@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'

The greatest Advice

If God is the Source of healing and of health, our priority should always be to go to Him, which is why seeking God has always been, and will always be the single greatest human activity. As Jesus clearly taught, it’s the one thing necessary above all else! Let me remind you of exactly what He said: “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42). God desires that we will each listen to Him, practise His presence daily, and live life from that place of loving communion and communication. Let me now give you some advice, which, if you adopt it, I believe will radically transform your life on earth and result in your life becoming one of the greatest impact and value in terms of the Kingdom of God. Are you ready? Given our need of Him, it is good to begin to seek God from the moment we wake at the start of the day, greeting Him warmly at the dawn of each new morning. It is then that we still our hearts, focus our gaze upon Him, and listen to hear what He will say to us, making note of every precious word He speaks. Strengthened by this food of Heaven we may confidently proceed into the day, continuing to look to Him as we go, and having recourse to Him in all matters where His wisdom and guidance are required. This is a life of walking and talking with Him, a life of seeking God.