"Whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived." (1 John 2: 6)

"Whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived."  (1 John 2: 6)

How did Jesus live?  He lived the Beatitudes.
Lord, this is not easy.  Jesus knows that this is not easy.  This is why He gave us the means.  The means to live the Beatitudes are prayer, word of God and the Sacraments.

They followed the Lamb wherever He goes

"These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb."  (Revelation 14: 4)

God loves purity and chastity.  Virginity in the above scripture may be a symbol for corporal or spiritual virginity and purity.  Apostasy and adulteration of doctrine is considered spiritual adultery.  The pure and wholesome milk of  Christ's teaching is fully contained in the deposit of faith which is guarded by the Church's Magisterium.  From the first beginning of the age of the Church.  this body of truth has been under attack by heretics and apostates.  But thanks to the promise of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, the Church has remained the bulwark of truth to the present day.

He saw and believed

"Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed."  (John 20: 8)

Lord, let me tell you what I want today.  I want to see many of your little signs and believe.  I know you reach out to me constantly through little signs.  The big signs come once in a while and I appreciate these very much.  But  it is the little sign that oils the wheel of life for me.  From time to time during the day, I notice these little signs and I give you thanks.  What I ask for now is that I notice more of them if not most.

Thank you Lord for little signs.  You give them in order to connect us to you.

The Holy Spirit of your Father will speak through you

"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."  (Matthew 10: 19 - 20)

December 26 is the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.  Stephen's life and death shows the faithfulness of Jesus to His promise in Matthew 10: 19 - 20.  What encouragement this is to all Christian disciples.  Stephen's life and death also proves another truth from St. Augustine:
"If you pray well, you live well.  If you live well, you die well.  If you die well, all is well."
Stephen was filled with faith, fortitude and the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus, on this day we remember the life of your servant, Stephen, grant us who honor his memory deep faith, courage and fill us with your precious Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The Child born today is the Savior of the world

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9: 5)

"Father, the child born today is the Savior of the world.  He made us your children.  May He welcome us into your kingdom where He lives and reigns with you for ever and ever."  (Opening Prayer - Mass of Christmas Day)

Save us from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us

"He has raised up a horn for our salvation
within the house of David his servant,
even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us"  (Luke 1: 69 71)

Salvation is all about deliverance "from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us."

Who are these?  Let us ask St. John the Evangelist:
"For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world."  (1 John 2: 16)

Our enemies are our natural concupiscence, the attractions of the world and Satan.

When the Son sets us free from the above, we are truly saved.

Do not stand at the door and knock

"“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me."  (Revelation 3: 20)

Dear Jesus, please do not stand at the door and knock.  My  home is always open to you.  If the door is not ajar for you when you arrive, here is the spare key so that you can let yourself in.  Whether the door is opened for you or let yourself in, you will be always welcome in my home.  I have resolved have nothing but 100% devotion and commitment to you.  Never allow this desire to weaken for any reason.  I ask for this in your name Jesus.

I do like Hannah

"Then Hannah spoke up: “Excuse me, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here near you, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” Then they worshiped there before the LORD."  (1 Samuel 1: 26 - 28)

Lord, following the spirit and example of Hannah, you have been very good to me.  I offer you all my time, talent and treasure as well as all my weakness.  Lead me, guide me and use all for your kingdom as long as I live.

I rejoice in my faith

"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."  (Luke 1: 45)

What the Lord has spoken to me:
"But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." (Matthew 6: 33 - 34)

This is a promise with a condition.  What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God?  It means to seek first the King in always and everywhere.  Jesus Christ is the King.  Where Jesus reigns, there is the kingdom of God.  Jesus reigns where His word reigns. Jesus reigns  where the Beatitudes voluntarily observed as the law of the kingdom.

Righteousness is produced in us by the indwelling Holy Spirit.  When we welcome the Holy Spirit in our hearts, He produces righteousness in us.

 "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."  (Luke 1: 45)

I believe that God will fulfill to me the promise in Matthew 6: 33.  I believe so because God is all powerful and can do anything He wants.  God is all truth.  He is not a man to lie.  Faithfulness is the very essence of God's character.

I rejoice in my belief and everyday I wait with joyful expectation to receive from God what He has promised..

Nothing will be impossible for God

"And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 
for nothing will be impossible for God."  (Luke 1: 36 - 37)

Elizabeth suffered from advanced barrenness.  In the fullness of time, God made her fruitful according to His plan for her life.  I suffer too from advanced barrenness.  I am yet to be fully productive in God's vineyard.  I believe that God will make me exceedingly fruitful in the fullness of time.  For as God has promised, "Nothing will be impossible for God."  I know that God can do anything.  How do I know that He will do this for me?   I appropriated this same scripture this season last year.  When it is proclaimed again this year, I find myself yearning for the experience of Elizabeth.  This is how I know with certainty that this promise is too for me.  Wait!  Wait with courage!

Wait for God's perfect timing

“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”  (Luke 1: 25)

God fulfills His designs and promises at His own time.

"But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time."  (Luke 1: 20)

Believe what you hear. It is good to wait for God's time.

And they shall name Him Emmanuel

"“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”  (Matthew 1: 23)

Mary is predestined by God to be the Mother of Jesus Christ.  All her privileges stem from this unique choice.  Her fullness of grace, her perpetual virginity, her singular role as intercessor are all consequences of her extraordinary vocation.

We honor Mary as Mother, Virgin, Teacher and Mediatrix of all graces.  Towards the end of the 4th century, Helvidius denied the perpetual virginity of Mary, a belief that was held by the Church for centuries.  St. Damasus was pope at this time. St. Jerome was urged to answer Helvidius.  At first, he declined because he regarded the question below his dignity.  But eventually, he picked up his pen and answered him.  At this time, St. Jerome was the recognized authority in Greek and Hebrew.  He was a Church Father and Doctor of the Church. He is the foremost scripture scholar whose reputation has not deemed by the passage of time.  On the question of Mary's perpetual virginity, whom do you trust?  St. Jerome or the so called "doctors of divinity" from the so many denominations that populate the map today?   The question about Mary's perpetual virginity did not arise again till the reformation.  Heresy is cyclical..

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."  (Matthew 1: 1)

What follows Matthew 1:1 is a long list of the ancestry of Jesus Christ.  How is the roll call?  Very human.  We see saints and sinners.  There is always a black sheep in the family.  And Scripture says that Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call His disciples His brothers.  "He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”  (Hebrews 2: 11)

One great insight I got from the Genealogy of Jesus Christ is that there never was the so called Great Apostasy in Christianity.  The Mormons believe that there was one.  Protestants think that the Church forsook its ancient dogma and practice and therefore the necessity for the Reformation.

The Catholic Church has always been One, Holy, Apostolic and Catholic.  These are the four marks of the Church.

God indeed is my salvation

"God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid.
For the LORD is my strength and my might, and he has been my salvation."  (Isaiah 12: 2)

Jesus is Savior.  Wherever Jesus is, there is salvation.

"Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.  For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."  (Exodus 14: 13 - 14)

Salvation is the experience of the profound peace of Christ.  It is deliverance from the distress of fear, worry and doubts.  Salvation comes from Christ alone.

"My strength and my refuge is the LORD, and he has become my savior. This is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him."  (Exodus 15: 2)

Jesus Christ has absolute power to save us from any evil.  He is the Rock of Salvation (Deuteronomy 32: 15)

"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength."  (Isaiah 30: 15)

Salvation comes from absolute trust in Jesus.

Come Lord Jesus

"“Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds."  (Revelation 22: 12)

Come Lord Jesus.  O come quickly to save your own.

Self-denial is the first and great lesson in the School of Jesus Christ

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,* take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16: 24)

In the scripture above, Jesus Christ laid down the core principle of discipleship.  The lesson is called the first and great lesson in the school of Christ.  I have little to offer on this.  Instead, I will offer two great commentaries from John Gills Exposition and Matthew Henry Commentary:

John Gills Exposition:
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples
Knowing that they had all imbibed the same notion of a temporal kingdom, and were in expectation of worldly riches, honour, and pleasure; he took this opportunity of preaching the doctrine of the cross to them, and of letting them know, that they must prepare for persecutions, sufferings, and death; which they must expect to endure, as well as he, if they would be his disciples:

if any man will come after me:
that is, be a disciple and follower of him, it being usual for the master to go before, and the disciple to follow after him: now let it be who it will, rich or poor, learned or unlearned, young or old, male or female, that have any inclination and desire, or have took up a resolution in the strength of grace, to be a disciple of Christ,

let him deny himself:
let him deny sinful self, ungodliness, and worldly lusts; and part with them, and his former sinful companions, which were as a part of himself: let him deny righteous self, and renounce all his own works of righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation; let him deny himself the pleasures and profits of this world, when in competition with Christ; let him drop and banish all his notions and expectations of an earthly kingdom, and worldly grandeur, and think of nothing but reproach, persecution, and death, for the sake of his Lord and Master: and

take up his cross;
cheerfully receive, and patiently bear, every affliction and evil, however shameful and painful it may be, which is appointed for him, and he is called unto; which is his peculiar cross, as every Christian has his own; to which he should quietly submit, and carry, with an entire resignation to the will of God, in imitation of his Lord:

and follow me;
in the exercise of grace, as humility, zeal, patience, and self-denial; and in the discharge of every duty, moral, or evangelical; and through sufferings and death, to his kingdom and glory. The allusion is, to Christ's bearing his own cross, and Simeon's carrying it after him, which afterwards came to pass."  (John Gills Exposition)

Matthew Henry Commentary:
"
Verses 24-28 Christ, having shown his disciples that he must suffer, and that he was ready and willing to suffer, here shows them that they must suffer too, and must be ready and willing. It is a weighty discourse that we have in these verses.I. Here is the law of discipleship laid down, and the terms fixed, upon which we may have the honour and benefit of it, v. 24. He said this to his disciples, not only that they might instruct others concerning it, but that by this rule they might examine their own security. Observe,1. What it is to be a disciple of Christ; it is to come after him. When Christ called his disciples, this was the word of command, Follow me. A true disciple of Christ is one that doth follow him in duty, and shall follow him to glory. He is one that comes after Christ, not one that prescribes to him, as Peter now undertook to do, forgetting his place. A disciple of Christ comes after him, as the sheep after the shepherd, the servant after his master, the soldiers after their captain; he is one that aims at the same end that Christ aimed at, the glory of God, and the glory of heaven: and one that walks in the same way that he walked in, is led by his Spirit, treads in his steps, submits to his conduct, and follows the Lamb, whithersoever he goes, Rev. 14:4 .2. What are the great things required of those that will be Christ’s disciples; If any man will come, ei tis thelei —If any man be willing to come. It denotes a deliberate choice, and cheerfulness and resolution in that choice. Many are disciples more by chance or the will of others than by any act of their own will; but Christ will have his people volunteers, Ps. 110:3 . It is as if Christ had said, "If any of the people that are not my disciples, be steadfastly minded to come to me, and if you that are, be in like manner minded to adhere to me, it is upon these terms, these and no other; you must follow me in sufferings as well as in other things, and therefore when you sit down to count the cost, reckon upon it.’’Now what are these terms?(1.) Let him deny himself. Peter had advised Christ to spare himself, and would be ready, in the like case, to take the advice; but Christ tells them all, they must be so far from sparing themselves, that they must deny themselves. Herein they must come after Christ, for his birth, and life, and death, were all a continued act of self-denial, a self-emptying, Phil. 2:7, Phil. 2:8 . If self-denial be a hard lesson, and against the grain to flesh and blood, it is no more than what our Master learned and practised before us and for us, both for our redemption and for our instruction; and the servant is not above his lord. Note, All the disciples and followers of Jesus Christ must deny themselves. It is the fundamental law of admission into Christ’s school, and the first and great lesson to be learned in this school, to deny ourselves; it is both the strait gate, and the narrow way; it is necessary in order to our learning all the other good lessons that are there taught. We must deny ourselves absolutely, we must not admire our own shadow, nor gratify our own humour; we must not lean to our own understanding, nor seek our own things, nor be our own end. We must deny ourselves comparatively; we must deny ourselves for Christ, and his will and glory, and the service of his interest in the world; we must deny ourselves for our brethren, and for their good; and we must deny ourselves for ourselves, deny the appetites of the body for the benefit of the soul.(2.) Let him take up his cross. The cross is here put for all sufferings, as men or Christians; providential afflictions, persecutions for righteousness’ sake, every trouble that befals us, either for doing well or for not doing ill. The troubles of Christians are fitly called crosses, in allusion to the death of the cross, which Christ was obedient to; and it should reconcile us to troubles, and take off the terror of them, that they are what we bear in common with Christ, and such as he hath borne before us. Note, [1.] Every disciple of Christ hath his cross, and must count upon it; as each hath his special duty to be done, so each hath his special trouble to be borne, and every one feels most from his own burthen. Crosses are the common lot of God’s children, but of this common lot of God’s children, but of this common lot each hath his particular share. That is our cross which Infinite Wisdom has appointed for us, and a Sovereign Providence has laid on us, as fittest for us. It is good for us to call the cross we are under our own, and entertain it accordingly. We are apt to think we could bear such a one’s cross better than our own; but that is best which is, and we ought to make the best of it. [2.] Every disciple of Christ must take up that which the wise God hath made his cross. It is an allusion to the Roman custom of compelling those that were condemned to be crucified, to carry their cross: when Simon carried Christ’s cross after him, this phrase was illustrated. First, It is supposed that the cross lies in our way, and is prepared for us. We must not make crosses to ourselves, but must accommodate ourselves to those which God has made for us. Our rule is, not to go a step out of the way of duty, either to meet a cross, or to miss one. We must not by our rashness and indiscretion pull crosses down upon our own heads, but must take them up when they are laid in our way. We must so manage an affliction, that it may not be a stumbling-block or hindrance to us in any service we have to do for God. We must take it up out of our way, by getting over the offence of the cross; None of these things move me; and we must then go on with it in our way, though it lie heavy. Secondly, That which we have to do, is, not only to bear the cross (that a stock, or a stone, or a stick may do), not only to be silent under it, but we must take up the cross, must improve it to some good advantage. We should not say, "This is an evil, and I must bear it, because I cannot help it;’’ but, "This is an evil, and I will bear it, because it shall work for my good.’’ When we rejoice in our afflictions, and glory in them, then we take up the cross. This fitly follows upon denying ourselves; for he that will not deny himself the pleasures of sin, and the advantages of this world for Christ, when it comes to the push, will never have the heart to take up his cross. "He that cannot take up the resolution to live a saint, has a demonstration within himself, that he is never likely to die a martyr;’’ so Archbishop Tillotson.(3.) Let him follow me, in this particular of taking up the cross. Suffering saints must look unto Jesus, and take from him both direction and encouragement in suffering. Do we bear the cross? We therein follow Christ, who bears it before us, bears it for us, and so bears it from us. He bore the heavy end of the cross, the end that had the curse upon it, that was a heavy end, and so made the other light and easy for us. Or, we may take it in general, we must follow Christ in all instances of holiness and obedience. Note, The disciples of Christ must study to imitate their Master, and conform themselves in every thing to his example, and continue in well-doing, whatever crosses lie in their way. To do well and to suffer ill, is to follow Christ. If any man will come after me, let him follow me; that seems to be idem per idem—the same thing over again. What is the difference? Surely it is this, "If any man will come after me, in profession, and so have the name and credit of a disciple, let him follow me in truth, and so do the work and duty of a disciple.’’ Or thus, "If any man will set out after me, in good beginnings, let him continue to follow me with all perseverance.’’ That is following the Lord fully, as Caleb did. Those that come after Christ, must follow after him.II. Here are arguments to persuade us to submit to these laws, and come up to these terms. Self-denial, and patient suffering, are hard lessons, which will never be learned if we consult with flesh and blood; let us therefore consult with our Lord Jesus, and see what advice he gives us; and here he gives us,1. Some considerations proper to engage us to these duties of self-denial and suffering for Christ. Consider,(1.) The weight of that eternity which depends upon our present choice (v. 25); Whosoever will save his life, by denying Christ, shall lose it: and whosoever is content to lose his life, for owning Christ, shall find it. Here are life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, set before us. Observe,[1.] The misery that attends the most plausible apostasy. Whosoever will save his life in this world, if it be by sin, he shall lose it in another; he that forsakes Christ, to preserve a temporal life and avoid a temporal death, will certainly come short of eternal life, and will be hurt of the second death, and eternally held by it. There cannot be a fairer pretence for apostasy and iniquity than saving the life by it, so cogent is the law of self-preservation; and yet even that is folly, for it will prove in the end self-destruction; the life saved is but for a moment, the death shunned is but as a sleep; but the life lost is everlasting, and the death run upon is the depth and complement of all misery, and an endless separation from all good. Now, let any rational man consider of it, take advice and speak his mind, whether there is any thing got, at long run, by apostasy, though a man save his estate, preferment, or life, by it.[2.] The advantage that attends the most perilous and expensive constancy; Whosoever will lose his life for Christ’s sake in this world, shall find it in a better, infinitely to his advantage. Note, First, Many a life is lost, for Christ’s sake, in doing his work, by labouring fervently for his name; in suffering work, by choosing rather to die than to deny him or his truths and ways. Christ’s holy religion is handed down to us, sealed with the blood of thousands, that have not known their own souls, but have despised their lives (as Job speaks in another case), though very valuable ones, when they have stood in competition with their duty and the testimony of Jesus, Rev. 20:4 . Secondly, Though many have been losers for Christ, even of life itself, yet never any one was, or will be, a loser by him in the end. The loss of other comforts, for Christ, may possibly be made up in this world (Mk. 10:30 ); the loss of life cannot, but it shall be made up in the other world, in an eternal life; the believing prospect of which hath been the great support of suffering saints in all ages. An assurance of the life they should find, in lieu of the life they hazarded, hath enabled them to triumph over death in all its terrors; to go smiling to a scaffold, and stand singing at a stake, and to call the utmost instances of their enemies’ rage but a light affliction. [3.] The worth of the soul which lies at stake, and the worthlessness of the world in comparison of it (v. 26). What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? ten psychen autou ; the same word which is translated his life (v. 25), for the soul is the life, Gen. 2:7 . This alludes to that common principle, that, whatever a man gets, if he lose his life, it will do him no good, he cannot enjoy his gains. But it looks higher, and speaks of the soul as immortal, and a loss of it beyond death, which cannot be compensated by the gain of the whole world. Note, First, Every man has a soul of his own. The soul is the spiritual and immortal part of man, which thinks and reasons, has a power of reflection and prospect, which actuates the body now, and will shortly act in a separation from the body. Our souls are our own not in respect of dominion and property (for we are not our own, All souls are mine, saith God), but in respect of nearness and concern; our souls are our own, for they are ourselves. Secondly, It is possible for the soul to be lost, and there is danger of it. The soul is lost when it is eternally separated from all the good to all the evil that a soul is capable of; when it dies as far as a soul can die; when it is separated from the favour of God, and sunk under his wrath and curse. A man is never undone till he is in hell. Thirdly, If the soul be lost, it is of the sinner’s own losing. The man loses his own soul, for he does that which is certainly destroying to it, and neglects that which alone would be saving, Hos. 13:9 . The sinner dies because he will die; hes blood is on his own head. Fourthly, One soul is worth more than all the world; our own souls are of greater value to us than all the wealth, honour, and pleasures of this present time, if we had them. Here is the whole world set in the scale against one soul, and Tekel written upon it; it is weighed in the balance, and found too light to weigh it down. This is Christ’s judgment upon the matter, and he is a competent Judge; he had reason to know the price of souls, for he redeemed them; nor would he under-rate the world, for he made it. Fifthly, The winning of the world is often the losing of the soul. Many a one has ruined his eternal interest by his preposterous and inordinate care to secure and advance his temporal ones. It is the love of the world, and the eager pursuit of it, that drowns men in destruction and perdition. Sixthly, The loss of the soul is so great a loss, that the gain of the whole world will not countervail it, or make it up. He that loses his soul, though it be to gain the world, makes a very bad bargain for himself, and will sit down at last an unspeakable loser. When he comes to balance the account, and to compare profit and loss, he will find that, instead of the advantage he promised himself, he is ruined to all intents and purposes, is irreparably broken.What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Note, If once the soul be lost, it is lost for ever. There is no antallagma —counter-price, that can be paid, or will be accepted. It is a loss that can never be repaired, never be retrieved. If, after that great price which Christ laid down to redeem our souls, and to restore us to the possession of them, they be so neglected for the world, that they come to be lost, that new mortgage will never be taken off; there remains no more sacrifice for sins, nor price for souls, but the equity of redemption is eternally precluded. Therefore it is good to be wise in time, and do well for ourselves.2. Here are some considerations proper to encourage us in self-denial and suffering for Christ.(1.) The assurance we have of Christ’s glory, at his second coming to judge the world, v. 27. If we look to the end of all these things, the period of the world, and the posture of souls then, we shall thence form a very different idea of the present state of things. If we see things as the will appear then, we shall see them as they should appear now.The great encouragement to steadfastness in religion is taken from the second coming of Christ, considering it,[1.] As his honour; The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels. To look upon Christ in his state of humiliation, so abased, so abused, a reproach of men, and despised of the people, would discourage his followers from taking any pains, or running any hazards for him; but with an eye of faith to see the Captain of our salvation coming in his glory, in all the pomp and power of the upper world, will animate us, and make us think nothing too much to do, or too hard to suffer, or him. The Son of man shall come. He here gives himself the title of his humble state (he is the Son of man ), to show that he is not ashamed to own it. His first coming was in the meanness of his children, who being partakers of flesh, he took part of the same; but his second coming will be in the glory of his Father. At his first coming, he was attended with poor disciples; at his second coming, he will be attended with glorious angels; and if we suffer with him, we shall be glorified with him, 2 Tim. 2:12 .[2.] As our concern; Then he shall reward every man according to his works. Observe, First, Jesus Christ will come as a Judge, to dispense rewards and punishments, infinitely exceeding the greatest that any earthly potentate has the dispensing of. The terror of men’s tribunal ch. 10:18 ) will be taken off by a believing prospect of the glory of Christ’s tribunal. Secondly, Men will then be rewarded, not according to their gains in this world, but according to their works, according to what they were and did. In that day, the treachery of backsliders will be punished with eternal destruction, and the constancy of faithful souls recompensed with a crown of life. Thirdly, The best preparative for that day is to deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow Christ; for so we shall make the Judge our Friend, and these things will then pass well in the account. Fourthly, The rewarding of men according to their works is deferred till that day. Here good and evil seem to be dispensed promiscuously; we see not apostasy punished with immediate strokes, nor fidelity encouraged with immediate smiles, from heaven; but in that day all will be set to rights. Therefore judge nothing before the time, 2 Tim. 4:6-8 .(2.) The near approach of his kingdom in this world, v. 28. It was so near, that there were some attending him who should live to see it. As Simeon was assured that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord’s Christ come in the flesh; so some here are assured that they shall not taste death (death is a sensible thing, its terrors are seen, its bitterness is tasted) till they had seen the Lord’s Christ coming in his kingdom. At the end of time, he shall come in his Father’s glory; but now, in the fulness of time, he was to come in his own kingdom, his mediatorial kingdom. Some little specimen was given of his glory a few days after this, in his transfiguration ch. 17:1 ); then he tried his robes. But this points at Christ’s coming by the pouring out of his Spirit, the planting of the gospel church, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the taking away of the place and nation of the Jews, who were the most bitter enemies to Christianity. Here was the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Many then present lived to see it, particularly John, who lived till after the destruction of Jerusalem, and saw Christianity planted in the world. Let this encourage the followers of Christ to suffer for him, [1.] That their undertaking shall be succeeded; the apostles were employed in setting up Christ’s kingdom; let them know, for their comfort, that whatever opposition they meet with, yet they shall carry their point, shall see of the travail of their soul. Note, It is a great encouragement to suffering saints to be assured, not only of the safety, but of the advancement of Christ’s kingdom among men; not only notwithstanding their sufferings, but by their sufferings. A believing prospect of the success of the kingdom of grace, as well as of our share in the kingdom of glory, may carry us cheerfully through our sufferings. [2.] That their cause shall be pleaded; their deaths shall be revenged, and their persecutors reckoned with. [3.] That this shall be done shortly, in the present age. Note, The nearer the church’s deliverances are, the more cheerful should we be in our sufferings for Christ. Behold the Judge standeth before the door. It is spoken as a favour to those that should survive the present cloudy time, that they should see better days. Note, It is desirable to share with the church in her joys, Dan. 12:12 . Observe, Christ saith, Some shall live to see those glorious days, not all; some shall enter into the promised land, but others shall fall in the wilderness. He does not tell them who shall live to see this kingdom, lest if they had known, they should have put off the thoughts of dying, but some of them shall; Behold, the Lord is at hand. The Judge standeth before the door; be patient, therefore, brethren."

Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed by this lesson.  Grant me a heart and mind to understand and embrace fully the mystery of the cross.

I wait for you O Lord

"They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint."  (Isaiah 40: 31)

I read an interesting commentary on the above scripture from the John Gills Exposition:

"But they that wait upon the Lord
As children on their parents, to do them honour, to obey their commands, and receive food and blessings from them; as servants on their masters, to know their pleasure, do their work, and have their wages; as clients on their patrons, to have advice of them, put their cause into their hands, and know how it goes; and as beggars at the door, who knock and wait, tell their case and wait, meet with repulses, yet keep their place, and continue waiting: such an act supposes a knowledge and reverence of God, confidence in him, attendance on him, not with the body only, in public and private, but with the soul also, and with some degree of constancy, and with patience and quietness: the Lord is to be waited upon for the manifestations of himself, who sometimes hides himself, but is to be waited for, since he has his set time to show himself again, and his presence is worth waiting for; also for the performance of his promises, which may be expected from his perfections, the nature of the promises, and their being in Christ; likewise for answers of prayer, and for the fresh discoveries of pardoning grace and mercy; and as Old Testament saints waited for the first coming of Christ, so New Testament saints for his second coming, and for eternal glory and happiness: and such "shall renew their strength"; which is to be understood of spiritual! strength in the heart, and of the graces of the Spirit there: it supposes strength received already, which natural men have not, but converted men have; and yet they want more, and more they shall have; to assist them in the performance of duty, to enable them to resist Satan and his temptations, and the corruptions of nature, and to cause them to endure afflictions and persecutions patiently, and to persevere unto the end."

Scripture says everywhere that it is good to wait for the Lord.  Lord, give me the grace to wait on you till the fullness of time.

I choose the Lord as my top Reward

"The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion of the holy land, and the LORD will again choose Jerusalem."  (Zechariah 2: 16)

The Lord chose  me as His portion.  I chose the Lord as my top Reward.

"The Lord has not acted thus for any other nation; to no other people has he shown his love so clearly." (Psalm 147: 20)

The  choice, the call and the anointing.

"LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you have made my destiny secure.
*Pleasant places were measured out for me;
fair to me indeed is my inheritance." (Psalm 16: 5 - 6)

Abba Father!

Your promise cannot be repealed. They stand forever.

"The grass withers, the flower wilts, but the word of our God stands forever.”  (Isaiah 40: 8)

Your word O Lord stands forever.
Your promise stands forever and cannot be repealed.
Your plan stands forever come what may.
Your gifts and your call are irrevocable. (Romans 11: 29)

Knowing all the above, my heart says to me, "trust in Him forever."

Lord, please see the faith of my prayer partners

"When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” ( Luke 5: 20)

When Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic man and the people that brought him to Jesus, he said,  “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”

What is paralyzing you today?  Health, family problems, money, job, tools, food or your future?  It occurs to me that like the paralytic, we need faith partners to take us to Jesus.  While on this thought, I discerned that the Communion of the Saints offers us many powerful faith partners.  "I believe in the Communion of the Saints." This is part of the creed we recite every Sunday.

The Communion of the Saints is made of of the Church Triumphant.  These are the saints in Heaven.  The Church suffering are the holy ones in purgatory undergoing purification before they are admitted to heaven.  The Church on earth is the Church militant.  We are on pilgrimage, which involves continual warfare.  All the three groups of the Church are family.  There is an mutual and continuous interchange of goods between us.

In my prayer this morning on Luke 5: 20, I asked my faith partners, mostly the saints in heaven to carry my needs and prayers to Jesus.  Some of my patron saints in heaven are:  The Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, Saints Peter and Paul, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, St. Augustine, St. Therese Lisieux, St. Martin de Porres and others.
After making this prayer, my hope, that is my confident expectation of an answer to my prayer was raised.  Why?  Because I know for certain that Jesus will see the faith of these people.