Good day Templar family
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God
. . . and it will be given him—James 1:5
God knows what’s right in every circumstance. We do not. “There is a way that seems right to a us, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). And yet, God installs us as decision-makers nonetheless. He intends us to struggle through, and answer, tough questions throughout our lives: Should I take the job? Should I marry the girl? Am I becoming the person God intends me to beco... moreGood day Templar family
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God
. . . and it will be given him—James 1:5
God knows what’s right in every circumstance. We do not. “There is a way that seems right to a us, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). And yet, God installs us as decision-makers nonetheless. He intends us to struggle through, and answer, tough questions throughout our lives: Should I take the job? Should I marry the girl? Am I becoming the person God intends me to become? How should I deal with pain and fear and temptation? Tough questions, indeed. Huge implications.
King Solomon was an epic decision-maker. God told him, “I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12). Fortunately for the rest of us, Solomon passed along some of that God-given wisdom, in the form of the Book of Proverbs.
For tough questions, Solomon wrote, we must look first to God (Proverbs 3:5-6). One way to do that, since he empowers us as agents of his wisdom, is actually to look to our brothers and sister in Christian community (Proverbs 11:14; James 5:19-20). Wrote Solomon, “a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15). Counsel from others is one of our most powerful tools. We needn’t use it for every question. But, for the toughest ones, we must.
Gather some —two or three, at least, probably not more than five or six—who know you and with whom you’ll be transparent. Plan for an hour or two. Describe your situation—the question, the background, the possible courses of action. Ask them to discern with you, not to judge. Encourage them to ask questions and help you search for wisdom. I bet you’ll be surprised before the end.
Have a blessed Thursday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
Good day Templar family
For I am ready . . . even to die in Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus—Acts 21:13
When we follow him, God will—sooner or later—ask us to do something we don’t want to do, to go someplace we don’t want to go. Maybe His “ask” will come through a nudge or as a thought in prayer. Maybe it will come as a prompt while reading Scripture. Maybe through the encouraging or challenging words of a friend. However it comes, it will come.
After visiting Ephesus and Macedonia... moreGood day Templar family
For I am ready . . . even to die in Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus—Acts 21:13
When we follow him, God will—sooner or later—ask us to do something we don’t want to do, to go someplace we don’t want to go. Maybe His “ask” will come through a nudge or as a thought in prayer. Maybe it will come as a prompt while reading Scripture. Maybe through the encouraging or challenging words of a friend. However it comes, it will come.
After visiting Ephesus and Macedonia, the Apostle Paul got an “ask” from God the Holy Spirit to go on to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21). The Spirit warned him, however: if he went there, he’d be arrested. Paul’s friends begged him not to go. Paul answered: “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
For us to become the men and woman we were created to become, for us to become the men and woman the world needs us to become, we must act with the same boldness and confidence. Paul was bold and confident because he trusted two things: God’s in charge and God’s good. We must trust those too. For they allow us, like Paul, to trust one thing more: our affirmative answers to God’s “asks” are ultimately good for us, good for others, and good for God’s Kingdom . . . and will very likely become the proudest moments of our lives. Indeed, these “asks” lead us into the very adventures for which we were created.
What do you feel God might be asking of you, right now? Is there anything you just know he’s prompting you, quietly, to do? If so, resolve to trust him. And today take a practical and measurable step—bold and confident—toward that thing.
Have a blessed Wednesday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
Good day Templar family
. . . faith apart from works is dead—James 2:26
Imagine yourself, for a moment, standing before our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Imagine feeling, at first, a bit apprehensive. Imagine lifting your eyes to his. Imagine his face, when you meet his gaze. Imagine his strength, his goodness. Imagine the sound of his voice as he, like the master in his Parable of the Talents, speaks these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:14-30). How would that feel... moreGood day Templar family
. . . faith apart from works is dead—James 2:26
Imagine yourself, for a moment, standing before our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Imagine feeling, at first, a bit apprehensive. Imagine lifting your eyes to his. Imagine his face, when you meet his gaze. Imagine his strength, his goodness. Imagine the sound of his voice as he, like the master in his Parable of the Talents, speaks these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:14-30). How would that feel—from the one who sacrificed his life for yours—that he’s pleased with the life you’ve lived?
Each of us has work to do before we actually stand face-to-face with Jesus. “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing” (Ephesians 2:10 MSG). Like the servants in the parable, we’re too given resources for the Master’s work. They were given money; we’re given money too, but also time, energy, natural talents, spiritual gifts, and help from the Holy Spirit. We must waste these resources no more. We must spend them for his work—not just for ourselves.
We must also, though, check our hearts. Doing “good work” isn’t about earning our way into Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). Rather, it’s about trusting our Master and following him into a better kind of life.
Take a few minutes to list the extra resources you’ve been given. Write down everything you possibly have to give, just as you are, right where you are, right now. Next, pray and see if you can connect a person (or group of people), and a need, to each resource you’ve listed. What you’ll end up with is the beginnings of a roadmap toward Jesus’ kind of life.
Have a blessed Sunday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
Good day Templar family
They committed themselves
to the teaching of the apostles, the life together,
the common meal, and the prayers—Acts 2:42
Want to get stronger? Want to be tougher? Get connected. When we face trials and challenges, those to whom we’re connected can support us—help us find courage we’d not find on our own. When we experience pain and loss, they can comfort us—help us back from places we’d not return from, on our own. When we’re hit by fear and anxiety, they can give ... moreGood day Templar family
They committed themselves
to the teaching of the apostles, the life together,
the common meal, and the prayers—Acts 2:42
Want to get stronger? Want to be tougher? Get connected. When we face trials and challenges, those to whom we’re connected can support us—help us find courage we’d not find on our own. When we experience pain and loss, they can comfort us—help us back from places we’d not return from, on our own. When we’re hit by fear and anxiety, they can give us perspective—help us see things in ways we’d not see on our own. When we need truth, they can teach us—help us discover and understand what we we’d not grasp on our own. When we get stuck, they can call us out, speak truth, push us forward—help us stop (or start) what we’d be unable to, on our own. When we face complicated questions, they can listen and counsel us—help us process through problems that are too difficult on our own. When we mess up, make mistakes, they can correct us and have mercy—help remind us we’re loved, despite flaws and failures, something that’s hard to remember on our own.
The Apostle Paul urged connectedness (Romans 12:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13). The early Church demonstrated it—spending time together, knowing one another, eating, learning, and praying together. Why? Alone, we men and woman are vulnerable; together, we’re stronger and more resilient toward the ups-and-downs of life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Connectedness ruggedizes us, restores us, fuels us for what’s ahead. And, brother, there’s important stuff ahead.
Go look at your weekly calendar. What are the major groupings, in terms of commitments and people? Work/Colleagues? Home/Family? Social/Friends? Others? Okay, now you need at least a couple people from each category who (1) know you, (2) understand the context too, and (3) who’ll make connectedness with you a priority.
Have a blessed Thursday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
Good day Templar family
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
What do you think about when you hear the word “character?” Character is our distinctive and individual mental and moral qualities. We express our character through how we treat other people and through our integrity, disposition, and moral fiber. We all have negative and positive character traits, ... moreGood day Templar family
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
What do you think about when you hear the word “character?” Character is our distinctive and individual mental and moral qualities. We express our character through how we treat other people and through our integrity, disposition, and moral fiber. We all have negative and positive character traits, and obviously, we want to cultivate positive character and subdue negative traits.
Christian character reflects our relationship with Christ. We learn and build Christian character as we grow closer to God and follow His directives. We still have our individual personalities, but they develop into a godly version – a better version of ourselves – the person God created us to be. We grow in Christian character as we walk with God, dive into His Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. Christian character should display Christ to those around us – we are His emissaries of grace!
We have to be intentional about developing Christian character. Every day we make choices that will either grow our Christian character or send it into a slump. Our life circumstances are where God builds character, but we have to cooperate with Him in the effort. We are often confronted with issues and situations that tempt us to act out in ways that are the opposite of Christian character – we might want to fight back, get even, use foul language, get angry, and so on. We have to make the conscience choice to respond in a Christlike way.
“We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28)
The word “complete” in this verse especially references the completeness of Christian character – of being fully mature, which involves divine insight or wisdom. Becoming complete in Christian character is intrinsic to our journey of faith. As we continue to grow in our knowledge and relationships with Christ, we mature so that we measure to the full and complete standard of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)
We want to develop Godly character because we love God and want to please Him and be more like Him. We want to honor Him and glorify Him with our lives.
Have a blessed Wednesday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
Good day Templar family
. . . if anyone thinks he is something,
when he is nothing, he deceives himself—Galatians 6:3
When we men and woman relent and finally accept that we’re designed for community with others, we nearly always start with the wrong criteria for choosing which men and woman. We often plot and single out peoole that are cool or rich or connected or well-educated or who’d be good to know from a work perspective. And, if we don’t fall into those traps, we choose men and woman... moreGood day Templar family
. . . if anyone thinks he is something,
when he is nothing, he deceives himself—Galatians 6:3
When we men and woman relent and finally accept that we’re designed for community with others, we nearly always start with the wrong criteria for choosing which men and woman. We often plot and single out peoole that are cool or rich or connected or well-educated or who’d be good to know from a work perspective. And, if we don’t fall into those traps, we choose men and woman that are just a lot like us. We each think, subconsciously almost, “If I’ve got to devote myself to a handful of other men and woman, I’m going to make sure they have some strategic value to me—worldly value, to my career or to my social standing—or, at the very least, they’re men and woman who won’t challenge me or make me uncomfortable.”
Such plotting is a mistake. It’s driven by pride—that we somehow know better than God how these communities should come together. We must instead follow the blueprint given us by our King, Jesus Christ. He never once used this “strategic value” analysis. Throughout the Gospel, he spent time with people whom God the Father wanted him to—people with whom it made no sense to spend time, from a worldly perspective. Adopting this blueprint, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight” (Romans 12:16).
Pray that God brings the right men and woman. Allow him to connect you to people who are willing to commit and surrender, willing to be transparent, are desperate for him. Be forewarned, though, the group that comes together will probably look nothing like what you expect . . . and that’s good. Groups we create ourselves, based on worldly criteria, aren’t worth our time. Groups that God creates for us are worth everything.
Have a blessed Monday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
Good day Templar family.
Romans 12:19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.
The eye for an eye quote should not be used to seek retaliation. Not only did Jesus teach us to turn the other way, but He also showed us with His life. The sinful self wants to lash out in anger. It wants others to feel the same pain. It wants to curse, yell, and fight.
We must stop living by the... moreGood day Templar family.
Romans 12:19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.
The eye for an eye quote should not be used to seek retaliation. Not only did Jesus teach us to turn the other way, but He also showed us with His life. The sinful self wants to lash out in anger. It wants others to feel the same pain. It wants to curse, yell, and fight.
We must stop living by the flesh and live by the Spirit. We must give all our evil and sinful thoughts to God.
Dwelling on something someone has done to you will boil up rage inside you which will lead to seeking revenge.
We are supposed to love our enemies and forgive them. Vengeance is for the Lord. Never take matters into your own hands, which is taking the role of God. Pray for a change in yourself.
Pray for your enemies and bless the ones who mistreat you. From experience I know it’s so easy to say another word, but we mustn’t. Let God get the last word.
However, as believers, we are called to love like Christ and give our burdens to the Lord. God handles our struggles far better than we ever could. We know this, but our sinful impulses still crave revenge. It takes so much humility to not lash out with our lips or actions when we feel sinned against. Use every opportunity as a moment to pray. Even though it may feel difficult, relinquish control, pray against bitterness, pray for the other person, and rest in the Lord.
Have a blessed Sunday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
Good day Templar family
For where two or three are gathered in my name,
there am I among them—Matthew 18:20
For many of us, our default is go-it-alone. We prefer to work alone, make decisions alone, muscle through struggles alone, get credit for our accomplishments alone. Go-it-alone gives us control and allows us to avoid vulnerability. The problem is, our King, Jesus Christ, doesn’t think much of the go-it-alone approach, especially in the service of others. He didn’t go-it-alone during H... moreGood day Templar family
For where two or three are gathered in my name,
there am I among them—Matthew 18:20
For many of us, our default is go-it-alone. We prefer to work alone, make decisions alone, muscle through struggles alone, get credit for our accomplishments alone. Go-it-alone gives us control and allows us to avoid vulnerability. The problem is, our King, Jesus Christ, doesn’t think much of the go-it-alone approach, especially in the service of others. He didn’t go-it-alone during His time of ministry; He doesn’t go-it-alone now (John 10:22-39; 14:7-14). And when He sent followers to preach and do miracles, He sent them in pairs, so they wouldn’t go-it-alone either (Mark 6:7-13; Luke 10:1-12). Clearly this is important. But, why are pairs or groups such better units for service than is one man or woman, on their own?
Well, the reasons are a few—and each is as compelling as the ask-for-help approach is counter to our nature. First, and most importantly, Jesus is uniquely present when two or more people join together in his name (Matthew 18:20). Moreover, two or more people, joined together, working together, in friendship and trust, are often more confident and more impactful, than is just one man (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). And, two or more people, joined together, who know one another, who pray together and pray for one another, are more supported and more protected (from sin and from opposition), than is that same man, on his own (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12; Hebrews 3:13).
Do you go-it-alone, brother and sister? Take a moment. Wherever you’re serving now, serving God and serving others—in ways large or small—consider whether it might be advantageous to pair-up with another follower of God. Pray and listen too. If the answer is yes, betray your instincts and your pride and ask God to send the right person. Then, begin to look around.
Have a blessed Wednesday
God's blessings.
Priory of St.Miltiades
Freedom in Christ
