@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“I shall not hesitate also to put into ordered form for you, along with the interpretations, everything I learned carefully in the past from the elders and noted down carefully, for the truth of which I vouch. For unlike most people, I took no pleasure in those who told many different stories, but only in those who taught the truth. Nor did I take pleasure in those who reported their memory of someone else’s commandments, but only in those who reported their memory of the commandments given by the Lord to the faith and proceeding from the Truth itself. And if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders arrived, I made enquiries about the words of the elders—what Andrew or Peter had said, or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and John the Elder, the Lord’s disciples, were saying. For I did not think that information from the books would profit me as much as information from a living and surviving voice.
~ Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) From the Preface to his lost ‘Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord’
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Image and Likeness

There is a vast difference between being made in God’s image and being conformed to His likeness. The image is given to humanity at the inception of our existence, but the likeness is something to become, something to grow into, something to be realised. All are made in the image of God, but not all seek to become like Him. The closer we get to God, the deeper connection we will have, and the more fulfilled we will be. The question then is, ‘How can I grow in God’s likeness?’ This process of transformation begins with an honest admission of our need. There’s a yearning in each one of us, a deep longing for what has been lost. We have needs within us and needs all around us. But unlike the first people, our deepest and greatest needs are not automatically met. If I asked you today, ‘What are you really longing for at the centre or core of your being?’ what would you say? How would you answer? What words would you use to describe it? I have heard many answers to this question, including terms such as: BELONGING, ACCEPTANCE, PEACE, APPROVAL, COMPLETENESS, INTIMACY, SECURITY, SATISFACTION, WHOLENESS, HAPPINESS, PURPOSE, LOVE. What are you really longing for at the core of your being?