@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'

Wait Patiently For The Lord

It is natural and right to get upset when we witness injustice and wrongdoing, but how do we respond? The Psalmist says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass (Psalm 37:7). This advice may seem counter-intuitive to us, but it is supported by both psychological research and spiritual wisdom: Rest! Note that He is not saying to do nothing. Compassionate and determined action to fight the evils and the wrongs is imperative, and God is with those who do. But we are talking about an inner state, a condition of security and confidence in Him. There is a place within that is available to us all, should we choose it, a place that is reached by daily looking and listening to God. As we are still in His presence, listening for His personal word to us, His peace rises in our heart and we are prepared by Him for all that life will bring, both the joys and the woes. Let us choose that place of patience and of peace, for God is at work and that work will be finished.