, with all my experience — I could live my life much better." Well, if they have been faithful — that is the very thing they will be permitted to do in the next world. A mother who had brought up a large family said: "I have just learned now how to train children. I could do it well — if I could begin it again." If she has learned this, that is just what Christ wanted her to learn. Now she is ready for full service in His kingdom. 

LADY JANE GREY - died as martyr under Bloody Mary - staunchly Protestant.

 

Remember now thy Creator – from an older post - by Bishop Ogles

 

Remember now thy Creator – from an older post - by Bishop Ogles

R

EMEMBER now the Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.  (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)

 

               We are all children in the eyes of the Lord. Children must constantly be reminded to ‘remember.’ Remember to brush your teeth; remember to take your lunch money to school; remember to look both ways before crossing the street, etc. When something was particularly important to do, my mom told me more than once to remember to do it. Remembering the important things in life as children results in responsible adults who conduct themselves out of good habits as much as memory. The same is true of the Christian.  Righteous conduct will eventually become an ingrained habit. Of course, that habit is weak for it is constantly being challenged by temptation. So, God reminds us to remember whose we are – our Creator.

 

            We find here a contrast from the last two verses of the previous chapter (Eccl 11:9-10) which tells the youth what to avoid: Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.   (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10) This present leading verse of Ecclesiastes 12:1 tells the youth (as well as those ripe in age) what to embrace and remember. The most common form of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) occurs in the spiritual realm. The excitement of life with its many allurements often takes our focus off the more important reverence we owe our Maker. 

 

            As we age, the light of our sun darkens, and shadows lengthen. Storm clouds of hardship arise and dissipate – only to return again in other forms of hardship for the aged. (v 2) The hands tremble and are beset with arthritic pain. These are the ‘keepers of the house.’ The legs bow and the knees are pained. The teeth make no crisp sound when eating because they are few. (grinders) The eyes of the elderly peer from behind narrow eyelids and are weakened to vision. (v 3) The lips of the aged, not supported by a full set of teeth, close tightly, and the teeth being few, allow only for a muffled sound at the dinner plate. Though loud speech is difficult for the elderly to hear, they are yet startled by the unexpected chirp of the bird. (v 4) The elderly fear high places and stairways for the danger of falling. Fear is generated at every tree and street corner. The hair of the head becomes white like the blossoming of the almond tree. The desires of youth are starkly dampened for the aged. Even a grasshopper is a weighty burden. All are signs of the gloomy spectacle of one’s long home – the grave. The aged are keenly aware of each event of mourning for the dead for it signals their own demise. (v5)

 

            The silver cord could relate to the spinal cord that controls every movement of the body unless damaged by compressed vertebrae of severance. The golden bowl is the cranial cavity that houses our thought processes. The arteries and veins are the pitcher that transports our blood circulation. The wheel broken at the cistern is the heart that pumps the blood throughout the body. (v 6)

 

            Death eventually comes to all – young, old; male, female, all races – no exception! Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. The soil of the earth is composed of every element from which the body is created. The atrophy of the grave breaks those elements down to their simplest forms again in the form of dust (or soil). Then what? The physical elements of the body do return to the dust of the earth, but the spirit, which is immortal, returns to God who gave it. The Judgment of God will determine further disposition of our spirits based upon our state of grace at death. What is the ultimate destination of your soul?

Blind Bartimaeus - a Deeper Study, by Bishop Jerry Ogles

Blind Bartimaeus - a Deeper Study, by Bishop Jerry Ogles

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. (Mark 10:46-52)

            Blind Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus and would remain a dependent son all of his life unless something happened to change his blindness. Blindness is more prevalent in the Middle East than in any other part of the world. Medical science has not been able to discover the reason for this sorrowful condition.

            From his early childhood, Bartimaeus had sat in this same place beside the highway begging. It is likely someone had to escort the man to this spot daily, and after, return and collect him for the trip home. In those days, there was no livelihood for the blind; in fact, it was enough of a challenge for a full sighted man to make a living with the labor of his hands. So Bartimaeus had no recourse but to beg.

            He often heard comments from passersby that the morning was unusually resplendent with light and cloudless skies. Bartimaeus wondered what it would be like to see a sunrise, to see a cloud, to see a bird – the same which he often heard chirping in the tree branches above him. Oh, and yes! What beauty there must be in the appearance of a bird that could make such wonderful music! He listened with keen ear (the blind are blessed with stronger senses in their other perceptive organs than those who see) to each party that passed by. Some were desponding voices, others angry, and some were kind and cordial – even to a beggar. “Why are some so very kind to me, an unsightly beggar” thought Bartimaeus. And what does blind Bartimaeus look like? If he had vision, might some pretty maiden find him attractive enough to take an interest? But no, it was not to be. Bartimaeus could never hope for the simple joys of a budding rose, or of a family with sons and daughters. He would not have been considered an eligible candidate for marriage.

            Of late, there had been a stir of interest among those who passed by in a man named, Jesus! He frequently heard this man’s name mentioned by those passing by. Even scribes and Pharisees traveling up to Jerusalem from Jericho speculated on certain prophecies of such a man as Jesus. The more Bartimaeus heard, the more convinced he became that this Jesus met all of those prophecies uttered of him by those familiar with the Law and Prophets. He heard that Jesus did MIRACLES! He even raised the dead, healed lepers, restored sight, and forgave the most desperate of sinners and adulteresses. Would this not, of necessity, be the Messiah for which Israel had long pined?

            This day had something of a magical air to it. It was Spring, just before Passover, and the sun warmed the sidewalks and hearts of men. Bees were humming in the gardens lining the highway, and Bartimaeus, for what reason he did not know, felt that today was a very special day. He had just been deposited at his familiar spot by the wayside by his family members. He had just begun to anticipate whatever gifts the passersby might offer on such a beautiful day – for beauty makes the heart tender. He had just situated himself in as comfortable position as the stony earth would allow when he heard a commotion coming from out of the western gate of Jericho. There was much excited talk, and a host of people in the company. As the crowd grew nearer, the keen ears of Bartimaeus heard much excited talk of a man who had fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fishes. Then, Bartimaeus heard next that a member of that company had restored sight to a blind man at Bethsaida!  How wonderful if Bartimaeus could have shared in that healing at Bethsaida; but he would have had no means of transport to that distant place.

            As the throng drew nearer, Bartimaeus heard a man addressed by one of the crowd as Jesus! Jesus! This is the one whom Bartimaeus had heard so much about. Immediately, he knew that it was Jesus who had fed the multitudes and restored sight to the blind man; and he also knew that this Jesus was approaching on the very highway beside which Bartimaeus had sat so many long hours and long days. If Bartimaeus could not travel to see Jesus at Bethsaida, then this same Jesus would come to find Bartimaeus where he sat by the roadside in Jericho! This is very typical of the Lord. When our need is great, and our heart is ready, He will find us! Our Lord had seen Bartimaeus every day of his suffering by the roadside. Jesus knew that He would find Bartimaeus begging there just as He knew that He had an appointment that other time with a woman of Samaria at Jacob’s Well.

            As the group approached the very spot where Bartimaeus sat, his heart began to beat with amazing intensity. “This is the hour of my hope, it ever I shall have hope!” he thought. There was obviously a host of men surrounding Jesus. He could hear their warnings for people to make way. But Barimaeus also heard a gentle and kind response from Jesus – sometimes gently rebuking the men with Him to be patient with others on the road. “Such a wonderful Voice filled with kindness and understanding” thought Bartimaeus.

            As Bartimaeus is anticipating the close approach of Jesus, our Lord has already known of His lesson of prayer and faith that He intends to teach His accompanying disciples. The disciples took little notice of the poor beggar beside the road until the man, with a loud and unsettling voice, began to call out to Jesus. Bartimaeus knew that this was the decisive moment of his entire life. Would it not be of great benefit if every other poor, blind sinner would not be hushed in calling out to our Lord? “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” You will observe that Bartimaeus did not presume to ask for his vision to be restored. He only asked the Lord for mercy, and he KNEW who the Son of David was - for when we have His mercy, we are made whole in every whit. Baritmaeus is praying a simple and forceful prayer. No great and profound words to impress, but “the simple annals of the poor.” (Thomas Gray)

            When men ask you your reason for walking with Jesus, do you shush them away? Should we not be joyful when someone appeals to Christ in prayer? But the disciples thought, “How presumptive of this man to call upon the Lord so informally and desperately.” It is often those closest to Christ that keep others away! They tried to keep the man in silence, but that did not work. “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal,” Baritmaeus was a man of ‘persevering prayer.’ He would not be hushed by those around him. He was addressing the Lord his God! “but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” Do you know that such a plaintive and simple prayer of the suffering will always find mercy in the great heart of Christ? Though Jesus heard Bartimaeus the first time he called out, He wanted the man to persist as an example of such prayer to His disciples.

            Though the good Lord must be very busy keeping such as you and me out of trouble, He nevertheless ALWAYS has time to answer sincerely uttered prayer. “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.” When Jesus stands still, something is about to happen. He stood still outside the tomb of Lazarus; He stood still when the woman with an issue of blood touched His garment; and He stood still when He commanded those accusers of the woman taken in adultery who were without sin to cast the first stone – and they melted into the hedges and underbrush. Now He stands still for poor, blind, Bartimaeus knowing full well his need and his blindness since the day he was stricken with it.

            Please note the manner in which Bartimaeus came to Christ! “And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” Bartimaeus was a poor man. All he owned was his garment; but before coming before his Sovereign Lord, Bartimaeus would divest himself of what little earthly possession he had and come to Jesus without a single worldly consideration. Why do we not all follow the example of Bartimaeus? Though he was blind, he came by faith to the sound of Jesus’ Voice to where He stood waiting. He stands waiting for all who have that burning need. Jesus then asked a rhetorical question of Bartimaeus, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” Barimaeus wanted to see! But, allow me to assure you, Bartimaeus could already see the Light of God better than whole and healthy men! “Lord, that I might receive my sight,” Answered Bartimaeus! How wonderful! Since Bartimaeus could see truth in such stark and brilliant colors, he would now be enabled to see the beauty of God’s Creation, and more, in greater starkness. “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” Please understand what Jesus tells Bartimaeus! He did not say your faith has restored your sight only, but made you whole in God. In other words, your disease of sin is healed and removed as well. “And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”

            What did Bartimaeus do when Jesus healed his blindness and made him whole? 

Did he return to the highway roadside and resume begging? Not at all! He immediately followed Jesus. 

Have you done so with such eager dispatch, Friend?

 DAILY READINGS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

September 29. Jesus Passing By

"And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.."

 Mark 10:47

No doubt the blind man had been wishing that Jesus would come to Jericho. He had grown to believe that if he would only come — He could open his blind eyes. What a burst of joy filled the poor man when he learned that Jesus was passing by! Now was his opportunity. Instantly he began to cry out. The lesson here is, that when Jesus is passing by all who need help — should at once call upon Him.

But when may it now be said that Jesus is passing by? Of course He is always present everywhere. We cannot get out of His sight for a moment. Yet there are times when He seems specially to visit certain places. The day of Israel's visitation, was when Jesus was going through the land, teaching and healing. So times of revival in a church are times of peculiar visitation. When the Spirit is working mightily, when many hearts are bowing down in penitence — then Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, and then is the time to call upon Him. When conscience is tender, when the spirit is silently striving, when some peculiar providence has awakened the soul — again is Jesus passing by.

He passes by in youth. There is no other time when He is really so near. Then the heart is tender, the affections are unengaged, the life is plastic — and He comes especially close. There will never be a time in after life — when it will be so easy to call upon Him and be saved, as in youth. 

This blind man wisely seized the opportunity. Jesus was passing now, was close to him, could readily hear his call. Now was his time; if not now — perhaps never. Surely we ought to act as wisely in seeking Christ while He is near. It must not be forgotten that Jesus never passed through Jericho again. If Bartimeus had said, "I will wait until He comes again," what would gave been the result?

THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS: the Boundless Sea - the world's largest cemetery for the dead. 

 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof, They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Psams 107:23-30

 

 Sermon Notes - Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, Anglican Orthodox Church - 28 September 2025, Bishop Jerry Ogles 

 

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

YE see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.     Galatians 6:11-18

 

NO man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.       Matthew 6:24-34

 

            Our Lord, in His Sermon on the Mount, teaches us a believer cannot be divided in his faith. He cannot travel the righteous path that is Narrow, and leads up to Heaven, and the wicked path called the Broad Way that leads down to destruction, at the same time. There remains before us, just as in the days of Noah’s Ark, an open door. It is an invitation to salvation. Whomsoever will may enter in by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no place in the Church of God for duplicity. If we so much desire to retain our old free will, than we shall also retain the consequences of our sins; but, if we surrender our wills to Christ, and accept His will for our lives, then shall our lives (thought, word, and deed) be directed from on high and not from the depths of Hell.

 

            As pointed out in the Prayer of Collect, our righteousness is not our own, but belongs to Christ. He covers us with His righteousness else we would fall miserably short of the mark. He sustains us moment by moment in the way that we should go; yet, He knows our frail frames and, as the Good Samaritan, finds us, heals us, provides us transport, and lodges us in the fair harbors of His love as we fail and flounder on the Way. His love and care are a perpetual love and care; and those things that we overcome by faith are profitable to our salvation.

 

            Paul, in his Epistle to the Galatians for today, warns against any labors of the hand to achieve salvation. It is not the good work we do by our hands that make us worthy of the family of God, but the work that Christ did on the cross – to satisfy the terms of the law on our behalf – that is edifying and efficacious for our salvation. Men will attempt to convince us to do all sorts of works, and comply with all kinds of formulas, to EARN salvation; but it cannot be. There is only One Way – the way of the cross of Christ. He paid it all!

 

            Just prior to the text today from the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus has taught us how to give alms – how to do, as well, our works of good – in secret so that our reward will be in heaven and not seen upon earth for self-gratification. If our gifts are to Heaven, they shall not be seen openly upon the earth; and if they are made openly to be seen on earth, they shall not grace the walls of Heaven. Our Lord also, in verses 5-15 of this same chapter, He teaches us how to pray. He also gives us the Lord’s Prayer that is to be prayed in communal worship (i.e. Our Father….), as well as private moments of devotion.  He gives us a rule for fasting so that we appear to the world not to fast. Our Father in Heaven knows every secret thing, and He cherishes those acts of righteousness that are performed for His own glory alone and not that of any man.

 

            So Jesus begins today by telling us that we cannot serve two masters. Since as masters has full authority over his subject, such a prospect of having two masters is logically impossible. 24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” God is not divided in His sovereignty – He is either the sovereign of our souls, or the flesh is that sovereign. It cannot be both ways. Our flesh is constantly warring to gain the ascendancy, but a firm reliance upon the sweet blessings and leading of the Holy Spirit will give the soul victory in the righteous Way. If we are obsessed with the false and dimming lights of the world, the greater and eternal Light of Heaven will be obscured just as it was to the Wise Men who were blinded to the Star of Bethlehem when they entered the dimly-lit gates of Jerusalem. Consider the matter logically: is it possible to go UP, and to go DOWN, at the same time? Is it possible to love God and His great enemy at once? Can you prize righteousness above all while harboring wicked thoughts in one’s heart?  Let our master be single, and let that Master be the sweet and loving Teacher of Galilee – the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            Are we anxious of tomorrow? Who owns tomorrow? Is it not God Almighty? If He is your Lord, you need not worry of provisions for the day.  He has furnished our abode for our comfort and shelter, He has prepared the Bread of Heaven for our sustenance, and He has woven a white and silken Robe for our covering. What profit is in worrying? Will simple worry change any outcome in the slightest? Our Lord was driven into the Wilderness to suffer the trials and temptations of the devil. He went without food that we might be fed. He went without drink that we might have the full cup of His blessings. He vanquished the Devil in the Wilderness of this world. Why do we linger in longing looks back to that Wilderness of sin? 25 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Is there not bread enough, and to spare, in my Father’s House? (Prodigal Son)  We have been invited to a sumptuous dinner at the House of the King. Shall we bring with us our stale and molding bread of the earth when He has prepared the finest cuisine of Heaven? Shall we lug along our waters from the poison fountain when He has provided the pure Water of Life for our health? Perish the thought!

 

            Jesus invites our attention to the provision God has made in nature for every creature thereof. Does He not provide for them? What is the source of nourishment to the young calf, the baby lamb, the frail, newborn pony? He has provided a means in nature for each of these to prosper in health and nutrition. It is an unbroken source of plenty. 26 “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” I often wonder where the sparrow goes when the clouds burst open in a deluge. They return in joy to the trees after the rain. Where did they hide from the tempest? They depended upon the protection and care of God unseen to our eyes. They do not worry about harvest and sowing, yet they prosper according to God’s perfect plan. A sparrow is of much less value to God than the crowning achievement of His Creation – Man. So why do we worry so that the provision will fail, and we shall perish for want of food, clothing, or shelter?

 

            We are created in the image of God. Why should we mar that image by tattooing our persons or, more importantly, our souls, with deviant marks and vulgar signs? Can we make ourselves larger than God has made us? Perhaps so if you consider immoderate diet and obesity to be growth. But God has made us to be like unto our Maker. Our only growth can take place when we grow more like Him by surrendering our free wills and taking upon ourselves the Mind and Will that is Christ’s. 27  “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”  Rather than enlarge ourselves by effort, we grow smaller. Only when we allow God to grow our hearts, minds and bodies may we grow in love and grace.

 

            Our world today is filled with stress and anxiety. Men’s hearts fail them for looking for the things coming upon the earth. Reason teaches us that 95% of those things that occupy our anxious minds in worry never come to pass. So the worry was only a ruse of the devil to distract our hearts and to shorten our lives. 28 “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Lilies are beautiful beyond measure, yet, despite our art, the only lilies we can create are unloving ones. But God clothes them, not only with beauty, but with exuberant life! A dead body can be decorated with silken robes to no avail for it remains dead. But God clothes the Lily better than Solomon was able to clothe himself, and the life God gave the Lily is an innate characteristic of His grace to the smallest of creatures. The grass is giving raiment suitable for its living, yet, it has only a short span to run, and is trodden under foot, withers, and is blown away by the wind. Do you worry that the same God who provides for the sparrow, the Lily, and the grass of the fields cannot provide for you whose value far exceeds all these? The soul of man is eternal whether destined for Heaven or Hell, whereas sparrows, grass, and lilies exist only for the present as robes of beauty to cover the earth. Is our faith so small that we cannot acknowledge the care of God sufficient for our preservation?

 

            So what counsel does our Lord provide for our frailty and doubts? 31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” If the Christian son or daughter goes about worrying, just as do those who do not know God, of what advantage is there to being a son or daughter of God. Does a prince or princess concern themselves for their basic provisions in life? Is our Father, and King of Kings, not able to supply all things according to His “riches in glory?” Do we believe that God is unable to see our need? Perhaps we see only our DESIRES, but God sees our NEED!

 

            We need not concern ourselves with any worldly concerns if we place God first in all our thoughts, words, and deeds. If our priority in all things is God and His will, we will have no time left for worry and vain pursuits. Our Lord gives solution to all our problems with His concluding counsel for today’s text:

 

33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” To those of you who timidly subordinate your duties to God to your perceived obligations to the state and society, Jesus draws a clear line in the sand: We do not seek to please governments or society in politically correct philosophies, but GOD! His will is paramount over every earthly power be it the US Government, or any other government. We observe a hierarchy of government from God above every other government. In America, we have local, state and Federal laws. Does not the ultimate power predominate in law? And even in the Federal Government, we have a separation of powers that must be observed so that not entity has absolute power even at the Federal head. But God is the ultimate Law-Giver. His law takes precedence above every law of man. Too many believers today have bought into the lie of a separation of church and state. What does that mean? Does it mean that religious morality cannot influence the state, or even be mentioned in reference to it; or that the state can dictate every detail of religious faith. If the Christian faith is not the basis of government, then the government will intrude and be the arbiter of the Christian faith…simple as that! God will provide ALL that we need as long as we acknowledge Him above and beyond every other consideration.

 

There is great evil in our present day. We must address the enemy at hand rather than occupy ourselves with contemplated enemies that may arise tomorrow. The world is WICKED today. The only day we are assured in this life is TODAY. Go forth to battle that enemy of our souls that presents itself at the leading edge of battle and worry not of the enemy’s reinforcement for tomorrow. If we win the current battle, there will be no wickedness to reinforce. Fight today, and take in hand the new threat as it presents itself. God is with the valiant and true servant to fight his battles for him. Stand with God and no lesser power can approach. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

 

What are your priorities for today? Are your first awakening thoughts devoted to God and in seeking His will for you TODAY? Or do you give space in your heart to needless worries that steal the space in your heart that should be reserved to God? Do you seek after righteousness and let the results fall where they will? If you place your trust in the only One who can order not only your life, but your soul, you will be in good Hands for certain. Do not make your intentions of righteousness dependent upon tomorrow’s events. Do what is right, and God will see to the rest! He is the great Captain of your soul, not society, not Mammon, and not government. When you approach the White Throne at the conclusion of all time, will you concern yourself with rulings of the Supreme Court, or acts of Congress? You may trust me – they shall not present themselves at that Holy place.

 

 DAILY READINGS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST - J. R. Miller (1890)

September 28. Serving Others

"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 

The art of photography is now so advanced, that a whole page of a newspaper can be taken in miniature so small — as to be carried on a little button, and yet every letter and point be perfect.

Just so, the whole life of Christ is photographed in this one little phrase, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

He did not come to be served — if this had been His aim, He would never have left heaven's glory, where He lacked nothing, where angels praised Him and ministered unto Him. He came to serve. He went about doing good. He altogether forgot Himself. He served all He met, who would receive His service. At last He gave His life in serving — He gave it to save others, to redeem lost souls.

You say that you want to be like Christ. You ask Him to print His own image on your heart. Here then, is the image: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

It is not a vague dream of human greatness which we are to think of, when we ask to be like our Master.

The old monks thought that they were becoming like Christ — when they went into the wilderness, away from men, to live in cold cells. But surely, such a dream of uselessness is not the thought which this picture suggests. "To serve — to give our life" that is the Christ-like thing! Instead of fleeing away from people — we are to live with others, to serve them, to live for them, to seek to bless them, to do them good, to give our lives for them — that is the meaning of the prayer for Christ-likeness.

Christ also tells us that this is the stairway to the highest reaches of the Christian life. "Whoever wants to become great among you — must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first — must be slave of all." Mark 10:43-44. To worldly men — this seems indeed, to be a strange way of attaining greatness. According to this, all men's scrambling for place and power — is really scrambling downward! The real heights in the human life — are self-forgetfulness and service. We are to use all our redeemed abilities, in doing good to others in Jesus' name. That is what Jesus did in His blessed life — and we are to follow in His steps.

 The LORD’S PRAYER (explanation designed for children)

 

Our Father -This is a corporate prayer because it does not begin My Father, but Our Father. This is like a letter addressed to 

our Father. What is His address?

Who art in Heaven! That is His address. 

Hallowed be thy Name. Your name is Holy and we should reverence you and not ourselves.

Thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. We should hope for the soon appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ and , even if He delays His coming, we should work that His Will be done here on earth as well as in Heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread. We should ask of Him no more than our necessity for the day. As He told us: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."   Matthew 6:34. The modern approach in worship would have us believe that we can demand from God all things and that He is obligated to provide. BIG ERROR! He is Sovereign and will provide according to HIS Will - not ours!

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Each and every day we should seek forgiveness for our sins of commission and omission. But if we expect OUR sins to be forgiven, we must forgive offenses committed against us."For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Gospel of St. Matthew 6:14 &15. 

     How many of us are seeking forgiveness  without result because we forgive not others?

And lead us not into temptation....We are all alike subject to the woos of the world, we are tempted of the evil one daily in our lives. But if we follow in the steps of Jesus, He will lead us away from the paths of temptation.

But deliver us from evil...When we do encounter evil, please, dear Lord, deliver us from its grasp. When we do fall into the depths of the sea of sin, kindly reach your nail-scarred hand down to grasp our failing arm of flesh and lift us from our despair and ruin.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. It is your kingdom, not ours. You are the Sovereign Ruler, not we. We often attempt to usurp your power when we are puffed up with pride. We boast of our gifts (and think they are our own goodness), we praise men of great fame more than the Heavenly Power, we worship oftentimes to attract attention more to ourselves rather than in giving all glory to God to whom it belongs. We fail of humility and piety. Our worship should be directed toward the Glory of God alone and none to man or creature.

And the simple Amen at the closing is appropriate...so be it, dear Lord. Our simple supplication is not phony or long-winded, but succinct and humble in its appeal to the Power on High.

To me, this is the essence of the Lord's Prayer.   ~ BY JERRY OGLES

 

 JOHN DONNE - Anglican Cleric of the 16th and 17th centuries:

For whom the Bell Tolls

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

 Noah Webster - author of the Blue Back Speller and other textbooks:

"Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God [Exodus 18:21].... If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted... If our government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws". 

[Noah Webster, The History of the United States (New Haven: Durrie and Peck, 1832), pp. 336-337, 49] (NOTE: America has blown this one big time in the last elections)

 

Ozymandias 

by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) 

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” -- Proverbs 16:18

                          I met a traveler from an antique land                                               Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone 

Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, 
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, 

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, 
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read 

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, 
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; 

And on the pedestal these words appear: 
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: 

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” 
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay 

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare 
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

 

 

 

 

 DAILY READINGS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST - J. R. Miller (1890)

September 27. Not Far from the Kingdom

"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.." Mark 10:21 

Our Lord's answer to the young man's question is very instructive. What is the one thing which, besides all we can do for ourselves by obedience and cultivation of character — makes one a Christian? It is important to be able to answer this question, for it is often asked. A man says: "I live as well as Christians do. I attend church; I keep the commandments; I am kind to my family and generous to the needy and poor; I live conscientiously in all things. What do I lack?"

What shall we answer him? Shall we tell him to sell his farm of his property — and give all he has to the poor? Was that the one essential thing in the Master's counsel to this young man? No! the essential thing was following Christ; the selling and giving away were but parts of this. The young mans heart was attached to his wealth, and the "one thing" was to take Christ — instead of his wealth. So we should answer our inquirer by telling him that he must receive Christ as his Savior and Lord, that he must lay his money and all that he has — at Christ's feet, to be used only for Him and as He directs, and must take Christ as his sole portion forever.