Licentia vestra | Your liberty

Not all have this knowledge - 1 Corinthians 8:7.

Learning is a lifelong journey. We begin at home, continue through schools and universities, read countless books and articles, and listen to wise teachers. As Christians, we also draw knowledge from the Holy Scriptures. Yet sometimes we fear we don't truly understand anything at all.

The essential knowledge we need is Jesus Christ himself. The Church Fathers—saints like Ambrose and Athanasius—dedicated their entire lives to contemplating the divine Word, the Son of God. Their writings reveal to us the one who was both God and man. Nearly every paragraph in their works shows us the person of the beloved Son of God the Father.

In our own lives today, do we possess this same knowledge? Do we focus on Jesus Christ with our whole heart and mind? Certainly, we have many responsibilities: family, work, providing food and shelter, and countless other concerns. Many people naturally concentrate on these matters—what we might call earthly concerns. The problem arises when we fail to find genuine time to think, speak, and read about the Son of God, even though we profess that he is the most important person in our lives.

When others observe you and your knowledge—that is, your relationship with Jesus Christ—what do they say about you as a Christian? Perhaps it's difficult for others to recognize the Son of God in your life because of how you behave. Perhaps you pay more attention to food than to Scripture. You might be an expert in your professional field, but are you growing in theological understanding?

Every Christian is called to possess this knowledge of Jesus Christ. Through your knowledge and witness, those who are weak in faith can be brought to sanctification and salvation. The brothers and sisters for whom Christ died are looking for your testimony of life.

Please don't think of yourself merely as a sinner—you are also God's adopted child. Even when you make mistakes in daily life, you can always return to Jesus through the Holy Scriptures. You can listen to his voice as the Divine Word teaches you how to worship the Lord. Open the Bible and feed your soul with true words of wisdom.

Then you will become not only a student, but also a teacher for those who lack this knowledge of Christ. In this way, you fulfill your calling to share the greatest knowledge of all—the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 by Józef Trzebuniak

(Listen to podcast here)

Orationes | Prayers

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” – 1 Timothy 2: 1 (NLT).

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

It is easy for us to pray for the well-being of our family and our loved ones, but it is another thing to pray for the well-being of others that we don’t like.  In the context of the persecution of Christians by the Romans government, Apostle Paul asked Pastor Timothy to pray for the good of his government. And not just any prayer, Paul asked Timothy to bring requests, supplication and thanksgiving for the heathen leaders before God. It is not imprecatory prayer- prayer that God will punish those who are evil, but a prayer of thanksgiving on their behalf.

Why did Paul ask Pastor Timothy to do that? In verse 2b, it is stated that the twofold purposes of Paul’s advice are that the believers can live a peaceful life in righteousness and tranquility and also so it will become a testimony that will bring people to the Truth. These purposes in line with the gospel of Jesus that encourages the disciples to pray for those who persecute you.

Our natural tendency is to attack back those who intend to harm us. It is ingrained in our nature to do that, but Jesus asked us to do the opposite (to give another cheek, to walk another mile, to pray for them). What Jesus asked from us is not natural. This is true, because it is supernatural. It is supernatural because natural men cannot do it by themselves. It requires power from the Holy Spirit to enable us to not only forgive those who have wronged us but also for us to pray a sincere pray for the blessings for them.

This advice from Paul to Timothy, is based on the character which is the sovereignty of the Heavenly Father. Paul knew that nothing in this world happened outside the knowledge of God. He permits things, allows things happen in our life to achieve His purpose.

In the middle of that situation or problem in our life, we should not ask God why bad things happen to good people.  We should ask God, what He wants us to do or to learn during our trial. In our passage, God’s plan is clear for the church, that the church testimony of Christ in the middle of persecution will become louder and clear for the unbelievers, including the government leaders.

In the world full of natural people, God through Apostle Paul has asked us to be a supernatural believer. No, not a superman nor an ironman, but an ordinary person who lives his life in a supernatural way through the power of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of bringing others to Him. 

Believers, let us live a supernatural life for Him so others will see and want to come to know Jesus. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Timothy 2: 1-15 by Pastor Devy Nanlohy 

(Listen to the Podcast here )

Fidelis Sermo | Trustworthy Saying

"Here is a trustworthy saying... " - 1 Timothy 3: 1

Today’s verse for reflection is a gentle reminder how amazing the Holy Bible is. Yes – the verse speaks of gentle instructions how to conduct oneself if one wants to be an overseer. But beyond the detailed instructions, it just speaks so much of how God has thought about everything. It’s just amazing how God concerns himself with every detail of our lives – not only of whether or not we go to church every Sunday and hear mass.

It reminded me of a concept I learned before – the concept of “Unity of Life”. It reminded me how we cannot compartmentalize God in one area and conduct ourselves differently in other areas of our lives. As Christians, we need to reflect Jesus Christ in how we conduct ourselves and most especially how we deal with others. 

I read somewhere that for some people, we are the only Bible they will ever read. In some modification of that thought, it might be worth to give it a thought whether other people see Jesus when they encounter us. It’s a good thought to meditate and contemplate on. Unity of Life is such a beautiful concept as to how we let Jesus in other areas of our lives, most especially in areas where other people can easily relate to. We just never know when another soul may need to see Jesus through us.

The verse today also reminded as how practical the Bible is, how it helps not just in our spiritual lives, but into our daily, practical lives as well. God has brought it to a level we can all relate to. This is the God that we have, a God that sees the big things and the small things. 

I will always be humbled by a God who concerns Himself with all the details of my life, for I will never know how I deserved this much attention. And as always – it always comes back to love. A love that transcends the supernatural and spills over to the practical, and I will always be thankful and in awe.

 

  

Reflection on 1 Timothy 3: 1-15 by Blessie Sto Tomas

(Listen to the Podcast here)