Every year I participate in a
special effort called the New Testament Challenge
sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages
Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the
entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done
this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As
part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading
for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this
blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.
Saint Paul
was a thoughtful and compassionate Church leader. His letters are filled with
words of encouragement and advice to live a committed life in Christ. His letters
are filled with logical arguments on the “uselessness” [my word] of remaining
entrenched in the fleshly life.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the
earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which
is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons
of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since
you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor
Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing
with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3.5-13)
Until tomorrow…..Saint
Paul’s advice is worth keeping!
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