Mathew 5:8
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
MY STRONG ROCK
Prayer
Saint Paul, in speaking with the Corinthians in the 10th chapter of his first letter, reminds them of their Old Testament heritage concerning the great Exodus event out of Egypt
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How God fed them in the dessert those 40 years and gave them water to drink.
How God fed them in the dessert those 40 years and gave them water to drink. -Paul said that they all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
Paul said that they all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.oThe Rock of Ages
The Rock of Ages-On my desktop page for my home computer I have a picture of the massive granite mountain behind the Sicilian town of Cinisi which I visited last summer. The mountain is full of crags and outcroppings, nooks and crannies if you will of ravines and ledges, all conveying without speaking a sense of power, protection, and tranquility.
On my desktop page for my home computer I have a picture of the massive granite mountain behind the Sicilian town of Cinisi which I visited last summer. The mountain is full of crags and outcroppings, nooks and crannies if you will of ravines and ledges, all conveying without speaking a sense of power, protection, and tranquility. -It beckons the viewer to not worry because it is silently watching over them, unmovable, unshakable, and eternal.
It beckons the viewer to not worry because it is silently watching over them, unmovable, unshakable, and eternal. -Such were the words from today’s magnificent Thirty-First Psalm this morning
Such were the words from today’s magnificent Thirty-First Psalm this morningoThe writer beckons God to be his strong rock, his castle to keep him safe, his crag and his stronghold where he could hide
The writer beckons God to be his strong rock, his castle to keep him safe, his crag and his stronghold where he could hideoGod is his tower of strength and all the worries and cares of the world, the net that his enemies have laid to ensnare him, are trivial as compared to the refuge of his God
God is his tower of strength and all the worries and cares of the world, the net that his enemies have laid to ensnare him, are trivial as compared to the refuge of his God-I remember when I first got off the plane at the Palermo International Falcone-Borsellino Airport how the mountains just loomed up out of the Island of Sicily. It was breath-taking. It gave me such a sense of awe and wonder, such protection. Indeed, my grandmother Concetta was not exaggerating when she spoke to me of these majestic rocks when I was a child in New York City.
I remember when I first got off the plane at the Palermo International Falcone-Borsellino Airport how the mountains just loomed up out of the Island of Sicily. It was breath-taking. It gave me such a sense of awe and wonder, such protection. Indeed, my grandmother Concetta was not exaggerating when she spoke to me of these majestic rocks when I was a child in New York City.-In verse 20 of the Psalm which we didn’t read today, there is a great line that goes, “…O Lord, you hide them in the covert of your presence from those who slander them; you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.” He then goes on to say that the Lord protects those who remain faithful. Amen.
In verse 20 of the Psalm which we didn’t read today, there is a great line that goes, “…O Lord, you hide them in the covert of your presence from those who slander them; you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.” He then goes on to say that the Lord protects those who remain faithful. Amen.I was reading a short article in the Spring issue of The Anglican Digest the other day about an old cowboy who attended an upscale church in a large city. He was clean shaven but he wore jeans, a denim shirt, and boots, carrying a worn-out hat and a dog-eared Bible. The people in the church were well dressed and wore expensive jewelry, and after he took his seat, they tended to shy away from him. No one spoke with him following the service either.
-The pastor welcomed him, but suggested that before he came back again, he might want to talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship here. The cowboy assured him he would.
The pastor welcomed him, but suggested that before he came back again, he might want to talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship here. The cowboy assured him he would.-The next Sunday he was back, dressed as before and he received the same cool reception from the congregation. The pastor observed this and asked him if he had spoken with God. The cowboy said he did.
The next Sunday he was back, dressed as before and he received the same cool reception from the congregation. The pastor observed this and asked him if he had spoken with God. The cowboy said he did.-“And what was his reply?” asked the preacher.
“And what was his reply?” asked the preacher.-“Well , sir, God told me that he didn’t have a clue what to wear. He said he’d never been in this church.”
“Well , sir, God told me that he didn’t have a clue what to wear. He said he’d never been in this church.”-This scenario can apply to any church, any workplace, any school…you name it. The strife of tongues mentioned in the Psalm today doesn’t necessarily have to be verbal. If looks could kill!
This scenario can apply to any church, any workplace, any school…you name it. The strife of tongues mentioned in the Psalm today doesn’t necessarily have to be verbal. If looks could kill!-Look at what happened to the poor deacon, Stephen, in the first lesson today from Acts. He was Christianity’s first martyr. His only fault was to tell the truth, to relay to the crowd that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Yet how did God protect him from the crowd and our very own Saint Paul who was called Saul at that time?
Look at what happened to the poor deacon, Stephen, in the first lesson today from Acts. He was Christianity’s first martyr. His only fault was to tell the truth, to relay to the crowd that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Yet how did God protect him from the crowd and our very own Saint Paul who was called Saul at that time?oGod took him to heaven. Stephen uttered the same words our Lord Jesus Christ did from the Cross and which we heard read in Psalm 31:5: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”
God took him to heaven. Stephen uttered the same words our Lord Jesus Christ did from the Cross and which we heard read in Psalm 31:5: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”oAnd then Stephen added, as did Christ, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” or as Jesus put it, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
And then Stephen added, as did Christ, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” or as Jesus put it, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”-The cynic might wonder how is this protection for the believer from the Almighty? Why was Stephen allowed to be stoned for the truth? Where was the rock of ages?
The cynic might wonder how is this protection for the believer from the Almighty? Why was Stephen allowed to be stoned for the truth? Where was the rock of ages?-Well, for those who believe in Christ, as did Stephen, their lives are already caught up or hidden with God in Christ. Our baptism reminds of this. We are caught up into the life of the divine Trinity because the Father is in the Son and the Holy Spirit conveys this truth to us. And as the priest says each Sunday following the general confession with the Absolution, “…and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.”
Well, for those who believe in Christ, as did Stephen, their lives are already caught up or hidden with God in Christ. Our baptism reminds of this. We are caught up into the life of the divine Trinity because the Father is in the Son and the Holy Spirit conveys this truth to us. And as the priest says each Sunday following the general confession with the Absolution, “…and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.”oWe are in it now, for those in Christ have already died and will never die again. They, like Stephen, will go from life to life.
We are in it now, for those in Christ have already died and will never die again. They, like Stephen, will go from life to life.oWhen the end of the world finally comes around, as it didn’t yesterday, we will be protected by the strong rock….Jesus.
When the end of the world finally comes around, as it didn’t yesterday, we will be protected by the strong rock….Jesus. If you will examine the outside southwest corner of our church building, you will note a white cornerstone with the church’s name on it and the dates 1878-1913. This stone came from the original church building in downtown Coffeyville. It reminds us of the eternal cornerstone laid by God in Zion many centuries ago, chosen and precious. This is the very rock that Paul spoke about to the Corinthians….the rock of ages, Jesus Christ.
-For those who believe in him, they will never be put to shame; they will be protected from the evil one. What looks like the end, will only be the beginning of a new and fresh start.
For those who believe in him, they will never be put to shame; they will be protected from the evil one. What looks like the end, will only be the beginning of a new and fresh start. -But for those who do not believe, who rejected him, this stone becomes a stumbling block, and a rock that makes them fall, and fail. But why?
But for those who do not believe, who rejected him, this stone becomes a stumbling block, and a rock that makes them fall, and fail. But why?oBecause they disobey the very word as they were destined to do.
Because they disobey the very word as they were destined to do.oThey knew what to do in their hearts, and they didn’t!
They knew what to do in their hearts, and they didn’t!-The prophet Ezekiel noted that the House of Israel would not listen to the Lord and obey his word because they had a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. The prophet goes on to say that even the righteous, if they turn from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they too will be caught in the stumbling block God set before them. Their many righteous deeds will not be remembered and they will die in their sins.
The prophet Ezekiel noted that the House of Israel would not listen to the Lord and obey his word because they had a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. The prophet goes on to say that even the righteous, if they turn from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they too will be caught in the stumbling block God set before them. Their many righteous deeds will not be remembered and they will die in their sins.oWe can witness this truth in the lives of many famous people today, who stumbled over the truth and were exposed.
We can witness this truth in the lives of many famous people today, who stumbled over the truth and were exposed. My brothers and sisters in Christ, how simple it is, how basic and obvious as to what we should do. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us to do what we cannot do by ourselves. Jesus made it clear to us today that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; he is the only way to the Father, to eternal life. Apart from him, the vine, we can do nothing. [John 15:5]
-Listen to the words from Saint Peter in Acts 4:12 about the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Listen to the words from Saint Peter in Acts 4:12 about the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”-We, as God’s chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own people, must proclaim his mighty acts to the world, to testify to the truth as Jesus did when he was here among us. We continue on.
We, as God’s chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own people, must proclaim his mighty acts to the world, to testify to the truth as Jesus did when he was here among us. We continue on. -The word Christian literally means, “follower of Christ”
The word Christian literally means, “follower of Christ”-Do we become stumbling blocks to those around us by our actions, like the cowboy in that fancy church, or do we follow Christ by obeying his teachings and enact them as we live, day by day?
Do we become stumbling blocks to those around us by our actions, like the cowboy in that fancy church, or do we follow Christ by obeying his teachings and enact them as we live, day by day?-The proof of our being a Christian is in the pudding, so to speak.
The proof of our being a Christian is in the pudding, so to speak. oI remember a card the chaplain at Whiteman AFB in Missouri gave me years ago. It read, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
I remember a card the chaplain at Whiteman AFB in Missouri gave me years ago. It read, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” oI hope so! How about you!
I hope so! How about you!AMEN
