Tradition’s Proper Place

[Y]ou reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

~ Mark 7:9

Traditions in the life of God’s people can be of benefit unless they conflict with Scripture and the commandments of God. When we take more pride in keeping our traditions rather than in obeying the Lord, we have put ourselves in opposition to Him. In this passage, as elsewhere in Scripture, holding to traditions is not condemned all together. It is when Christ’s Church supplants God’s ways with their own that tradition becomes an idol. Therefore let us continue in those traditions which exalt Christ, enhance God’s glory and strengthen our faith, holding fast to that which is good, and reject anything, any tradition, that places our wants, will, or ways above His own.

~ apl

Give Thee Thanks

With heavenly hosts,
and angelic ranks,
We lift our hearts,
and give Thee thanks.

Until that bright,
and glorious day,
when temporal life,
finds eternal array,

When over we cross,
Jordan’s river banks,
still we praise,
and give Thee thanks.

~ apl

All or None!

“It is either all of Christ or none of Christ! I believe we need to preach again a whole Christ to the world – a Christ who does not need our apologies, a Christ who will not be divided, a Christ who will either be Lord of all or will not be Lord at all!”

~ A.W. Tozer

“For I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

~ 1 Corinthians 2:2

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, help make Your Son, my Savior, my all in all. May nothing hinder my love, gratitude and devotion to Christ! In Jesus. name, amen.

Do Not Grow Weary

“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”

~ Brother Lawrence

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

~ Galatians 6:9

Prayer Life Pause: Dear Jesus, may I seek out little ways each day to display my love and devotion to You. In Your name, amen.

By Prayer…

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”

~ Philippians 4:6

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, may my heart and mind be in constant communion and prayer with You, that I may be anxious for nothing and live in divine comfort and peace each and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Eagerly Waiting

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

~ Philippians 3:20-21

Prayer Life Pause: Lord Jesus, prepare my heart now for that glorious day when I will see You face to face. When the countenance of Your presence lights my spirit and warms my soul and I am completely conformed to You. Amen.

Highly Exalted

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

~ Philippians 2:9-11

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, thank You for exalting Your Beloved Son. He is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. May more people come to confess Jesus Christ as their Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Something Wrong Somewhere

“The ultimate test of my understanding of the scriptural teaching is the amount of time I spend in prayer. As theology is ultimately the knowledge of God, the more theology I know, the more it should drive me to seek to know God. Not to know “about” Him but to know Him! The whole object of salvation is to bring me to knowledge of God… If all my knowledge does not lead me to prayer there is something wrong somewhere.”

~ Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, may my theology always lead to doxology that I might pray and praise You for Your wonderful love grace and mercy. In Jesus; name, amen.

Lord, Make Me

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is error, truth; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may seek not so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

~ Francis of Assisi