@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'

Make God Your Refuge & Your Help

There are times in life when we may feel very alone. Perhaps friends have let us down, perhaps we have lost loved ones, perhaps we have lost our job, perhaps we have recently moved to a new area in which we know no one. The possibilities are many. This is when the Christian remembers that he or she is never alone, for the Lord is with them. As the Psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). A refuge is no use unless you enter it. What does this mean but that we must actively go to God, believing that He’s with us and for us, and listening to what He says. It’s only, as we abide with Him that we will experience His help. You can’t fill your car unless you go and get fuel! It doesn’t take much intelligence to realise that the best thing we can do is to ‘fill up’ regularly. If the tank of our heart is empty, we won’t be going anywhere! Jesus calls us to come to Him that we might be strengthened, refreshed, and empowered afresh. So let us daily seek Him and enjoy His life-giving word to us. Remember: The Lord is your refuge today and tomorrow. He’s a very present help in every present and future trouble.