@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'

Opening the Door of the Heart

We have been reminded that giving help and support is not merely right in itself, but a powerful beginning to effective outreach. Therefore, when we set out to win others for Christ, let it be in a spirit of service, like our Master, who came amongst us as “one who serves.” He would even go as far as washing the dirty feet of His disciples! As we enter another day, let us go looking for needs that we can help meet in some way, knowing that the expression of our love is the greatest proof of the gospel. The most eloquent evangelistic sermons we will ever hear are those timely acts of care that bring a light to the heart of another. But like a spoken message, an act of love must be followed at an appropriate point by an invitation to receive the Saviour. Love can open the door of the heart to Him who says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). 