@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“But now inquiry is being made concerning these issues. First, can any believer enlist in the military? Second, can any soldier, even those of the rank and file or lesser grades who neither engage in pagan sacrifices nor capital punishment, be admitted into the church? No on both counts—for there is no agreement between the divine sacrament and the human sacrament, the standard of Christ and the standard of the devil, the camp of light and the camp of darkness. One soul cannot serve two masters—God and Caesar…But how will a Christian engage in war (indeed, how will a Christian even engage in military service during peacetime) without the sword, which the Lord has taken away?”
~ Tertullian (160AD – 220AD)
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Hang Out with Jesus

Good people are usually trustworthy. Generally speaking, you can trust them to do what they say, and this makes life easier. In contrast, those who are untrustworthy and irresponsible often create problems for themselves and others. As a perfectly good being, God always brings peace and security to those who turn to Him, not just for a moment, but for eternity. The Psalmist says, “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). Hanging out with Jesus will always have a positive and beneficial effect on our wellbeing. Communication contains two basic elements: talking and listening. Some people only talk to God. A relationship where one person does all the talking is not a good relationship. Petition, supplication, and intercession are all great, but listening beats them all. Scripture is clear that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. It’s only when we are still and listen that we are transformed, renewed, and restored by His word to us personally.