The Pilgrim Path---First John 2: 17

He that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

“ABIDETH FOREVER”

In this age of deceit and merely living for what you see---it is good to go back to the fundamentals of The Faith. I am once again drawn to the Early Church Father, St. Cyprian of Carthage (200—258). He was a martyr for the Holy Savior Jesus. Many today would figure him a radical. He said, “no one can have God as his Father unless he has the Church as his Mother.” Well, we could use far more devotion to the Church---the visible expression of Jesus Christ’s Kingdom in the world. One of our problems---we attempt to please everyone---and be quite satisfied with lukewarmness. Hmmm---sad combination. Here is some direction from St. Cyprian on “how” to live forever---as a Follower of Jesus Christ the LORD:

We who desire to live forever should do the will of the everlasting God. Now this is God’s will which Christ obeyed and taught---

Humility in behavior; firmness in faith;

Modesty in speech; fair-mindedness and compassion in all we do;

Self-control in sensual appetite; to be unable to harm others,

And to be able to put up with any harm when it is done to us;

To live at peace with our brothers and sisters;

To love God with all our heart;

To love Him because He is a Father;

To reverence Him because He is God;

To treasure nothing whatsoever above Christ,

Because He treasured us above everything;

To cling with utter attachment to His love;

To stand by His cross boldly and devotedly;

When there is any struggle for His name and glory,

To show in speech the loyalty with which we confess Christ;

In torture, the strong trust with which we fight for Him;

In death, the endurance by which we are crowned.

This is to aspire to be joint-heirs with Christ;

This is to obey the command of God;

This is to fulfill the will of the Father.

Meanwhile---on the other side of the world:

---Putin (Russia’s tyrannical leader) threatens the world with nuclear mobilization…

---Russians protest the war in Ukraine in 44 cities---knowing they will be arrested…

---ATM’s run out of money in Moscow ( Reuters) / lines to try to access in St. Petersburg…

---Senior U. S. defense official says Russia has fired over 350 missiles at Ukraine since invasion began---some hitting civilian infrastructure…

---President Zelenskiy (Ukraine) tells British Prime Minister Boris Johnson---late Sunday, the next 24 hours will be “crucial” for his country…

Crucial to remember: “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2: 17

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason